Published Monthly April 2017 Volume 39, Issue 4

the Magdalene

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FromtheDeskofFr.Neil…

DOIHAVETOGOTOCHURCHTOBEACHRISTIAN?

I was invited recently to speak to a class at alocalUniversity.Attheendofmypresentation,I opened it up for questions. I do this once ayearinthesameroombutfordifferentstudentsand each year they ask some very goodquestions.Thisyear,Iwasaskedbyonestudentthe following question, “Do I have to go toChurchtobeaChristian?”This is a very good question. There are anumberofwaysthisquestioncanbeanswered.Onthesurface,theimmediateansweris,“yes.”However,thisismuchtoosimpleofareplyandit must be qualified. Yes, a person can be aChristianandnotgotoChurch.

YoucanbeaChristianandnotyetsteppedintoaChurch.YoumighthaveputyourfaithinChristaftersomeonehassharedtheGospelwithyou,and youhavenot evenhad theopportunity toget toaChurch. Yet, technicallyonecouldsayhewasaChristianatthatmoment.On the other hand, this question can beanswered, “no.” This answer, too, must bequalified. If,byaskingthequestion,“DoIhaveto go to Church to be a Christian?” you areasking,“CanIbeafaithfulChristianandyetnothave to get up on a Sunday morning, or nothave to interact with other Christians, orworshipasIfeellike,thentheansweris“no.”We live in strange times, in that people havelost interest in Church attendance and wouldrather just say that they are spiritual and notattendatall. Beingspiritual, firstofall, isveryvagueterminologyandismanytimesusedasanexcuseforthemnotgoingtochurch.Or,beingspiritual means that the person has taken abunch of different things they like from alldifferent religions – usually no elements ofChristianity are included, however - and putthemallintotheirimaginedspiritualityandthenwhat theydoafter that isunclear. There isnobuildingorplaceofworshipforthem. There isnosetform.From reading the New Testament, it seems tobe the case that early Christians wanted tonothingbut“gotoChurch.”Theywantedtobein fellowship with other Christians. Theywantedtomeetregularlyandsingtogether,andpray together, and share a common mealtogether. There was something about theirconversion to Christianity that drove them todesire to be in communion with otherChristians.

S t . M a r y M a g d a l e n e A n g l i c a n C h u r c h

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w w w . s t m a r y m a g d a l e n e a c c . o r g

R e v . F r . N e i l E d l i n , R e c t o r

S u n d a y S e r v i c e s : 8 a m M a s s

1 0 a m C h o r a l M a s s & C h i l d r e n ’ s S u n d a y S c h o o l

W e d n e s d a y S e r v i c e &

A n o i n t i n g o f t h e S i c k : 9 a m

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In the Bible, the Book of Acts tells us “…theydevoted themselves to the apostles' teachingandthefellowship,tothebreakingofbreadandthe prayers. (Acts 2:42) They devotedthemselves tellsus that theypurposely set thistime and day aside for gathering to worship.Theygatheredtogethertoshareinreadingandrecalling the teaching they received from theApostles. Theygatheredto joinoneanother infellowship.Sotheysawtheimportanceofbeingwith one another. Finally they gathered tobreak bread and pray. These last two haveformalundertonestothem,meaningtheydidn'tjust come together andhave ameal and say afew prayers. It wasmore formal. They cametogether on a specific day (the first day of theweek). When gathered they partook of themealwhichJesushadtaughtthemtoparticipatein on a regular basis. And, they did so in aformal setting where certain prayers wereprayedwhichwerewritten down and used forthisspecificpurpose.These elements are important for us toconsider. If a Christian just sits at home, notwilling to joinwith other Christians, notwillingto partake of the Lord’s Supper meal and theprayingof theChurch’sprayers, thenwhatwillbecomeofthesoulofthatperson?CanwesaythatheistrulyfollowingChrist?JesussaysthatHe is the “Light of theworld.” He goes on tosay, “Whoever follows me will not walk indarkness,butwillhavethelightoflife.”St. John, in his first Epistle writes, “This is themessagewehaveheardfromhimandproclaimto you, that God is light, and in him is nodarkness at all. If we say we have fellowshipwithhimwhilewewalk indarkness,we lieanddonotpractice thetruth.But ifwewalk in thelight, as he is in the light, we have fellowshipwithoneanother,andthebloodofJesushisSoncleansesusfromallsin.(1John1:5-7ESV)To be a Christian means to be walking in thelight. To forsakeChristmeanstobewalking indarkness. Agreatpartofwalkinginthelight iswalking with others who are striving for the

same thing. If we purposely place ourselvesamongotherChristians, there is accountability,friendship, mutual building up of one another,love for one another, instruction for oneanotherandwaystoserveoneanother.IntheBible,thebodyofChristislikenedtothehumanbodybySt.Paul.Hetellsusthateachofus is amemberofHisbodyand if someof thepartsarenotworkingwell(i.e.,notparticipatingin the body’s functions) then the whole bodysuffers.(1Corinthians12:12-26)ObviouslytherearethosewhoareunabletogettoChurch.Theyareshut-insforsomereasonortheyarehospitalized. This iswhen theChurchmust go to them. They are desirous of beingpartofthebody–andstillareinthetruesenseoftheword–buttheyhavebecomesomewhatdetached because of illness or something elsehinderingthemfromgettingtoChurch. SotheChurch members, to keep even the parts thatare distant from the rest of the body, mustministertothemtodowhattheycantoincludethemintherestofthebodyoftheChurch.Thisis how important church membership (andchurchattendancewhenpossible)is.So,canwebeaChristianandnotgotoChurch?Yes.ButifavoidingChurchisthegoal,thentheanswerhastobe“no.”

Fr.Neil’sarticlecanbeviewedat:https://cccdiscover.com/do-i-have-to-go-to-church-to-be-a-christian/TheCampaign forCoreChristianityDiscoverwebsiteis where we seek to discover God’s story in theeveryday. The Campaign for Core Christianity isdedicatedtoprovidingfreeresourcesyoucantrusttohelp you understand the reason for your hope as aChristian. For more information, please visitwww.cccdiscover.com

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WhilereadingTheResurrectionofJesus;ANewHistoriographicalApproachbyMichaelLicona, Ihave been stunned to read just how farwe’vecome…orsunk. TheearlyChurchwasmadeupof either eyewitnesses to the Resurrection ofJesus or at least believers who were in closeproximity to eyewitnesses. The first fewcenturies of Christians, now far removed frombeing able to be witness to the Resurrection,held to the Bible as the highest and finalauthority on the subject. Throughout theMiddle Ages and into the Renaissance andReformationperiods,theResurrectionremainedcentral to the Christian faith. “Doing history”wasnotaquestionablepractice.TheBibletoldthem that Jesus rose from the dead. God hadspoken and the matter was settled. It is onlywhen we get into the late 17th century andbeyond(anduptoourday)that“doinghistory”becameaquestionablepractice.Wearenowinthe so-called modern age (or to some it isreferred to as post-modern age) and history,evenbypost-modernChristianshasremainedaquestionablepractice.WhythelossofabilitytotrustanhistoricaltextsuchastheBible?WhydomanytodayquestionnotonlytheResurrectionofJesusbutalsomanyotherthingsrelatingtotheChristianFaith?Theanswer to this is much too large to answer inthe space Ihavehere,but the shortanswer is:WithintheChurch,manbecameaffectedbythesecular world’s thinking about certain things.Because man is sinful, he is always self-centered, but the Church has an answer to sinand self-centeredness and that is trust in theBible and faith in Jesus Christ. God’s WordwrittenandGod’sWordincarnate. TheChurchhas periodically succumbed to secular thinking,butaremnanthasalwaysbeenpreservedbythegrace of God. Nevertheless, the Church as awhole is much too tolerant nowadays and itacceptsandevenembracesnovelthinking,newideasandskepticism.

Post-modernists, when speaking on historyclaim that there are no facts, justinterpretations(generally,becausetheydon'tallagreewitheachother evenonmethod). Theyquestionwhetherit’spossibletoevenknowanddescribethepast.Theystrugglenotwithcertaindetails,buteras,orperiodsorevents. But theflaw in their approach is that they don't liveconsistentlywiththeirtheories.TheywillstillgoontellingstorieslikeyouandIdoandneverseetheir inconsistent behavior. The Church of thepast was not simplistic or naïve; far from it.They knew that all men must anchor theirbeliefs in something beyond themselves andtheydidsointheGodoftheBible.HavenofearthisEaster.JesusChristdidinfactandinhistoryrisefromthedead.Therearetoomany pieces of evidence to plausibly deny itsfacticity. Hold to the Scriptures and what St.Paul said. “For I delivered to you as of firstimportancewhatIalsoreceived:thatChristdiedfor our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,that hewas buried, that hewas raised on thethirddayinaccordancewiththeScriptures,andthatheappearedtoCephas,thentothetwelve.Then he appeared to more than five hundredbrothers at one time, most of whom are stillalive, though somehave fallenasleep.ThenheappearedtoJames,thentoalltheapostles.Lastofall,astooneuntimelyborn,heappearedalsotome.(1Corinthians15:3-8,ESV)

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WHATISANORDOCALENDAR?Sowhat's anOrdo Calendar?Ordo isMedievalLatin for “order”. An Ordo Calendar providesdirection for the priests. The Ordo tells themwhat liturgical season it is, what color ofvestments to where, and what days areconsideredholydays andwhy. It’s also a greattoolforuslaypersons.WecanlookuptheholydaythatcommemoratesourfavoriteSaint.We can find out what day Easter falls on orwhentowearthatreddress forPentecost.Wecan explain to our children howwe follow thelife of Jesus throughout the church year usingtheOrdoCalendar.AsfarasweknowtheOrdoCalendar was first compiled in 9th century byhandbytheearlyChristianchurch.

HEADINGTOWARDSHOLYWEEKBegin Holy week as an important time tomeditate on the final days of Christ’s life. Thedecisionswemakereflectourprioritiesinlife.PrivateConfessionswill beheard in the churchfrom 5:30 to 6:30pm for visiting Anglicans,Catholics or St. Mary Magdalene members.ContactFr.Neilifyouhaveanyquestions.LentenFridayMeatlessSuppersareheldeveryFriday in the Parish Hall at 6:30pm throughApril7th.

THEPASSIONOFOURLORDJESUSTHECHRIST

Can you imagine walking withChrist on the day of hiscrucifixion?“TheStationsoftheCross”isthemost intimate and spiritualjourney you can participate in.Each of us who walk it

experience their own journey of thoughts andfeelings provoked by the narrative and prayersrecited.Don’t let another Lenten Season gobywithout reliving those last few moments ofChrist’slife.TheStationsof theCrosswillbeheldonApril7th.

“FISH”FRIDAYSUPPER The earliest Christians would meet in theirhomes to sing psalms, pray and have a simplemeal of bread and fish. Later, the ChurchbannedmeatonFridaysasawayofencouragingfasting and abstinence during Lent. ThistraditionofeatingfishduringLentdatesbacktothe late Medieval period. On the evening ofApril 7th at 6:30pm wewill gather together toenjoysomedeliciousfishdishesandother lightdishes. This is the last Friday in Lent beforeGoodFriday.MarkyourcalendarandcomejoinusinfellowshipwithyourChurchfamily.

PALMPROCESSIONANNOUCINGTHEKING’SARRIVAL

The gathering of Christ followers in the churchbreezewaywithPalmswavinghighwillbeginat10:00am Sunday on April 9th. The Choir willleadusinahymnasweprocessintotheChurch,commemorating the Triumphal Entry of Christ

ORDOCALENDARACTIVITIES

GUILDS,GROUPS&EVENTS

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into the City of David while the people wavedpalm branches and strewed cloaks in His path.This ceremony marks the beginning of thePassionofJesusChristonHiswaytotheCross.All of thiswasHisway of fulfilling the ProphetZechariah’sprophecy.“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout intriumph,DaughterJerusalem!Look,yourKingiscoming to you; He is righteous and victorious,humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, thefoalofadonkey.”(Zech9:9)

MAUNDYTHURSDAYCOMMENORATES

THELASTSUPPEROnApril13that7pm,comecelebrateJesus’lastsupperwithhisApostlesintheUpperRoom.Atthat time Jesus gave His disciples some finalinstructions, “Loveoneanotheras Ihave lovedyou”,andHewashes their feet. This service isan important Holy Week service and yourattendanceisneeded.This somber ceremony of foot washing,participationinthestrippingoftheAltarandtheplacing of the Blessed Sacraments on theAltarof Repose as the lights dim all point us to thefinal night in which Jesus was betrayed, leftalone in the Garden of Gethsemane, arrestedand tried. This night is both humbling andspirituallymoving.Jesus found the Disciples sleeping instead ofkeeping watch. Let us not be found sleepingeither,butratherattendingthisserviceshowingourgratitudeforChrist’ssacrificeforus.

GOODFRIDAYSERVICEGood Friday Service marks the time Jesus ishung on the Cross, died, was taken down andentombed. Beginning at 12:00 Noon on April14th, the Service begins with the Good Friday

Liturgy then Holy Communion from “The Pre-Sanctified”elements.Thismeansthatmemberswill solemnly receive communion from theelementsconsecratedonMaundyThursday.Private confessions will be heard between5:30pm-6:00pmpriortoStationsoftheCrosscommencingat7:00pm.

EASTERSERVICEEaster Day, April 16th, is the glorious day ofJesus’Resurrectionfromthedead.Wewill be celebratingMass at8:00amand10:00am.10:00amMass will include a full choircelebration. Easter isrecognized as a Holy Day ofObligationsochurchattendanceisimportant.TheChurchwillbebeautifully adorned with flowers. The sweetscentofEaster liliesand incensewill fill theairasweworshipthelivingChrist.Planoncomingearly.Parkingwillbeavailableatthepre-schoolandinsurancelots.

MEN’SGROUPOLDTOWNELUNCHEON

On April 9th at 11:30am, all parish men areinvitedtobreakbreadinfellowshiptogetheratoneofthelocalrestaurantsintheOrangeCircle.Wewillall leave together fromchurch. Duringlunch, Fr. Neil will lead the group inconversation about a man’s role in the family.SaveanhourafterlunchtostrollaroundtheOldTowneClassicCarShowbeingheldthatday.PleaseletFr.Neilknowifyouplanonattendingandifyouhaveasuggestiononarestaurant.

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THENEWSREPORT…….

KID’SCORNER

4THSUNDAYBRUNCHYes,4thSundayBrunch(nohost)isbackagainonApril 23rd. Reservationswill bemade for12:00noonattheLazyDogCaféonKatellaAve.neartheAnaheimHondaCenter.Last month was a big success with over 25parishioners coming together toeatat FortuneCookieChineseRestaurant.Pleaseplanonjoiningusforgreatfoodandgreatfellowship.SignupintheNarthex.

BIBLESTUDYRETURNS!!WednesdayBibleStudywillresumeintheParishHall on April 26th. From 6:30pm to 8:00pm.When we were last together we stopped theGospel of John, finishing out chapter 16. Thismonthwewillresumeourstudywitharecapofthese16chaptersandthennextmonthwewillfinish out the Gospel studying chapters 17-21.Please plan on being here to learn what theGospel writer John has to tell us in his uniqueway.BibleStudyisforalllevels.ItisgearedforthosewhohaveneveropenedaBibleuptothewell versed and everything in between. WiththehelpoftopBibleScholarD.A.Carson,wearegaininggreatinsightintothiswonderfulaccountof the lifeof Jesus. Wewill closeour studyat7:30pmwithEveningPrayeraroundthetable.

THEGREATEASTEREGGHUNT

Parents bring your children tochurch on Easter Sunday andplan on staying for THE GREATEASTEREGGHUNTonApril 16th

after 8:00am and 10:00amservices. Children are welcome

to bring their own basket or one will beprovided for them. Peanut butter and cheesecrackerswillbeavailableforourlittleones.Please try to park your car in the additionalparkinglotsonthatdaysothechildrenwillhaveaplacetohuntforeggs.

CHILDREN'SPANCAKEBREAKFAST

YES, It’s a Pancake Breakfast forKidsandtheirParentsOnly!Join us in the Parish Hall from 10:30am until12:30pmonApril19th.

Anyregularandchoirmemberwhohas a child under 10 years old iswelcome to come and enjoy andbestpartisthatit’sfree!

Parents, please consider bringing a wash clothand small towel to prevent sticky fingers fromgettingsyruponthecarinterior. Children love pancakes and adults love theirchildren tobehappy. It'sagreatcombination.Please bring a wash cloth just in case. Aunties

Karen and Colleen have a bunch of games toplay with the children. Dads should plan on abunchofphotoops. CongratulationstoAngelaandMikeWhitmarshwhoareexpectingababyboy!

ANEWLOOK

Looking for an announcement on a specificchurcheventatSt.MaryMagdalene?ChecktheMonthlyCalendarattached.