“Open” is an evocative word. Just think of the power of its opposite: “closed.” Who enjoys hearing that anything is “closed?” That class in which you wanted to enroll? Closed. That restaurant you just drove up to? Closed. The circuit of that surveillance camera? Closed.

Happy Epiphany! I want to give you a quick update on our Anglican affiliation. Last month I sent you a letter telling you that most of the bishops of the Anglican Mission (AM) had resigned, stemming from conflict between Chuck Murphy (Chairman of the Council of Bishops) and the Rwandan House of Bishops. This means that all of the priests and parishes of the AM face a decision about our future Anglican home. Here are a few items, by way of update:

Today is the twelfth day of Christmas.

Todays CliffNotes is a Guest Post by Brian Murphy, Executive Pastor

”. . . whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” --Jesus

CliffNotes

Dear Christ Church,

In the first month of my arrival as the new Rector in 2006, I was told that the children’s ministry had planned an interactive fair in the fellowship hall, based on the Lord’s Prayer.

The Anglican Mission has entered a time of transition in its structures and provincial affiliation. Chuck Murphy, the chairman of the Council of Bishops, and most of the AMiA Bishops, including Bp. Philip Jones, resigned from the House of Bishops of Rwanda. This news was sudden. The long-term implications and options for us at Christ Church will take some time for the vestry, staff and me to consider. The resignations and restructuring are significant, to be sure, but I do not expect them to have much practical effect on the local church and her mission.

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The light has come! This is our theme of Advent this year. Last weekend I led a retreat for Laity Lodge, in which I spoke about Ancient Near Eastern hospitality. There was apparently a custom that if you were being chased by an enemy and you came upon a camp of strangers, the strangers would give you protection in their camp and feed you.

Today’s CliffNotes is a guest post by Peter Coelho –

Dear Christ Church,