The Ministry of the Holy Spirit--The Gift That Keeps On Giving

 

Over the past 25 years, Pentecostals and charismatics seem to have lost their distinctive--the experience known as the filling or baptism in the Holy Spirit.  The seeker movement has caused many to think that the work of the Holy Spirit in the context of worship as outlined by The Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 12 & 14 is embarrassing and alienating to pre-Christians (unbelievers) who come to visit a church. Is this correct?

The mission of the Church is to partner with the Holy Spirit to continue proclaiming Jesus' words, and doing his works until Jesus returns.  The Holy Spirit is the source of power, and brings the presence of God into a church service.  The best marketing efforts and planning  of human beings that go into a church service will not produce what the hearts of men are seeking most--the tangible presence and experience of God.   

Retired CEC Bishop Philip Weeks has assembled a lifetime of teaching on the Holy Spirit into a new book called "The Gift That Keeps on Giving."  If you want to learn the basics about experiencing the empowerment ministry of the Holy Spirit described in the Scriptures, I highly recommend this book!

At St. Patrick's Church, the Holy Spirit is Lord, and we expect and welcome the presence of the Spirit and the gifts he brings for us in our worship.  Contrary to Pentecostals abandoning the gifts in worship, we welcome you Holy Spirit!  Come Holy Spirit, come!

Acts 1:8 

⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1 Cor. 12

⁴ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. ⁵⁶ God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.

 ⁷ A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice^[b]; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.^{[c] 9} The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. ¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,^[d] while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. ¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

Convergence Worship

Today in our parish council meeting, we were discussing what are the differentiators that make our church different in the local church landscape in Buffalo.  One of our ministry leaders mentioned that her husband had searched on Google for "convergence worship" and we did not show up.

Convergence worship is why I left the Vineyard churches to launch this new adventure called St. Patrick's Church.  In the weeks to come, we hope to share the passion we have for convergence worship which is what we do every Sunday!

• A classic article by our friend Archbishop Wayne Boosahda "The Convergence Movement." 

Why We Baptize Infants and Children

Here is a great article that captures our theology of why we baptize the children of believers--"A Contemporary Reformed Defense of Infant Baptism."

Speaking at The Way Christian Community Postponed

Fr. Kevin's teaching at The Way Christian Community in Buffalo tonight was postponed due to the lake effect snowstorm.  Will be rescheduled.

David Barton--Wall Builders--Lies That My Teacher Told Me

Douglas Gresham--C.S. Lewis and Narnia

A great talk given at Liberty University convocation by Douglas Gresham.  He is the stepson of C.S. Lewis, and the maker of the Narnia series of movies.  Lots of great nuggets of truth in a very funny talk.

Facebook page

For day to day items of interest, check out St. Patrick's Facebook page.  See you there.

Catholic Losses Are Baptist Gains

Catholic Losses Are Baptist Gains

This is a real eye opener!

Speaking at The Way Christian Community Thursday

Fr. Kevin is speaking at The Way Christian Community, 65 Cherry Street in Buffalo, NY Thursday 1/19 at 7:00 p.m.  I will be speaking on "The Bishop Our Shepherd."

N.T Wright and Stephen Colbert

Colbert the theologian!

The Colbert Report
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Feast of Our Lord The Giver of Life

Check out what the leader of our communion of churches wants us to hear about BEING PRO-LIFE!  On January 15, we take up our annual offering to support CEC For Life.  Learn more here.

Church Membership 2012

If you have been attending St. Patrick's, and are interested in learning about church membership, the basics are all who attend and receive communion each week are  considered both baptized and communicant members.  If you would like to serve as a ministry leader, or pursue holy orders we require that you be a confirmed member. 

If you desire to be confirmed in your faith, or received as a confirmed member of the church, please contact Fr. Kevin.  A membership certificate is given to all who are confirmed by a CEC Bishop at St. Patrick's  or received into our communion. 

From the canons of The International Communion of the Charismatic Episcopal Church about membership:

III. Membership 3


A. A Baptized Member is one baptized in water in the name of the Trinity who maintains fellowship in a particular congregation and who is enrolled in the parish register. 

B. A Communicant is a Baptized Member who regularly participates in the life of the congregation, including sharing in the sacraments.


C. A Confirmed Member is a Communicant who has been confirmed by the laying on of hands of a Bishop in the Charismatic Episcopal Church, or has been received by a Bishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church, having been previously confirmed in a communion in apostolic succession. Only confirmed members may hold canonical offices. 

D. Responsibilities of Members 

1. Regular participation in the life of the Church; 

2. Contributing tithes and offerings; 

3. Submission to the vision of the leadership; 

4. Serving through various gifts and ministries for the building  up of the Church; 

5. A commitment to the Great Commission and the Great  Commandment.