Passion Sunday, March 29th, 2020

Fifth Sunday in Lent, 

Commonly Called Passion Sunday, 

March 29th, 2020

In the Eighth Chapter of St. John's Gospel, we read about an encounter between the Pharisees and Our Blessed Saviour.  As we read through this encounter we can only envision the drama unfolding before our eyes.   In this passage, Our Lord poses two questions to those gathered before Him.  First He asks:  "Which of you convinceth me of sin?"  (St. John 8:46)  In other words, Our Blessed Saviour is saying "Is there anyone here who can honestly convict Me of any sin?"  Our Blessed Lord followed quickly with another question:  "And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?" (St. John 8:46)  In other words, if Our Lord is speaking the truth, if He is saying what is true, why don't you believe Him?  To both of these questions the response Our Lord receives is silence.  They can not answer Him.   When Our Lord continues on with discussion, He begins to speak about eternal life and anyone who keeps His sayings will never see death.   At this point, the Pharisees are getting irate with Our Lord.  They even question Him and ask:  "whom makest thou thyself?" (St. John 8:53)  In other words, they are asking Our Lord, "Who are you making yourself out to be?"  To this question, Our Lord responds that it is His Heavenly Father Who glorifies Him  

Let's give credit where credit is due.  In my opinion, the Pharisees ask a perfectly valid question which, quite frankly, each one of us should ask ourselves:  Who are you trying to be?  So many of us try to be someone else.  As we grow up when we are young children we try our best to be the characters in our favorite story book or movie.  Children want to be super heroes or a princess or their favorite character from their favorite cartoon.  As we grow older, we try to be someone different as well.  We want to dress like our favorite musician or our favorite movie star.  We want to be popular so we wear what we believe is the "latest style" in clothing or shoes.   We get our hair cut just a certain way because it is popular.  So often we try to be somebody else by what we wear . . .  or how we act . . .  or what we do . . .  or what products we buy.  We only wear a certain type of jean or a certain brand of shoe.  We have to arrive at work with an eight dollar cup of Starbucks coffee because everybody else goes there and buys an eight dollar cup of Starbucks coffee.  Again, we ask the question:  Who are you trying to be?  The Pharisees asked Our Blessed Lord this very question and He gave the response that each one of us should give.  We should try to be someone that God wants us to be.   Instead, so often we try to be someone the world wants us to be.  But for the devout, faithful Christian we need to focus on what God would have us do  . . .  what God wants us to become.  So often, as I like to say because it's true, we defeat ourselves before we can ever get started.  In other words, we convince ourselves that we aren't holy.  We convince ourselves that we can't accomplish what we are trying to do.  And then what happens?  We quit.  We stop trying.  Of course we are going to fail in life.  Of course we will never be perfect.  But despite these facts we should never stop trying.  When things got tough, St. Peter denied Our Blessed Lord three times.  Yet, Our Lord still remained loyal to St. Peter.  God always remains faithful to us even though we do not always remain faithful to Him.  This is because God always stays true to His promises.  He never breaks His word.  Stay true to your commitment to God.  Let us try to be more like Christ and less like the world.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, March 29th, 2020.  

Marquette Manor, where we use their beautiful chapel, is still on "lock-down" due to the virus epidemic spreading throughout our country and the world.  As soon as things change and we are able to meet again, we will let you know.  In the meantime Fr. Todd will continue to post his sermons online.   Please check back on the St. Margaret website for upcoming news and announcements.

Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22nd, 2020

Sermon of Fr. Todd given on March 22nd, 2020, the Fourth Sunday in Lent.

St. John 6:1-14

“But what are these among so many?”

Please Click on Following Link to Hear Fr. Todd's Sermon:

https://youtu.be/qipCRYuevyU

Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22nd, 2020

Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 22nd, 2020

Some Thirty-Five years ago I was a member of the Guardian Angels.  Now, the Guardian Angels is the anti-crime volunteer group which had its' roots in New York City and was founded by Curtis Sliwa.  The Guardian Angels would patrol subways or troubled neighborhoods plagued by crime with the hopes of helping those in need, particularly in hopes of not only being an anti-crime deterrent but to actually intervene in helping victims of crime.  Well, at that time I got to the point where I would travel to various cities to help in setting up local Guardian Angels chapters across the country and even in Canada.  One of the cities where I helped in this capacity at the time was Seattle, Washington.  Now, bear in mind that the Guardian Angels are a completely volunteer organization.  As such, nobody received any type of salary.  We lived off of our own money or contributions from the community.  It was my time spent in Seattle where I specifically remember having an appreciation for what I had.  In other words, the cause for my new-found appreciation at the time came directly from my having to "do without," so to speak.  You see, when I was working full-time in my capacity as a Guardian Angel that times were lean, so to speak.  Very often, we didn't know where our next meal would come from and when we did eat, it might only consist of a peanut butter sandwich.  We also had powdered milk to drink.  In other words, I found that I had found an appreciation of what I had previously  taken for granted.  It was through my "doing without" that I found a new-found appreciation of what I had in front of me and was not so picky after that.  In short, I learned to appreciate the things which I did have.  

The reason I am bringing this up is because there are so many in this land of ours . . .  and across the world, for that matter . . . that are now finding ourselves in the position of having things taken away from us which we very well might have taken for granted previously.  Going to the grocery store and seeing the shelves full of what we needed is suddenly not a given like it was just a few short weeks ago.  Going out to eat at our favorite restaurant is now not available either.  Deciding to go to see a movie, a sporting event, or even to travel is not available at this current time.  It seems as though our world has changed so quickly.  It seems as though life as we knew it such a short time ago has changed considerably.  Again, things which we took for granted previously are now not available to us.  Even going to work and earning a paycheck has changed for so many in our society.  Think of the people who earn their paychecks as waiters or waitresses . . . .  small business owners . . . . . people such as ushers or ticket-takers at major sporting events.  So many of these people mentioned and so many more are suddenly without jobs and subsequently without paychecks.  Again, things which were taken for granted previously.  So often in the act of losing something we begin to appreciate what we do not have any longer.  Even now in the midst of forced closings, I am now forced to do without something which I have enjoyed my entire life:  going to church on Sunday.  My entire life I have had the luxury of going to church but how often did I not truly appreciate what I had?  How often did I take this simple act of going to church  for granted?  How often did I not not truly appreciate the wonderful gift afforded to me in going to church to worship God with my brothers and sisters, my church family?  Now that I do not have this opportunity to worship God in communion and to receive the Sacraments, I am beginning to appreciate what I am now missing.  As it stands now, our church will be closed for at least another six weeks.  Forgive me, Lord for not truly appreciating the wonderful gift you had given me my entire life.  That is:  going to church, hearing the Word of God, receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord at Communion time, and enjoying the fellowship of my church family.

But all is not lost, dear friends.  God is ever with us.  God is with us even in the darkest hours.  In St. Matthew 28:20, we hear Our Lord say:  "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."  Our Lord is indeed with us always.  He is with us when we read the Holy Scriptures.  He speaks to us through the prophets of old.  We merely need to make the effort to listen to what He is saying to us.  Our Lord is present in those around us.  He uses people as His instruments to speak to us, to comfort us, to support us.  And in turn we also are His instruments to those around us.  As I like to say, you and I have the potential to be God's face and God's hands throughout our communities, to be His ambassadors to those around us.  And God speaks to us when we pray to Him.  We just have to make a point to listen to what He is trying to say to us.  So often this world keeps us so busy that it drowns out what God is saying to us.  We are so busy with living our own lives that we don't have time for God.  Now, that has changed.   Or at least it has the potential to change.  It is still up to us.  We are the ones that still need to make the effort to listen.  We still need to make a point to pay attention to what God is speaking to us.  At this time when there is so much turmoil in the world around us, let us spend this time focusing on God and being with Him.  Ask God to speak to you and then make a point to listen in the silence of your hearts.  They may take many things away from you . . . One thing that will never leave you is the Presence of the Almighty.  "I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."

Please note that St. Margaret of Scotland Church will NOT meet on Sunday, March 22nd, 2020. 

 Please check back often to our website for further announcements concerning when we will be allowed to meet again.  In the meantime, make a point to pray for one another.  Make a point to reach out to those affected either directly or indirectly.  And make a point to allow God to use you as His instrument in the world.  

Prayer to St Rocco

Prayer to St. Rocco (St. Roch), 

Patron Saint in time of contagious diseases

Oh Great St. Rocco, deliver us, we beseech you, from contagious diseases, and the contagion of sin.

Obtain, for us, a purity of heart which will assist us to make good use of health, and to bear sufferings with patience.

St. Rocco, take our prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.   Ask Him to heal our world of this onslaught of Coronavirus.  Be with all of those who are affected directly or indirectly by this disease.  Bless the nations of the world who are crippled with fear and panic.  

Teach us to follow your example in the practice of penance and charity, so that we may, one day enjoy the happiness of being with Christ, Our Savior, in Heaven.

Amen.

Sermons on YouTube

YouTube channel for Fr.  Todd Bragg where you can listen to his sermons.  Please feel free to visit and listen to the sermons.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1qJzBOKRc6sTcA8ccWYmaw

March 19th, 2020 Update Concerning St. Margaret Church

Update Concerning St. Margaret Church

(March 19th, 2020 / Feast of St. Joseph)  The world finds itself, so to speak, in uncharted territory.  In reaction to the Coronavirus / Covid-19 outbreak, we see so many businesses, industries, sports leagues, etc. closing down or shutting down for an unknown period of time.   Affected by these closures and shut-downs are employees . . . . many of whom live paycheck to paycheck as it is . . .  now facing uncertainty from week to week.  Unfortunately, churches have been affected as well.  While many churches remain open, many other churches have either volunteered to close or have been forced to close.  Unfortunately, St. Margaret Church finds itself in this latter category.  Marquette Manor, where we use their beautiful chapel each and every Sunday, is a retirement community in Indianapolis.  As such, they are restricting "outside people/visitors" who are allowed to come into their facility.  They are doing this at the recommendation of the CDC and the State.  Although it is not our first choice to "close our doors," we have no choice.  It was reported this week to us that it sounds as though Marquette Manor will be on "lock-down" for the next six weeks.  If true, then this means we will not be allowed to gather together again until May, 2020.  Again, we certainly do not like having our church services cancelled but we have little choice at this point.   Like so many others whether they be waiters or waitresses in restaurants, small business owners, ushers or vendors at cancelled sporting events, etc, etc, etc. we too find ourselves affected indirectly by this mystery illness affecting our world in ways we never would have dreamed possible just a short time ago.  

In the meantime, we ask that you will please continue to check the St. Margaret website for any updates, announcements, etc.  Additionally, Fr. Todd plans on continuing to upload his Sunday sermons.  Thus, despite the fact that St. Margaret will not be allowed to meet for the time being, Fr. Todd will still continue to preach his sermons.  These sermons will be available for viewing on YouTube, Facebook and here on the St. Margaret website.  

We thank you for your continued support.  We thank you for your continued prayers for our church.  Like so many of you, we find ourselves affected in ways we never would have dreamed of even two weeks ago.  

St. Margaret Church website can be found at:

http://indyanglican.blogspot.com/

Fr. Todd's most recent sermon can be found at:

Father Todd's Most Recent Sermon

You are certainly welcome and encouraged to share these links as a way to support St. Margaret Church.

St. Joseph's Day, March 19th, 2020

St. Joseph's Day, March 19th, 2020

Dear Friends,

I write this message to you on the Feast of St. Joseph (March 19th, 2020).  As America, and the world, is in the midst of fighting the so-called Coronavirus / Covid-19 plague, we find ourselves in uncharted waters, so to speak.  With businesses, factories, restaurants, industry, etc. closing down, we pray for the intercession of St. Joseph to intercede on behalf of all those affected by this plague.  We pray for those who are physically affected with this disease but we also implore prayers on behalf of those who have already lost work or will soon be financially affected by what we are experiencing right now.

Let us pray.  St. Joseph, be with us and hear our prayer.  We lift up the people of the world, especially those affected directly and those affected indirectly by this terrible plague.  We ask you, dear St. Joseph, to intercede on our behalf and take our prayers to the Infant Jesus.  Please ask the Divine Infant to have mercy on all affected by this terrible plague.  Amen.

Dear Friends, continue to be there for one another.  Check on your neighbors . . . your friends . . . your loved ones.  Check on those elderly, the senior citizens to make sure that they have what they need.  It seems as though when times are darkest, when we have the potential to shine the brightest.  Let the Light of Christ shine through you.  Let the Light of Christ show forth on our nation.  Let the Light of Christ shine down on our world.

NO MASS FOR ST. MARGARET CHURCH ON MARCH 15TH, 2020

***IMPORTANT MESSAGE CONCERNING 

ST. MARGARET CHURCH 

FOR SUNDAY, MARCH 15TH, 2020***

As you are certainly aware of the growing Coronavirus / COVID-19 risks and concerns around the world, this concern is very real in Nursing Facilities for our senior citizens.  From the CDC website, we read the following in regards to nursing homes/assisted living facilities:

• Restrict all visitation except for end of life situations.
• Restrict all volunteers and non-essential healthcare personnel (HCP), including non-essential healthcare personnel (e.g., barbers)
• Cancel all group activities and communal dining

As such, we have been asked to not hold our Sunday Mass in the chapel for the time being.   As such, there will be no Mass offered on Sunday, March 15th, 2020 at Marquette Manor.  We will have to play this by ear, so to speak, and make a decision week to week until the concern is over. and we will be allowed to come back again.  While cancelling Mass is not something we would have chosen, we feel it is better to play it safe but also we must respect the wishes of our host.  Marquette Manor has been so gracious to St. Margaret Church for a number of years now.  We are very grateful that they not only let us use their beautiful chapel on a weekly basis but they also provide us room to store our church supplies/vestments/etc.   Marquette Manor has been a wonderful host to us since we lost our own church building.  

So, once again, Mass will NOT be offered on Sunday, March 15th, 2020.  

We hope this stoppage will be short-term but we will have to judge week to week and will let you know accordingly.  Please check back for updates concerning our Mass schedule. 

Second Sunday in Lent, March 8th, 2020

Second Sunday in Lent, March 8th, 2020

In the Fifteenth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear the story of Our Blessed Saviour meeting the woman of Canaan who besought Our Lord seeking favour for her daughter.  Now keep in mind that this woman was not Jewish, and yet she said to Our Lord: "Thou Son of David: my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil." (St Matthew 15:22)  Right from the beginning, it is evident that this woman must have recognized the greatness of Our Lord or else she would not have referred to Him as "Thou Son of David."  Now, we have all heard this story because Our Lord at first  . .. .. it seems .  .  .. that He ignores her because He says not a word at her first request.  After that it is apparent that she then proceeds to bother the disciples for her request because St. Matthew informs us that they "besought Him, saying, Send her away: for she crieth after us." (v.23)  After this, Our Lord still ignores her request by basically saying, in essence, that He was sent for the children of Israel.  And despite all of this, this woman still persisted until finally Our Lord recognized her persistence and her faith when He said:  " O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt." (v.28)

Now the point that we can all learn from this is to be determined and to have faith.  The woman of Canaan had both.  She recognized Our Lord to be the source of help and healing for her daughter.   But she was also determined.  In faith, we need to be determined.  But we need to be determined for the right reason.  In other words, sometimes we only get "religious" when we need God for something:  We want to get hired for a new job.  We need a favour of some sort.  We need guidance to get our of a jam.   Now there is nothing wrong with going to Our Heavenly Father when we need His assistance.  What is wrong, though, is when we ONLY go to Him when we need something and forget about Him the rest of the time.  A lot of people only go to God when they get into a jam or when they need something.  They suddenly get real "religious" when they are in need but the rest of the time they act as if there is no God.  Our Lord came to offer us Salvation.  He came to die on the Cross for us.  But He also spent some thirty-three years on this earth being a human being like you and I.  He knows what it is like to walk in your shoes.  He knows what it is like to laugh and to cry.  He knows what it is like to work and to rest. He knows what it is like to walk in your shoes as a human being.  As such, we can go to Him on a daily basis and we should go to Him on a daily basis.  Do not just go to God when you are in need of something.  Go to God every day with your concerns, your joys, your sorrows, your everything.

Please make a point to join us for Mass on Sunday.  St. Margaret Church gathers together each and every Sunday.  We worship at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Join us as we listen to the Word of God found in the King James Version of the Bible.  We use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  And receive the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Saviour at Communion time.  After Mass is complete, please join us for our Coffee Hour where you can enjoy delicious goodies and enjoy good fellowship.  We are all busy.  We all lead busy lives.  Take an hour out of your busy week and dedicate it to God.  Give that hour to God and spend it with Him.