A Light in the Darkness
A visiting bishop told me and other members of my church's Parish Council about a group in China that has met every day for decades in a home to prayer. Dozens of people attend this daily prayer meeting and have been for years and years. One day, within the past two or three years, one of the prayers said "Let us give thanks to the missionaries from New England in the USA who first brought the light of the gospel to this area."
A few minutes later another member of the group received a vision from the Lord and said to the gathered, "The light has gone out in New England."
When I heard that a candlelight being blown out immediately came to mind.
Maine is the most northern state in the New England region. It's also one of the least religious/churched state in the USA. The rest of New England is no better. The First Great Awakening is an important part of New England history, as is religion in general as the first colonists in what would become the New England region were the Pilgrims. To live in a dark place is difficult and one does not have to look hard to find it.
But I live in hope. The majority of churches that remain are gospel preaching and missions orientated. Churches of different denominations and backgrounds are beginning to respect each other's differences and work together to reach the lost and broken with the light of the gospel. The Light of Jesus Christ.
There are certainly some churches who would rather remain isolated, don't get me wrong, but the Church is much bigger than any one building and any one denomination.
It is why it was exciting to be able to attend the consecration of a church to be the cathedral for the Diocese of the Anglican Church in New England, one of the dioceses in the Anglican Church in North America.
For many it is a step in further cementing our footprint in New England. For others it's a physical testament to the perseverance of the Anglican Church in the New England region. To some it's a symbol of homecoming. Whatever the reason, the cathedral rises as a place of truth, a place of sanctuary; and a bold statement that the light of the gospel is here in New England and it's here to stay.
A few minutes later another member of the group received a vision from the Lord and said to the gathered, "The light has gone out in New England."
When I heard that a candlelight being blown out immediately came to mind.
Maine is the most northern state in the New England region. It's also one of the least religious/churched state in the USA. The rest of New England is no better. The First Great Awakening is an important part of New England history, as is religion in general as the first colonists in what would become the New England region were the Pilgrims. To live in a dark place is difficult and one does not have to look hard to find it.
But I live in hope. The majority of churches that remain are gospel preaching and missions orientated. Churches of different denominations and backgrounds are beginning to respect each other's differences and work together to reach the lost and broken with the light of the gospel. The Light of Jesus Christ.
There are certainly some churches who would rather remain isolated, don't get me wrong, but the Church is much bigger than any one building and any one denomination.
It is why it was exciting to be able to attend the consecration of a church to be the cathedral for the Diocese of the Anglican Church in New England, one of the dioceses in the Anglican Church in North America.
For many it is a step in further cementing our footprint in New England. For others it's a physical testament to the perseverance of the Anglican Church in the New England region. To some it's a symbol of homecoming. Whatever the reason, the cathedral rises as a place of truth, a place of sanctuary; and a bold statement that the light of the gospel is here in New England and it's here to stay.
PHOTOS OF THE CATHEDRAL CONSECRATION
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