Redeemer Parish of the South Hills Holds First Service in Canonsburg PA

We had a wonderful service this Sunday at our new worship site. The place looked beautiful and the air-conditioning worked marvelously in the 90+ degree heat!  Almost 150 (145+) showed up for our one service at 10 AM.  It looked like a sea of red as we all dressed for Pentecost. We had 15 children in the nursery and KidzStuff. We 10 visitors coming from Trinity Washington, Christ Church Brownsville, St Peters Uniontown, and the Rev. David Rucker of All Saints Rosedale and hardly retired clergyman, the Rev. John Leggett and Ellen came as well.   We praised God in freedom and release led by both the worship team and the pipe organ. I preached on Philippians 3:12-14.

Don Bushyager and I read messages from Abp Henry Luke Orombi of the Church of Uganda.  Bp Bill Wantland of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Bp Terry Kelshaw of the Diocese of the Southwest (in formation), Bp Neil Lebahr, Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese, the Revs Ron and Ruth Bushyager Diocese of London UK, the Rev Christopher and Janet Leighton of St Paul's Darien CT and former rector of St David's and our Canon to the Ordinary, the Rev. Cn Mary Maggard Hays.  We also conducted our first baptism -- baptizing William Paul Minshall, son of Val and youth minister Jeff Minshall and brother to Josh.  A reception was held in the parish hall following the service.  

It was an awesome day and one I've looked forward to since late March when we told TEC we were done paying a $10k a month mortgage on their building.  Our only problem today was parking places -- not enough of them!  Those are the kinds of problems, I like to solve!

DDW+

Letter from the Most Rev Leonard Riches Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church

May 25, 2012

To the Rector, Wardens, Vestry and Congregation

of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Peters Township, Pennsylvania

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings to all of you in the name of our risen and ascended Lord, Jesus Christ!  As you prepare to enter upon a new phase of your life together as the people of God we want to assure you of our heartfelt love and prayerful support.

In these days of transition may the testimony of the Apostle Paul be your confidence as well.  "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him....I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."  (Philippians 3:7-10) 

Your faithful commitment to the faith once delivered to the saints, and your courageous and sacrificial stand for the truth as it is in Jesus, are a strong witness and a great encouragement to all faithful Christians.  We are confident that God will reward the integrity of your firm resolve with new and abundantly fruitful opportunities for serving Him together and effectively building the Kingdom of Christ.

You are in our hearts, and will remain in our prayers throughout the days ahead  "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as your trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

Faithfully yours, in Christ,

(The Most Rev.) Leonard W. Riches

Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (ACNA)

Letter from the Rt Rev John Guernsey

May 27, 2012

The Rev. David Wilson
The Anglican Parish of Christ the Redeemer
South Hills, PA

Dear David+ and the Saints of Christ the Redeemer,

Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ, the only Lord and only Savior of the world.  On this final Sunday in your church building, I want you to know that your brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the Anglican Church in North America stand with you and are praising God for your sacrificial witness.

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)

As you meet in your new home next week on Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit empower you afresh to share Jesus with a community that needs Him so very much. Great challenges are ahead of you, but the Lord is faithful and He will meet your every need.

To God be the glory!

The Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey
Bishop of the Mid- Atlantic, ACNA

An Email from the Rt.Rev.Dr.Terence Kelshaw

People of God, 

This is a momentous day for you all and what a great job you did in the previous home and the previous Diocese. A place to stand was the main theme for the beginning of the Anglican American Congress (AAC), which was the founding place for the later creation of the Anglican Church of North America, and there can be no doubt that you have found the place to stand which is for biblical truth and the very Name of Jesus Christ which were both dangerously close to expulsion from the Episcopal Church.

As a former bishop of ECUSA and now a bishop in ACNA I am incredibly encouraged by the great decision you have made and the great continuing future of ministry that lies ahead for you.

Please know that my wife, Hazel, and I have been daily in prayer for you and will increase our prayer as your new journey of faith and ministry matures. You bring much to it from your past, of course, and we know you will only add to that heritage in the Lord. Our prayers are especially with you on the 27 May 2012 and will continue with you all

Rt.Rev.Dr.Terence Kelshaw

Bishop, ACNA 

An Email from Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi Church of Uganda

My dear friends,

I have learnt with great sadness about the lawsuits which has robbed you of your place of worship.  I am further disappointed that even in the Church we can face hostility against the children of God.  Painful as this may be, I encourage you never to lose sight of Him whose names will command worship - Jesus Christ.

You will worship a God who promised "never to leave you nor forsake you."  David the Psalmist in Ps 23 says, "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ..."  He hung on his promise.  He is there with you as you begin a new life.  He does not leave his people alone.  "He walks with them and talks with them, along llife's narrow road" as goes the old song.  My prayer for you is that God will see you through this trying time.  Worship him regardless of your condition right now.

God bless you and allow you experience his presence greatly.

+Henry

The Most Rev. Henry Luke Orombi
Archbishop
Church of the Province of Uganda
Willis Road Namirembe
P.O. Box 14123, Kampala
Uganda

Bp Rodgers Writes to Christ the Redeemer

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Warmest greetings in the Lord Jesus,

I recall with appreciation your several Church sanctuaries, the first which I recall from the days of Gibb when I visited you, and your new sanctuary which I know from the days of Mark and David. But what I recall most with the greatest admiration and joy is the joy of the Gospel which I saw in your hearts and faces and the warmth of your welcome to me, a Brother in the Lord. You have always kept the main thing as the main thing, and I salute you for that.

Now you have been asked by the Lord to give up all of these familiar and beautiful buildings and all that furnished them, in order to be faithful to Him. You have done so with courage and peace of soul and for this you have my deepest thanks and highest regard. I recall the sayings of Rick Warren, “It is the people, not the steeple” and “You keep the building and we’ll keep the blessing”. And surely you will know the Lord’s continued blessing. The Lord Himself will guide and bless you in the days ahead. Were my wife not so ill, we would be with you today as you take your leave of the familiar to enter into the exciting days ahead with Lord as you leader and shepherd. Blanche and I will be holding you in prayer and look forward to hearing from you about what the Lord is doing in and through you in the days ahead. “If the Lord has given us Christ, will he not also give us everything (we need) in Him” He will! Amen and Amen!

Rt. Rev. John H. Rodgers Jr. Th.D.

Anglican Parish of Christ the Redeemer moving to Canonsburg, PA

The Anglican Parish of Christ the Redeemer (formerly St. David’s Anglican Church) will vacate its property at 905 East McMurray, Road Peters Township PA on May 31, turning it over to the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh on that date.   The Rev. David Wilson, rector of Redeemer Parish stressed, “We hold no acrimony toward the new occupants of our former property.  We wish them well and we hope they and their newly elected bishop Dorsey McConnell will faithfully contend for the faith as once delivered to the saints.”

St. David’s has a long history of leadership in the renewal and reformation of the faith, first through the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and now in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Anglican Church in North America.   Wilson said, “As we look back, we can recall how God has blessed our efforts in the past and we have every confidence He will continue that blessing in the future as we strive to remain faithful ministers of his Word and sacraments.”

The Rev. Don Bushyager, the associate rector of Redeemer Parish and whose family have been members for thirty years, states.  “We have been facing into the reality that the courts awarded our property to the Episcopal Church and it no longer belonged to us the people and parish that financed, built, maintained and cared for it over the years.   Our parish moved to Peters Township almost sixty years ago and now we move on.  We leave taking with us resolve to stand firm on the Word of God, to preach Christ and Him crucified and to offer others the same grace we have received.  We are starting once again in a new place and in a new community.  We are missionaries and we will take the gospel of hope to the lost and hurting people living in Canonsburg.  And someday we will return to Peters Township and leave to the good people of Canonsburg a strong, gospel-centered Anglican Church planted there.”

Our first service at our new worship site will at Christ the Redeemer Parish, 120 East College Street in Canonsburg on Pentecost Sunday, May 27 at 10 AM.   Beginning on June 3 our Sunday worship schedule will be a traditional service of Holy Communion at 8 AM and a family-oriented service of Holy Communion at 10:30 AM.   Childcare is offered at both services and children’s ministry at the latter service.  A contemporary Saturday worship service will be offered starting June 16.  All are invited to join us! Visit:www.christ-the-redeemer.com.     

Posted here http://www.anglicansunited.com/?p=13060