Join us Christmas Eve

Join Us

7:00 p.m.

The birth of Jesus is a miracle. 
God has come into the world as a human being,
conceived in the womb of a young virgin 

as a new Adam; 

the beginning of a new mankind.

This is a season of miracles. 
A season of supernatural visits from angels.

Experience the supernatural miracle of Christmas 

Tuesday 12/24 7:00 p.m. 

Joy!

Join one of home care groups as we learn about the power and blessing of Joy!  

Over 5 weeks, we'll examine the orthodox tradition of Joy as well as a chapter by chapter study of the book of Phillipians. 

Tuesday night meetings in Clarence start on October 29th. 

Thursday night meetings in Amherst start on November 7th.

Contact Josh Baker or Christine Clerc to sign up!

My favorite ancient and contemporary music for Advent and Christmas Worship

The countdown begins!  For those who make the musical choices for Sunday worship, Advent and Christmas are two of the best seasons of the year.

In this post I'm going to outline some major and minor themes of advent and then list my favorite songs for planning worship under four stylistic categories: ancient (200 years+), traditional (50-200 years), contemporary (past 50 years) and convergent. 

In our church we emphasize a unified convergent style, with ancient liturgical traditions, allowing for the move of the spirit and embracing where God's people are creating musically today. We do not have a choir, organ, or orchestra. So like many worship bands trying to produce beautiful worship for our King, we are limited to more simplistic songs rhythmically and more melody focused. 

Themes for Advent

Advent is the season of remembrance anticipation and waiting for the promise of the Messiah is almost here. We as Christians recall the plight of humanity and the nation of Israel in waiting for the Savior to arrive. God has promised to send the Messiah. Not just any messiah, but The Messiah. The Game Changer. The one who would raise his people out of the sewers and restore them to right relationship with God. 

In Advent we remember looking forward and continue to look forward in hope and gratitude that God still loves us and has not forsaken us. That even though our failures in leaving Him and ignoring Him and His word, even though our preoccupation with ourselves has ruined our lives, that God is a God of Mercy and Grace who will  not let us go without a fight. He will send His Mighty Warrior to fight the battle and conquer sin, and give us an avenue to being in right relationship with God again.

Keywords: waiting, hope, promise, anticipation, come, expectation, healing, restoration, the King, the Son of Man, the Messiah, Emmanuel, Rescue, we need, Hosanna, preparation.

My favorites for Advent:

Ancient:

Let all mortal flesh keep silent

Day of Wrath O Day of Mourning v. 1-5

Hark a thrilling voice is sounding

Savior of the nations Come!

O Come O come Emmanuel

Traditional:

Hark! The glad sound

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

Joy to the World

There's a voice in the wilderness crying. 

When came in flesh the Incarnate Word

What a Friend

Contemporary:

Who will Ascend. -  Dan Wilt

Days of Elijah. -  Robin Mark

Prepare Ye the way - Michael W. Smith

Here I am to Worship. - Tim Hughes

We Fall Down.  -  chris Tomlin. 

Everlasting God. -  Brenton Brown

All who are thirsty. -  Brenton Brown

Your Grace is Enough. -  Matt Maher

Waiting Here for You. -  Christy Nockels

You Bring Peace.  - Sam Hargreaves

Forever.  -  Chris Tomlin

Love Came Down. - Bethel worship

Love Comes Down.  -   Matt Maher

Did you feel the mountains tremble. -  Martin Smith/Delirious

Fires. -  Matt Redman

The King is Coming. -  Jared Anderson

Let us adore. -  Ben Fielding/Darlene Zschech

Prepare the way  Jared Anderson

All God's Children. -  Martin Smith

Salvation is Here  -  Joel Houston

You'll Come-  Brook Fraser/Ligertwood

You are Holy. -  Marc Imboden

Lord we need you.  -   Josh Baker

Hosanna (Praise is Rising) -  Paul Baloche

Convergent

Joy to the world (Unspeakable Joy). - Chris Tomlin

Joyful (the one who saves)

Songs for the Christmas Season

Ancient

So here's a little known but fun fact for today's modern worship leaders. For most Christian worshippers in the ancient church, Christ's birth wasn't very important. Everybody knew that He had been born. They put more significance on Advent, Epiphany, the coming of the Magi, the baptism of Christ, and His first miracle. The emphasis for the earliest churches were How the Son of God revealed Himself and the promise was fulfilled. Some have said that Christmas was a way for the Christians to try and steal the thunder of The pagan sun god feast day, but I think it went much deeper than that. 

Around the same time that Christ's birth started to be emphasized was when the Church was fighting the battle of identifying God's ontological identity. In other words, was God Man or God. Christmas teaches us that God was and incarnate that he could've come in power as the son of a ruler, he could've been born to a rich family and started an empire, he could've descended and started turning rocks into bread and solved world hunger, making our version of utopia come to life....

But he didn't. He came as a baby. The weakest, most vulnerable creature there is. Most Animal babies can at least walk or hop or swim, but not humans. Our babies rely completely on the loving care of their parents in order to survive. He came as the weakest of the weak. The tradition of our Lord's nativity show us that He came to rule by serving. He established His throne by sacrificing. Everything about Christmas shows us the nature of Jesus as the Godman and his divinity is established and expounded through the tradition of Christmas. 

Because of this, however, not many ancient songs are easily found relating to Christmas.

Ancient Hymns

Jesus, light of all the nations (4th century)

Angels we have heard on high (converted from Angel's Hymn, ordained by AD 129)

Traditional

Angels we have heard on High

Away in a Manger
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Joy to the World
O Come all Ye Faithful
Go Tell it On the Mountain
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent Night
The First Noel
                                                              What Child is This?

Contemporary

Emmanuel  -  Reuben Morgan
Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground)   -  Chris Tomlin
He made a way in a manger
Glory to God   -   Brenton Brown
Here is Our King   -   David Crowder
Light Has Come   -   Charlie Hall
Love Came Down   -   Bethel Worship
Loves Comes Down   -   Matt Maher
Let Us Adore Him   -    Hillsong
Christmas Offering   -   Paul Baloche
Our King Has Come   -   Hillsong
Servant and King   -  Eoghan Heaslip
Silent Night (Emmanuel)   -   Matt Maher
Winter Snow   -   Audrey Assad
Your Name (Christmas Version)   -   Paul Baloche

Convergent

All Creation Sing (Joy to the World)   -   Steve Fee
Joy to the World  (Unspeakable Joy)   -   Chris Tomlin
Joyful Joyful  (the One who Saves)   -   Brenton Brown
Hark the Herald  ( King of Heaven)   -   Paul Baloche
Joy to the World (Shout for Joy)   -   Paul Baloche




Thanks everyone and may God bless your Advent and Christmas Worship!

Fight!

Come and be strengthened as you fight for your family and yourself. Fight like a man!

Listen to Craig Groeschel speak to men about what it takes to be the warrior we were created to be. 

Location still TBD. 

Check out this sample chapter from the book:

http://zondervan.com/sites/default/files/cms/trade/Fight/Fight_Excerpt.pdf

Know a guy who's struggling? Bring him along!

https://www.facebook.com/events/176784092513986/

The fight simulcast with Craig Groeschel. 

May the Lord bless you as your motherly love is an icon of God in the hearts of your children.  
--Fr. Kevin

Words with no place in worship.

(This article is written for mature believers only.  New converts and immature believers will be learning this content as they go.)


Worship is sacred.

Worship is beholden by God.

Worship is directed, and we obey.

Sometimes we lose track of what we're supposed to do. We lose our way and become lost sheep.  We lose light of the flock and the Shepard and we start placing the focus elsewhere.

Here are some things I have heard said in churches that have no place in worship:






"Well normally we stand for the Gospel, but we've done a lot of standing today so let's all sit for the Gospel."

Is it important to stand during some parts of the service?  Can't we worship in our spirits even if we don't look like it?  After all, we hear the same thing.  We get the same information.  I still get a lot out of it. I'm still being fed.

Standing is a sign of reverence just as lifting your hands is a sign of praise and adoration.  If you choose to sit during a visible sign of reverence, you are doing the opposite of revering the Creator of the universe... you are despising Him.  I guarantee that the person who said this did not mean to despise the Lord.  Most likely, this person never learned the significance of standing during the Gospel.

However, think about the implication that must have been made. We stand to revere God, but we're tired so let's sit down.  The considerations are pitting our comfort versus God's deserving of reverence.  How many times in a week do we decide not to do something for God that he has designed for us to do for the sake of our own comfort?  How often do we skip morning prayer so we can sleep a little longer? Do we miss the Eucharistic celebration so we can have some family time, or so that we won't have to work hard to get there on time in the morning? Do we not raise our hands because it makes us uncomfortable?  Do we not pray in public for the same reason? Do we watch The Voice instead of reading the Word?

Any time we make a decision to honor our own comfort instead of honoring God, we are placing ourselves at the center of the universe.  Our faith is based on sacrifice.  His sacrifice becomes the model of our sacrifice.  He hung on a cross for hours...  we can't stand for a few minutes?



"Well we have a baptism today, so there's not enough time for the eucharist."

Can I suggest that all other elements of worship are expendable other than the Eucharist?

The Eucharist is at the center, without the center you only have emptiness. In too many traditions today, things of men are at the center.  Music.  Reading.  Videos. The sermon. Youth Group.  Coffee hour.

Can you have the worship Jesus designed without the sermon?  Yes.
Music? Yes.
Readings? Yes.
Videos?  Yes.
Youth Groups? Yes.
Coffee hour?  Yes.
Sunday School? Yes.
The Offering? Yes.
Even the sermon? (thousands of preachers are saying "No! Not the Sermon!!"  /   while their congregations are thinking "Well...maybe cutting it down to 10 minutes?")

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME!!!

Jesus did not say do it when nothing else is going on.  Jesus did not say, eh you should do it, but if you're having a busy Sunday, get rid of it.

How self-focused is it of us to disobey our Savior?  If we're going to disobey Him here, why not other places?  Can you think of anywhere else in our culture where were are choosing not to obey what He commanded us to do? Maybe a big reason why is because we as the Church have been choosing not to obey Him.

As Christians we really need to think deeply about the decisions we make and analyze what the impact of them are.

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Engaging Our Culture With Good News

O and E at St.P’s CEC
by Michael Kinsey, St. Patrick's Seminarian
Online Ministry Writer--Outreach and Evangelism (O and E)

<sup>Vol. I, 2

Engaging Our Culture With Good News
Ren Fest, History Forums, Medieval Re-enactment</sup>

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ!  I hope the last month has treated you well and has seen a deeper faith in God.  Having gone through Lent and just experiencing the wonder of Resurrection I pray that you have a new vision of who God is and who He wants you to be! 

This month’s edition of O and E at St. P’s CEC is going to focus on one part of our convergent nature.  We are a sacramental/liturgical, evangelical and charismatic communion.  The question I posed to all of you in the first edition is the question of “how?”  How can we reach out to people who have lost faith or who have never had faith through each of the three streams of the Church?  This edition will focus on how to reach out to people who will respond best to the sacramental/liturgical stream.

To begin, we must realize that we are not leaving out any information about our communion.  We are convergent.  Just because some people might respond better to knowing that we are sacramental/liturgical does not mean we neglect to speak of the other two streams!  What a surprise that would be for the seeker to come into a church thinking we are only sacramental and they hear the evangelical Gospel and witness charismatic expression!  We must always remember to include each stream, even if we are focusing on one in particular.

So, who are the people who would respond best to knowing that we are a sacramental/liturgical church?   I would say there are two categories of people who would respond best.

 (1)  There are some individuals who have an avid love of history, of cultural (or family) tradition and of learning from those realities so that their lives might be lived more fully. 

These types of individuals would be well-suited to have a discussion about the sacramental/liturgical aspect of our communion.  Think for a moment, we are a modern expression of the Ancient Church.  We continue the rites, the rituals and the regulae fide (the rule of faith)!  We are connected to the Ancient Church in a very real, tangible and visual way.  Anyone who loves history can appreciate the historicity of our modern expression.  This kind of individual can be found studying in college libraries, posting in history forums online and participating in festivals like the Renaissance Festival or the Mountain Man Festival. 

In order to reach these individuals we need to be present in these areas.  Colleges need Christ more than ever.  Professors speak against faith and for vain philosophy even in the religion classes!  Students who have any inclination toward faith are quickly isolated.  We need to break down that isolation and show them that they are not alone!  UB and Daemen are on our back doorstep.  How can we reach the history lovers with the Gospel and with a modern connection to the Ancient Church?  Online forums are often bereft of Christ-likeness.  We can interject Christ’s love in those forums while at the same time demonstrating the ACTUAL connection our communion has with the Ancient Church!  We can go to the Renaissance Festivals (a great excuse to dress up) and proclaim the Gospel!  We are LIVING history.  What more does a performer at a Ren Festival or Mountain Man Festival desire but to LIVE OUT history?  We can provide that for them regularly through the active connection we have to the Ancient Church!   

     It takes commitment, however, to do that.  It takes a healthy realization that we will not reach everyone all at once.  It will be hard work.  These are not the only places that history/culture lovers congregate.  There are more.  We need to be there, advocating for a living history in the living Ancient Church.    

(2)  There are those who would respond best to discussions of God through the promise of God showing up in worship! 

This can happen in each of the three streams of Church, although differently.  God shows up in church through the Eucharist, which is the most obvious first step in the discussion.  There will be questions about transubstantiation, consubstantiation, etc. which can be answered later by the parish priest.  The most important aspect of the Eucharist for which we advocate is that God arrives through it.  Do you need God’s actual presence to see you through your difficulties?  God is present in the Eucharist!  Do you need God’s actual grace to give you peace in the midst of tribulation?  God’s grace is present in the Eucharist!  Yet, God and His grace is in the midst of each of the sacraments!  Do you need healing?  God and His grace are in the sacrament of Healing!  Do you need grace to resist evil?  God and His grace are present in the sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation!  Do you want you and your fiancé to have a blessed marriage?  God and His grace are present in the sacrament of Marriage!  Do you feel like you want to give your life entirely to God and His work? God and His grace are present in the sacrament of Holy Orders!  Are you struggling with sin and evil?  Has your life been in a tale-spin spiral at an ever increasing speed?  God and His grace are present in the sacrament of Reconciliation!  He can stop the tail-spin and set your airplane aright! 

Brothers and sisters, THIS IS EXCITING!  God is PRESENT with us in the sacraments!  Those who are struggling in life need to know this!!!  So the question becomes, who can we reach through sacrament language?  The answer is this – ANYONE WHO IS HURTING!  Whether people say they are agnostic, atheist, or other, everyone needs and wants assurance that someone else is looking out for their best interest.  Who better to look out for our best interest than God?  So, is there someone you know that is hurting, Christian or otherwise, who needs to know that God is actually present and that His grace can actually assist?  Tell them about the presence of God and His grace in the sacraments!  I am sure the parish priest can and will answer the more difficult questions that arise. You are called to preach and proclaim. The priest can teach and explain!

So, brothers and sisters, do you know of any history and culture lovers that are also hurting?  These are the people who are going to best respond to the sacramental/liturgical nature of our communion.  Reach out to them in love.  Demonstrate the Gospel to them.  Invite them to church to experience the rites, the rituals and to see the grace of God visited upon those who are baptized through the Eucharist.  With prayer, patience and love, they will ask for baptism (if they are not already baptized) or take the Eucharist fresh (if they are already baptized).  They will experience for themselves the actual presence of God and His grace through the sacrament and through the liturgy.  More than filling our pews, or the coffers, we are called to preach and proclaim Christ to a lost and broken world.  This is our mission.  This is our purpose.  Join with St. Patrick’s to see that the city of Buffalo hears the Good News once again – fresh – Ancient – with God’s very presence.

Holy Week Schedule

Good Friday 6:00 p.m.

Join us as we pray the ancient 

Stations of the Cross
At the conclusion,
you will have the opportunity (no obligation) to kneel at the cross,

confess your sins,

and receive absolution from a priest.

 

 

Fr. Kevin invites everyone to worship! 

Easter Sunday 11:30 a.m.
Celebrate The Resurrection!

Renew your baptism!  
 

Kids Easter egg hunt after church!

Lenten Google+ Online Bible Study

OPEN TO EVERYONE ONLINE!: Online Mid-Week Lenten/Easter Study: Fr. Kevin pioneering an online midweek Bible study Wednesday evening 7:00-8:30 p.m. 




We look forward to Christians from all over joining us live! Send me your email address and we will add you to Google+.

You will need internet connection and Google+ account. The Lenten and Easter Bible study is an eight lesson study from the Gospel of Matthew chapters 21-28 studying the Life of Christ as Jesus makes his journey to holy week, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday!

The purpose of the forty-day Lenten journey is to spiritually prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday.

Lesson Number	Description	Handouts
Lesson 1	The Prophet-King Comes to Jerusalem	2 Handouts
Lesson 2	The Prophet-King Teaches in the Temple	1 Handout
Lesson 3	Jesus' Eschatological Sermon	1 Handout
Lesson 4	The Last Supper	2 Handouts
Lesson 5	Jesus' Arrest and Trials	4 Handouts
Lesson 6	The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ

The Goals of Outreach and Evangelism

 The Goals of Outreach and Evangelism
by Michael Kinsey

When Fr. Kevin asked me to write each month for the church's blog I felt quite honored.  Never had I thought anyone would ask me to write about such a weighty topic as outreach and evangelism.  I took one week to ask myself about outreach and evangelism and what they are, by definition.  After a week I realized that I could not come up with an adequate definition that satisfied the convergent nature of our communion.  So instead I decided to focus on the goals of outreach and evangelism.  I would like to share my findings with you in the first installment of “O and E in St. P's CEC.”

Outreach.  Staying true to my previous intent I will define the goal of outreach, instead of outreach itself.  Since outreach can be done in different ways depending on the character of the congregation doing it, it makes more sense to focus our attentions elsewhere for the time being, such as on the intention of outreach.

The goal of outreach is to actively and intentionally pursue people who are outside of the Christian faith with the purpose of bringing them into communion with the Church so that they might be evangelized.  Since each congregation has a different character (and by no means am I an expert on identifying that character), defining the specifics of what outreach is can create voids in coverage for people who really need the love of Jesus Christ

For instance, a communion with an emphasis on reaching out to struggling families will intentionally find people to reach out to who are suffering deeply because of their family circumstances.  While this is admirable and necessary in any effective outreach attempt, if it becomes the end all be all of outreach there are several demographics of people which are still being missed.  For the communion of believers whose emphasis is on attracting younger people only, the older generations already within the communion can oftentimes feel neglected and unable to minister to newcomers. Outreach must have the goal of reaching out to anyone who will listen, regardless of age, race, orientation or social circumstance.  Jesus is for everyone.

Evangelism.  The goal of evangelism is three fold:

(1) To see more individuals connect to the Ancient Church through the attending of worship services at St. Patrick's CEC;

(2) To see more individuals saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and in relationship with Him; and

(3) to see more individuals given to the ministry of the Church and using their Holy Spirit-given gifts in that ministry. 

These goals in evangelism fulfill the broader vision of the CEC, that is, to converge the sacramental-liturgical, evangelical and charismatic flows of Christianity.  How can anyone experience the sacramental or liturgical richness of Christ without being present during the worship service?  It is necessary therefore to express the desire to see our communion grow numerically so that the sacraments can be duly administered and the liturgy being faithfully heard. 

The evangelical goal of evangelism is witness more people come to Christ through faith in Him.  If we come to church and no one experiences the living Christ then what good is church? 

Likewise, the charismatic goal of evangelism is to allow individuals to use their gifts to minister to the flock as the priesthood of all believers.  If we do not have gifts (or fruits) then what good can we do one for another in ministry? 
The way which we do outreach must be done in a way that is influenced by evangelism.   How can we bring the convergent Church to the masses in a way that will both attract and educate them, perhaps enough to begin wondering, “what makes St. Patrick's so different?” 

This is the question with which I will leave you; since you are such an integral part of this communion, how can you reach out to someone with the intent of seeing them come to church, know Jesus personally and minister to them with the gifts you have received?

Stay tuned for next month's “O and E in St. P's CEC”

Michael Kinsey is a seminarian pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Northeastern Seminary At Roberts Wesleyan College.  He attends St. Patrick's CEC. 

 

January 27 at St. Patrick's

Epiphany 3--Learning to Minister Like Jesus

Click on Scripture Lessons below for study links and resources:

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10

Psalm 19

1 Corinthians 12:12-31a

Luke 4:14-21

Learning to Minister Like Jesus:

Today’s message is the fulfillment of a Messianic prophesy by Jesus during a synagogue service.  When the power of the Spirit comes on Jesus, and later the Book of Acts Church, ANOINTING and SENDING to minister to the world is the result.  Today, God wants to anoint and send you to proclaim Jesus’ words, and do his works!  Expect! + + +

Ash Wednesday 2/13 6:30 p.m. in the Upper Room 

-->

Online Mid-Week Lenten/Easter Study: Fr. Kevin pioneering an online midweek Bible study Wednesday evening 7:30-8:30 p.m. You will need internet connection and Google+ free account.  The Lenten and Easter Bible study is an eight lesson study that will begin on Ash Wednesday and will conclude on Wednesday of Easter The focus of the study will be the Gospel of Matthew chapters 21-28, but we will also study related and relevant passages in the other three Gospels. The purpose of the forty-day Lenten journey is to spiritually prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday.

Last Sunday of the Month Agape Feast—Stay for fellowship and food!

Prayer Meeting: Prayer is the energy source of a church!  Prayer is what releases the power of God’s Spirit to make our work of proclaiming Jesus’ words and doing his works effective! To join our prayer ministry talk to Fr. Kevin .

CEC News: www.cechome.comwww.cechome.com

C3 Spring 2013.  Coming soon.  See Josh Baker for more!