July 6, 2006

You've Got Mail

Although the Christian faith was proclaimed in Britain since before the time of St. Alban (the fourth century Roman soldier who sheltered a Christian priest during a time of persecution and was martyred in his place), no contact had been made with the Celtic Christians living on this European island since the fall of the Roman Empire.  In the sixth century, Pope Gregory, who desired the gospel of Jesus Christ to flourish to the ends of the earth, sent a new missionary effort to Britain.  He selected, from his own monastery in Rome, a group of monks led by their prior, Augustine.  They arrived in Kent in 597, carrying a silver cross and an image of Jesus Christ painted on a board.  The king at that time, named Ethelbert, tolerated their presence and allowed them the use of an old Roman church built on the east side of Canterbury where they prayed, celebrated the Eucharist, preached and baptized.  (This church of St. Martin is the earliest place of Christian worship in England still in use today.)  Four years later Ethelbert was converted, becoming the first Christian king in England.  About the same time, Augustine was ordained a bishop and named "Archbishop of the English Nation."  The Cathedral Church of Christ in Canterbury thus became the center of the Christian faith in England, and later, to all Christians who are part of the Anglican Communion throughout the world.

Well-known saints are among Augustine's successors at Canterbury:  Theodore (who in the seventh century provided the educational institutions needed to equip the leaders of the Irish and English Church); Dunstan (who in the tenth century strengthened the monastic spiritual movement in England during a national time of rebuilding after the Viking invasions); Alphege (who in the early eleventh century was captured by the invading Danes and brutally murdered for his refusal to allow a personal ransom to be collected from his already over-burdened people);  Anselm (who, one hundred years after Alphege's death, defended the legitimacy of a questioning spirituality that is best described as "faith seeking understanding" and developed an important "proof" for the existence of God as well as a significant thesis explaining why Jesus had to die on the cross); and Thomas Cranmer (who in the sixteenth century was instrumental in reforms that led to the Bible being translated and the Eucharist being celebrated in simple English rather than academic Latin).  My seminary was blessed with the saintly spirituality and wisdom of the 100^th Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael Ramsey, who spent several academic years in the mid 1980s among the students and faculty during his retirement, even baptizing some of my friends' infant children!  I also have had the privilege of meeting and listening to the teaching of the 102^nd and 103^rd Archbishops, Robert Runcie and George Carey, during the last two decades and gained much from their insights and faithfulness. 

Unlike Pope Benedict of the Roman Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury is not a leader who directs the church by decree.  Instead, like his predecessors, Rowan Williams (the 104^th and current Archbishop of Canterbury) serves the church as a spiritual teacher, presider and convener of a global church of over 77 million Christians bound together in communion with one another, of which Church of the Beloved, the Diocese of North Carolina and the Episcopal Church are a part.

To my knowledge, there has never been a letter written from an Archbishop of Canterbury to all the faithful in the Anglican Communion until the one issued early last week.  Archbishop Williams' letter to each of us is a thoughtful reflection on what is means to be an Anglican Christian, the importance of our Christian expression for the world and the sacrifices we need to make as a church to be an effective witness to Jesus in the global culture of the 21^st Century.  I believe it deserves a prayerful read.  The text can be found here.  

If you would like help sorting out the content of this letter, just let me know.  Even though it is a messy time in our church's history, I think it is an exciting time to be an Anglican Christian.  God is faithful and continues to work, making all things new.  My prayer during this time of transformation is that the Spirit's mercy, blessing and power will pour out on Anglicans throughout the world as we seek to share Jesus with our neighbors.  And may the Spirit bless in particular the people of South Charlotte through the ministry of Church of the Beloved, Charlotte's newest, ancient expression of the Christian faith.

J. Derek Harbin, priest

Around Beloved...Summer Evening Worship continues this Sunday at 6pm instead of 9:30am.  This is "come as you are" summer worship, wearing the clothing of your afternoon adventures.  Our 9:30am worship will resume in August.  Hospitality will be before worship at 5:30pm, with light refreshments and lemonade.  The Prayer Team will meet at 5:30pm this week with an open invitation for all who desire to participate...Check out the new Media Page on Beloved's website, thanks to the hard work of Dan Hood.  There you will find each week's sermon in MP3 format (and, hopefully, soon to be available as a podcast).  To visit, click here....Beloved negotiated with CMS to remain set up through August 13 in exchange for breaking down last week so the cafeteria floor could be stripped and waxed.  Therefore, this Sunday, July 9, there will be full set up.  Anyone available at 4:00pm who is willing to help would be greatly appreciated by Angel Army Team 2. 

Serving at God's Altar this Sunday...Angel Army Team 2 (Captain: this ministry position is available; Administrator: Holly Scheppegrell; Pastor: Susan Jordan; Convener: Al Krantz); Acolytes: David Dygowski, Daniel Dygowski, Mitchell Harbin, Katie Sanniota; Reader: Betsy Fox; Presenters: Lee & Kim Frickhoeffer; Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Frank Reid & Bud Moore; Offertory Basket Passers: Ryan Cook; Connor King; Emily Scheppegrell; Allie Seidel; PowerPoint: Paige Wilson.