St Philip's Anglican Church, O'Connor: Letters from the Rector 2012

Letter from the Rector

These letters are also published each week in St Philip's newsletter.

13 May 2012

Dear friends,

I keep coming across these wonderful passages on community and belonging. I found this one in a book I am reading, God is no One, by Stephen Prothero. Prothero writes:

"The contemporary American poet-farmer Wendell Berry has argued that we become fully human by participating in a 'beloved community', which he defines as 'common experience and common effort on a common ground to which one willingly belongs'. Only in community, he argues, is it possible to become fully human. Only in the midst of community propriety (and impropriety), community goods (evils), can we experience 'our partiality and mortality' and our many connections to place and past, the quick and the dead."

Prothero's take on Berry echoes Martin Buber when Buber said that we become an 'I' in relationship with a 'thou'. It is in relationship with others that we are called into being and identity. As Christians our new identity is in the risen Christ. In the community of the church, the body of Christ, we learn and grow, support each other, and are transformed by God's Spirit and the practice of spiritual disciplines and love. May our communities be blessed by the fruits we bear.

Peace and blessings

Rebecca

6 May 2012

Dear Friends,

I found this wonderful passage in a book recently that I'd like to share with you:

"While each of us has a personal journey to complete, there is no need for us to travel alone. If we travel together we are able to encourage each other.

Our journeying involves us offering heart hospitality to others … It is ours to provide a free and empty space without evoking a sense of owing, a space uncluttered with personal furniture … Providing a free and empty space for others, we commit ourselves to accepting the strangeness of strangers. Each brings a gift, themselves. In our openness, we are challenged by each guest, changed by them unpredictably … It is thus that we entertain angels unawares, even Christ himself. We are most aware of his presence when the Christ in others reaches through to and engages with the Christ in us." (G.L. Chapman, Being Together in the World)

These are wonderful words to keep in mind as we welcome and love new folk to our church and community. Hospitality is a rich and transforming practice that brings us into the heart of God. In this place there is no "Jew or Greek, male or female, slave or free." Rather Christ is all and in all.

May we here at St Philip's welcome and be welcomed by the Christ in each other.

Peace and Blessings

Rebecca

29 April 2012

Dear Friends,

You have perhaps noticed that the rector's prayer desk has been released from its corner and now sits opposite the assistant's desk! This has been done for number of reasons. During large services when the sanctuary is full of acolytes, a crucifer, assistants, deacons and priests, the rector has not been able to see what it happening in the sanctuary. It is important to be able to see, not to check up that everyone is doing the right thing (!), but because the leaders up the front need to be able to communicate with each other, usually through eye contact, questioning looks and reassuring smiles. Now this is possible.

Having the rector's desk opposite the assistant's desk also gives more balance and symmetry to the space and as it is movable the space is more flexible. Personally it is very good for me to out of the corner! The other very important reason to move the desk is that now that area of the church can be used for a prayer space for a small group to gather for prayer and fellowship. There is a temporary table set up until we have a table made to fit the space. The table can also be used for special occasions when we may want to have votive candles, an icon or some other focal object to help our devotions. Having this space will, I believe, be a great blessing for our community.

One of the things it allows is for the saying of the daily offices, which is the Anglican cycle of daily scripture reading, meditation and prayer, in the church in a warm (there is a very effective heater in place!) and comfortable environment. For the past few years I have been saying the offices in my study at home but they are really designed to be said with others. It is my hope and prayer that some of us will commit to saying the offices together during the week. At this stage I am saying morning prayer on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8.00 am. A couple of people are already committed to joining me at least one to two times a week. Morning prayer takes approximately 30 minutes and in our busy lives can be a time of quiet and reflection.

Some of you may perhaps be wondering if this is some new fangled idea! It may be new for St Philip's to have a designated prayer space, but it is not new in terms of gathering for daily prayer. Our previous rector, Rob Lamerton, faithfully said the offices every day, as do I. Both Rob and I trained at St John's Morpeth, a residential college, where the community gathered in the chapel four times a day, in all seasons, for daily prayer.

However, this is not just a practice for trainee clergy.

The daily offices have been an integral part of the Anglican church since the reformation. It was part of Thomas Cranmer's genius to condense the traditional monastic offices into the two prayer book offices of matins and evensong. The monastic offices were, of course, developed by St Benedict and his communities in the 5th century. As Esther de Waal says, it would be hardly too much to claim that the Benedictine spirit is the root of the Anglican way of prayer, as both clergy and laity have been nourished by the daily recitation of the psalms and regular reading of scripture.

We may live in the 21st century, long after Cranmer and Benedict, but there is still the same yearning and desire in us to connect to our creator and Lord. There is still the need to spend time building our relationship with God who reaches out in love to us everyday. There is still the need for community, friendship and belonging. The world is still in need of prayer and love.

I hope that, as a handful of us commit to this discipline, our parish life will be strengthened, we will grow in love and fellowship and that our relationship with our Lord will deepen. If you have any questions or concerns please come and see me. If you would like to join me for the offices on any or all of those mornings I would be delighted!

Finally, a very big thank you to David French who has 'fixed up' the prayer desk to make it movable and will be making a small altar/table for the space. It is wonderful to have the gifts of such capable and generous people in our community.

Peace and blessings

Rebecca

22 April 2012

Dear Friends,

One of the questions we ask is 'What is God like?' It is amazing the types of pictures people have about God. I am always surprised by the picture of God that is present in religious commentary by atheists and agnostics. They talk a lot about the 'fairy God in the sky', or the 'old man with a beard'. Our pictures of God are very influenced by what we have been told, our experiences, our assumptions and our prejudices. Of course the church has contributed to this in a major way, sometimes not for the best and often in the most destructive ways.

One of the best and most perplexing things about my theology degree and ministry training was when the lecturer in Theology 101 said, 'Right, forget everything you know about God—because all language is just an approximation of the truth—you can't describe God fully'. This was a little difficult for the biblical literalists amongst us and confusing for those who came to college looking for certainty. Yet, we come to church each week, we say our prayers, we have an experience of God in our lives, we continue to grapple with faith and what it means to follow Christ Jesus.

This season, we celebrate the risen Lord and reflect on what resurrection means, how it changes everything. We ask the question, "Who is the Risen Lord and who is the God who raised him?" For me, the resurrection stories point to a God who is beyond my feeble attempts at language.

Last week I came across this wonderful quote: "God is greater than my imagination, wiser than my wisdom, more dazzling than the Universe, as present as the air I breathe, and utterly beyond my control". This is one of the most honest statements about God I have read and I think the most true to the revelation of the resurrection. Just think about those resurrection stories, what the life, death and raising of Jesus might mean, what God is like in the light of that picture. God is so much more, so liberatingly more, than I can imagine. It reminds me of one of my favourite verses from Ephesians, "Glory be to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine" (Eph 3.20).

One may think that the creed we say each week ties us into language about God that is limiting—and the creed does have its limitations. It is the product of a period of time in church history and the controversies that threatened to tear the church apart. Yet, despite this, the creed says very little about God. The description of God is surprisingly brief. It actually narrates a story, God becoming human, dying on a cross and rising to life. It lays out in very succinct words some foundational ideas about God's work in the world and the church. Many Anglican churches have given up on saying the creed and for good reasons. The language is antiquated and patriarchal for a start and unfortunately the creed has been a source of division despite its primary function of promoting unity.

Here at St Philip's, we have maintained the practice. We do this for a number of reasons—tradition, and because to recite the Nicene Creed together is a sign of our communal bond with the church of the past and with each other. Its meaning is embedded in community, past, present and future. Importantly it does not say "I believe …" but "We believe …".

One therefore doesn't have to assent to everything in the Nicene Creed (each week even!) to recite it without lying. The other reason is this: one of the most respected lecturers I had said, "Always say the creed—that way, no matter what waffle the idiot in the pulpit has just said, at least the congregation will get some substance and orthodoxy."

The creed gives us just enough language, just enough ideas that we can argue about, reflect on and imagine. Hopefully it can take us to the God who is beyond all understanding. Like all language about God, we ought not be bound by it but use it as a springboard to question, grow and trust.

May the Resurrected Lord bring us to unity and wholeness.

Peace and love

Rebecca

Easter, 8 April 2012

Dear Friends,

Holy Week and our Easter celebrations are a time to contemplate and wonder about the mystery of death and resurrection, a paradox beyond words. The simple poem below can perhaps help us a little.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There's a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
— Hymn of Promise, by Natalie Sleeth

May your Easter weekend provide you with opportunities to come ever closer to the Lord of mystery and life.

Peace and blessings

Rebecca

1 April 2012

Dear Friends,

The French mathematician Auguste Comte was talking about religion one day with the Scottish essayist Thomas Carlyle. Comte suggested they start a new religion to replace Christianity, based on positive thinking and mathematical principles. Carlyle thought about it a moment and replied, "Very good, Mr. Comte, very good. All you will need to do will be to speak as never a man spoke, and live as never a man lived, and be crucified, and rise again the third day, and get the world to believe that you are still alive. Then your religion will have a chance to get on."

This little story about Comte and Carlyle hones in on the wonder and mystery of the Christian faith. Despite the church and its manifold mistakes, despite the schisms and disagreements and despite the attempts of fallible human beings to live up to their convictions the very heart of faith is Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection. It is this journey that we enter into over Holy Week. It is my deep prayer and hope that as we take this journey through worship and prayer each one of us will deepen our connection to Christ Jesus, will grow in understanding and trust in God's love more and more. 'Oh what a gift, what a wonderful gift, who can tell the wonder of the Lord.'

Peace & blessings

Rebecca

25 March 2012

Dear Friends,

There is one week now left to the beginning of Holy Week, the most special week in the church's calendar. It begins with Palm Sunday and the story of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. On that Sunday we also tell the story of Jesus crucifixion. In the following week we sit with these events, praying, reflecting, pondering their meaning for our lives. On Thursday we remember the Last Supper and Jesus loving actions of service. We also remember Jesus Jewish heritage and God's work of redemption for and through the Hebrews. We prepare the church for Good Friday, the solemn remembrance of the crucifixion. Saturday we wait expectantly for the joyous remembrance of Easter Day, the wondrous resurrection of the Lord. It is a week of ritual and rhythm. There is truth, beauty and goodness in these remembrances. Again we are grounded in the core story of our faith. Again we sit with the realty of fear and violence and man's inhumanity to man. Again we remember history and struggle and hope. Again we enter into the light of Easter morning, the faithfulness of God and alleluia and praise of all creation. Again we sit between darkness and light. Through the ritual and rhythm we participate in the eternal story of salvation—the bringing of wholeness. Easter is so, so, much more than chocolate eggs and a long weekend! A wonderful prayer perhaps to have on our lips as we move towards Holy Week is the prayer of preparation from the beginning of our Sunday worship each week:

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

May your preparations for Holy Week bear fruit amongst us.

It is with regret that I need to inform you that, due to a family situation, Daniel Duot Deng is now no longer the leader of the Dinka congregation. After two weeks of consultation and prayer the Dinka council have nominated Peter Manyok Kuot to be their pastor. I can testify to Peter's commitment, skill and knowledge of worship. He is one of the preachers and lay leaders from the Dinka congregation and my Dinka teacher. Peter's story has been one of repeated calls to ministry. It now seems he is now ready to answer that call. Peter is 28, was a fisherman in Sudan and has no formal ministry training although he has done various workshops. Therefore one of our critical issues is to either find or provide training. Although when Jesus called another Simon/Peter, also a fisherman, to preach the Gospel and feed his sheep there were no theological colleges around! However I have begun discussions with Peter about this and will also approach the diocese, St Mark's and other Dinka priests :)

Peace & love

Rebecca

18 March 2012

Dear Friends,

It is good to be back in the parish after a few days away in Newcastle. I passed on your love and good wishes to my mother who turned 80 on the weekend. Sadly the friend who lived with my mother, Kath, died early the next morning. This was not a surprise as she had recently moved to a nursing home and was very unwell. So it was a weekend of sadness and celebration. A picture of life really. Paul in our reading from Ephesians presents us with another picture of life, "For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life." So despite the ups and downs (and Paul was very familiar with those) our identity and purpose is in Christ Jesus and we are made for good works. It is of course difficult to remain focussed on our identity and good works in the face of stress, emotional upheaval, family issues and difficult people. In fact we need commitment and the help of the Holy Spirit to gift us with patience, fortitude, compassion and courage. There is a saying that energy follows intent. If our intent is to be loving despite the circumstances then we will find and be given what we need. We are made by, in and for love. May we all find this reality day by day.

Peace & blessings

Rebecca

11 March 2012

This week, a letter from our Bishop, the Rt Revd Stuart Robinson. Bishop Stuart

Greetings in Christ!

I am writing to thank you for your immediate and prayerful response to flooding across our diocese. On the ground, C & G Anglicans have been involved in sandbagging, door-knocking, the provision of food, shelter and accommodation. Our people have assisted with evacuations and rescues, moving stock to higher ground and new locations, counselling, prayer ministry and simply listening to those who have lost everything. The initiatives taken by individuals and our communities of faith have been breathtaking. And we’ve been blessed with Episcopal support right in the midst of many of these difficulties in the ministries of Bishops-designate Ian and Genieve.

And after the waters subside, our disaster recovery volunteers will be involved in door-knocking, to check on people. Trained counsellors and clergy will be available to listen and guide people to sources of further financial and emotional support. In partnership with Anglicare, we will be launching an appeal that will enable us to care for our communities in the weeks and months (and years) ahead. Also, in partnership with Bush Church Aid, a nation-wide drive for funds is to be launched. I will forward details as they come to hand.

To those of you who have suffered and are struggling with loss we extend our love and prayers. I am hoping that churches in non-affected areas will rally to support those across our diocese who will need physical, emotional, moral and financial support (and our appeals will address some of these needs). In parts of Wagga Wagga, church property and other facilities that we use are currently under water; we expect the damage will be significant. Please uphold church leaders as they address these and so many other emerging needs. People are tired and fragile; they need our love and encouragement.

So thank you, beloved, for your courage, generosity, kindness and practical witness to Jesus. I know the hard work is only just beginning and it is incumbent upon us all to shoulder this burden.

Warmly,
+Stuart C & G.
8 March 2012

4 March 2012

Dear Friends,

I often do not get around to reading the Anglican News, our local Anglican newspaper, and this month has been no exception. However, a parishioner from my former parish brought to my attention the letters to the editor section. This former parishioner was 'appalled by the attacks on me', so I thought I better have a look! It turns out that a couple of people have written in about the "For Love of the World" Lenten studies co-written by myself and the Revd Linda Chapman from Moruya. One letter called the whole area of climate change, science and efforts to do something about it "Christ-denying anthropogenic climate change piffle". Rather than try and explain what the writer meant I encourage you to read the letter. I would like to say a couple of things to you who are my care and love:

First, as your rector and priest I refute that I am Christ-denying and assure you, as I assured everyone at my induction, that I would always point to Jesus Christ in all things. You probably all realise this but I felt I needed to state it publicly particularly for our newer community members. For me it is Christ first — all else follows from that connection. As Christ Jesus says in John's gospel, "I am the way". When we follow our Lord then all other steps become clear.

Secondly, the Lenten studies were written after I had prayerfully considered what I believed God was asking me to do as a follower of Christ and as a priest in the church. As I told the Bishop, my husband and my friends, and anyone who stood still long enough, I actually didn't want to write the studies and publicly begin to preach repentance, prayer and changed behaviour. Seriously, I wanted to anything else but that! Partly because I knew it was potentially controversial and I am very conflict averse. Yet, as I have considered the whole issue of climate change over a number of years the 'precautionary principle' at the very least led me to commit myself to doing what I could in my limited power to make a difference. The fact that it is the most vulnerable and poor in our world who are and will suffer the most from climate change was also a major motivation.

Thirdly, whatever we may think about climate change and the politics that now surround our efforts to address it, anything I have said in the Lenten studies and at any other times is informed by a theology of connection, care and stewardship of creation. I understand all of creation to be included in God's Kingdom.

Lastly, the Anglican church with its diversity of opinion strongly held, it's 'many-coloured' worship traditions and its worthy struggle to hold together in creative tension reason, scripture, tradition and competing claims of orthodoxy is a thing of beauty and joy to me. I bear no grudges for anyone who disagrees with me. My only concern is that your relationship with God through Christ and the power of the Spirit is not effected by such disagreements. You are the community I have promised to serve and your spiritual journey is a priority that is my privilege and duty to support.

At my last parish I occasionally ran a labyrinth day. We would build a labyrinth in the hexagonal shaped church and open it for prayer and reflection. A few months after that I received an anonymous A4 letter basically accusing me of being a pagan and a witch and trying to set me on the straight and narrow path of some undefined orthodox position. And so it seems when one steps up and does something there is always the potential for criticism and misunderstanding. It would seem that this sort of thing is likely to happen again but that is OK. As one theologian said (and I am so sorry I cannot remember the name) the church's identity is constructed on the margins in the face of conflict and controversy.

For a much more erudite and authoritative look at a Christian Response to Climate Change, I draw your attention to Operation Noah, a faith based response supported by Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Metropolitan Kallistos amongst many others. Go to www.operation noah.org.

If you have any concerns and questions please come and see me.

Next weekend I will be away attending my mother's 80th birthday celebrations. The Revd Steve Clarke will preside and Brian McKinlay will preach at the services. What a blessing to have such gifted help!

Peace & love

Rebecca

26 February 2012

Dear Friends

The beginning of Lent is the perfect time to think about our faith journey and our relationship with the triune God. In our busy, full lives we actually need to carve out some time and initiate some practices that will support and strengthen us as we travel towards the cross and resurrection of Easter. The traditional lenten practices are prayer, fasting and almsgiving but there are many others. Kym Harris, a Benedictine monastic from central Queensland, has this to say about our spiritual practice and the times for review.

"We all need practices to feed the life of faith. We need to take stern stock of ourselves and embrace a disciplined spirituality. Chesterton has said that we inveigh against the sins we are least likely to commit. Unless we recognize our genuine weakness we become sadly lost. In this the comments of others on our personalities can be so helpful. If talkative, we could develop our listening skills, if naturally withdrawn, become sociable, if moody, emotional self-discipline works wonders, if reserved, play may be the challenge we need. Rarely will we overturn who God has made us to be but rather with balance we can flourish to God's glory."

That last phrase is really the key, the reason for Lent, the journey, faith, everything. Jesus tells us in John's gospel that he has come that we may have life and have it abundantly. The cross is actually about abundant life for all creation and our flourishing is part of God's loving plan and purpose. Our lenten disciplines and practices are about helping us discern where we are holding ourselves back from this gift of flourishing.

May your lenten journey lead you into fullness of life.

Peace & love

Rebecca

19 February 2012

Dear Friends,

One of the things I like to do is to watch movies—particularly old movies. In a bookshop I always end up thumbing through the biographies of old actors and looking at still photographs from their movies. One thing that I find intriguing is the way actors create a whole identity for themselves and their public. They create identities out of thin air. Frances Gum transfigured herself and her image into Judy Garland. Norma Jean became Marilyn Monroe. Archibald Leach became Cary Grant. And what about Marion Morrison? Would you have paid to see him in the movies? Well you did—he became John Wayne.

These people, for good or bad, went through a process of change. In the Bible many people got new names to go with a new life and a new image. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Saul became Paul. Simon became Peter.

Change is one thing that today's gospel is about. On the mountaintop Jesus is transfigured, changed in appearance. In the Greek the word is metamorphosis. The change Jesus undergoes is founded in his faithful and abiding relationship with God. The light and glory he bestows is the light and glory of God.

In what ways have you changed in your life? In what ways have you stayed the same? How has your living been transformed through your connection to and relationship with God? What is God saying to you through this process?

Have a blessed week! Peace & love,

Rebecca

12 February 2012

Dear Friends,

I have been reflecting recently on what worship and praise is all about. We say here at St Philip's that we value worship. There is much to be said! So to get us all thinking and reflecting I offer some quotes from a range of Christian writers and thinkers:

"The church is the church in her worship. Worship is not an optional extra, but it is of the very life and essence of the church. Nor is it a false grovelling in the dust of the religiously minded. We are never more truly human than when we worship God. We rise to all the heights of human dignity when we worship God, and all God’s purposes in creation and redemption are fulfilled in us as together we are renewed in and through Christ, and in the name of Christ we glorify God. So by the grace of God we seek to voice for all creatures the praises of God." (James B. Torrance)

"To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God" (William Temple)

"In genuine worship, psalms and hymns, prayers and gifts are the signs and tokens of self-giving. No-one has truly worshipped unless we have given ourselves in work and service, for the Christian liturgy does not end with the benediction. In order that it may be made in life as a whole, it should be made in the context of worship." (Stephen Winward)

What is worship to you?

Have a blessed week,

Peace and love Rebecca

29 January 2012

Dear friends,

I came across a quote this week for which I don't have the original source but it goes like this: "Jesus did not take something out of us to make us good. He made us aware of something inside.....truth, love, forgiveness". I think this is how growing in our Christian journey works. Yes, we need to identify those things that we would identify as 'sins', that is those things in us that we perceive separate us from God. Another quote says that "bad habits and compulsions cannot be conquered by determined resolutions or by promising ourselves that we won't go on doing this or that. They cannot be rooted out.. they must be replaced with their opposites". What Jesus does is make us aware of the goodness and possibilities inside of us. He draws them out with his love, compassion and forgiveness. As we practise these same qualities we do the same for those near to us. In this way the light of Christ shines in the world. Have a blessed week,

Peace and love, Rebecca

22 January 2012

As Rebecca was having a break, our first letter this year was from the Revd Linda Anchell, deacon.

Those who sing, pray twice. In three out of five of our regular services we sing. (Do you know when the services are? or am I wrong? Freddo Frogs and jelly beans for right answers!)

Many people help me to choose hymns. Musicians and preachers are especially needed in this task. I try to reflect the readings or the season. Today we concentrate read of travelling, which comes from epiphany and the travels of the magi following the light. Alongside that is the theme of discipleship.

Simon and Andrew, James and John, start a long and very new journey in today's gospel.

So for some of us we sing. And often the tune might stay with you through the week. With that will come snatches of the words, or perhaps the words can be looked up again. Music will help words and ideas to flow. Use it to pray them too.

Those who sing pray twice. So we thank God for music!

Linda.

Text of letter to which the Revd Rebecca Newland responds above.

From Chris Kelly, Queanbeyan, NSW, in Anglican News March 2012

Dear Sir,

Regarding "Lenten studies focus on climate change" (Anglican News, February).

I am first and foremost a Christian, of the Anglican community who has had enough of the church succumbing to this Christ-denying anthropogenic climate change piffle.

Why do I say "Christ-denying"? Well, if we are a people of the Bible, we must take God's Word at face value should we not? Ergo, Colossians 1:17, "He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together". (NLT) Or as put in the ASV, . . . " in Him all things consist".

Then we have the testimony of Hebrews 1:3, "He sustains everything by the mighty power of His command". (NLT) or, "upholding all things by the word of His power" (ASV), "By His own mighty word, He holds the universe together" (CEV), or lastly, "He upholds all by the energy of His word." (Murdock).

Does not this fly in the face of the claims of dishonest scientists trying to sell bad science to a gullible world? And yet here we have the church getting onto the bandwagon???

Enough is enough!!! We know that results are fudged, we know that good scientists such as Australia's David Evans, and Lord Christopher Monckton are silenced and subverted if at all possible, and yet the church of God, denying the truth of the Word of God, is also desperately trying to stay on the gravy train and take as many idiots as it can with it. Spare me!!!

As David Evans has said: "The whole idea that carbon dioxide is the main cause of the recent global warming is based on a guess that was proved false by empirical evidence during the 1990s. But the gravy train was too big, with too many jobs, industries, trading profits, political careers, and the possibility of world government and total control riding on the outcome. So rather than admit they were wrong, the governments, and their tame climate scientists, now outrageously maintain the fiction that carbon dioxide is a dangerous pollutant."

Fellow saints, it is the hottest hoax around, it is a false religion, it is a lie of the devil himself. There is no place for such piffle in the Church of God. Sure, let's have a good clean environment free from as much pollution as possible, but the fact that man can subvert what Christ has created and sustains is to deny who Christ is, what He has wrought, what He is doing and what He will do. Away with the devil's own conspiracy of anthropogenic global warming now, once and for all. Let Lent be for contemplating something far more powerful, such as "He upholds the universe — (and this earth) — by the word of His power."