MAC KIRK

Memorial Day 2018 - Psalm 121 Rev 7:9-17 Jn 11:21-27 or Jn 15:12-17 " I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills; from whence cometh my help? My help cometh even from the LORD, who hath made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.. the LORD himself is thy keeper; the LORD is thy defence upon thy right hand." I began Chaplaincy in 1988 in the ND National Guard , and in 1989 entered active duty Army Chaplaincy. 20 years in the Army, 9 in the Naval Reserve ( Merchant Marine Academy , Kings point, ny). Two wars, Panama 1989 & Iraqi Freedom, 2003. 2 years in ROK. 20 years in the Army. Pastor, priest at ST Michael's Church in town, Anglican, and volunteer at Southern care hospice . What is a hero? Cambridge Dictionary a person admired for bravery, great achievements, or good qualities literature The hero is the main character of a story, play, or movie. So we are surrounded by many heroes. All gave some; Some gave all. ( a big thank you to...

Trinity Sunday 2018 There was an Irishman , monk and abbot who died in 597 who said something about journeys that goes like this, " Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O King of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand than if a host did round me stand." We are going to take a short journey this morning and recover a perspective about God and ourselves and others that will help us on our journeys in life. Perspective is an important word. How we look at things that may seem difficult or hard will be key in our attempts to get through the problems in our lives. Someone said when I asked them , " How are you today?" " I have some complaining to talk about, but it would not do any good." I told them I would hear anything for a nickel. I was writing an e mail the other day , and left out one letter and that one letter left out made the word completely wrong. One letter can make a dif...

Day of Pentecost Recently I have discovered an old truth that needs talking about. It is the truth that you should not always believe what others say. That sounds rather harsh, but it is one of the lies of the devil, that we are just not supposed to have or do certain things, because they do not fit the idea of what others may have for us or about us. A Chaplain friend of mine wrote me from Iraq. He was not happy because he had a Memorial Ceremony for a Soldier who had died , and apparently some including the Battalion Commander did not like what he said. It was not " politically correct" he was told. I wrote him back that he should go on saying what he feels is right, and the Soldiers need to hear. ...despite the consequences. I heard back from him, and he said that apparently it was not so much what he said, but what they were going through that was contributing to the tension. We do not live up to our lives in Christ despite so much He has given us, beca...

Rogation Sunday Again! Just finished watching a series on netflix, I could not stop watching about murders , assaults, the Scottish detective you could not understand, and his female assistant Miller as he called her, and of course the Church Vicar in " Broadchurch". The Vicar helped everyone. He was a listening ear, a good preacher, and got very disappointed as he got on so to speak.... The people in town took him for granted. They forgot that the parish needed them as well as him ,and at last he was leaving after several long years of ministry to the town and the people. The last Sunday he had a full Church because they knew it was time to come to church to see him off. He preached a wonderful sermon, but lamented they had not come earlier. O Vicar. But he had done so much although he did not know until the last Sunday! Today is Rogation from the latin rogare-to ask Sunday. The three days before Ascension day on Thursday of this Rogation Week , are Monday...