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Editor's Note
We are all part of God's story and, as Anglicans one way we celebrate the many facets of his story is by observing the liturgical calendar. Each moment in the cycle offers us an opportunity to recognize and reflect on a variety of God's saving acts, his redeeming grace and to respond to the revelation of who he is and who he has made us to be.
Lent has always been a time where we step back to examine our own journey, to observe where we might have chosen distraction over God's presence, to repent and cry out from our wilderness and temptation, to admit our dependence on God, to put off our sin and rise to life and renewal.
As a community we not only have the opportunity to reflect on these things as individuals but as a larger body working toward the glory of the Triune God we worship. This edition of the Communique offers a variety of reflections appropriate for Lent but also offers updates on our diocese. During your personal reflection throughout Lent, please keep the diocese, ACNA and the global Church in your prayers.
If you would like to submit material for, or if you have any questions about, the Gulf Atlantic Diocese Communique, please contact Jessica Jones at Jessica@gulfatlanticdiocese.org. Please submit Easter publication materials by March 15, 2015.
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Ministry Updates
Arts for Relief and Missions
The Arts for Relief and Missions (ARM) is an organization that was formed 22 years ago by the Rev's Ed and Rosemarie Adcock. Ed and Rosemarie reside in Mount Dora, Florida, and are members of Celebration Epiphany Anglican Church in Eustis. ARM uses music and the arts in worship, evangelism, church planting, and humanitarian relief projects in the United States and abroad to assist churches in reaching their communities with the Gospel through the arts, and to raise up a generation of artists and musicians passionate about God and His inerrant Word. For more information, see http://www.arminc.org, and http://RosemarieAdcock.com.
Read their most recent newsletter.
E412 Ministries
E412 Ministries (from Ephesians 4:12) grew out of Christ Church Anglican, Savannah, GA. Clark and Carol Rogers Smith focus on teaching, discipleship training, and leading mission teams around the world. They have served in sixteen countries including Uganda, Kenya, Myanmar, Thailand, India and Belize, also ministering to missionaries in the field whenever possible. Their primary focus is The Person and Works of the Holy Spirit. For more information please see: www.e412ministries.org.
Read their most recent newsletter.
The Center for Anglican Theology, Liturgy and Spiritual Formation
The Center for Anglican Theology, Liturgy and Spiritual Formation (ATLAS) is a program intended to provide online courses for diaconate candidates, lay leadership, priesthood candidates and continuing education for clergy. ATLAS also partners with Stetson University to provide an onsite Certificate in Christian Studies. ATLAS' Dean, the Rev. Dr. Susan Bubbers, is an active priest in the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and in leadership within the ACNA. ATLAS Theological Center also holds local worship services in Celebration, FL. For more information and to subscribe to its newsletter, please see: www.CenterATLAS.org.
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Diocesan Youth
Dynamos #16
I had the pleasure of serving as an Assistant Adult Advisor (triple-A as we say) for Dynamos #16 this past fall. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, one member of the "God Squad" (Dynamos speak for priests) could not be with us for the actual Dynamos weekend, and I had the opportunity to step in and fill his place as a priest. This meant that I had the chance to celebrate the Eucharist for the team before candidates arrived, and to exercise a ministry of presence to both candidates and team members, giving them a priestly ear and counsel as needed. What ended up being the biggest blessing for me though, was participating in the healing service that takes place on Saturday evening.
Picture this: A group of teenagers who have just been heard the greatest story ever told-God's love for them as shown by Jesus' death on the cross-who have just had their feet washed by members of the team who have served them all weekend, sitting in circles in a darkened gym only lit by candles. Each group of teens sharing their doubts and fears, unpleasant family situations, and deepest insecurities, and then taking turns praying over each other.
Pretty beautiful, right? In a teenage world that is dominated by technology that brings estrangement and isolation, the constant fear of being "found out" for who you really are, and a frankly ruthless and impossible standard for being "cool" and accepted, here was a group of kids genuinely caring for one another, modeling the kind of vulnerability that we can only have in Christ.
What was most humbling for me, is that as God Squad I got to witness this little in-breaking of God's Kingdom. When groups finished praying, student after student came up to have a priest lay hands on them and anoint them with oil. I had the opportunity that night to lay hands on these students (many of my own St. Peter's kids) and speak God's blessing over them. To pray that they would grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord and that they would grow into the full stature of Christ: young men and women after God's own heart. What an amazing privilege to share those moments with students!
We live in a world that so often seems scary and outside of our control, a world where many of us Christians fear deeply for the future our children as society becomes increasingly secular and fast paced. But at Dynamos I was reminded of the fact that we as the Church have something far better than what this world can ever offer our kids: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. In Him is the redemption, forgiveness, healing, and community that we all desperately need, and that if we give our kids the full picture of who Jesus is, we will have done our job well.
Fr. Matthew Wilkins
Associate Rector for Youth and Families
St. Peter's Anglican Church
850.701.0664, ext. 115
mwilkins@saint-peters.net
Diocesan Ski Retreat
For the past 4 years a few churches in the diocese have gathered together to go on an adventure and this year was no different. On January 22nd, three churches from two cities including 15 leaders and 30 youth set off on a 16 hour bus ride to Wisp Ski Resort in McHenry, Maryland. We spent two days skiing and snowboarding (some for the first time), worshiping God and getting to know each other. The snow was majestic and the mountains were beautiful. God's creation was all around us!
You might ask yourself..."Why go so far away to go on a trip like this?" Well, there's something amazing that happens when we are brought outside of our normal everyday lives. When we are in unknown places we rely on each other more, and community is formed-community with each other and community with God. We are away from the distractions of the world and we can truly focus on what is most valuable. We saw this happen once again on this trip.
 The theme for the weekend was "ALIVE" and comes from Paul's letter to the Ephesians where he writes "but because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." We were able to witness the youth and youth leaders come ALIVE on this retreat. As we explained that we were once dead because of our sin, but can now come alive and be free because of Jesus' death, resurrection and ascension, people were moved to pray for each other, to love others, and to worship God with abandon. "The old is gone and the new has come," Paul also writes in a letter to the Corinthians. The youth that went on the trip can now walk in this new life being lead by God each step of the way.
Shaun Lafferty
Student Ministries Director
Church of the Redeemer
work phone: 904.636.8702
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Around the Gulf Atlantic Diocese and the ACNA
Marriage Retreat
 Our 3rd Annual Marriage Renewal Weekend, sponsored by Servants of Christ Anglican Church, was held in October 2014. Nine couples from five different Gulf Atlantic parishes came out to spend the weekend at the Advent Christian Village Lodge in Dowling Park, on the banks of the Suwannee River. This weekend is open to couples in all stages of marriage, and is a great time to enjoy quality time with your spouse, fellowship and meals with other couples, and to make an investment in your marriage. The weekend is based on The Marriage Course by Alpha, which features the topics Building Foundations, Communication, Resolving Conflict, Forgiveness, Family, Good Sex, and Love in Action. The curriculum is DVD-based, with time for each couple to reflect privately on the talks. The talks feature couples from different cultures and situations; a very diverse look at marriage and family. There is no small group work or public sharing - couples are their own (very) small group. Meals are shared but can also be private to the couples if they wish, and there is some free time built into the schedule.
We plan to continue to offer this weekend on an annual basis each fall. Plans are also in the works to add a Marriage Preparation Retreat in the winter for engaged couples. If you are interested in attending and/or being a team couple for either of these retreats, please contact Beth Kirby at 352-262-7195 or bkirby7195@gmail.com.
March for Life
 I had the privilege of taking part in the Washington, D.C. March for Life on January 22, the sad anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that permitted almost unlimited abortion in our country. While it was a somber experience, for my fellow Anglican bishops and the hundreds of thousands who came, there was also a note of hope. The vast majority of the crowd (see my photo of the people behind me) were the next generation, very committed to stand against the tide of abortion that is beginning to recede. There was also a powerful witness of those who had abortions and are willing to speak of their hope and healing (SilentNoMoreAwareness.org).
 Please pray for all the victims of abortion, the children aborted, the women who saw no option, the others affected.
In the Messiah,
+Neil
The Rt. Rev. Neil G. Lebhar
NLebhar@GulfAtlanticDiocese.org
For more information please see: http://anglicanchurch.net/?/main/March_For_Life
Christ Church Savannah's New Home:
 In early February, Christ Church Savannah moved to their new home after sharing space with the Independent Presbyterian Church for three years. Below is the update on their new home and Bishop Neil's letter of welcome to them. Welcome home, Christ Church!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E37x8Mzen90&feature=youtu.be
Bishop Neil's Letter to Christ Church:
Dear Christ Church family,
Greetings in the name of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.
It feels like yesterday that we marched to the Presbyterian Church together. I was so encouraged to view the video of you marching last Sunday to your new home.
Only the Lord could see that your new home for worship would be a block away when you purchased the initial piece of land. What an amazing a journey he has led you on.
I thank God for your faithfulness in all you have endured and your willingness to stay in the city as a witness for Christ to your community.
May the Lord add many to your number as you now settle into your new base for ministry. Of course you will need to invite them! You have the great Lord and a great story to share with people who are hungry for the gospel.
May you be richly blessed in your new home.
In the love of Christ,
+Neil
The Rt. Rev. Neil G. Lebhar
NLebhar@GulfAtlanticDiocese.org
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The Communiqué Lent 2015 Newsletterof the Gulf Atlantic Diocese
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Diocesan Letter from Bishop Neil
Dear Diocesan Family,
In the words of the Ash Wednesday service, let me invite you "to the observance of a holy Lent."
There are many ways to grow closer to Jesus during this season. But one traditional way is to focus on a helpful book. Therefore let me make the following book recommendations:
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller. Keller accomplishes the very difficult task of breaking through our normal barriers to effective prayer by looking at the nature of prayer, the pattern of prayer, and different approaches to prayer from key leaders in Christian history. For me at least, it is the most straightforward and helpful book on biblically based prayer I know.
Hidden in Plain Sight: The Secret of More and The Rest of God: Restoring Your Soul by Restoring Sabbath, both by Mark Buchanan. The first is some wonderfully practical and helpful teaching from 2 Peter on developing a godly character and coming to know more of God. The second reminds us of God's good purposes for us if we can learn to slow down and rest. Mark Buchanan is one of my favorite authors because he awakens my heart by wonderfully creative examples and mediations.
Questions Couples Ask Behind Closed Doors: How to Take Action in the Most Common Conflicts in Marriage by James Osterhaus. Sometimes it is wise to focus on our relationships in Lent, and Christian psychologist James Osterhaus helps with ways to figure out problems in marriages. At the same time, it would be a helpful book for those not married as well, because many of his insights apply to other relationships. It is also helpful in discerning where our marriages, or our parents' or children's marriages, may have had difficulties that affect us. It is worth a prayerful read.
May the Lord uphold you as you seek to draw closer to him this Lent.
In the Messiah,
+Neil
The Rt. Rev. Neil G. Lebhar
NLebhar@GulfAtlanticDiocese.org
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WILDERNESS SERIES, JANUARY 2015
SIGNPOSTS IN THE WILDERNESS ... Helplessness is Helpful!
by Marcia Lebhar
INTRODUCTION
 When the last Israelite stepped from the (impossibly!) dry bed of the Red Sea onto the shore of the Sinai Peninsula ... and watched his pursuers swept away by the returning waters ... the scene that met his eyes was stunning, indeed. Now successive waves of hills chiseled contours against an impossibly blue sky. The landscape ahead was vast and seemingly endless. Daunting. Desolate. Merciless.
On one visit to Israel's wilderness, Neil and I were dropped off by our guide for an afternoon walk, alone, through the Zin Canyon. The people of Israel took this route at the end of their wilderness sojourn, on their way into the land God had promised to them. Our guide left us to walk the length of the canyon. His car disappeared in a cloud of dust. After a few minutes of walking, I stopped and turned a slow circle. For 360 degrees there was not one sign of civilization. A brief shudder of panic gripped me. There was no water fountain. There was no shelter. We had no cell phone coverage. If our guide had a heart attack, or forgot us, we would simply die out there. We were helpless.
There was a kind of stunned delight at the privilege of actually retracing this part of Israel's path into the land God had promised to Abraham and prepared for generations. Yet there was also, in me, a kind of coiled suspense. Our solitude was scary. I would have savored more of the experience if I'd had the security of seeing our guide's car waiting for us at the other end of our trek, and it was impossible not to imagine the temptation to despair and rebellion that faced Israel as they lived in this landscape for weeks and months that stretched into years.
The people of Israel regularly experienced God's miraculous provision in the wilderness, only to move on and sink again into terror when they saw no natural source of water or food.
The apostle Paul retells this story to communities of new disciples of Jesus, and in writing to the Corinthian church, he makes a stunning claim. Two times in his reference to the wilderness sojourn, Paul says these things happened to them for our benefit. (1 Corinthians 10:1-11, esp. v.6 and 11) "These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age." (1 Corinthians 10:11 NLT) I would not be so surprised if he merely said that these stories were recorded for our benefit, but that is less than what Paul claims. The entire wilderness sojourn, he claims, is meant for us. We are meant to be warned, chastened and encouraged by studying and understanding their experience. It instructs us, whom the Messiah has ransomed, as we similarly wait to enter the place Jesus has promised to prepare for us (John 14:1-3).
Paul's claim is clear, that Israel's history is a unified and intentional unfolding of God's story ... his plans and purposes.He is Lord of the story. It is not obsolete. In it we are meant to discern his character. And in it we are meant to find our courage for the present. So the wilderness sojourn, between slavery in Egypt and entrance into the Land of Promise, is worth our close inspection! Imagine that all along the way are signposts, if we follow Paul's argument, meant specifically for our notice. In the months of 2015 we'll look at some of these signposts in the desert.
THE FIRST SIGNPOST
The first signpost to catch my attention is the one our Zin Canyon hike underscored. It might read: HELPLESSNESS IS HELPFUL!
Saved from the final plague of the angel of death by the blood of the sacrificial lamb over their doorposts, the people of Israel set out in haste to finally escape their slavery in Egypt. God himself leads them on their way by means of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.
And where does God lead them? Safely, quickly and efficiently led into the Land of Promise? No. Not so fast. He leads them into a dead end. The sea is before them. The enemy is closing in behind them. They mass into a chasm under an enemy watchtower and in the shadow of a demon god. And as night falls, we are told, the people panic. All these details unfold in Exodus 14. Anyone reading this is at least a little sympathetic. The people cry out to God, and they wail to Moses.
What's up with this? God leads them into a dead end? God leads people into dead ends? Into helplessness? Into places where they are tempted to lose hope and to believe that there is no possible ending to the story but a tragic one? Yes. And he explains why. At lease twice God says his glory will be displayed in this dead end. The Egyptians need to know that the God Moses proclaimed is the one true God, clearly proving himself sovereign over their pantheon of demon gods. But as the sea parts, ending Israel's despair, God's glory is unmistakably clear to his own people, too! Throughout the rest of the scriptures, generation after generation is exhorted to look back to the Exodus and to shore up their flagging faith by remembering God's glory displayed in the parting of the sea. The point is clear: No one is helpless whose God is the God of Israel.
At the end of his life, on the far end of the wilderness wanderings, Moses writes a song and instructs that the people memorize it. It serves as a warning and a hedge against the rebellion he fears will come when they are settled comfortably in the Land. In it is a surprising analogy-a tiny but profound picture of the helplessness God imposes on his people for the sake of his glory. Speaking of the people of Israel, Moses says this: "Like an eagle that stirs up its nest, that hovers over its young, so the Lord spread out his wings and took him he lifted him up on his pinions." (Deuteronomy 32:11 NET)
That seems tame enough. A mama or a papa eagle tending its nest, carrying its babies on the wing, sounds sweet and domestic. But it is actually quite a violent image. I did some research, and I watched many videos showing what happens when an eagle "stirs up its nest." The parent eagle literally pitches the young eagles out! If the young eagle has hopped out on a branch, it gets repeatedly dive-bombed by its parent until it careens headlong toward the ground, flapping its useless wings. Then the parent flies under it, restores it to the nest, but the process is repeated! To the young eagle this must seem like heartless, senseless violence, and caused by the one who is meant to protect them! It is pathetic to watch them protest and struggle and cling desperately to the safety of the nest or branch as mama seems to attack them relentlessly with great force and speed. But through these seemingly terrifying and useless freefalls, the muscles the eagle needs for real flight are developed, and because of them, he learns to fly.
Moses' analogy seems to be saying that God not only allows, but also sometimes engineers our helpless situations so that we would see his glory and learn to be what he has intended us to be ... his trusting children, through whom his glory can be displayed.
It is a source of wonder to me that just after Jesus has opened the subject of his coming death, the transfiguration occurs, when Moses and Elijah appear to speak with him. Luke 9 puts it this way: "Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem." (Luke 9:30-31 NLT)
The Father sends Moses to speak with Jesus about the coming "exodus", the very picture of God turning helplessness to glory. Does Moses remind Jesus that God's seemingly fearful dead ends display the Father's power? When Jesus prays in agony in Gethsemane, anticipating the terrifying dead end of death that awaits him, he casts himself on the Father saying, "I want your will to be done, not mine." (Luke 22:42) And John records Jesus as saying, "Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you." (John 17:1 NLT) Is he remembering Moses, and the glory of deliverance God accomplished beyond the dead end of the exodus?
And what of our dead ends? Where are our lives most frightening, or perhaps just hopeless seeming? What in our circumstances renders us most helpless ... panicky ... like Israel in their dark dead end at the Red Sea? What situations make us question God's goodness, or even make it seem like he's hostile towards us... tossing us overboard, out of the safety of the nest?
Is there a situation that makes you feel more like God's victim than his child? Can you picture just one? Which one is the worst? Can you imagine it now as the dead end of the Red Sea? What does the Lord of the Scriptures want you to do in that dead end? With our dead ends in focus, will we refuse to turn against God, or will we turn away from him, because of the pain? Can we agree to be in this moment in the story and invite him to be glorified in it, as Jesus does? HELPLESSNESS IS HELPFUL. He intends it for our ultimate good, and his glory.
 For more information regarding Marcia Lebhar's The Bare Branch, please visit the Amazon.com website.
All proceeds go to the ACNA Church Planting Fund.
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Songs of the Season
As you enter into Lent, the pastoral musicians of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese suggest the following songs to include in your personal worship time.
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Desert Song (Hillsong)
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Beneath the Cross of Jesus (Indelible Grace Music)
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Lord, I Need You (Matt Maher)
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Let Justice Roll (Sojourn)
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O Divine Redeemer (Charles Gounod)
If you are a music minister in the diocese, please consider joining our Facebook page: Pastoral Musicians in the Gulf Atlantic Diocese.
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Looking Ahead
Diocesan Youth Events
Dynamos #17- February 27 - March 1, 2015 http://www.gulfatlanticdiocese.org/dynamos
Camp Araminta- July 20-25, 2015 http://www.camparaminta.org
Dynamos #18- October 16-18, 2015
Stations of the Cross, Church of the Redeemer Anglican, Jacksonville
Every year, members of Church of the Redeemer, Jacksonville, construct 14 stations depicting the path Jesus followed on the way to the cross as based on scripture. These stations will be open during Holy Week, 2015. We hope you will join us to prayerfully contemplate the great sacrifice Christ made for us. For more information, the display's schedule and to view past years' exhibits, please see: http://redeemerlives.net/
ministries/stations_of_the_cross
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We hope you have found this issue of the diocesan newsletter to be helpful and enjoyable. If you have received it directly from us, you are already on our mailing list and you will continue to receive future issues unless you choose to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of this page.
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Sincerely,
Dr. Jessica H. Jones
Editor-in-Chief, Communique
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