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Dear Friends,
As many of you know, Fran and I are moving houses this week. Our downsizing is going well. It is very refreshing to clean out the closets and drawers and to lighten the load, and we have a strong sense that God’s hand has been on our decision.

Does He Care?

This past weekend, Fr. Jason delivered a message entitled “Does He Care?” In case you missed it, you may view the sermon video here. As a follow-up to the sermon, which covered the very weighty topic of God’s care for us, Fr. Jason offers this addendum:

There are times when we may feel as though God is not doing all He should be doing, times when it seems like He is absent, times when we may ask the question, “Does He care?” My prayer is that through the study of the heart of Jesus in John 11, that question was answered definitively. My hope is that each person who heard the message left understanding that God is far from distant. God entered right into the middle of all the hurt and pain and confusion of this world. God lived it. God felt it. We as Christians know that God truly understands our pain and has chosen in all His power and goodness and love to walk with us through every grief and trial, through every hurt and loss. We have a God who knows what it means to experience this world because He has been there in the person of Jesus. The answer to the question, “Does He care?” is a resounding, unequivocal, unstoppable yes!Following the message on Sunday, many people asked about the prayer that was quoted to end the sermon. That prayer is called, “Not the God We Would Have Chosen,” and comes from the book: Awed To Heaven, Rooted in Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann. It is a collection of prayers written by Brueggemann after 41 years of teaching and praying in the classroom.

What’s happening in the Old Testament?
Also, last Sunday’s worship bulletin featured an article by Fr. Jason. If that article was helpful to you in trying to put together the story of the Old Testament, you may want to read this article, a longer version by Fr. Jason that offers a few more details to help unwrap what is happening in the Old Testament.

Here are some other things you need to know this week:

Helping Kids in Need

The Christ Church family has always been extremely generous, and this summer is no exception. About 525 tags, each representing a school-age child, were taken from the wall in Fellowship Hall, and all the backpacks and school supplies are due this coming Sunday, July 24. Backpacks and supplies will be sorted and boxed up on the following day, Monday, July 25, from 2 – 4 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Volunteers are still needed to help with sorting. If you can help, contact Marsha Kostus in our outreach ministry. Also, here is Marsha’s update on the other part of the Kids in Need project:

Monday was our first day to serve lunch at Boyd Elementary School in Allen. Our volunteer crew of 14 served a lunch at the covered pavilion to 55 kids and moms who live in the apartments surrounding Boyd. As lunchtime wore on and families ate, we learned names and began to get to know them. As we brought out the bubbles and sidewalk chalk and crafts, we all began to feel as if we were making new friends. By the time we left, the calls of “See you tomorrow” were met with big smiles and waves. Everyone who volunteered felt like our time at Boyd was a real blessing. It was a very special day. It went far better than I imagined, and I don’t think my words really capture what the Holy Spirit did there.

Happy Campers
Our middle schoolers are away at Jonathan Creek Camp on the shores of Kentucky Lake. They have joined other students from around the country to worship, play, and learn more about how God’s grace has washed each of us through Jesus Christ. Their theme verse for the week is 1 Corinthians 6:11. I am told this is especially appropriate because they are spending as much free time as possible in the water, whether catapulting off The Blob or just swimming. Thank you for your prayers for our students and leaders. We look forward to hearing more from them when they return.

Middle School Youth Group at camp in Kentucky this week

Take care in this heat!

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

I was out in Long Beach, California last week for a series of meetings. First, the ACNA (Anglican Church in North America) gathered for its third provincial council. Bishops, clergy delegates, and lay delegates were gathered together from all of the dioceses of the Anglican Church and its ministry partners. Archbishop Robert Duncan gave a “State of the Church” address detailing how the Anglican Church has grown from about 700 congregations to almost 1,000 in just over two years. Much of this growth is from church planting. Fr. Daniel Adkinson and I had an opportunity to present the progress of Anglican 1000 – the province’s initiative to raise up 1,000 new congregations and communities of faith. I am the chairman of Anglican 1000 and I also sit on the Archbishop’s cabinet in connection with this work. Fr. Daniel serves as the associate director of this church planting organization.

Click to see where new Anglican churches are being planted.

In the report, we outlined 130* new works that are listed on the Anglican 1000 website. These are attempts to start, or plant, new Anglican congregations. Some are very small, some large. Some are led by clergy, some by laypersons – or, even bishops! But, all 130* represent new works over the last two years. We also pointed out that 130* contains an important asterisk. There are 130* new works – that we know about! Anglican 1000 is seeing a grassroots effort to plant Anglican churches. New works are popping up all over the place and we are racing to keep up with the results. Of course, the goal to see 1,000 new works is about more than critical mass. It is a new DNA for Anglicans in North America. It is a new identity rooted in mission and seeing the lost converted to faith in Christ. As evidence of this shift, the Archbishop pointed out that in 2010, the Anglican Church baptized 1,411 people over the age of 16 (and about 1,600 under the age of 16). Certainly, one can deduce that most of these are new believers, which is evidence of the new DNA becoming embedded in North America Anglicanism.

Back at the Ranch

500 people came out for pizza and the Pandamania Friday Finale

Meanwhile, back in Plano while I’ve been away, I know that our children and youth have been super busy with lots of summer fun and growth in Christ. 
Fr. Clint tells me that Vacation Bible School ended with a bang at the Friday Finale when 500 family members, friends, and children gathered in Fellowship Hall to celebrate God’s good work during the week of Pandamania VBS. Throughout the week, the kids learned that God is wild about them by hearing lessons from the Bible as well as having 140 volunteers who loved on them. One of the kids asked his parents if VBS could go on another six weeks!

High Schoolers in New Mexico
Right now our high school students are at camp in New Mexico learning about connections – between God, themselves, and other people. They are having a great time, sharing in Bible study, playing sand volleyball, eating good food, and enjoying the beauty of the southern Rocky Mountains. Please continue to pray for them as they hear from God during their time away this week.

High schoolers at camp in Glorieta, New Mexico

God Bless America
Finally, in celebration of the Fourth of July, Mark Snow and the music team are planning a wonderful, patriotic tribute to America for this weekend’s Sanctuary services (9:15 & 11 a.m.) Of course, no one should ever come to church just for the music, but trust me…this music will move you. Come early to hear our guest soloist, Amber Wellborn, open the service with Kate Smith’s rendition of Irving Berlin’s God Bless America.  She will also sing the Star Spangled Banner, a setting made famous by Christian artist Sandi Patty. Then Danny McGee will treat us to his traditional Stars and Stripes, arranged by Vladimir Horowitz.  We’ll conclude  the service singing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Then Mark will finish up at the organ with The Washington Post by John Philip Sousa. If you want to show off your church home to someone new, this is a perfect weekend to do it.

I look forward to being back in the pulpit this weekend and seeing you here.

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

It is great to be back. The warmth and kindness shown to me at all services was overwhelming. Thank you for your prayers and support.

This church is a great place to preach. Very few of you have the vantage point that I have as I begin a message. I see people who are eager to hear the Word of God preached and applied; explored and explained. Heads look up. And it is only at the 27-minute mark that people start looking at their watches.

Something that you need to know is that we will change bible translations for our church pew bibles, the pulpit reading and the Bible that I use and preach from. Fr. Jason is writing a brief explanation as to why we are going to remove and donate the current NIV Bibles and replace them with the English Standard Version (ESV). I have been using the ESV for my personal devotions for over two years. It is an amazing text. It has the cadence and depth that you would want to find in God’s Word. The Bibles are on order and next week Fr. Jason will fill in some of the details about why this is a good move for us.

I am starting a new sermon series on August 8 called More than Conquerors. It is an 8-week series on the crown jewel of the highest theological and literary achievement of the apostle Paul. Many of you may want to purchase a new copy of the ESV from The Bookstore for this series. (I think we may end up memorizing a good portion of Romans 8. The ESV will make it grand!)

In the meantime, here are a few more things you need to know:

On Point for Men
Remember that On Point for Men (a Bible study that I teach with Jason Bowman) begins  August 24. Every Tuesday at 7 a.m., join us for an in-depth lecture, application of scripture and a spirited discussion of some principles found in God’s Word. No prior experience or deep Bible knowledge is needed to attend. The coffee is free…and the lesson we learn from God’s Word is priceless.

Coast Camp
Our youth group kids (many, many, many of them) are leaving Sunday, July 25 for a week at Coast Camp. They will be joined by youth groups from other Anglican churches in the southeastern portion of the United States. Their music leadership group will be none other than our own Josh Havens and his band, The Afters. It will be a great week for them. I plan to fly down to the camp on Wednesday to hang out for a day with the kids and attend The Afters concert that night.

I can remember those church camp moments when I was a young student in high school. Nothing was more profound to me that the moments I had coming to know the Lord. Camp introduced me to Christ and to His Church, and I was never the same. Many of you have a similar background. Please pray for our kids this coming week.

New Study Guides
It is a real pleasure and joy for me to preach here at Christ Church. The whole process of study, prayer, preparation, and final touches is one of my weekly habits that I truly enjoy.

But did you know that you can find a study guide for the sermon here on my blog? I began producing a study guide for this message that will be uploaded on Mondays following the sermon. Check out last week’s study guide. The purpose for this extra effort on my part is to help many people think about the message throughout the week. Small Groups can use these as their curriculum and, our radio audience can use these when we begin broadcasting with WRR on August 1. (By the way, do I need to say that lying in bed listening to a radio message on Sunday morning is NOT going to church?)

See you Sunday,

Fr. David+

For many people summer is a time to kick back, relax with a slower pace and enjoy having the kids around without homework. That is not the way it is at Christ Church. While we are enjoying having the kids around there is no time to relax because so many ministries are in full swing.

Here are a few highlights of the past few weeks and a peek into the future.

Vacation Bible School concluded a very successful week with 400 children being ministered to by a gifted team of 170 adults & youth volunteers. The theme for the week was “Power Lab – Learning About Jesus’ Miraculous Power in our Lives.” The children were able to raise money for four mission projects including: Buckner Christmas Orphan, Orphan Outreach, Casa Hogares and The Mission. We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Jennifer Morrell for her leadership and personal sacrifice that made it such a wonderful week.

Sixty (60) middle school students along with 10 adults attended camp at Jonathan Creek Camp in Hardin, Ky and all returned safely inspired by the Christian fellowship and teaching which centered on the theme of “Blue Print – Laying the Foundation and Building Upon It.” There were many newcomers attending camp this year! Thank you to Pam Coghlan and her team for the great example of the love of Christ and direction they have given to our young people.

Two teams traveled to Guatemala where they ventured into very remote sections of the country to build stoves for some of the poorest people in the region and to share the love of Christ Jesus. It may not sound like much to those of us who have never had to cook over an open fire in the living room, but this one simple gift will dramatically change the quality of life for these people. The health and safety hazards which produce serious respiratory problems are eliminated and the cost of fuel is significantly reduced. Praise the Lord for the gift of love which the 16 men and women and 10 high school youth took to Guatemala on behalf of Christ Church. The high school youth will return this Sunday, July 6.

Looking forward, we still have several mission teams heading out: From July 26-Aug 2, the Casa Hogar team will travel to Arequipa, Peru. A men’s construction team will head to Lima, Peru on October 11 and return on the 18th. We have a women’s retreat team that will be in both Lima and Arequipa, Peru from October 23-November 3. The New Orleans team will leave on Nov 5 and return on the 9th. The Buckner Christmas Orphan team will travel to Lima and Arequipa, Peru from December 5-14. To learn more about joining these teams, click here.

This summer there will be two camps in Colorado: High schoolers will go to Buena Vista in July and the Men’s Mountain Encounter will be held at Silver Cliff Ranch in Nathrop, Aug 1-6. There is still time sign up and escape the Dallas heat for a wonderful week of refreshing high mountain air and rewarding study of the Scripture. Contact Brian Mountjoy for the high school trip and Fr. Jeff Rawn for the men’s trip if you are interested in going along.

One of the most important parts of the Chapter Two campaign was a commitment to help the Diocese of Peru to purchase a building to house the Seminary and offices as well as to provide much needed ministry space. The Christ Church Vestry recently sent a team to speak with Bishop Godfrey and to complete our “due diligence.” The team came back with a glowing report. The Bishop’s health is much improved, the vision for the new facility is exciting, and though the progress getting the legal paperwork is predictably slow, things are moving along and the purchase documents should be ready for completion within the next few weeks.

Please join us in thanking the Lord for His grace in returning Bishop Godfrey to health and for the progress on the Seminary building. We hope to be able to let you know in the very near future that this important phase of Chapter Two has been completed to the Glory of God.

Thank you again for your faithful stewardship in support of Chapter Two and the other ministry needs of Christ Church during these summer months. I know that with travel and other unusual expenses it is easy to let our commitment to the support of the church slide a bit in the summer, but you have continued to be generous and faithful making the ministry projects above possible. Praise the Lord.

Cordially in Christ’s Service,
Howard Clark
Executive Pastor