St. Aidan's Anglican Church, Kansas City - weekly talks

We gather on the Eve of Pentecost to be nurtured in our rich Anglican heritage. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, KC, MO is a member of the Anglican Church of North America and a part of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, a regional collective of churches called to foster a renewal of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit (Scripture, Sacraments, Spirit).

The Great Commission of Jesus calls us to the mission of making disciples through Word and Sacrament — (baptizing in the name of … teaching them to observe …). We believe there remains a great spiritual hunger in our secular age. Atheism is not so much an issue as the desire to be spiritual, not religious. Since our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (St. Augustine), we affirm any spiritual hunger as a gift to be nurtured. Our task is to help connect this spiritual longing back to the historic roots of classical Christianity infused by the Holy Spirit. To this end, we are blessed to host Canon Dr. Stephen and Dr. Barbara Gauthier.

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

Barbara holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt and teaches Greek and Latin in the Wheaton area. Over the past decade she has gained wide recognition for her insightful e-mail updates on developments affecting the Anglican Communion. Barbara is responsible for the daily offices at Church of the Resurrection, and serves each Sunday as a prayer minister. She also teaches adult classes, both for Church of the Resurrection and for the Greenhouse Movement.

Stephen and Barbara have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of three adult children, Marc, Paul, and Gregory.

We gather on the Eve of Pentecost to be nurtured in our rich Anglican heritage. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, KC, MO is a member of the Anglican Church of North America and a part of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, a regional collective of churches called to foster a renewal of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit (Scripture, Sacraments, Spirit).

The Great Commission of Jesus calls us to the mission of making disciples through Word and Sacrament — (baptizing in the name of … teaching them to observe …). We believe there remains a great spiritual hunger in our secular age. Atheism is not so much an issue as the desire to be spiritual, not religious. Since our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (St. Augustine), we affirm any spiritual hunger as a gift to be nurtured. Our task is to help connect this spiritual longing back to the historic roots of classical Christianity infused by the Holy Spirit. To this end, we are blessed to host Canon Dr. Stephen and Dr. Barbara Gauthier.

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

Barbara holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt and teaches Greek and Latin in the Wheaton area. Over the past decade she has gained wide recognition for her insightful e-mail updates on developments affecting the Anglican Communion. Barbara is responsible for the daily offices at Church of the Resurrection, and serves each Sunday as a prayer minister. She also teaches adult classes, both for Church of the Resurrection and for the Greenhouse Movement.

Stephen and Barbara have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of three adult children, Marc, Paul, and Gregory.

We gather on the Eve of Pentecost to be nurtured in our rich Anglican heritage. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, KC, MO is a member of the Anglican Church of North America and a part of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, a regional collective of churches called to foster a renewal of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit (Scripture, Sacraments, Spirit).

The Great Commission of Jesus calls us to the mission of making disciples through Word and Sacrament — (baptizing in the name of … teaching them to observe …). We believe there remains a great spiritual hunger in our secular age. Atheism is not so much an issue as the desire to be spiritual, not religious. Since our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (St. Augustine), we affirm any spiritual hunger as a gift to be nurtured. Our task is to help connect this spiritual longing back to the historic roots of classical Christianity infused by the Holy Spirit. To this end, we are blessed to host Canon Dr. Stephen and Dr. Barbara Gauthier.

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

Barbara holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt and teaches Greek and Latin in the Wheaton area. Over the past decade she has gained wide recognition for her insightful e-mail updates on developments affecting the Anglican Communion. Barbara is responsible for the daily offices at Church of the Resurrection, and serves each Sunday as a prayer minister. She also teaches adult classes, both for Church of the Resurrection and for the Greenhouse Movement.

Stephen and Barbara have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of three adult children, Marc, Paul, and Gregory.

We gather on the Eve of Pentecost to be nurtured in our rich Anglican heritage. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, KC, MO is a member of the Anglican Church of North America and a part of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, a regional collective of churches called to foster a renewal of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit (Scripture, Sacraments, Spirit).

The Great Commission of Jesus calls us to the mission of making disciples through Word and Sacrament — (baptizing in the name of … teaching them to observe …). We believe there remains a great spiritual hunger in our secular age. Atheism is not so much an issue as the desire to be spiritual, not religious. Since our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (St. Augustine), we affirm any spiritual hunger as a gift to be nurtured. Our task is to help connect this spiritual longing back to the historic roots of classical Christianity infused by the Holy Spirit. To this end, we are blessed to host Canon Dr. Stephen and Dr. Barbara Gauthier.

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

Barbara holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt and teaches Greek and Latin in the Wheaton area. Over the past decade she has gained wide recognition for her insightful e-mail updates on developments affecting the Anglican Communion. Barbara is responsible for the daily offices at Church of the Resurrection, and serves each Sunday as a prayer minister. She also teaches adult classes, both for Church of the Resurrection and for the Greenhouse Movement.

Stephen and Barbara have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of three adult children, Marc, Paul, and Gregory.

We gather on the Eve of Pentecost to be nurtured in our rich Anglican heritage. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, KC, MO is a member of the Anglican Church of North America and a part of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, a regional collective of churches called to foster a renewal of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit (Scripture, Sacraments, Spirit).

The Great Commission of Jesus calls us to the mission of making disciples through Word and Sacrament — (baptizing in the name of … teaching them to observe …). We believe there remains a great spiritual hunger in our secular age. Atheism is not so much an issue as the desire to be spiritual, not religious. Since our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (St. Augustine), we affirm any spiritual hunger as a gift to be nurtured. Our task is to help connect this spiritual longing back to the historic roots of classical Christianity infused by the Holy Spirit. To this end, we are blessed to host Canon Dr. Stephen and Dr. Barbara Gauthier.

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

Barbara holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt and teaches Greek and Latin in the Wheaton area. Over the past decade she has gained wide recognition for her insightful e-mail updates on developments affecting the Anglican Communion. Barbara is responsible for the daily offices at Church of the Resurrection, and serves each Sunday as a prayer minister. She also teaches adult classes, both for Church of the Resurrection and for the Greenhouse Movement.

Stephen and Barbara have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of three adult children, Marc, Paul, and Gregory.

We gather on the Eve of Pentecost to be nurtured in our rich Anglican heritage. St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, KC, MO is a member of the Anglican Church of North America and a part of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest, a regional collective of churches called to foster a renewal of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit (Scripture, Sacraments, Spirit).

The Great Commission of Jesus calls us to the mission of making disciples through Word and Sacrament — (baptizing in the name of … teaching them to observe …). We believe there remains a great spiritual hunger in our secular age. Atheism is not so much an issue as the desire to be spiritual, not religious. Since our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God (St. Augustine), we affirm any spiritual hunger as a gift to be nurtured. Our task is to help connect this spiritual longing back to the historic roots of classical Christianity infused by the Holy Spirit. To this end, we are blessed to host Canon Dr. Stephen and Dr. Barbara Gauthier.

About

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

Barbara holds a Ph.D. in French from Vanderbilt and teaches Greek and Latin in the Wheaton area. Over the past decade she has gained wide recognition for her insightful e-mail updates on developments affecting the Anglican Communion. Barbara is responsible for the daily offices at Church of the Resurrection, and serves each Sunday as a prayer minister. She also teaches adult classes, both for Church of the Resurrection and for the Greenhouse Movement.

Stephen and Barbara have been married for more than 30 years and are the proud parents of three adult children, Marc, Paul, and Gregory.

Canon Dr. Stephen Gauthier lays out how the People of Pentecost moves out in mission with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

1. It's always God's work - all we can do is to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. He does the heavy lifting!

2. God empowers with the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the common good. Every Christian has a gift the Church needs, so we must use the gift we've been given. No spiritual envy here ... use it (for the common good) or loose it! Where do we find our gifts? In service to other. Our gifts are not for us but for others.

3. Mission is exhaling God's breath we've received (inhaled). Don't hold your breath! Thus, mission is natural, it flows out.

4. We must learn to expect the unexpected. In prayer is where we find him, gathered together, waiting, praying for him.

Stephen is a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, a member of the preaching team at Church of the Resurrection (Wheaton, Illinois). He holds a Ph.D. (French) from Vanderbilt University and has devoted a lifetime to the study of Scripture, theology, church history, liturgics, the early church fathers, canon law, and Carmelite spirituality.

Stephen also is a recently retired certified public accountant and has served for more than a quarter century as the Director of Technical Services for the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. He is the author of numerous books and articles on accounting, auditing, and financial reporting, including Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting, commonly known as the “Blue Book,” which is the standard manual for state and municipal accounting in the United States.

The full plan of redemption involves not only Jesus’ death and resurrection … the climax is the Ascension. Why? When we say that Jesus is Lord, we are speaking of the Ascension.

His ascension into heaven is speaking of his exaltation at the Father’s right hand. We’re speaking of another realm … not another place within time and space. We do not live in a two story universe … for he made all that is, seen and unseen. And in Jesus, he has united the seen and unseen … in his death, resurrection and ascension.

What is the meaning of Christ’s Ascension into heaven? It expresses our belief that in Christ human nature, the humanity in which we all share, has entered into the inner life of God in a new and hitherto unheard of way. It means that humanity has found an everlasting dwelling in God. Heaven is not a place beyond the stars, but something much greater, something that requires far more audacity to assert: Heaven means that humanity now has a place in God. The basis or this assertion is the interpenetration of human beings and divinity in the crucified and exalted man Jesus. Christ, the man who is in God and eternally one with God, is at the same time God’s abiding openness to all human beings.

Thus Jesus himself is what we call “heaven”; heaven is not a place but a person, the person of him in whom God and man are forever and inseparably one. And we go to heaven and enter into heaven to the extent that we go to Jesus Christ and enter into him. In this sense, “ascension into heaven” can be something that takes place in our everyday lives … For the disciples, the “ascension” was not what we usually misinterpret it as being: the temporary absence of Christ from the world. It meant rather his new, definitive, and irrevocable presence by participation in God’s royal power … God has a pace for man! … In God there is a place for us! Benedict XVI

Today we consider what Jesus means by "obeying his commands" in order to participate in the life of the Holy Trinity (John 14). In context, we look at the "new" commandment of Christ in chapter 13, to love others as Jesus loves us. Jesus says the world will know that we are his disciples when they see us loving one another "in this way". He continues from John 13 to chapter 14 ... letting us know that the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit, is the one who makes this possible. The Holy Spirit is the one called alongside and makes us a people "called alongside" others in the power of God's very nature, Love.

What is love and what does it look like? Join us as we explore these questions.

How do we react to love?

Let us ask this question as we consider the three characters portrayed in today’s Gospel reading.

• Judas rejects and fears love. He pushes Jesus away

• Peter cannot understand Jesus and his True Messianic vocation. He loves Jesus but wants to do things his own way.

• The beloved disciple surrenders to Jesus’ love; his head is on his chest, listening to the hurting heart of Jesus. John becomes his intimate friend.

These three attitudes are in each one of us at different moments of our lives. (Jean Vanier)

In following Jesus, he aims to ... TAKE us ... BLESS us ... BREAK us ... and GIVE us to the world as a cruciform people. Join us in this meditation on ways we can react to love.