Blessed Charles the King - Rector's Rambling for January 26, 2014

This week, on Thursday, we celebrate at the Feast of the Martyrdom of King Charles I of England.

Although not on the calendar of the Episcopal Church, he is commemorated on the calendar of the Church of England, our mother church, and much of our worldwide Anglican Communion.

Ascending to the English throne in 1626, Charles I ruled in a time of intertwining religious and political turmoil in England.  His father, James I (of King James Bible fame) was a convert from Calvinism and endued in his son a love for the Church’s Catholic understanding of the apostolic ministry and the sacraments, which the Calvinists did not agree to.  The Calvinist-controlled parliament condemned Charles to death for his refusal to diminish the Church’s divinely inspired order.  He was beheaded in 1649.

His feast day is a powerful reminder to us that although we are a Reformed Church, we are also a member of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.  Charles I gave his life for the Church to continue in that teaching, which was reaffirmed when the monarchy was restored in his son in 1660.

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The Diocesan Canons call for the Annual Parish Meeting to occur in January, but we have been advised by the Bishop’s office that we can open the meeting today during the 10:00 AM service, and then immediately recess the meeting until February 2, at which time we will continue and complete the business of the meeting.

The Annual Parish Meeting booklet with reports from the various ministries of the parish, the 2013 financial report, and a budget for 2014, is available today after the service for members of the parish.

It is important that ALL parishioners participate.  A soup luncheon will be served, vestry members elected, and the good news of what God is doing at St. John’s reported.