Trinity Sunday, May 30th, 2021

 Trinity Sunday, May 30th, 2021

 The Gospel appointed for Trinity Sunday comes to us from the Third Chapter of the Gospel of St. Matthew.  In this chapter we find ourselves witness to the discussion between Nicodemus and Our Blessed Saviour.  In this conversation, Our Lord is telling Nicodemus that he must be born again.  Nicodemus is confused by this expression and asks how can someone be born again.  Our Lord explains:  "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "  Of course, Our Lord was differentiating between physical birth and spiritual birth.  One can not be physically born a second time.  It only happens the one time and cannot be repeated.  But in a spiritual sense, yes, we can certainly be born again when we give our lives over to God and dedicate our lives to him.

Of course, when Our Lord stated that "flesh is flesh" and "Spirit is spirit," He was referring to the example of being born again.  But this does point out something very important for us Christians to consider.  Very often in our lives, we can differentiate between the various sections of our lives.  For example,  we differentiate between the time spent where we work and the time spent at home.  When I am at work, I focus on my job responsibilities but when I am at home I focus on things I do there, such as chores or projects or even relaxation.  We dedicate certain portions of our time to volunteer activities, home activities, family activities, church activities,  etc.  We can divide our time and we can wear "different hats" to signify who we are at the time:  worker; home owner; parent; child; spouse; neighbor; volunteer; etc.  The list goes on and on.  As we live life on a daily basis we play different "roles" based on what we are doing at that particular moment.

But when it comes to being a Christian, our life can not be "chopped up into sections," so to speak.  In other words, we can not say that we are a Christian when we go to church but not a Christian when we are at home.  It doesn't work that way.  A true, committed Christian needs to be just that . . .   a true, committed Christian 24 hours a day, whether he/she is at church . . . or at home . . .  or at work . . . or at the grocery . . . or even driving in traffic.  You see, there are so many people who actually do act one way while in church and another way when they leave church.  They act very Christian when they go to church.  They dress up.  And they sing loudly when the hymns are sung.  And they say "Amen" even louder when the preacher gives his sermon.  But then as soon as church is over, they take off their "Christian hat" and put it away until next Sunday and they live completely different lives.  Being a Christian means being a Christian 24 hours a day . . . 7 days a week ..  ..  365 days a year.  This proves to be very difficult sometimes.  But when we come to the realization that God walks with us 24 hours a day . . .  7 days a week .. .  365 days a year . . .  when we realize that, it should make it easier for us to join Him in that walk.  As Our Lord said to Nicodemus, you must be born again . . .

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, May 30th, 2021 but mark your calendars because we will meet NEXT SUNDAY, June 6th, 2021 at 10:30 am!!!

Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday, May 23rd, 2021

 Pentecost, commonly called Whitsunday, May 23rd, 2021

I am sure that you have been somewhere and you heard something that caught your attention.  For example, if you were home and you heard a crashing noise from another room and you discover the cat has knocked over a picture frame.  Or if you hear a noise from outside and you discover that someone has pulled into your driveway.  Since owning a dog, I have discovered that dogs seem to hear "strange" noises that they are not familiar with.  But each one of us can think of an example of hearing some sort of "noise" that caught our attention and set us on edge.  We read in the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles when the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles while they were gathered together.  We hear "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, . . . ."  When I read this, I wonder what exactly does a "sound from heaven" sound like?  Here, it sounds like a "rushing mighty wind."  If that is the case, then yes, that would certainly catch my attention.  And yet is that how a "sound from heaven" always sounds like?  I would imagine God speaks to us  . . . .  tries to catch our attention . . . .  tries to get us to listen  . . . in many varied ways.  Of course, a mighty, rushing wind from Heaven would more than likely catch our attention.  But what if God whispers softly in our ears?  Would we be able to hear that?  You know sometimes my wife tries to tell me something from another room or if I am outside and she is in the house.  So the distance doesn't necessarily help me hear her and what she is saying to me.  But when you factor in things such as a television blaring.  Or a stereo booming.  Or a lawnmower cutting grass.  Well, you might as well forget about it.  I can't hear what she is saying at all.  Sometimes that is how it is with us and God.  God may be speaking to us but we may not be able to hear Him because televisions . . .  and stereos . . .  . and lawnmowers  . . . .  in other words, things of the world . . . .  are all blaring away, keeping us from hearing what God is telling us.  We need to pay attention  for what God. is telling us  We need to attune our ears to hear what God is trying to tell us.  God doesn't always send down a "mighty rushing wind from heaven" to grab our attention.  God tries to grab our attention by other ways as well.  And if we aren't paying attention, we run the risk of missing out.  Listen for God.  Set time aside for prayer.  Tune out the radios, and the televisions, and the lawnmowers of the world and spend time listening to God and what He has to say to you.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, May 23rd, 2021 but mark your calendar because we will meet on June 6th, 2021.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

Again, St. Margaret Church WILL meet as God's Family on June 6th, 2021! Mass time will change slightly because we will begin Mass at 10:30 am instead of 9:30 am. So, again, please mark your calendars . . . . . June 6th, 2021 at 10:30 am, St. Margaret Church will celebrate Mass at the beautiful Chapel at Marquette Manor, located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis!

Wonderful News Concerning St. Margaret Church

 Wonderful News Concerning St. Margaret Church!

The past year has been a real roller-coaster for all of us on one level or another.  Beginning back in February, 2020 St. Margaret Church has been affected in the worst way.  We were forced to close down and have not been allowed to gather together and offer the Sacraments.  But today we have received word that we will be allowed to gather again beginning June 6th, 2021 at our church home, the Chapel at Marquette Manor in Indianapolis.  We are so pleased . .. . We are so excited to hear this wonderful news.  We are grateful to God that we will once again be able to gather as family in our beautiful church home providing the Sacraments not only to the residents of Marquette Manor but to those faithful Anglicans in Central Indiana!  

As June 6th draws closer we will be able to provide details as they become available.  But the bottom line is that we want all of you to mark down Sunday, June 6th, 2021 on your calendars.  Please plan on joining St. Margaret Church that day so that we can gather together as God's family, to hear God's Word, to receive the Most Precious Body and Blood of Our Blessed Saviour and to offer thanks to Almighty God for all the blessings He has given to us and continues to provide to us.  

Fifth Sunday after Easter, Rogation Sunday, May 9th, 2021

 Fifth Sunday after Easter, commonly called 

Rogation Sunday, May 9th, 2021

In the Gospel for today's Mass coming to us from the 16th Chapter of St. John's Gospel, Our Blessed Lord is speaking with the disciples and they are discussing the fact that He came from the Father.  He also tells them that there will come a time that each one of them will be scattered and will leave Him alone but that He will not truly be alone because the Father is with Him.  Have you ever had the feeling that you are alone?  You might be in a room full of people . . . or on a crowded street . . . . or among your coworkers at your job .. . . but despite all the people that were in close proximity, you still felt alone and by yourself?  Maybe this feeling came from the fact that you felt you were facing a problem by yourself and you had to take care of it yourself alone.  Perhaps you felt "alone" because you felt that nobody else could understand what you are feeling in regards to your emotions.  Or maybe you felt "alone" because you felt that nobody really cared about you or cared how you felt.  For whatever reason, probably all of us have felt "alone" at some point in our life.  And yet, as Our Blessed Saviour pointed out to the disciples, we are never truly alone even when we are physically alone because God is always with us.  At the end of the passage Our Lord tells the disciples " . . . that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation:  ."  This is the other thing that we always have to consider.  In God, we have peace beyond understanding.  In God, we have peace that will never leave us.  In God, we have our rock that will never disappoint and He will always be our stronghold.  None of these things can be said about the world.  The world can be a beautiful place.  There is much beauty that we can find in the world.   And yet, as Our Lord stated, we will find much tribulation in the world:  crime . .  . fighting . . .  wars .. .  . famine . . . . sickness . . .  poverty . . .  the list goes on and on.  But in God we find none of these things.  In God, we find our fulfillment.  In God, we find the reason for our being.  In God, we have salvation and forgiveness for the sins we have committed.  In God, we have a loving Father Who loves us so much that He sent His Son into the world to die for each one of us.  God is always with us.  God never leaves us.  God is ever faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him.

May 9th, 2021 is also "Mother's Day" in America.  As such, Fr. Todd would like to take this opportunity to wish all the wonderful, hard-working mothers out there a very special day.  For all the mothers who have already left us, we offer up prayers of thanksgiving for their lives and take time to remember their love and dedication.

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, May 9th, 2021.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour! 

Fourth Sunday after Easter, May 2nd, 2021

 Fourth Sunday after Easter, May 2nd, 2021

On Thursday of this week I came home late from my job as a counselor where I work only to find out the news that the bishop of our diocese had passed away.  His Grace, The Rt. Rev'd Stephen Strawn was a wonderful man.  One of the finest bishops I have ever had the pleasure to know.  A very humble man who was down to earth and very approachable.  He loved his family, and his parishioners, and his diocese.  When it came to Christian unity, he didn't just talk about it, he worked for it.  He saw the need for unity among Anglicans and he worked towards bringing Anglicans to recognize just what they have in common and to live out that unity.  Focus on what you have in common with one another instead of focusing on what differences you have.  "That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us:"  (St. John 17:21)   He will be sorely missed by all those who were touched by his life.   Family will gather from far and near and say goodbye to this beloved husband, father, grandfather, priest, bishop, and dear friend.   They will be sad and distraught but I imagine they will find the good things to talk about as well:  the good memories, the good times spent together, the love and laughter, the love they felt.

When Our Blessed Lord spoke of His going away.  He took note of the sorrow that the disciples displayed when He spoke of going away.  "But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart." (St. John 16:6)  But Our Blessed Saviour went on to explain that He must leave for the Holy Ghost to come and be with them.  God is with us in the good times and the bad.  So often we do not realize that.  When times are good and things are going well, do we make time for God?  Do we think of God or are we too busy enjoying the good life?  On the other hand, when things are going wrong, are we too busy feeling sorry for ourselves, feeling sorry for situation?  Are we so busy throwing the proverbial "pity party" for ourselves that we don't think of God?  The Good Lord is with us day in and day out.  He is with us in the good times and the bad.  Quite frankly, so often we fail to notice God because we are too "wrapped up in ourselves."  We are so concerned with "us" that we do not take the time to notice God.  God loves us so much that He not only sent His Only Son into the world to save us from our sins, He sent the Comforter, the Holy Ghost to be with us as well. 

God is always with us.  Do your best to always be with Him.  He will never fail us.  Do your fest to never fail Him. 

PLEASE NOTE:  St. Margaret Church will NOT meet on Sunday, May 2nd, 2021.

St. Margaret Church is still being affected, as is the whole world, by the Coronavirus outbreak.  Specifically, our church is not allowed to meet as we would like due to CDC and State recommendations.  But despite these recommendations, our members still continue to pray to Our Heavenly Father.  Our members still continue to reach out to their neighbors and loved ones.  Our members still continue to be the face and hands and instruments of the Lord throughout these troubling times.  Additionally, Fr. Todd also continues to post his sermons and reflections online.  So, please continue to pray for St. Margaret Church and all the Christian Churches throughout the world that we may continue to stay close to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.   

And please remember that you can still show support to St. Margaret Church by sharing these posts on social media . . . sharing the sermons and reflections of Fr. Todd on social media as well.  In this way, despite any sort of "lock-down," you will help St. Margaret Church continue to spread the Gospel and continue to tell the world about our love for Our Blessed Saviour!