September 2015 - - Newsletter
The Missionary Diocese of CANA East
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O God Our Help In Ages Past!
Bishop Julian writes about God's eternal nature amidst changing circumstances in the world.
Across our nation and around the world the changing circumstances of life give us a timely opportunity to pause and consider the sure foundation of the Christian faith.
Psalm 90 helps us to live with the reality of changing times. Psalm 90 faces these changes head-on in a way in which our culture is often so reluctant and so uncomfortable to do. Psalm 90 is a psalm in which, by showing us who God is, we are brought to see what really matters in life.
Yes, our days are numbered, but how do we live them? Yes, our lives are microscopically short compared to the eternity of God, but what are the implications of this however long we have got?
Probably the oldest Psalm in the Psalter, we are told that Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses, a man of God. The scholars are not entirely sure of the precise context, but many believe Moses is on Mount Nebo at the end of the 40 years of wilderness wandering when God says that Moses himself, will not enter the land because of disobedience.
What a blow that must have been! Moses had felt the pain of standing by so many graves during those wandering years. Some scholars estimate that a million people had probably died during those wilderness wanderings. His sister had gone, his brother had gone. It seemed as if it was all unraveling. Generations had gone.
Now he is a man without a country. He confronts his limitations and his mortality. Instead of being driven to despair and cynicism as he might have been, Moses is driven to worship and prayer (and it is all there in Psalm 90).
1. God is eternal.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:1-2). There is only one place of belonging, of refuge, of safety, of centering for human beings, and that is a relationship with the eternal God. Nowhere else and in no one else can this refuge, safety and authenticity be found.
2. Life is short and difficult. Beneath the achievements and the blessings and the successes and the benefits, there is a subtext to life called time and it is passing. We
know time is short, and sometimes it is shorter than we realize.
A human life, even the longest of human lives is insignificantly short. It is like a watch in the night, soldiers on duty for 2 or 3 hours. Verse 4. It's like a flood, or a dream, or grass which comes up in the early dew of the morning, and by the evening is gone - verses 5-6. In an age when we are tempted to think that we are smarter than God, or in a position to judge Him, or that we can extend life through our own endeavors, medical advances and health routines it is well to remember how feeble and finite we really are. He is God and we are not!
Psalm 90
is often read at funerals, but it is not a funeral Psalm. This is a psalm written for the living, and especially, if like Moses, you are in need of something to sing when your heart is broken. It is written for the living, that we might live better and in greater dependence on a great and good God who loved us enough to send His son to die for us. And who alone can fill our brief lives with the joy and amazement of eternity.
O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come.
Our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.
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CANA East Welcomes Archbishop Okoh
The Most Rev. Nicholas D. Okoh, Archbishop, Metropolitan and primate of All Nigeria visited the United States in August spending time with CANA bishops and  participating in the life of three congregation in the Missionary Diocese of CANA East.
The Primate worshiped at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Leesburg, Virginia where he shared his powerful testimony of conversion to Christ. The primate also visited Glory of God Anglican Church, Cocoa FL where he met with members of the congregation and witnessed the weekly distribution of food to the community. While in Florida, Redeemer Anglican Church in Orlando hosted a reception for the Primate and his entourage where the Primate addressed the challenges faced by Christians in Nigeria and spoke about the current circumstances within the Anglican Communion. In Chicago, The Primate also met with The Ven. Patrick Malone from Holy Cross, Wisconsin and members of his team.
Click on the images below to view photographs from The Primate's 2015 visit to The United States.
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CANA East Clergy Prepare To Gather in Florida
Clergy from across the Missionary Diocese of CANA East will gather at Glory of God Anglican Church in Cocoa, Florida from October 4-7. This is the third clergy retreat for CANA East clergy which takes places each year.
At this year's retreat, The Rev. Michael Kelshaw from Albuquerque, New Mexico will
 teach from Nehemiah on, 'Lessons on Leadership.' Michael was born in Bristol, England in a Christian home. He moved to Pittsburg, PA when he was seven and then to Albuquerque, NM when he was fifteen. He graduated from the University of New Mexico with BA in History, and then graduated from Regent College with a Masters in Divinity (Mdiv.). Michael is currently the lead pastor of Trinity @ the Marketplace Church in Albuquerque, NM, where he has been for the last eleven years by the grace of God. He is married to Lara, and they have seven children.
Bishops Dobbs and Bena will also address the clergy retreat during times of worship, bible study and prayer. Please be prayerful for the clergy as they gather in Florida.
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NEW ADVENT SERIES 2015
The Bishop's Online Bible Study Videos
Bishop Julian Dobbs has announced a new Online Bible Study series which will be available for Advent 2015
The Word of God At Work In You - Advent 2015
(selected studies in 1st Thessalonians)
Bishop Dobbs says,
"Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians is most likely the earliest New Testament letter of Paul's which we have. Paul founded the Church at Thessalonica during his second missionary journey. He had taught there just three weeks when he had to leave suddenly because of the opposition from the Jews. Those converts that Paul left behind were converts from paganism and they were left with very little support in the midst of their persecution; so Paul wrote to them to give them encouragement in the faith."
Click on the links below to watch previous video teachings:
The Return of the Lord
Life After Death
The Sacraments of the Gospel
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Appointments In The Diocese
The following clergy appointments have been made with the blessing of Bishop Julian Dobbs.
The vestry of Christ Church Anglican in Bradford, Connecticut have unanimously called
The Rev. Matthew Mahan to serve as their Rector. (Matthew has served as Vicar of the congregation since June 2013). Bishop Bena installed Matthew as Rector on Sunday August 2nd.
The vestry of St. George's Anglican Church in Helmetta, New Jersey have unanimously called
The Rev. Richard Lafferty to serve as their next Rector. Richard's installation service will be held at St. George's on Friday December 4 at 7.00pm.
The church council of Saint Margaret's Anglican Church in Moshi, Tanzania have called
The Rev. Peter Mitchell to serve as their next Pastor. Peter and his wife, Amy, will spend the next several months raising support and plan to relocate their family to Africa in the spring of next year. In the meantime, the Mitchell's also continue working to establish All Souls' Anglican Church, Woodstock, Virginia.
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Around The Diocese In Pictures
Click on the images below to view life from around The Missionary Diocese of CANA East
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www.RunBishopRun.com
Bishop Julian Dobbs is raising funds for church planting in the diocese by running the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. on Sunday October 25, 2015.
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Operation Safe Havens: Rescuing Christians in Danger
Christians are now in deadly danger. They compare the rise of the Islamic State group (IS) with the invasion of the Mongol hordes many centuries ago. The Mongols completely destroyed the Church in much of their territory, and IS seems intent on doing the same. A Christian presence and witness 2,000 years old is disappearing before our eyes.
We cannot do much to change the course of political/military events (except to pray), but we can rescue our brothers and sisters from the acute threat they face in the "killing fields" of IS.
Many Christians, who had clung on in their beloved homelands until now, have finally decided they must leave. But how? They are desperately vulnerable to abuse from people-traffickers who take all their money and abandon them. Some have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean. Even getting a passport can be unaffordable. What they need is a safe route to a safe haven where they can settle and live in peace, freedom and security.
Barnabas Aid has launched Operation Safe Havens to rescue Christians in danger and to resettle them with dignity.
Barnabas Aid will work with governments around the world to arrange visas, and with local churches in receiving countries to ensure that the families are helped to settle in, learn the language, and find work to support themselves.
Over recent months the Marquess of Reading (Patron of Barnabas) and Sir Charles Hoare Bt. have been diligently visiting likely receiving countries to discuss with their governments on behalf of Barnabas Aid the provision of visas for persecuted Middle Eastern Christians.
The first group of over 70 Syrian Christian families have been received in Poland. Working with Esther Foundation, Barnabas Aid will pay their airfares, other travel costs, and basic living expenses for one year. Polish churches, coordinated by the Esther Foundation, will welcome and care for the new arrivals.
The estimated cost of supporting the Syrian Christians in Poland is $37 per person per week. That means about $1,940 per person for the year. (Travel costs to Poland are also needed, but will vary according to several factors.)
Help us rescue Christians from the killing fields. What can you give?
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Bishops Visitation and Ministry Schedules
Bishop Julian Dobbs
September 19-27 Church of Nigeria Standing Committee| Nigeria
September 29 Holy Trinity | Hillsdale, MI
October 4-7 CANA East Clergy and Spouse Retreat | Cocoa, FL
October 10-11 Christ the King | Olympia Heights, FL
October 18 Good Shepherd | Binghamton, NY
October 25 'RunBishopRun' Marine Corps Marathon
Bishop David Bena
October 4-7 CANA East Clergy and Spouse Retreat | Cocoa, FL
October 10-11 All Saints | Pensacola, FL
Oct 30-Nov 1 Men's Retreat | Immanuel, Woodbridge, VA
November 14-15 Christ the King | Pine Knot, KY
December 5-6 Good Shepherd | Binghamton, NY
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SYNOD 2016 - You Are Welcome!
Standing Committee has announced that Synod 2016 will be held at Christ Church Anglican on the Mainline, Wayne PA from April 21-23, 2016.
Please mark your calendar now.
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PRAYER - - can we pray for you?
CANA East believes that Almighty God still answers prayer. If you would like to
 send us a prayer request
please click on this link.
Living God, teach us to pray expectantly, and when our prayers seem to fail, bring us to pray again and again; for you are our God, who acts, and will act again. Hear this prayer for Jesus' sake. Amen.
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