Bishop Strawn visits St Margaret Sunday, August 27, 2017

Join the Church of St. Margaret of Scotland on August 27th, 2017 as we welcome His Grace, the Rt. Rev'd Stephen Strawn, the bishop of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley. Bishop Strawn will preach and celebrate Mass for us. Additionally, Bishop Strawn will meet and greet all of us after Mass at the Coffee Hour. Please join us as the bishop of our diocese will celebrate Mass for us this day and preach the Word of God. Mass begins at 9:30 AM.

St. Margaret Church celebrates Mass at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Tenth Sunday after Trinity, August 20, 2017

Tenth Sunday after Trinity, August 20, 2017

"And when He was come near, He beheld the city, and wept over it . . . ." (St. Luke 19:41)

When I was younger . . . . quite a bit younger . . . . . there was a song that was released by Linda Ronstadt and I just heard it played again recently on the radio.  The song was entitled "You're No Good" and the lyrics were profound, to say the least:  "You're no good, You're no good, You're no good, Baby, you're no good . . . .  "  As I was listening to this particular song . . . .which I had not heard in quite a while . . . .  I thought this song could become the "Theme Song" for the current age in which we live.  I mean, let's face it, everywhere you turn on social media and when you see the news, everybody is expecting everyone else to come out and condemn certain groups.  The problem is that in condemning only certain groups, you are not allowed to point out the flaws and errors of other groups.

All of us have things that really set us off, . . . that push our buttons, so to speak.  As human beings, we love certain things . .  .  on the other hand, we hate certain things.  There are things that drive us crazy and things that we feel strongly about.   I am no different on that front.  Certain things, certain people "push my buttons" as well just like certain things or certain people "push your buttons."  Supremacists of any variety drive me crazy, for example, since we're talking about it now.  If you think you are "supreme" to me because of my skin color or my gender or due to the religion I practice, for example, you better think again.  God loves all of us equally.  God created each one of us.  Another thing that drives me crazy are Hypocritical politicians who tell you they are voting for the interests of the people  that voted them into office, when they are really voting with the special-interest or their political party in mind.  These same politicians love to pin you down with laws that you have to live by but they don't.  Hypocrites like that really stick in my craw.  The "Main-Stream Media," who in my humble opinion lost all credibility long, long ago.  They don't report the news any longer . . . they invent the news.  The report the news and spin the news the way that they want you to hear it.  Likewise, Fringe groups of any variety who don't live in the "real world," meaning they don't know what it's like to pay bills and own a home, they don't know what it's like to go to work every day and do the simple ordinary things in life.  These people live in their own little world.  They live in a dream world and they will use any means necessary to threaten you and intimidate you and force you to accept their way of thinking.

Again, I could go on and on, I am quite sure.  All of us can come up with our own list of things, groups, or people that drive us crazy.  But instead of focusing on things that drive us crazy or focus on differences that we have, as Christians, we should focus on the fact that God loves each and every one of us.  God sent His Son into the world not to condemn us but rather to save us.  Our Blessed Lord spent His some thirty-three years on earth, preaching , , ,  and teaching . . . . and telling the world of His Heavenly Father.  And He also showed the world about His Heavenly Father.  He showed the world not only by what He said  . . . . but how He treated folks . . . . and forgiving folks.   We are called to imitate Him as best we can.  I know I qualify it by saying " . . . as best we can . . . " but that is because Our Lord is perfect  . . . and we ain't, to put it bluntly.  But that doesn't mean we are supposed to stop trying.  Sure, we're going to fail every now and then.  Sure, we're going to miss the mark every now and then.  But as long as we keep in mind that we are not perfect, we will remember that other folks aren't perfect either.  If that's the case, maybe I can cut you some slack . . . and maybe you'll cut me some slack . . . .when it comes to wrong-doing.  Maybe we can both focus more on "forgiveness" and focus less on our "differences."  Maybe, perhaps, if I could follow my own advice, I could be more forgiving of  . . .  people who think they're better than me . . .  journalists  . . . . crooked politicians  .. . . .  and fringe groups.  Whether I want to think about it or not, God loves those people just the same as He loves me.  But we get so caught up in our differences, that we don't have time to realize this simple fact.   God should be at the center of our life.  Our love of God should be the priority of our life.  And, yet, so much of our life centers on everything else OTHER THAN God:  riches . . . . power . . .  hatred of people different than me . . . . lust . . . . drugs . . . selfishness . . .  the list goes on and on and on.  I can't control the whole, wide world but I can at least try to control "Me!"  And as long as I do this and as long as I remember that God loves me,  . . . as imperfect as I am . . . . He will certainly love you .  . . . as imperfect as you are.

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday at 9:30 AM.  We worship God in the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Please feel free to join us as we gather together to worship Our Heavenly Father and listen to His Word.

Ninth Sunday After Trinity, Sunday, August 13, 2017

The Gospel passage from the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Luke, which is appointed for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity,  provides one of the most powerful images in the entire Bible.  For the passage we hear read today has come to be known over time as the story of the  "Prodigal Son."  Certainly, Our Lord used this tale to describe how much God loves humanity.  And yet in this one story there is so much represented here:  the wickedness of the son; this son's recognition of his sins and wrongs against his father; the jealousy of the brother; etc.  And yet, despite this passage being referred to as the "Prodigal Son," I have always contended that the story would be more accurately called "The Loving Father."   As stated, there are multiple points in this story that we can choose to focus on, yet it is the image of the loving father waiting for his sons' return, . .  . . hoping for his son to come home, . . . . praying for his son to come back .  . ..  .. and then finally seeing his son from a great distance and running to his son . . . . without a doubt, that is the most powerful image in all of Scripture.  For it shows the love of a father that never gives up hope.  It shows the determination of a father to still see his son,  . . . .  no matter what wrong the son has committed . . . . , it shows the love that a father has for his son despite everything else.  It represents the love that God has for fallen humanity.

When the son returned to his senses, he made the decision to return to his father acknowledging that he had done wrong.  He had his speech already planned out in his head before he went to his father.  He finished his speech by describing himself:  " . . . . . and am no more worthy to be called thy son"  He knew deep down inside that he had done wrong.  This is why Our Lord stated when telling the story that this young man had "come to his senses."  He knew that he did wrong.  He knew that he messed up big time.  He knew that what he did was an offense against his father in how the son acted.  And for all this, he no longer felt worthy to be called 'son.'  And yet despite everything that this son did, his father treated him like royalty upon his return.  He called for shoes to be placed on his feet and rings to be placed on his sons finger.   The father called for a great feast in celebration.  He did all of this for he loved his son.  He was pleased to see the son's return.  The reason that Our Blessed Lord chose to tell this story is certainly to show the celebration that God, Our Heavenly Father, has when we return to Him.  When we, just like the Prodigal Son, come to our senses and realize that our sinfulness will not lead us anywhere.  When we come to our senses and acknowledge that we have done wrong.  When we come to our senses and realize that we are not worthy to be called a Christian.  It is then that God shows His love for us and welcomes us home.  We are worthy because we are loved.  Loved by Our Heavenly Father that loved us so much that He sent His only Son into the world to die for our sins.  God, just like the father in this story, waits patiently for us as well to return.  He waits for us to come to our senses and make our return to Him.  But only we can do that.  God does not force our return.  We have to make the decision to come back to Him.

St. Margaret Church gathers every Sunday morning to hear the Word of God and to worship Our Heavenly Father.  We are a traditional church.  We use the King James Version of the Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Mass begins at 9:30 AM.  We celebrate at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Please join us and dedicate an hour of your week to God.  Return home to Him, the God Who waits patiently for your return.

Transfiguration, Sunday, August 6, 2017

Transfiguration, Sunday, August 6, 2017

We read in the Ninth Chapter of the Gospel of St. Luke the story of the Transfiguration of Our Blessed Saviour.  In this Ninth Chapter, we hear that St Peter; St John; and St James accompanied Our Lord to pray.  Now, bear in mind as we read of this account that a marvelous event is about to unfold:  Our Lord will not only be transfigured as "His countenance was altered," (v. 29) but also that Moses and Elias will appear alongside Our Lord.   Now, imagine if you will, all of this happening in front of YOUR eyes.  How would you react?  What would you do?  What would be your reaction to all of this have been?  Well, in Verse 32, we hear what happened to St Peter, St James and St John:  "But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with Him." (St. Luke 9:32)  " .  . .  THEY WERE HEAVY WITH SLEEP  . . . ."  Really?  Heavy with sleep?  Seriously?  I mean, come on, how can this be?  Here you are, you find yourself with the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.  You are in His Presence where not only He is transfigured:  His "countenance was altered" and "His raiment was white and glistening."  If this wasn't enough, Moses and Elias appear alongside of Him.  And St Peter and the boys fall asleep?  Seriously?!?!?!   It wasn't until they awoke from their sleep that, as St. Luke tells us:  " . . . . and when they were awake, they saw his glory .  . . . ."   You know, it is so easy to be a "back-seat driver," isn't it?  It is really easy to make "commentary" about others when it is not us walking in their shoes.  As St. Luke tells us it was not UNTIL they awoke that they were able to see the glory of the Lord.  That's really how it is with us as well, quite frankly.  Have you ever told someone or has anyone ever told you in the course of a conversation:  "Wake up!"  "Why don't you wake up?!?"  "Wake up and smell the coffee!"  When someone says something along these lines, what they're really saying is "Wake up to reality."  "Come back to reality."  Well, for Peter, James and John, it wasn't until they woke up that they were able to truly see the glory of the Lord.  We, too, like them need to "wake up" out of our sleep in order to see the glory of the Lord.  So many of us are lost in a deep sleep as well.  We are sleeping and dreaming about the things of the world:  money, and nice clothes, and food, and drink, and power, and possessions.   We day-dream about these things and more and focus our lives around them.  But until we wake up from our sleep . .. . Until we wake up from our dreams of worldly things we lust after . . . . until we awaken, it will be then that we will be able to fully appreciate the majesty of Our Blessed Saviour and see Him in His full glory.  We can not see His Glory because we are so busy looking at the things of the world.  Have you ever seen something in the corner of your eye but you didn't see it fully because you really looking at something else?  Or have you ever "heard" something but you really didn't hear it fully because you were focused on something else?  It's like that for me when, for example, I try to hear the weather forecast on the radio as I get ready in the morning.  I might turn on the radio for the specific intent to hear what the weather will be like that day.  But if I get busy doing this, that and the other, . .. .  . even though the radio is playing . . . .  I might get busy doing other things and totally miss the weather forecast.  And then I have to wait all over again and focus and make a point to listen ten minutes later when the forecast is given again.  It isn't until I focus and make a point to listen to the weather forecast, that will be when I hear it.  Otherwise, I usually get sidetracked by other things that I am doing at the time.  Quite frankly, that is how it is for us when it comes to things of God.  We have good intentions.  We want to be good.  We want to listen to God.  We want to do what God would have us do.  But we get sidetracked.  Our attention gets diverted.  We end up focusing on something else.  Let us be like St Peter and St James and St John.  Let us wake out of our sleep so that we can see the glory of the Lord.  Let us always focus on Our Blessed Saviour so that we can appreciate His glory and His majesty.

Join us at St. Margaret Church on Sunday, August 6th, 2017 as we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration.  We use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible when we celebrate Mass.  We listen to the Word of God speaking to us.  We gather together as God's family to worship Our Heavenly Father.  Come join us.  Take one hour out of your week to focus on God . . . to give that hour solely to God.  Give that hour to God and dedicate it to Him and see what He will give you in return!  Mass begins at 9:30 AM.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.