Ninth Sunday after Trinity, August 1st, 2021

 Ninth Sunday after Trinity, August 1st, 2021

In the story that has come to be best known as the "Prodigal Son," Our Blessed Lord tells the story of the son who wanted to have things his own way and he wanted to enjoy his father's inheritance even before the father had died!  But, to make a long story short, after a while the son realized that "living life in the fast lane" really was not what he thought it would be like and he came to his senses.  St. Luke describes the thoughts of the son when he came to this realization:  "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."  (St. Luke 15:19)

First and foremost, it is us who have to first realize that we are in need of God and also that we are ready to seek God.  So often in our life, we may very well acknowledge that there is a problem but we may still ignore the problem and refuse to do anything about it.  In that sense, the key is not recognizing that there is a problem.  That is certainly the start.  The real key is to recognize that there is a problem and then do something about it.  This is what the son did.  He recognized that he had made a mistake and he chose to remedy the problem by going back to his father in humility and to ask for forgiveness.  

The most wonderful part of the parable is yet to come, though.  Our Blessed Lord continues the parable by telling what happens next:  "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."  

This is how it is for us when we come to God.  It is God Who reaches out to us.  It is God Who searches for us.  It is God Who goes over and beyond for us.  Recognizing that we have a problem is only part of the solution.  The other half is once we realize that we have a problem, is to seek out the can truly fix the problem.  And without a doubt the One Who can fix every problem is Our Heavenly Father.  Come to your senses, and go to Him.

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.  

Join us as we gather together as God's family to:  hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life.  Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.

Feast of Saint James the Apostle, July 25th, 2021

 Feast of Saint James the Apostle, July 25th, 2021

In the Twentieth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we read about the time in which the mother of St. James and St. John approached Our Lord on behalf of her sons.  The thing which she desired was that her sons would sit, one on the left and one on the right, alongside Our Blessed Saviour in Heaven.  She asked:  "Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom"  (St. Matthew 20:21)  Our Lord quickly explained that who sits on His right and His left is not determined by Him but by His Heavenly Father.  Unfortunately, simply asking the question stirred up a hornet's nest among the rest of the Apostles.  St. Matthew writes that they were "moved with indignation against the two brethren."  (St. Matthew 20:24)   Now, of course the reason the other Apostles were "moved with indignation" was probably because they most certainly had desires of their own to be at the front of the line, so to speak.     Let's face it, human nature being what it is, all of us want to ultimately rise to the top.  We enjoy being the smartest in our class or getting the best grade on a test.   We enjoy working our way up the corporate ladder, so to speak, and get recognized as leaders where we work.  We enjoy the attention we are given in regards to how we look or how we dress.  We like to stand out or stand above the rest.   We enjoy being recognized for our accomplishments.    As Christians, it should not be our objective to be above other people.  But we always have to keep in mind that Our Blessed Saviour preaches not only in word but in action.  Our Blessed Saviour not only tells us how we should live our life, He shows us how we should live our life.   Our Blessed Saviour came not to be served but He came to serve.  "  . . . the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister  . . . . . " (St. Matthew 20:28)  This is the model which we should follow.  A good way to develop this mindset is to think of others first.  So often we think of ourselves first.  We want our needs and desires satisfied first.  We want our feelings thought of first before anyone else.  We want what we want now!   And everyone else can wait.  As I stated, Our Blessed Saviour not only preaches in words, He preaches through His actions as well.  He not only talks the talk, He walks the walk.  And all we have to do is read throughout the Gospels to read how Our Lord lived His life.  He lived His life serving others.  Our Lord came to serve and not to be served.  Let us never forget this fact.   Do you want to be like Christ?  Then start thinking of other people first.  

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.  

Join us as we gather together as God's family to:  hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life.  Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.

Seventh Sunday after Trinity, July 18th, 2021

 Seventh Sunday after Trinity, July 18th, 2021

When I speak to the young men that I work with in the juvenile prison where I work as a counselor, I very often emphasize to them to recognize the importance of people who have "unconditional love" for us.  In other words, as I point out to them, most of the people that they would consider their "friends" basically only use them.  Whereas someone who has unconditional love only wants the best for you.  Isn't this true, though, in general?  When we are young don't we gravitate to people who we think are "cool."  We judge our friends based on what clothing they wear.  Do they wear the latest style?  Do they have expensive tennis shoes or cheap ones?  Who do they listen to musically?  Do they throw really great parties?  The list goes on and on.  I try to emphasize to these young men that the people that they are drawn to, the friends that they gravitate to are more than likely not good for them.  These so-called friends do not show unconditional love because they do not want the best for them.  They only want to use them, to abuse them, to drag them down to their level.  And yet so often these young men just keep repeating the same mistake over and over again when it comes to their choice of friends.  In the Sixth Chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, St. Paul does his very best to let everyone know how great a gift we have been offered by Our Heavenly Father.  And yet St. Paul wants everyone to understand the importance of what God offers to each one of us:  to be a son or daughter of Our Heavenly Father.   But he realizes that instead of focusing on this great gift, so many people continue to focus on sinful behaviors, sinful temptations, lusts, anger, hatred, jealousy, etc.  St. Paul is frustrated that we keep reverting back to our human nature instead of focusing on the fact that we are the sons and daughters of the Most High!   In other words, we need to remind ourselves on a daily basis that we belong to God and NOT to the world.  "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"   (Romans 6:23)  We need to constantly be aware of the fact that the world does us no favors.  The world . . . .  and those in the world . . .  only use us and abuse us.  They do not want the best for us.  God, Our Heavenly Father wants the best for us.  That is why He sent His Son into the world to save us.  That is why the Son of God died on the Cross so that we could be saved from the punishment that we deserved.  But God offers life!  Eternal life!  

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.  

Join us as we gather together as God's family to:  hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life.  Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.

HELP WANTED! YOU CAN HELP!

 For those of you in Indianapolis . . . or in Central Indiana, for that matter . . . .

Are you looking for a church that helps to draw you closer to God?

Are you looking for a church where you can hear the Word of God?

Are you looking for a church where you can worship God in a meaningful way?

Are you looking for a church where you know you are in the company of fellow believers who encourage you, help you, pray with you and travel alongside of you?

Are you looking for a church where you can receive the Precious Body and Blood of Our Blessed Saviour in Holy Communion?

Are you looking for a church where you are more than a just another person . . . where the members know you . . . where they love you . . . where they care for you?

Are you looking for a church where you will be an important member and one who makes a difference?

Are you looking for a church where God will be speaking to you through: the Bible . . . the Liturgy . . . the Preaching . . . and, yes, even through other members?

Are you looking for a church that combines old fashioned Christian values with love and respect?

Are you looking for a church where you can show love back to the God Who first showed love to us?

Then let me tell you about my church.

St. Margaret of Scotland Church is just such a church. We have traditional liturgy where we listen to the Word of God and hear God speaking to us directly in the preaching. Our liturgy allows us to separate ourselves from the "busy-ness" of our fast-paced world and dedicate that hour to Our Heavenly Father. We step aside from the "ordinary" and step into the "extra-ordinary" of God. We use the King James Version of the Bible. We use prayers from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. And, finally, we receive the Precious Body and Blood of Our Blessed Saviour at Communion time so that He can nourish us . . . sustain us . . . fortify us for the journey called "Life."

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then please make a point to come and visit us. St. Margaret meets every Sunday morning at 10:30 am. We gather together as God’s Family at the beautiful Chapel at Marqutte Manor located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

Come join us and let God revitalize you . . . let God encourage you . . . let God speak to your heart. Make a difference in your life and the life of others.

St. Margaret Church: A traditional church for a new generation.

Sixth Sunday after Trinity, July 11th, 2021

 Sixth Sunday after Trinity, July 11th, 2021

In the Fifth Chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, we hear a discussion between Our Blessed Saviour and the disciples.  While He is talking to them in this particular discussion we hear things such as:  "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. " (v.20)   . . . . . "whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (v.22)  . . .  . . "if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift" (v.24)   It seems from these examples that Our Lord is telling us that we should get to the root cause in order to fix the problem.  In other words, Our Lord is telling the disciples as He is telling us that we need to get to the root cause if we want our righteousness to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (v.20)   For example, have you ever gotten really irritated with someone?  Has someone got you so mad that you were just beside yourself with anger?  It could have been  a co-worker or even a close friend.  It could have even been a family member, for that matter.  And you hold on to that anger for a long time.  This anger affects you over time.  It eats you up inside, doesn't it?  When we fix something we have to get to the "root cause" of the problem.  This is what Our Blessed Lord was saying.   In order to be a faithful, devout Christian we need to not only change what we do, we need to change how we do it . . .  why we do it.  In other words, we need to change our hearts.   It would be similar to our car not running as it should and we take the car and give it a new paint job.  Sure, it looks pretty on the outside but the new paintjob doesn't fix the problem, does it?  That would be the equivalent of someone getting mad and holding a grudge.  Sure, it might be the case that this person doesn't say any further words, doesn't verbally continue saying things "out loud" but underneath they are still harboring resentment and  anger.  We need to get to the root cause and get rid of our angry feelings.  We need to cleanse ourselves from the inside and get to the root of the problem.  And we can only do this by committing ourselves to God on a daily basis.  To walk with Him each and every day and dedicate our very life to Him.  

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.  

Join us as we gather together as God's family to:  hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life.  Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.

Fifth Sunday after Trinity, July 4th, 2021

 Fifth Sunday after Trinity, July 4th, 2021

Now at the beginning of the the fifth chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Luke kindly points out when Our Lord passed by, He saw some fishermen already out of their boats and they were in the process of washing their nets.  Now, keep in mind that the mere fact that they were out of the boats and washing their nets shows that they were done for they day.  They had not caught anything . . . they were tired . . . perhaps even very frustrated, I would dare say . . . and they were cleaning up so that they could call it a day.  And here comes Our Lord in their presence telling them to put out their boats to give it one more try.  The response of St. Peter is what we need to focus on.  We already know that he thought this was pointless to go out again for the reasons outlined above.  And yet what was the response of St. Peter?  " . . . nevertheless at thy word  . . . "  (St. Luke 5:1ff)  When we say we trust in someone's word, what does that mean?  What does a person's word signify?  A person's word signifies a number of things, quite frankly.  First and foremost, a person's word represents our trust in that person.  If I trust a person and they give me their word they will do something, I trust that person.  I believe that they will do what they say.  With God, though, this is called faith.  We know without a shadow of a doubt that God will see us through any strife or tribulation.  Faith is knowing that God is in charge and that He will do His part.  Now, keep in mind that we may not always know how this will take place or exactly what steps will be taken.  But then again neither did St. Peter when Our Lord requested that he take the boats out for one more try.  St. Peter responded " . . .  nevertheless at thy word .  . ." This needs to be our response to God as well on a daily basis. 

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church worships every Sunday morning at 10:30 AM at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.

NOTE:  Keep in mind that we must enter in the main entrance of the lobby and sign in before we go to the chapel.  

Join us as we gather together as God's family to:  hear the Word of God; listen as God speaks to each one of us in our hearts; worship God in song and in word; listen to the King James Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer; and, finally, receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion so that we can be nourished for the journey we call life.  Take one hour out of your busy schedule to worship God, to honour God, to acknowledge the need for God in your life.