Pictures from Charleston- Text Follows
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| Archbishop Kwashi of Jos, Nigeria |
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| St. Philip's- The Mother Church of The Carolinas and the Carribean |
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Bishop Lawrence of South Carolina  |
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| The Great East Window: Ecce Agnus Dei |
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| Bishop Nazir-Ali of Rochester |
Last month before Rebecca and I left for “Mere Anglicanism,” a friend asked where we were going for the conference. When I answered “Charleston,” he responded, “West Virginia?” I was puzzled and replied, “Why would anyone go to West Virginia in January?” But Charleston, South Carolina is another story. She is truly a beautiful city any time of year. Described by locals as that place where “two rivers meet to form the Atlantic Ocean,” I can understand why the locals love their home, and why so many have stayed here for so many generations.
But sightseeing was not my purpose in Charleston- renewal and revival were. The speakers and preachers were wonderful and included the Principal of Wycliffe Hall Oxford, the Lord Bishop of London, the Vice-Chancellor of Sewanee (my alma mater),the Bishop of Rochester, the Bishop of South Carolina, The Dean of Trinity School for Ministry, and the Archbishop of Jos Nigeria. The worship was magnificent. Evensong featured the Choir of St. Philip’s Charleston singing George Dyson’s Mag and Nunc and Parry’s “ I Was Glad.” Bishop Chartres challenged us to open our lives and our institutions to the leadership and infilling of the Holy Ghost, who was without doubt present in the service. The festival Eucharist featured the choir of St. Helena’s Beaufort, accompanied by the Charleston Brass. Archbishop Kwashi brought tears to our eyes with his godly exhortations to evangelism and Bishop Lawrence shone like Moses as he consecrated and delivered to us the Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. By the time the third of five Communion Hymns rang out the words “Rise Up, O Saints of God,” we all were on our feet, rejoicing in the power of God and filled with what Son-in-Law Matthew calls “South Carolina Happy.” God was in our midst, and the entire conference was transformative. The message was unified and simple.
2. As those same people forsook their sinful ways and conformed their lives to the clear teaching of Scripture, which is the example of our Lord, God used them, and he will use us, to bring the most obdurate sinners to personal confession, repentance, and moral transformation.
3. The cost of following Christ in this way is high, but the results are far-reaching, and ultimately eternal.
4. We who name Christ as Saviour are called to follow him in the knowledge that through us, through our hard work and sacrifice, God will transform the world and to bring all people to himself.
5. It is for this reason that he has called us and redeemed us by his blood.
As we move through the season of Epiphany and into Lent, I pray that we will always see our personal introspection and repentance in light of the call of Jesus Christ for us to evangelize others even as we have been evangelized. Our raison detre, our great purpose in life, is to glorify God by bringing all people to a saving knowledge of Jesus the Christ, who is God’s sole plan for our salvation. We can only do this effectively as we follow Jesus Christ in humility, acknowledging our sins, changing our ways, and working to conform our behaviour to the clear teachings of God’s Word, the Holy Bible. May He send his Holy Spirit upon us anew in the days to come that we might be faithful and obedient servants, bring our friends and neighbors to a saving experience with Jesus Christ, and in turn transform our society into a more just and righteous family, one filled with the hope of heaven.
To Christ- the True King!
Bill+
2 comments:
Sounds like a great experience. May you be blessed in your ministry.
Congrats on making the Anglican blogosphere, BTW!
Off to Africa tomorrow. Be well.
It was an excellent conference. Sorry I didn't introduce myself. I have no affiliation with them, but be sure to recommend next year's conference to any and all.
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