Whitsunday 2014

Whitsunday, Sunday, June 8th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven as of a might rushing wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting"  (Acts, Chapter 2:1)

Sermon of Fr. Todd Bragg, given on Whitsunday (Pentecost), Sunday, June 8th, 2014, St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Please click on following link to listen to Fr. Todd's sermon:

Whitsunday, June 8th, 2014 Sermon

And if you need any information about Fr. Todd's parishes, please feel free to visit:

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church

The Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit

Remembering Our Spiritual Fathers

JMJ

On this "Father's Day," we are prone to think about our earthly fathers, our biological fathers, or perhaps even a step-father.  We think about the fathers and the father-figures in our life . . .  the men who did their best to raise us . . .  to nurture us . . .  to provide for us . .  . those men who did what they could to raise us up the best that they could.

Thinking about my own wonderful father and my grandfather on my mother's side, whom I loved very much and have missed for over 30 years . . . . I never knew my paternal grandfather because he died long before I was ever born . . . . anyway, thinking about my father and my grandfather and even my uncle who has influenced my life in such a wonderful way . . . thinking about these men who have had such influence over my life caused me to think of all the other men who have had such influence in my life:  the wonderful priests and even bishops who have had such an impression on me throughout my life and have had such an impact on me.

In his later years, after he had moved back to his hometown of Indianapolis, I had the wonderful good fortune of getting to know Bishop James Mote.  I would spend time with Bishop Mote on almost a daily basis;  whether it be attending Mass with him; going to dinner with him; taking him back to his apartment; going to breakfast on Saturday mornings with him after Mass to "Just Judy's" on 54th Street in Indianapolis.  There were many opportunities for me to spend time with Bishop Mote during the last few years of his life.  I was very blessed, to say the least.

One of the things that Bishop Mote did was to talk .  . . .  and tell stories . . .  and I loved hearing all of them . . . even if some of them I did hear quite a few times over and over again.  But one of the things that Bishop Mote loved to talk about was his time spent at his beloved parish in Denver, St. Mary's.  In fact, Bishop Mote would tell me many stories about the founder of St. Mary's:  Fr. Gustav Lehman.  As a matter of fact, Bishop Mote told me so many stories about Fr. Lehman that I felt like I knew Fr. Lehman personally.  Obviously, from the fact that Bishop Mote told so many stories about Fr. Lehman, it is evident that Fr. Lehman played a great role in Bishop Mote's life.  Fr. Lehman certainly helped to mold the priest and the future bishop in his beginning years as an assistant priest at St. Mary's in Denver.

Well, just like Fr. Lehman must have greatly affected Bishop Mote, I discovered the same thing about in regards to Bishop Mote having a great influence on me.  Bishop Mote did show me how to be a true priest through not really so much his words, but really by his example . . . the example of the way he lived his life.  He was a humble priest, a man of God, not only a shepherd but a servant as well.  He was a prayerful man and one who stood up for his principles as well.  He put his money where his mouth was, in other words, to use the vernacular term.

But Bishop Mote was not the only priest or bishop who has been a big influence in my life.  There have been so many wonderful priests that I have known over my years that have done so much for me . . .  to influence me . . . to help form me . . .  to guide me . . . . and even to pray for me.   In addition to Bishop Mote, I also remember Bishop Joseph Deyman, former ACC bishop of the Diocese of the Midwest, who welcomed Frances and I with open arms when we started attending St. Edward's in Indianapolis.  I think of the former pastors of parishes where I worked as a seminarian:  Fr. Andrew Hanlon, rector of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in West Philly.  He opened his rectory to me and let me live there for three years while I was a seminarian in need of a place to live.  There was also Fr. James Balderick, rector of Epiphany Parish in Norristown, PA, who took me under his wing and taught me what it was like to be a priest . . .  . he was truly a humble servant of God, if there ever was one, a true priest.

While these priests and bishops have all departed this life, there are still others who have had a great influence on my life and have shown me what it is like to be a priest:  Bishop Stephen Strawn, current bishop of the Diocese of the Missouri Valley, who welcomed me into the ACA and his diocese when I was called by the people of St. Margaret's to become their rector.  He is another example of someone who is down to earth and is servant in addition to shepherd.  There is also His Grace, Bishop Larry Shaver, Bishop of the APA Diocese of Mid-America.  Through his visits to St. Margaret's, I have gotten to know this wonderful man of God, who is to me very humble, prayerful, and a staunch believer in unity.

These men of God that I have mentioned have either directly or indirectly helped me to be not only the priest I have become today but also the Christian I have become.  All of us, whether ordained or laity, can look to examples of wonderful, prayerful priests, bishops and deacons who have done so much to influence our lives.  They have guided us . . . nourished us . . .  prayed for us . . .  provided us with the Sacraments.  These good and holy priests truly are our "spiritual fathers" because they have been there for us as well.  So, for all of these men, let us take an opportunity to remember them . . . to thank them . . . and to say a prayer of thanksgiving for them . . .  in return for all they have done for us!

God bless the good and holy priests that we have known in our lives!

Whitsunday, Sunday, June 8th, 2014

Whitsunday, Sunday, June 8th, 2014

In today's Gospel from St. John, we hear the following:  " . . . . If a man love me, he will keep my words; and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (St. John 14:15 ff)  Today we celebrate the feast of Whitsunday, or Pentecost.  Although I am sure that it would not  be liturgically correct, but outside of that it would certainly be appropriate to sing "Happy Birthday" at today's Mass because this is considered to be the "birthday of the Church" when the Holy Ghost descended upon those assembled in that upper room:  "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:1 ff)   Without a doubt, as we hear described here in the Second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostle, the whole house was filled, and the sound was like a great rushing, mighty wind.  But, again, it states that the "house was filled."  " . . . .  and it filled the house . . . ."  But they were filled also with the Holy Ghost because we hear in Verse 4:  "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost . .  ." (Acts 2:4)  

God has the ability to fill us up as well . . . but we have to allow Him.  God has the power to fill us with His Presence . . .  but we first have to be open.  God can come into our lives and empower us . . . but we have to be willing.   You see, God can do all things.  Obviously, we know this is true because He created the universe and everything in it.  But God will not come into our hearts without being invited first.  Just like the Apostles and the Blessed Mother, we need to be open to God coming into our hearts and our souls and our lives . . . . "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost" . . .   We, too, just like them can be filled with the Holy Ghost but two things have to happen first:  1) We need to invite God into our hearts and be open to Him;  2) We need to empty our hearts to make room for the Holy Ghost to come in.  You see, if we need to move something into the closet, such as jackets or sweaters or clothes, for example, we first have to make room in the closet for the new items we are moving there.  In other words, if the closet is already packed full of other things, you can not very well move anything else in there.  Make room in the closet so that you will have room for the new items.  In a similar way, how can the Holy Ghost find a place in our heart if our heart is already packed full with love of things of this life; love of things of this world; love of self; etc.  Clear your heart first of these things and then there will be ample room for the Holy Ghost to have a place in your heart.

Join us for Mass on Whitsunday as we celebrate the birthday of the Church.  Come gather with us at Mass and ask the Holy Ghost to fill your heart:  to give you knowledge; to enlighten you; to empower you; to lead you closer to your Heavenly Father.   Mass begins at 9:30 AM.  We celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.  Join us as we sing, worship and honour God; as we hear the Word of God spoken to each one of us; and also receive the Precious Body and Blood of Christ at communion time.  

If you want to find out more about our parish, please visit our website at:

http://indyanglican.blogspot.com/

Ascension Sunday, June 1st, 2014

Ascension Sunday, Sunday, June 1st, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"  (Acts, Chapter 1)

Sermon of Fr. Todd Bragg, given on Ascension Sunday, Sunday, June 1st, 2014, St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Please click on following link to listen to Fr. Todd's sermon:

Ascension Sunday, 2014

Fifth Sunday after Easter, Sunday, May 25, 2014

Fifth Sunday after Easter, Sunday, May 25th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only" (St. James, Chapter 1)

Sermon of Fr. Todd Bragg  from the Fifth Sunday after Easter, Sunday, May 25th, 2014, given at St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church, at the Chapel at Marquette Manor, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Please click on the following link to hear Fr. Todd's sermon:

Fr. Todd's Sermon 5th Sunday after Easter, 2014

Please visit our website:

Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit

St. Margaret of Scotland Anglican Church

Presentation of the Lord

Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, Sunday, February 2nd, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

" For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."  (St. Luke 2:22ff)

In this second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Luke is kind enough to share with us three different religious customs that the Holy Family took part in.  Just prior to the where the Gospel began in Mass today, we heard about the Circumcision of Our Lord and the Naming of the Child Jesus.  Then in today's Gospel passage, we heard about the Presentation of the Child Jesus and the Purification of the Blessed Mother.

We hear in verse 22 of today's Gospel:  "And when the days of her purification . . ." St. Luke cites Leviticus 12:2:  "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days."  Hence, St. Mary was fulfilling the law in her Purification in the Temple.  

Also, we hear of the Presentation of the Child Jesus.  This custom is mentioned as well in Exodus 13:2:  "Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel both of man and beast; it is Mine."   Here, the Lord reminds all the children of Israel that the firstborn, whether it be of man or of beast, belong to Him.  Some commentators believe that possibly this went back to pre-Jewish customs/practices where the first born would be offered up in sacrifice.  When we think of Abraham and his offer to sacrifice his son, this may not be too hard to imagine.  Other commentators believe that offering up the first born to God is showing dedication to God and appreciation for the gift of life that is represented in our children.  It is certainly something to think about:  i.e., God gives life to us and we offer it back to the same God who bestowed it upon us.  Isn't this what Christianity all about or what it should be about?

St. Luke reminds us that St. Joseph and St. Mary offered up two turtle doves as their offering to the Temple.  This tells us that that the Holy Family was actually poor because normally the offering was supposed to be a lamb, unless you were poor, then you were directed to sacrifice two turtle doves.

Now this brings us to Simeon.  As we have talked about in the past, the children of Israel were expecting the arrival of the Messiah but as we have discussed they were expecting the Messiah to be very powerful and to come with great armies and to help establish Israel as a geographic super power over all their enemies.

There were, on the other hand, certain people who were constant in prayer; in humble adoration; and faithful expectation.  These people were known as the "Quiet in the Land" and they humbly prayed for the coming of the Messiah and did not really focus too much on the political ramifications of His Coming.  This was Simeon.  He humbled himself before God daily in the Temple and the Holy Ghost had told him that he would not see death until he had laid eyes on the Messiah.  Thus, we can only envision Simeon and his excitement when he laid eyes on the Child Jesus and he knew this was the Messiah, so long awaited.  He presented the Child Jesus in the Temple and he blessed God for the Gift that He had bestowed not only on Israel, but on all of mankind!

Afterward, Simeon spoke to St. Mary.  What he stated can be broken down into four things.

1)  "Jesus will be the cause of many to fall."  Keep in mind that God never causes anyone to fall.  Why would He send His Only Begotten Son into the world to save the world if He wanted the world to fall?  We cause ourselves to fall by not accepting Jesus as our own personal Saviour.

2)  "Jesus will be the cause of many to rise."  Those who rise will be the ones to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour . . .  those who rise will be the ones who follow God in His commandments . . . those who rise will be the ones who follow Our Lords directives to "love one another as I have loved you."  "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things?  Prudent, and he shall know them?  For the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein." (Hosea 14:9)

3) "Jesus will be met with much opposition."  If we look throughout the Gospels, we soon see that this third point was certainly an understatement, to say the least.  But we should remind ourselves that if Our Blessed Saviour Himself faced so much opposition, we should not be surprised in the least when being a Christian will bring us opposition.  If you doubt me, just make a point to stand up for God.  Make a point to stand up for something you believe in.  Make a point to defend someone who you see being picked on.  Make a point to stand up for your convictions and pretty soon you will find all sorts of opposition.

4)  Simeon said to St. Mary that  "a sword shall pierce through your own soul."  When you think of all the people who ever lived, who do you think was the happiest person in the history of the world?  If you would ask me, it was Our Lady.  When you think about it, she was in the presence of God for over thirty years.  This was her Son.  She lived with Him, raised Him, cared for Him, ate with Him, worked with Him, enjoyed life with Him.  She saw Him grow from a baby to a boy to a man.  And while she spent so many wonderful times with Him, her heart was also broken as well.  When she could not find Him and found Him teaching in the Temple.  When she saw her Son mocked and ridiculed.  When she saw Him cruelly scourged at the pillar and made to carry His own Cross.  And, finally, when she saw Him die an agonizing death on the Cross.  Each one of times, as Simeon predicted, a sword pierced her heart and her soul.

We should learn from this lesson that even after we dedicated our lives to God, we know that there will be times when we will be tried . . . when we will be persecuted . . . when we will face challenges . . . when we will be mocked for our beliefs . .  and yet, just like the Blessed Mother, God was with her in the good times and the bad.  And, she remained faithful to Him as well in the good times and the bad.  The same can be said for us that we should remain faithful to God no matter what . . .  in the good times and the bad.

Play Dirty and Pray!

Third Sunday after Epiphany, Sunday, January 26th, 2014

Fr. Todd Bragg

Anglican Church of the Holy Spirit

Greenfield, Indiana

" His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever He saith unto you, do it."  (St. John 2:1ff)

or

"Play dirty and pray!"

Now, you probably noticed that the first quotation I read to you was from the Gospel that we just heard from the second chapter of St. John's Gospel.  But you might be scratching your head wondering what that second quotation was from:  "Play dirty and pray!"  This was one of the favorite sayings of Bishop James Mote, whom I had the great honour of knowing and being friends with in the last years of his life.

When I tell you that Bishop Mote was a true pioneer, I do not use that term lightly.  He was one of the first four bishops consecrated back in 1978 when those of us in what has come to be known as the "Continuing Churches" left the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Mote was a Hoosier.  He was born and raised in Indianapolis and from his youth, he was always a committed Anglo-Catholic.  As a young man, he served in the United States Army during the Second World War and even fought in the Battle of the Bulge.  He was given the Bronze Star for his bravery.  When the War was over, he returned back home and eventually went to the Seminary, receiving his theology training from Nashota House.   Upon his ordination to the priesthood, he ended up in St. Mary's Parish in Denver, Colorado, assisting Fr. Lehman.  Upon the death of Fr. Lehman, then Father Mote became the rector of St. Mary's and he was associated with his beloved parish of St. Mary's for fifty years.

As stated earlier, when many people were beginning to grow weary of the changes in the Episcopal Church in the 1960's and 1970's, particularly the changes to the Book of Common Prayer and also the coming ordination of women, Bishop Mote led his parish out of the Episcopal Communion.  Again, along with many other faithful Anglicans and Episcopalians throughout the country, this was the beginnings of the Continuing Churches.

Upon his retirement, Bishop Mote moved to Florida for a few years, but after that, he moved back to his native Indianapolis where he lived out the final years of his life.  It was during this time that I got to know Bishop Mote very well because I would spend time with him in church and outside of church.  Bishop Mote was a character.  He would repeat the same stories over and over again but I would have gladly listened to those stories a thousand more times.  I considered him to be not only a wonderful friend but a true inspiration to me as a priest.  When I was ordained to the priesthood in 2002, I had the great honour of having Bishop Mote lay hands on me when I was ordained.  And before he died, he gave me his Mass set, which I still use every time I celebrate Mass at St. Margaret.   Thus, when I celebrate Mass I cannot help but think of him.

Now, Bishop Mote was truly a pioneer in the history of the Continuing Churches and Anglicanism, in general, but this is not why I regard him so greatly.  Through knowing Bishop Mote, I discovered that he was many things as a priest, but chiefly I discovered that Bishop Mote, as a priest, was:  Humble; Prayerful; and Faithful.

Firstly, Bishop Mote was humble.  As mentioned above, the fact that Bishop Mote was a bishop and the fact that he was a real pioneer in the true sense of the word, you would probably expect Bishop Mote to be treated as such, with much dignity and respect.  But Bishop Mote would have none of that.  He was, first and foremost, very humble.  " . . .  all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (I St. Peter 5:5-6)  Bishop Mote was humble to a fault.  There were many times that we would have a church dinner, where you would find Bishop Mote pouring coffee; picking up dishes; cleaning tables; washing dishes; etc.  He was a bishop, yes, but he remembered that he was a servant, first and foremost.

When I was a young priest, newly ordained, I was assigned to say the Tuesday and Friday daily Masses each week.  Where there was no one to serve, Bishop Mote would insist on serving the Mass for me.  I begged Bishop Mote to switch places with me so that he could say Mass and I could serve for him but he would have nothing to do with that.  He insisted on serving Mass for me because he stated that I was the one that was scheduled to say the Mass so he wanted to serve for me.

" . . . but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant; and whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant.  Even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many."  (St. Matthew 20:26-28)

Bishop Mote truly followed the example of Our Blessed Saviour, Who came to serve.  The Master taught the Disciples through example.  So did Bishop Mote.

Secondly, Bishop Mote  was prayerful.  "Pray without ceasing." (I Thessalonians 5:17)  Some of my favorite recollections of Bishop Mote was when I would arrive at church, no matter how early I would get there, Bishop Mote would always be there praying in the front pew.  I remember Bishop Mote had a binder where he had his prayer intentions typed out and he would spend his time praying for each and every one of these intentions.  If someone asked Bishop Mote for prayers, he definitely took these requests seriously and would pray.  Bishop Mote, if you ever talked to him, always had a wonderful smile on his face.  Certainly, this came from his relationship with His Saviour.  He had an intimate relationship with Our Blessed Saviour, which he spent time with God each and every day.   Bishop Mote used his prayer time as a time to get to know God.  He had a confident relationship with God because he spent time with God on a daily basis.

Thirdly, Bishop Mote was faithful.   "And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is as mine heart and in my mind:  and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever." (I Samuel 2:35)  Bishop Mote was faithful to God but also was faithful to his beliefs as a devout Christian / Anglo-Catholic.  Bishop Mote did not just talk the talk, he walked the walk.  As mentioned earlier, as a parish priest, when he saw that the Episcopal Church was going astray from their roots, he cut ties and left.  In many ways, it certainly would have been easier and simpler to just stay and not leave.  But as a committed Anglo-Catholic, he made the decision to leave and he did just that.  Later, Bishop Mote also spent many hours in prayer at the abortion clinics.  In fact, when Operation Rescue took place, Bishop Mote traveled to Atlanta and got arrested in the abortion protests there.  And while in jail, he witnessed not only to the prisoners but to the guards!  Bishop Mote remained faithful to God throughout his entire life.  He led by example, first and foremost.  He was firmly committed to his relationship with God and he let others know about God not only through the words he spoke but the actions he took.

As I have described so far, these are certainly wonderful qualities to find in a priest, but honestly these qualities described are what we should find in any committed Christian:  humility; prayerfulness; faithfulness.  This attributes come from a having a daily relationship with God.  Bishop Mote had this and so should we.