Generated by All in One SEO Pro v4.9.8, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Steve Macias Anglican Priest & Classical Educator ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](http://127.0.0.1/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Blog](http://127.0.0.1/blog-2/) - [Silicon Valley Families Choose Classical Education](http://127.0.0.1/silicon-valley-families-choose-classical-education/) - Earlier this year a paper of mine was accepted, after peer review, for presentation at the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER) 2026 in Tampere, Finland. ECER is one of the largest gatherings of education scholars in the world, drawing roughly three thousand researchers from more than seventy countries. I was accepted into Network 14: - [Captains and Courts: A Biblical Defense of Episcopal Government](http://127.0.0.1/captains-and-courts-a-biblical-defense-of-episcopal-government/) - I wrote this short preface for a republished version of Bp. Sutton's Captains and Courts now on Amazon (Link: https://amzn.to/4aRnGkg). As of June 16th ranking #1 in new releases in "Anglican Christianity" on Amazon. Dear Reader, I first encountered Captains and Courts long before I ever met Bishop Sutton. A PDF copy had been circulating - [American and Dutch Kuyperian Connections with Dr. Harinck in Utrecht](http://127.0.0.1/american-and-dutch-kuyperian-connections-with-dr-harinck-in-utrecht/) - In the end of May, my wife Sarah and I had the privilege of sitting down with Prof. Dr. George Harinck at Theological University Utrecht (where he serves as Rector Magnificus) for a conversation about the Kuyperian legacy and its global future. For those unfamiliar with his work: Dr. Harinck is one of the most - [Re-Visiting Students for Life](http://127.0.0.1/re-visiting-students-for-life/) - Sixteen years ago, Students for Life of America flew me to Washington, D.C., trained me, and deployed me as their first West Coast regional coordinator. I was assigned to California, Nevada, and Arizona and visited new campuses each week. Last week, I brought Sarah and our four children to visit the SFLA offices in Virginia. - [Obey God Rather Than Men: 21 Biblical Examples of Civil Disobedience](http://127.0.0.1/obey-god-rather-than-men-21-biblical-examples-of-civil-disobedience/) - To Obey God or Man? Based on a tract from Peter Hammond (Frontline) The Scriptures command general obedience to family, church, and civil governing authorities (see Romans 13:1–4; 1 Tim. 2:1–2; 1 Peter 2:13–15). In the event of conflict between the Law of God and the law of man, the believer must follow God. “Whether - [Some Important Dates in Anglican History](http://127.0.0.1/some-important-dates-in-anglican-history/) - 563 – Columba’s mission to Iona; Gregory sends Augustine (of Canterbury) to Kent 596 625 – Paulinus, Bishop of York 664 – Synod of Whitby; Theodore of Tarsus 690, Bede 735 800 – Charlemagne revives Roman Empire in the West; Muslims defeated at Tours 732 1054 – Final East-West split. Anselm 1109, Aquinas 1274 1384 - [The English Church Before Rome: Joseph of Arimathea & Glastonbury](http://127.0.0.1/the-english-church-before-rome-joseph-of-arimathea-glastonbury/) - In this livestream, we explore one of the most fascinating traditions in English Christian history: Did Joseph of Arimathea bring the Gospel to Britain? Long before Augustine arrived in 597, there were claims that Christianity had already taken root in the British Isles. Medieval sources connected Glastonbury to Joseph of Arimathea — the man who - [Confession: Courtroom or Hospital? Anglican, Orthodox & Catholic Compared](http://127.0.0.1/confession-courtroom-or-hospital-anglican-orthodox-catholic-compared/) - Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic views of confession and penance. Is confession primarily a courtroom — a sacramental tribunal where sins must be enumerated and satisfaction rendered? Or is it a hospital — a place of spiritual healing under the care of a priest as physician of souls? What did the Reformers actually reject? - [Holy Lent 2026 AD ](http://127.0.0.1/holy-lent-2026-ad/) - Ash Wednesday and Holy Lent Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Holy Lent: forty days of repentance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord at Easter. In Isaiah we read God's expectations for a true and Holy fast: "Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day - [Livestream: Anglicanism as the One, True Church](http://127.0.0.1/livestream-anglicanism-as-the-one-true-church/) - Rome says you must submit to the Pope. Orthodoxy says you must submit to the East. Evangelicals say none of that matters. But what if they’re all wrong? If Anglicanism retains: Valid episcopacy Catholic sacraments Apostolic faith It is already catholic Christianity. - [Paedocommunion vs. John Calvin (and the Reformed Tradition)](http://127.0.0.1/paedocommunion-vs-john-calvin-and-the-reformed-tradition/) - Few questions in the Reformed and Anglican world generate more careful discussion than this one: Should baptized children be admitted to the Lord’s Supper? Many assume that John Calvin definitively settled the matter against paedocommunion. Others within the Reformed heritage have revisited the question, arguing that Calvin’s case deserves re-examination. Mark Horne, points out that, - [Christ and Culture: How the Church Builds in an Age of Statism](http://127.0.0.1/christ-and-culture-how-the-church-builds-in-an-age-of-statism/) - From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord shall be great among the nations. Based on a sermon I preached on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul in January 2026. It is not my desire to be political in the pulpit. I once worked in the California - [Clear Differences Between Anglican vs. Episcopal (2026 Guide)](http://127.0.0.1/are-you-anglican-or-episcopalian/) - Anglican vs. Episcopal: What's the Difference? Anglican and Episcopal are often used interchangeably — but they are not the same. In this guide, I explain the historical roots, theological differences, and modern divisions between Anglicanism and the Episcopal Church from the perspective of a priest who has served in both traditions. Whether you’re searching for - [Intro to Norse Mythology: : Gods, Myths, and Meaning](http://127.0.0.1/intro-to-norse-mythology/) - Norse mythology is the collection of sacred stories and beliefs from the ancient Scandinavian world that shaped how the Vikings understood existence, fate, the gods, and the cosmos — not as fantasy, but as lived religion rooted in awe, struggle, and meaning. At the heart of Norse mythology is the tension between order and chaos - [At Pusey House: Remembering Anglicanism’s Catholic Roots](http://127.0.0.1/oxford-pusey/) - In June 2025, I had the pleasure of visiting Pusey House at Oxford. It is a living witness to the continued Catholic revival within Anglicanism. Edward Bouverie Pusey was a central leader of the Oxford Movement who contended that the Church of England was not a Protestant invention but a true branch of the historic - [Anglican Orthodox Relationships in Los Altos](http://127.0.0.1/anglican-orthodox-relationships-in-los-altos/) - It was my honor to introduce the Most Rev. Dr. Ray Sutton, Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church, to the Very Rev. Dr. Samer Youseff, Archpriest at Church of the Redeemer in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. The conversation was warm, thoughtful, and marked by a shared reverence for the historic faith once delivered to - [The Anglican Synod - What Is a Synod? Understanding How Our Church Is Structured](http://127.0.0.1/the-anglican-synod-what-is-a-synod-understanding-how-our-church-is-structured/) - If you’ve ever looked at an Anglican or episcopal organizational chart and wondered how it all fits together, you’re not alone. Words like Synod, Vestry, and Diocese can feel technical or distant. But they describe something deeply biblical and beautifully ordered. So, what is a Synod? The Synod: The Church Gathered in Council The word - [Sound Before Sight - Luke 18 - Jesus and Blind](http://127.0.0.1/sound-before-sight-luke-18-jesus-and-blind/) - Chapel notes from 11 Feb 2026. In Luke 18, 31 and following (Quinquagesima Gospel in the 1928 Book) Jesus and the twelve are approaching Jericho. A blind man is sitting by the road. He cannot see what is happening, but he hears a crowd passing by. He asks what it means. They tell him: Jesus - [REC Western Deanery Clericus Recap in Carefree, Arizona](http://127.0.0.1/rec-western-deanery-clericus-recap-in-carefree-arizona/) - I’ve returned from the REC Western Deanery Clericus held February 3–5 in Carefree, Arizona. Clericus continues to be a valuable and necessary rhythm for our deanery: time set aside for common prayer, the Holy Eucharist, theological study, and fellowship among clergy who share the same vows and responsibilities. Our days were structured around the Church’s - [No Other Choice - Tending and Growing](http://127.0.0.1/no-other-choice-tending-and-growing/) - A few weeks back, Sarah and I watched the Korean film No Other Choice, directed by Park Chan-wook. Watching films together has become one of the small but meaningful ways we’ve continued “dating” through this phase of our marriage (and quietly squeezing the most out of membership at the Alamo theatre down the street.) I - [The Napoleonic Leader: Military Strategy, Authority, and the Modern Age](http://127.0.0.1/the-napoleonic-leader-military-strategy-authority-and-the-modern-age/) - Napoleon, Leadership, and the Modern Age Keeping soldiers in rank and keeping them alive are unique challenges to the military leader, who musters men to risk their lives in obedience to their commanders. “The leader must keep his followers… and it is hard to exaggerate the difficulty of that task”— Wills, 1995, p. 85 Wills - [The Paradox of the Traditional Leader - Good Pope John and Celestine V](http://127.0.0.1/the-paradox-of-the-traditional-leader-good-pope-john-and-celestine-v/) - Success and Failure in Traditional Catholic Leadership “Tradition! Tradition!” Tevye shouts in Fiddler on the Roof, invoking the religious and cultural code that keeps his world oriented on a traditional Jewish axis. “Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do” (Jewison, 1971). In a similar way, Garry - [How Existing Parishes Join the Reformed Episcopal Church](http://127.0.0.1/how-existing-parishes-join-the-reformed-episcopal-church/) - A Practical Guide for Anglicans Exploring the REC Over the last decade I’ve noticed a quiet but steady trend: pastors and parishes across the country are rediscovering the beauty, order, and doctrinal clarity of classical Anglicanism — and many of them eventually find their way to the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC). I've added some notes - [Parish Governance in the Reformed Episcopal Church](http://127.0.0.1/parish-governance-in-the-reformed-episcopal-church/) - One of the great strengths of historic Anglicanism — and especially the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) — is that our common life is not built on personality or preference, but on order. Order is a gift. It protects the worship of the Church, the unity of the parish, and the peace of God’s people. The - [Leadership and David](http://127.0.0.1/leadership-and-david/) - Leadership and the Demands of the Moment Leadership never exists in a vacuum. It changes depending on what a culture needs at a particular time. Nations, organizations, and communities “pull out” certain styles from leaders that fit their situation. Take King David as an example. His Kingly leadership made sense in the cultural world of - [Anglican Worship Explained: Resources on the Daily Office and Holy Communion](http://127.0.0.1/anglican-worship-explained-resources-on-the-daily-office-and-holy-communion/) - One of the great strengths of the Anglican tradition is its commitment to ordered, biblical, and formative worship. For those seeking a deeper understanding of Anglican worship, I am pleased to share two instructional commentaries by Bishop Ray R. Sutton, written to help Christians better understand both the structure and theology of our historic forms - [Is the Episcopacy a "Divine Right"? (Bishops)](http://127.0.0.1/is-the-episcopacy-a-divine-right-bishops/) - In the Anglican tradition, we often speak about the Church in terms of denominations, yet I find myself increasingly skeptical of “denominationalism.” Although I belong to a denomination—the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), within the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC)—I don’t fundamentally believe that denominational structures define or preserve the true essence of the Church. - [Reflections on the Center for Cultural Leadership - 25th Anniversary Summit](http://127.0.0.1/reflections-on-the-center-for-cultural-leadership-25th-anniversary-summit/) - This Saturday I had the privilege of attending the Center for Cultural Leadership’s 25th Anniversary Celebration at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront. It was a full day of teaching, fellowship, and cultural vision—exactly the kind of gathering Christians in the Bay Area need. Dr. Andrew Sandlin invited me again this year, and I’ve been - [Paedo-Communion in the Reformed Episcopal and ACNA Tradition](http://127.0.0.1/paedo-communion-in-the-reformed-episcopal-and-acna-tradition/) - The ACNA Constitution & Canons allow for paedocommunion commonly called covenant communion or child communion: The admission of baptized young children to the Holy Communion is permitted in this Province.Constitution & Canons, II.4.3 The REC’s Customary The Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) has a clear and pastoral approach to communing baptized children. The Customary for the Diocese - [Anglican - ACNA vs. The Episcopal Church: A Side-by-Side Comparison of Beliefs](http://127.0.0.1/anglican-acna-vs-the-episcopal-church-a-side-by-side-comparison-of-beliefs/) - Episcopal vs. Anglican If you're searching for an Anglican church in the United States, you may find yourself puzzled. Two church bodies—the Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)—often look nearly identical from the outside. Both use the Book of Common Prayer, both have bishops, and both worship with liturgy and - [Covenant Baptism and Communion in the Reformation Tradition](http://127.0.0.1/covenant-baptism-and-communion-in-the-reformation-tradition/) - Covenant Baptism Means… I exorcise infants.I baptize infants.I chrismate infants.I commune infants. Because Holy baptism is not a simple dedication service, it is indeed the Church doing what the Church has always done: delivering children from darkness, uniting them to Christ, sealing them with the Spirit, and feeding them at the Lord’s Table. And here’s - [Visitor Guides for Choral Matins and Holy Communion [1928 BCP]](http://127.0.0.1/visitor-guides-for-choral-matins-and-holy-communion-1928-bcp/) - Our Lay Reader Dan de Villiers has prepared two Visitor Guides to help newcomers—and longtime members—enter more deeply into our Anglican liturgy. Dan has produced: 1. A Visitor’s Guide to Choral Matins (1940 Hymnal Setting) This guide walks worshippers through the order of Choral Matins from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, including the Venite, - [A Rule for the Holy Fast of Advent](http://127.0.0.1/a-rule-for-the-holy-fast-of-advent/) - After the Ancient and Godly Usage of the Church of England This “little fast,” once treasured in the English Church, is our way of waiting with the saints and learning again to hunger for Christ above all things. The English Reformers did not reject fasting. They received it as ancient Christians did: not as a - [10-Year Mission Expansion Vision](http://127.0.0.1/10-year-mission-expansion-vision/) - Over the next decade, Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Los Altos will serve as a missionary hub and beachhead parish, establishing a network of six REC mission congregations across the Bay Area and Northern California. These parishes will form the foundation for establishing new Classical schools, developing clergy residencies, and building the long-term ecclesial infrastructure - [Reflections on the “Called & Consecrated” Discernment Conference (Fresno, CA - Nov 2025)](http://127.0.0.1/reflections-on-the-called-consecrated-discernment-conference-fresno-ca-nov-2025/) - Yesterday, I drove down to Fresno to attend the Called & Consecrated, a discernment conference hosted by the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin. The speakers led an important conversation on the nature of Christian vocation—how God calls His people into holiness, service, and particular states of life within the Church like the priesthood, diaconate, and - [The Mystery of Love, Mary, and the Sacrament of Marriage: Anglican Reflections on Schmemann](http://127.0.0.1/the-mystery-of-love-mary-and-the-sacrament-of-marriage-anglican-reflections-on-schmemann/) - This week in our parish catechesis we explored one of the richest sections of Alexander Schmemann’s For the Life of the World and his meditation on the Mystery of Love. Reading him as an Anglican, one cannot help but hear similarities with our own liturgical and sacramental tradition. 1. Mary as the Icon of Humanity - [[Sermon] Christ Crucified, the Thief on the Cross, and Opening Paradise](http://127.0.0.1/sermon-christ-crucified-the-thief-on-the-cross-and-opening-paradise/) - Sermon from 23 November 2025. Preached at Saint Paul's Anglican Church, Los Altos, CA Luke 23:39–43 (ESV) 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying,“Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying,“Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence - [Lay Readers: How to Read and Announcing the Sunday Readings](http://127.0.0.1/lay-readers-how-to-read-and-announcing-the-sunday-readings/) - On Sunday, September 15, Saint Paul's installed Mr. Daniel de Villiers as our Chief Lay Reader during his admission ceremony, presented by Vestryman Sukhjit Johal. Lay Readers are entrusted to assist in the conduct of public worship in the Sanctuary. Directions for Lay Readers and Lectors We follow the traditional forms prescribed in the 1928 - [Why Anglicans Can’t Agree: Evangelical, Anglo-Catholic, Liberal, Holiness — Who’s Right?](http://127.0.0.1/why-anglicans-cant-agree-evangelical-anglo-catholic-liberal-holiness-whos-right/) - For more than a century, the Lambeth Quadrilateral (1888) has been treated as the closest thing Anglicans have to a universal definition of our identity. It was intended to unify doctrine, guide ecumenical dialogue, and provide a shared foundation across global Anglicanism. But the question remains: does it actually work?And if not, why does Anglicanism - [Reformation Sunday at Saint Paul’s: Worshiping with the 1552 Book of Common Prayer](http://127.0.0.1/reformation-sunday-at-saint-pauls-worshiping-with-the-1552-book-of-common-prayer/) - For 2025 Reformation Sunday, our parish stepped back nearly five centuries and prayed using the 1552 Book of Common Prayer—the liturgy of the English Reformation at its "Edwardian" reformed moment. Not a historical reenactment, but showing how the Reformed party embraced liturgy and form in a way very different than modern presbyterian or reformed churches. - [St. Andrew's College Visits Saint Paul's Los Altos](http://127.0.0.1/st-andrews-college-visits-saint-pauls-los-altos/) - This past All Saints’ Sunday we were blessed with a gathering of clergy, musicians, and parishioners as Fr. Brian Foos, Canon Sean George, and Bishop Francis Lyons joined us for worship. Their presence helped make the feast day a true celebration of the communion of saints and the unity we share across the Anglican Church - [Everything I Hate About Anglicanism [video]](http://127.0.0.1/everything-i-hate-about-anglicanism-video/) - In this tongue-in-cheek confession, I talk about the things I hate about Anglicanism… that are actually making me holier. From the relentless structure of the Prayer Book calendar, to the openness to other Christian traditions, Anglican life can rub against our human nature — and that’s exactly the point. - [Ladies: From King’s Daughters to Queens](http://127.0.0.1/ladies-from-kings-daughters-to-queens/) - Many faithful young women in our time rightly discern that the modern feminist project rejects the divine order of family and the sanctity of motherhood. They long instead for the goodness that God ordained from the beginning—for a home, for children, for the love of a husband, and above all, for the honor of Christ. - [Building AnglicanWiki.org - A Collaborative Home for Orthodox Anglicanism](http://127.0.0.1/building-anglicanwiki-org-a-collaborative-home-for-orthodox-anglicanism/) - Over the past week, I’ve been working on a project that’s been simmering in my mind for a long time: AnglicanWiki.org—a collaborative, reference-style site for defining Anglican terms, history, and theology according to our historic formularies. I feel we need a place apart from the blue-haired revisionists that seem to screech over at the Anglicanism - [Reformation Rubrics (1662) and Paedocommunion (covenant communion)](http://127.0.0.1/reformation-rubrics-1662-and-paedocommunion-covenant-communion/) - Children, even infants, commune because it is God who invites them to the table, and it is God who nourishes, teaches, and perfects their faith through His own gifts. - [Ancient Church in Britain (Brerewood)](http://127.0.0.1/ancient-church-in-britain-brerewood/) - Edward Brerewood (c.1565–1613) was an antiquary, mathematician, and professor of astronomy, remembered also as a member of the Elizabethan Society of Antiquaries. A native of Chester—where he served three times as mayor—Brerewood combined his academic study with a fascination for the history of the Church. He is likely best remembered for his work on the - [Bp. Cosin: St. Augustine, Transubstantiation, and Article 29](http://127.0.0.1/bp-cosin-st-augustine-transubstantiation-and-article-29/) - Bishop John Cosin (1594–1672), was a Caroline Divine and Bishop of Durham. In his book, The History of Popish Transubstantiation (1676), he defends the "real presence" without transubstantiation. His book is here via pdf: http://www.stevemacias.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cosin-history-of-popish-transub-.pdf cosin - history of popish transubDownload Similar to how it is expressed in the 39 Articles, Cosin uses St. Augustine - [Historic Episcopacy and the Catholic Deposit of Faith](http://127.0.0.1/apostolic-succession-catholic-deposit-of-faith/) - In the next section of his book (pp. 20–28), Cirlot turns to those who stop short of denying Apostolic Succession outright, yet contend that because it cannot be proven with absolute certainty, it should not be required of Christians. He cautions that such reasoning is perilous, for it risks treating vital doctrines as optional and - [St. Michael's Lent for Anglicans](http://127.0.0.1/st-michaels-lent-for-anglicans/) - St. Michael’s Lent is devotional Fast from the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin to Michaelmas In the early thirteenth century, St. Francis of Assisi observed not only the forty-day fast before Easter but also a second season of devotion beginning on August 15 (the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin in the 2019 BCP) - [Apostolic Succession: Objections and Claims](http://127.0.0.1/apostolic-succession-objections-and-claims/) - "The doctrine of Apostolic Succession is sacerdotal, and sacerdotalism is completely discredited in Protestant circles today." - [Announcing Way of the Graal — A New Substack Project](http://127.0.0.1/announcing-way-of-the-graal-a-new-substack-project/) - I’ve started a new Substack newsletter called Way of the Graal. It’s a place where I’ll be writing about Christian mysticism, sacramental theology, and the path of spiritual transformation. The idea for this project came from years of reading and reflection, especially on the works of Charles Williams. His vision of the Holy Graal helped - [Reading Cirlot: Apostolic Succession for the Church Today](http://127.0.0.1/reading-cirlot-apostolic-succession-for-the-church-today/) - Felix L. Cirlot (1901–1956) was an Anglican theologian and priest in the Episcopal Church, known for his scholarly defense of apostolic succession and critiques of ecumenical compromise. He taught at Nashotah House in the 1930s and served in several prominent Episcopal parishes, leaving behind a body of work that remains vital for understanding Anglican ecclesiology. - [How Flannery O’Connor Became My Favorite Author](http://127.0.0.1/how-flannery-oconnor-became-my-favorite-author/) - First Encounter with Flannery O’Connor I first encountered Flannery O’Connor in high school when Wise Blood was assigned reading for my AP English class at the government (public) school I attended. At the time, I was a brand-new Christian, attending an evangelical church, and eagerly searching for biblical themes in everything I read. I regularly - [Why I left the ACNA (Anglican Church in North America)](http://127.0.0.1/why-i-left-the-acna-anglican-church-in-north-america/) - In this post, I reflect on my journey through the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), including my departure in 2017 over theological concerns, my time in the Anglican Continuum, and my eventual return through the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) in 2020. I share how issues like women’s ordination, institutional unity, and the challenge of "dual-integrities" shaped my vocation and led our parish in Los Altos to formally affiliate with the REC/ACNA after decades of independence. - [Through Old Eyes](http://127.0.0.1/through-old-eyes/) - Growing Up with Glasses and an Eye Injury I visited the optometrist this week for the first time in a few years. Just a routine appointment since I've worn glasses for over thirty years—ever since an eye injury as a toddler. My life, in many ways, has been lived through lenses. Through New Eyes - - [My Big Fat English Church](http://127.0.0.1/my-big-fat-english-church/) - Many of the traditions, texts, and theological foundations we associate with Protestantism—from the King James Bible to hymnody and classical education—can be traced back to the Anglican Church. In this post, we explore how Anglicanism has quietly shaped American Christianity, public worship, and even social reform, showing why it remains one of the most influential streams of the Protestant tradition. - [Honoring John MacArthur and the Gospel That First Reached Me](http://127.0.0.1/honoring-john-macarthur-and-the-gospel-that-first-reached-me/) - John MacArthur’s The Gospel According to Jesus was the first Christian book I read—before I even owned a Bible. - [Reflections from the Flannery Abroad Conference in London](http://127.0.0.1/reflections-from-the-flannery-abroad-conference-in-london/) - Fr. Steven Macias reflects on his presentation at the Flannery Abroad conference in London, exploring how Flannery O’Connor and Charles Williams use the grotesque as a pathway to grace through a medieval Christian lens of suffering, coinherence, and redemption. - [Come Sing With Us: Choir Camp at Lake Almanor](http://127.0.0.1/come-sing-with-us-choir-camp-at-lake-almanor/) - Just a few days ago, the team at St. Andrew’s posted a video from this year’s Choir Camp promo—and yes, that’s me on camera doing what I love: inviting young people to encounter the beauty of God through sacred music, worship, and friendship. 🎥 Watch the Instagram video here » As both a priest and - [What Readers Are Saying About Reformed Monasticism](http://127.0.0.1/what-readers-are-saying-about-reformed-monasticism/) - A few years back I published Reformed Monasticism: The Influence of English Asceticism on Prayer Book Spirituality on Amazon and I’ve been encouraged by the thoughtful responses from readers around the world. What began as a short study on the continuity between the ascetic spirit of the English monastic tradition and the spirituality of the - [Key Differences Between Anglican and Episcopal Churches in America](http://127.0.0.1/key-differences-between-anglican-and-episcopal-churches-in-america/) - What’s the difference between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church? One of the most frequent questions I get as an Anglican priest in California is, “What’s the difference between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church?” While both share roots in the Church of England, the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) and The - [The First Anglican Prayer Book Service in North America: Sir Francis Drake, the Golden Hind, and the Prayerbook Cross in San Francisco](http://127.0.0.1/american-anglicanism-began-in-california/) - The First Anglican Prayer Book Service in North America: Sir Francis Drake, the Golden Hind, and the Prayerbook Cross in San Francisco - [Northside Anglican Worship with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer](http://127.0.0.1/northside-anglican-worship-with-the-1662-book-of-common-prayer/) - Discover authentic Northside Anglican worship using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. - [The Churching of Women in the Anglican Tradition](http://127.0.0.1/the-churching-of-women-in-the-anglican-tradition/) - Sunday at Saint Paul’s, we had the joy of “churching” a new mother, and it was such a beautiful reminder of how our Anglican tradition cherishes both birth of new covenant children and the vocation of motherhood. If you’ve never witnessed a churching service—or are curious about what it really means—here’s a friendly, Anglican (or, - [Intro to Anglo-Catholicism: Key Dates from the Oxford Movement and the English Catholic Revival](http://127.0.0.1/intro-to-anglo-catholicism-key-dates-from-the-oxford-movement-and-the-english-catholic-revival/) - The Oxford Movement, also called the Catholic Revival, was a major 19th-century effort to recover the ancient catholic heritage of the Church of England. It helped spark what is now often known as Anglo-Catholicism, a traditional form of Christian spirituality now embraced in many parts of the Anglican Communion, the Continuing Anglican churches, and the - [Vestments Controversy in Early Reformed Episcopal Church](http://127.0.0.1/vestments-controversy-in-early-reformed-episcopal-church/) - A Redditor recently shared one of my articles on anglo-catholicism in the Anglicanism subreddit, sparking a question I often encounter: How can the Reformed Episcopal Church have so many "Anglo-Catholics" when it was founded in opposition to the Oxford Movement? "The dates are good, but the essay could use some more discussion of the REC. - [A Brief History of the American Anglican Church (Episcopal)](http://127.0.0.1/a-brief-history-of-the-american-anglican-church-episcopal/) - Understanding the history of the American Anglican and Episcopal Church tradition and its roots in the Anglican Church of England is essential to understanding the denominational history of Protestant Christianity in the United States. My short overview here traces the journey from early Christianity to the establishment of the Episcopalian and Anglican Churches in America - [The Duties of an Anglican Churchman](http://127.0.0.1/the-duties-of-an-anglican-churchman/) - The One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is the whole body of those who have been made members of Christ through Holy Baptism. Each member is responsible for its welfare and shares in its privileges. Since the Reformation, Anglican Christians have distinguished themselves from other Protestant sects by their allegiance to the institutional Church, as - [The Roots of Classical Christian Education in Anglican Schools](http://127.0.0.1/the-roots-of-classical-christian-education-in-anglican-schools/) - Celtic Christianity and Classical Education The early missionaries to the British Isles brought not only Christianity but also Western culture to the regions of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. Early 5th-century missionaries like St. Patrick, St. Columba, St. Ninian, St. Kentigern, and St. David were responsible for establishing churches and monastic communities that provided opportunities - [Historical Connections between Anglicanism and Christian Reconstruction](http://127.0.0.1/anglicanism-rushdoony/) - DISCLAIMER: The names of individuals or organizations listed below may or may not be associated with Christian Reconstruction today. It is not my intention to claim that any of the names below are current, complete, or even partial adherents of any particular version of Theonomy, Christian Reconstructionism, or of Dominion Theology. This exploration of historical - [Against Charter Homeschooling](http://127.0.0.1/against-charter-homeschooling/) - Why Christian Families Should Oppose Charter Homeschool Programs What Is a Charter Homeschool Program? Understanding the State-Run Alternative In recent years, publicly funded charter-based homeschool programs have grown in popularity among families seeking alternatives to traditional homeschooling or even private schools. These programs often tout their "WASC" accreditation, individualized learning plans, and support for parental - [Anglicans and Immersion Baptism](http://127.0.0.1/anglicans-and-immersion-baptism/) - Over the past few weeks, it has been my great joy to administer the sacrament of Holy Baptism to several members of our church and school community—two infants and three students from Canterbury Christian School. What is the biblical mode of baptism—immersion, pouring, or sprinkling? While infant baptism is fairly familiar in most Anglican parishes, - [Ray Sutton's Defense of Paedo-Communion](http://127.0.0.1/ray-suttons-defense-of-paedo-communion/) - An excerpt from Bishop Sutton, (Reformed Episcopal Church, ACNA): "The church is to do no less than Christ when it comes to admitting people to the new covenant feast. If adults need food to grow, so do children. If adult believers require spiritual sustenance to mature, so do children. This is part of the blessing. - [Did Jesus Change the Sabbath?](http://127.0.0.1/did-jesus-change-the-sabbath/) - The question of Sabbath observance—whether Christians are bound to Saturday or Sunday worship—often sparks thoughtful theological discussion. A recent comment on my Youtube channel read:"Jesus made no such command to move the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday. He indeed rose again on the first day of the week, and two scriptures (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. - [Ascension & Preterism: Heidelberg Catechism Q46–49 and the Kingdom Already Inaugurated](http://127.0.0.1/ascension-preterism-heidelberg-catechism-q46-49-and-the-kingdom-already-inaugurated/) - What if the "end times" aren't in the future, but in our past? In this video, [Ascension & Preterism – Heidelberg Catechism Q46–49: Kingdom in Session], I explore how Christ’s ascension was not His absence—but His enthronement. Watch now: Preterism and the Fulfillment of Judgment Much of what modern Christians interpret as “end-times prophecy”—from Matthew - [Pro-Life Conversations at Foothill College: Sharing Truth in Los Altos](http://127.0.0.1/pro-life-conversations-at-foothill-college-sharing-truth-in-los-altos/) - Pro-Life Campus Outreach at Foothill College, Los Altos, CA Last week, I joined Uncle Don, the Project Truth College Ministry Team for a day of pro-life out reach at Foothill College in Los Altos, California. College campuses are real battlegrounds for truth. At Foothill College, we encountered opposition, curiosity, and even unexpected support—but most importantly, - [When Teachers Don’t Matter - The Changing Culture of American Colleges](http://127.0.0.1/when-teachers-dont-matter-the-changing-culture-of-american-colleges/) - In a recent First Things article, Mark Bauerlein reflects on how the relationship between students and teachers is dramatically changing in higher education. He notes that students today often see professors as distant providers of grades and content—rather than as mentors who shape their intellectual and moral lives. He points to a quieter, less engaged campus culture - [Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil](http://127.0.0.1/holy-saturday-and-the-easter-vigil/) - Anglicanism and the Great Vigil of Easter We celebrated the the Great Vigil of Easter at our parish (Saint Paul's Anglican Church) on Holy Saturday evening, Rooted in the most ancient strata of Christian worship, the Vigil unfolds the drama of redemption through sign, word, and sacrament, moving the Church from the stillness of Holy - [Against Vestments](http://127.0.0.1/against-vestments/) - Why would Protestants Wear Flamboyant and Extravagant Vestments? A friend recently posed this thoughtful question on a photo of myself on Facebook: "Why such flamboyant and extravagant garments for a Protestant?" It's a fair inquiry, especially considering the common perception of Protestantism as austere, simple, and wary of extravagance. I'd like to offer some context - [Eucharist Presence Resources](http://127.0.0.1/eucharist-presence-resources/) - Understanding how different Christian traditions interpret the Eucharist (or Lord’s Supper) is a task that requires understanding the Biblical context, historical context, and the whole timeline of the Christian Church. Below is a comparison chart outlining four major views of the Eucharist after the Great Schism —Memorialism, True Presence (Reformed), Sacramental Union (Lutheran), and Transubstantiation - [Exile and Revival: Leading the Mar Thoma Church Retreat](http://127.0.0.1/exile-and-revival-leading-the-mar-thoma-church-retreat/) - This past weekend, I had the privilege of speaking at the Edavaka Mission Retreat for the Mar Thoma Church of Silicon Valley, celebrating their tenth anniversary as a parish. The 17th Metropolitan of the Marthoma church, Abraham Marthoma stated “every Marthomite is a voluntary evangelist” and established Marthoma Voluntary Evangelist Association in 1924. Parish Mission - [Outline of the Christian Life](http://127.0.0.1/outline-of-the-christian-life/) - Join our online group: https://saintpauls.churchcenter.com/groups/seasonal-classes/sunday-catechesis REC Episcopal Recorder #2032 Outline of An Anglican Life by the Rev. Dr. Louis Tarsitano (Order Form) (Online) Chapter 1: The Church (February 27) PDF: http://34.223.225.245/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Anglican_Faith-_Chapter_1.pdf Video: https://youtu.be/wk0hbZqo-zY Chapter 2: The Doctrine of God (March 6th) PDF: http://34.223.225.245/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/chapter2.pdf Video: https://youtu.be/Egs3CvM89WM Chapter 3: Sin, Salvation, and Grace (March 13th) PDF: http://34.223.225.245/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Lesson3.pdf - [Books I Read in January 2021](http://127.0.0.1/books-i-read-in-january-2021/) - In January 2021, I finished 10 books. Here's what I've been reading: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey Link: https://amzn.to/3j8Jqwf The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation by Rod Dreher Link: https://amzn.to/3rhJMDz Benedict's Way: An Ancient Monk's Insights for a Balanced Lifeby Lonni Collins Pratt, Daniel HomanLink: https://amzn.to/3tkQLgW Mark for Everyone (The New - [Evensong with St. Andrew's College](http://127.0.0.1/evensong-with-st-andrews-college/) - Last week, My parish (St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Los Altos) had the joy of hosting a group of students from St. Andrew’s at Chester/Lake Almanor. Father Foos and I were just reminiscing that we've now have been hosting students here for five years as they travel through to Southern California and beyond. Fr. Brian and his - [Singing the Traditional Spanish BCP (Espanol - El Libro de Oración Común)](http://127.0.0.1/singing-the-traditional-spanish-bcp-espanol-el-libro-de-oracion-comun/) - Finding a Spanish Language 1928 BCP Holy Communion Service Recently, a question was posed on Twitter seeking help for a Cuban priest working on a church plant within their parish. That priest was struggling to locate a Spanish-language version of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (BCP) Holy Communion service with musical notation for singing - [The Anglican Parish Pancake Race (Shrove Tuesday)](http://127.0.0.1/the-anglican-parish-pancake-race-shrove-tuesday/) - Celebrating Shrove Tuesday with Pancakes, Races, and Friends On Tuesday, March 4th, our church and parish school came together for our annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper—a beloved tradition that marks the beginning of Lent with food, fun, and fellowship. Canterbury School Families gathered with our parish families at 6 PM to enjoy stacks of delicious pancakes, mimosas, - [Flannery Abroad in London (June 2025)](http://127.0.0.1/flannery-abroad-in-london-june-2025/) - My proposal for Flannery O'Connor's Centenary at Fordham University London was accepted! My paper compares the fiction of Charles Williams to O'Connor's novels and short stories. Why Charles Williams?Both O’Connor and Williams function as “catholics” in a broadly protestant culture. Charles Williams (1886–1945), an Anglo-Catholic Anglican, shared his literary identity with the more well-known Inklings - [Postmillenialism as the Historic Reformed Position](http://127.0.0.1/postmillenialism-as-the-historic-reformed-position/) - On March 4, 1971, Dr. RJ Rushdoony wrote this introduction of J. Marcellus Kik's An Eschatology of Victory (Amazon Link). In this book Kik argues that Postmillennialism was the dominant and default eschatological position among historic Reformed Christians, particularly at Princeton Theological Seminary. Focusing on Matthew 24 and Revelation 20, Kik presents a compelling case - [Muhlenberg, Machen, and the Reformed Episcopal Church](http://127.0.0.1/muhlenberg-machen-and-the-reformed-episcopal-church/) - In 1856, William Augustus Muhlenberg (1797-1877) presented a Memorial (a formal petition) to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. In it, he called for a loosening of what he saw as the Episcopal Church's exclusiveness regarding denominational authority. Essentially, he suggested that the Episcopal Church should adopt a more apostolic approach to episcopacy, where - [St. Benedict & Creating Your Own Personal “Rule”](http://127.0.0.1/st-benedict-creating-your-own-personal-rule/) - Who was St. Benedict? St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547) was a Christian monk who founded the Benedictine monastic tradition and wrote The Rule of St. Benedict, a guide for monastic life centered on prayer, work (ora et labora), and communal discipline. Living during the collapse of the Western Roman Empire, Benedict provided stability in - [What is an Anglican?](http://127.0.0.1/what-is-an-anglican-christian/) - When someone visits an Anglican Church, if they are new to our tradition, they often ask, “What is an Anglican?” Answering this question depends a great deal of the person who asks it. Christianity has 2,000 years of history and English Christians have participated in its life since the first century. Which is where we - [Clericus 2025](http://127.0.0.1/clericus-2025/) - From February 4-6, 2025, I had the privilege of traveling to Phoenix, Arizona, to join clergy from across the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC) Diocese of Mid-America’s Western Deanery for our annual Clericus retreat. We met at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in Carefree, Arizona, and were hosted by the Very Rev. Dr. Steven - [The Blessing of Holy Water: History, Significance, and Devotional Use](http://127.0.0.1/the-blessing-of-holy-water-history-significance-and-devotional-use/) - The Ancient Roots of Holy Water in Christian Tradition The use of Holy Water is a sacred practice inherited from the early Christian Church. While its exact origins remain unknown, historical records show it was firmly established before the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The “Constitutions of the Holy Apostles”, a foundational Church text - [Is Your Child’s Diet Connected to ADHD behavior?](http://127.0.0.1/is-your-childs-diet-connected-to-adhd-behavior/) - There exists a debate on whether diet and particularly whether sugar consumption is connected to hyperactivity. Some experts claim that parents like myself are mistaken when we connect the birthday cake and the chaos that follows. They tell us that there is not enough evidence to suggest that it was the Pepsi that caused our - [Why Christian Classical Education Matters: Restoring the Roots of Christendom](http://127.0.0.1/why-christian-classical-education-matters-restoring-the-roots-of-christendom/) - I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed on The Mere Catholicity Podcast with Jonah M. Saller. This episode, which premiered on February 9, 2024, explores the significance of classical Christian education in preserving the intellectual and spiritual heritage of Christendom. The Biblical and Historical Foundations of Christian Classical Learning "We cannot continue to send - [Classical Education in Bay Area and Northern California](http://127.0.0.1/classical-education-in-bay-area-and-northern-california/) - Back in July 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Western Consortium of Classical Educators in Sacramento, California, representing the Anglican School Association. Hosted by Acacia Classical Academy and sponsored by Kepler Education, this event gathered educators, parents, and leaders passionate about the renewal of Classical Christian Education. The Anglican Vision for Education The - [Chalking the Doors: Blessing the Chapel for Epiphany](http://127.0.0.1/chalking-the-doors-blessing-the-chapel-for-epiphany/) - For Epiphany, we gathered at Canterbury’s chapel doors to mark the season with the traditional chalking of the doors. With white chalk, we inscribed 20+C+M+B+25 above the doors, invoking the blessing of Christ through the initials of the legendary Magi—Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar—while also signifying the Latin prayer Christus Mansionem Benedicat (“May Christ bless this - [Praying with the St. Thomas Christians](http://127.0.0.1/praying-with-the-st-thomas-christians/) - On Sunday evening, I had the joy of preaching at an evening prayer service alongside our brothers and sisters from the Church of South India, the Mar Thoma Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church, and the Malankara Orthodox Church. St. Paul’s Anglican Church had the privilege of hosting this gathering with our Malayalam congregation the CSI - [The Year of Bishops](http://127.0.0.1/the-year-of-bishops/) - Our parish hosted four Episcopal Visits this year: 1. Bishop Sutton (REC/ACNA) In March 2024, our parish had the privilege of welcoming The Most Rev. Dr. Ray Sutton, the ordinary for our parish, for a special confirmation service. Bishop Sutton is not only the ordinary of our parish but also serves as the Presiding Bishop - [Why I Am An Anglican](http://127.0.0.1/why-i-am-an-anglican/) - The difficulty of explaining “why I am an Anglican” is that there are ten thousand reasons, all amounting to one reason: that Anglicanism is true. I could fill all my space with separate sentences, each beginning with the words, “It is the only thing that…” As, for instance: It is the only thing that truly - [On beating my children](http://127.0.0.1/on-beating-my-children/) - Racing My Son—and beating him—every day 📖 "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." — 1 Corinthians 9:24 My wife Sarah came up with the idea of encouraging our son to run a mile everyday. He's preparing for a - [I am near death](http://127.0.0.1/i-am-near-death/) - Today is day 12,707 of my life. Assuming I live to my mid-80s, more than 40% of my days are already spent. But my primary concern is using my remaining time well. Counting your remaining days—can be a helpful way to reflect. Many of us struggle to accurately gauge what we can accomplish in a - [Who Controls the Future of the Anglican Church in North America](http://127.0.0.1/who-controls-the-future-of-the-anglican-church-in-north-america/) - In this video, I discuss my perspective on what I believe will shape the future of the Anglican Church in North America and explain why I have aligned myself with the Reformed Episcopal Church. Update: May 31, 2024 - Augustine Appeal & Male-Only Presbyterate Copied over from North American Anglican: As the College of - [On the FACTS Podcast: "Augustine of Canterbury: The Beginnings of the Church of England?"](http://127.0.0.1/on-the-facts-podcast-augustine-of-canterbury-the-beginnings-of-the-church-of-england/) - https://www.youtube.com/live/ZYSd7oXg1HQ?si=09gPmQBhKVb_GXMK I recently had the incredible opportunity to join Dr. Stephen Boyce on the FACTS podcast, where we delved into a fascinating discussion about the origins of the Church of and in England. It was a joy to explore this rich historical topic and share insights with the FACTS community. In case you missed the - [Banquet of the Bedes 2024](http://127.0.0.1/banquet-of-the-bedes-2024/) - Erik Landstrom of Grace Academy & RE Church writes: Dear ASA members, You are cordially invited to the Banquet of the Bedes on Thursday, June 13, 2024. The event begins with Evening Prayer at Christ the King (ACNA) in Alexandria, VA, and continues with dinner at the Del Ray Café (also in Alexandria, VA). - [REC Clericus in Arizona](http://127.0.0.1/rec-clericus-in-arizona/) - Our recent Reformed Episcopal Diocese of Mid-America Western Deanery Clericus event was held from February 21-23 at Christ Anglican Church (Anglican Province of Christ the King) in Cave Creek / Carefree, Arizona. A highlight of the Clericus was the insightful teachings delivered by our own deanery's priest, the Rev. Dr. Greg Peters. As the Rector - [CSI continues to Grow in San Francisco Bay Area](http://127.0.0.1/csi-continues-to-grow-in-san-francisco-bay-area/) - In the heart of Los Altos, amidst the hustle and bustle of Silicon Valley, is my parish St. Paul's Anglican Church. Here we continue to forge bonds with the Church of South India (CSI) through our mission church plant. One of the most significant milestones in this journey has been the establishment of a new - [“No salvation outside the Church” say Calvin, Luther, and Church Fathers](http://127.0.0.1/no-salvation-outside-the-church-say-calvin-luther-and-church-fathers/) - Calvin: “The Visible Church as Mother of Believers But because it is now our intention to discuss the visible church, let us learn even from the simple title “mother” how useful, indeed how necessary, it is that we should know her. For there is no other way to enter into life unless this mother conceive - [Are Bishops (Overseers) the same as Presbyters (Elders)?](http://127.0.0.1/are-bishops-overseers-the-same-as-presbyters-elders/) - Working through Ch. 14 of The Lord's Service and the Ecclesiology of Ministers. As Anglicans, we disagree with Meyer's presbyterian form of government. Here's a our video from our study at Saint Paul's Anglican Church. https://youtu.be/SgvkR7hdW7w?si=KpOlOz8jaGP6emO- Notes: CAPTAINS AND COURTS (A BIBLICAL DEFENSE OF EPISCOPAL GOVERNMENT) by the Rev. Dr. Ray R. Sutton https://www.stevemacias.com/wp-conten... The - [Priesthood of All Believers - Flexible Leadership](http://127.0.0.1/priesthood-of-all-believers-flexible-leadership/) - I delivered a set of lectures on the Book of Hebrews at the 2023 West Coast Chinese Christian Conference (WCCCC) aboard a Carnival cruise ship on a 4-day trip from Long Beach to Ensenada, Mexico. I've posted the audio I recorded on my phone on our Church's SermonAudio Page (Saint Paul's) for the lecture I - [Reciprocated love in Narcissus](http://127.0.0.1/reciprocated-love-in-narcissus/) - “...for in the mirroring surface of the water he saw the handsomest face he had ever seen.” (D'Aulaire, 1962, p. 95) The well-known Greek tragedy of Narcissus occupies a significant position in contemporary psychological literature, primarily because of its association with the pathological manifestation of self-importance linked to the name. The myth unfolds with the - [Anglican History and Head Coverings (1 Corinthians 11)](http://127.0.0.1/anglican-history-and-head-coverings-1-corinthians-11/) - Anglicans can be rather fussy about clergy hats, bishops love their mitres and priests their hats and caps. But we also have a long tradition in support of female head coverings. Below I will continue to collect Anglican resources that speak to the compelling case for veiling (female head coverings) in the Anglican Tradition. Feel - [Obituary of Rev. Steve Macías (1990-2073)](http://127.0.0.1/obituary-of-rev-steve-macias-1990-2073/) - Yesterday, I read Donald Miller's book Hero on a Mission (https://amzn.to/4aIN9uw) and one of the exercises is to write your obituary and work on your goals backward from there. Here's a draft with lofty ambitions and certain "delusions of grandeur." Obituary of Rev. Steve Macías (1990-2073) LOS ALTOS, Calif. (AP) — The Rev. Steve Macías, - [2023 Year in Review](http://127.0.0.1/2023-year-in-review/) - Here are a few of my personal and ministry highlights from 2023. As I reflect on the remarkable journey that was 2023, I am humbled and immensely grateful to share with you the highlights of both my personal and ministry endeavors. Serving as a priest in the Diocese of Mid America within the Reformed Episcopal - [The Naval Officer Trope in Austen’s Persuasion ](http://127.0.0.1/the-naval-officer-trope-in-austens-persuasion/) - The portrait of an American naval officer is at the entrance of our church, Lt. Commander Norman R. Milbank. He was born in Alberta, Canada but faithfully served in the United States Navy during WWII and the Korean conflict. He went on to have a full career in business including as the bursar at Stanford - [Peter Hallock's connection to Canterbury School](http://127.0.0.1/peter-hallocks-connection-to-canterbury-school/) - Many of my "liturgical arts" friends know of Peter Hallock (November 19, 1924 – April 27, 2014) through his choral music published through the compline choir at St. Mark's Cathedral in Seattle, Washington. As we were waiting for a wedding to start yesterday, I was describing our recent Choral Evensong service to our Deacon Patrick - [Join me at the 2023 Kingdom Leadership Conference](http://127.0.0.1/join-me-at-the-2023-kingdom-leadership-conference/) - I'm thrilled to share that I'll be a keynote speaker at this year's Kingdom Leadership Conference, taking place from December 26 to 29, 2023. But there's a unique twist to this event - we're setting sail on a cruise ship for an unforgettable experience! Departing from Long Beach and cruising to Ensenada, Mexico, this promises - [James B. Jordan wanted to be Anglican](http://127.0.0.1/james-b-jordan-wanted-to-be-anglican/) - Back in 1980, James B. Jordan (Biblical Horizons, Theopolis Institute) had just finished his studies at Westminster Theological Seminary and was working alongside Ray Sutton (now Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church) and Dr. Gary North in Tyler, Texas at Westminster Presbyterian Church. Sutton's Church left the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and eventually - [Kuyperian Politics: Understanding the Calvinist Concept of Sphere Sovereignty in Civil Government](http://127.0.0.1/kuyperian-politics-understanding-the-calvinist-concept-of-sphere-sovereignty-in-civil-government/) - Abraham Kuyper, a prominent figure in Dutch politics and theology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, had a profound impact on both the political landscape of the Netherlands and the development of Christian political thought. Kuyper's political career was closely intertwined with his theological beliefs, particularly his adherence to Calvinism. Kuyper was a - [Understanding the REC, ACNA, and Canterbury's Anglican Communion](http://127.0.0.1/understanding-the-rec-acna-and-canterburys-anglican-communion/) - The relationship between the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC), the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Church of England/Anglican Communion) involves the complex dynamics of Episcopalianism/Anglicanism in North America and its connections to the wider Anglican Communion. Here's an quick overview of the relationships: Reformed Episcopal Church (REC): The REC is - [Bell to Bell Teaching](http://127.0.0.1/bell-to-bell-teaching/) - Notes from my last staff meeting with Canterbury Teachers: Have you ever…? Given your students an assignment and had everyone finish at the same time? Noticed that the longer the assignment, the longer it takes some students to get started? Noticed that some students get started immediately and usually finish early? Noticed that some never - [The She-Bear Wedding in That Hideous Strength](http://127.0.0.1/the-she-bear-wedding-in-that-hideous-strength/) - Tragedy is death, Comedy is Marriage Lord Byron once remarked, "All tragedies are finished by a death, All comedies are ended by a marriage." This adage has resonated with many throughout history and has found its way into various literary works. In my own journey through literature, I first encountered this quote during our study - [Transfiguration: Christ as the Greater Moses](http://127.0.0.1/transfiguration-christ-as-the-greater-moses/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Transfiguration: Christ as the Greater Moses Speaker: Rev. Steven MaciasBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchEvent: Sunday ServiceDate: 8/6/2023Bible: Exodus 34:29-35; Luke 9:28-35Length: 47 min. - [English Bible Vernacular: From Church Latin to King James English](http://127.0.0.1/bible-vernacular-from-latin-to-english/) - The Vernacular Language Today, the term "vernacular" implies the local language spoken by a particular people. For instance, English is the common language in the United Kingdom, Cantonese in Hong Kong, and various Dravidian tongues like Tamil, Telugu, or Malayalam are used by South Indian people. This diversity of languages has significant implications for Bible - [The Book of Common Prayer in Spanish](http://127.0.0.1/the-book-of-common-prayer-in-spanish/) - The earliest versions of the Anglican Prayerbook existed in French, German, Latin, and Spanish during the 16th and 17th centuries. The "English" of the prayer book is an important part of its legacy - in that it provides the prayers and Scripture in the common vernacular tongue that could be understood by the people. It - [Canterbury Theological Library Catalog](http://127.0.0.1/library-catalog/) - I am thrilled to announce that the task of unloading and shelving all the books in our newly acquired library has been successfully completed! Thanks to the generous gift from Western Seminary's former San Jose campus, we now have over 3,000 theological books at our disposal, along with convenient book carts and double-sided shelving. It - [Church of South India in the Bay Area](http://127.0.0.1/church-of-south-india-in-the-bay-area/) - I had some friends from Kerala, India visit us at St. Paul's Anglican Church Los Altos. They are part of Church of South India in the Madhya Kerala Diocese. Their Achen Rev. Aby Thomas is currently leading a congregation in Los Angeles called St. Peters and now exploring the idea of a Malayalam service for - [My Spanish heritage and the Mexican Independence Movement](http://127.0.0.1/my-spanish-heritage-and-the-mexican-independence-movement/) - The Ancestry DNA test told me that our Mexican lineage could be traced back to Spain, so I decided to read the Mexican baptism and marriage records until I found the connection. Just when I was about to give up, I discover there’s a common DNA match for relatives of my 4th great grandmother: Guadalupe - [False Prophets and Human Mediators - Christ as King, Priest, and Prophet](http://127.0.0.1/false-prophets-and-human-mediators-christ-as-king-priest-and-prophet/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: False Prophets and Human Mediators - Christ as King, Priest, and Prophet Speaker: Rev. Steven MaciasBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchEvent: Sunday ServiceDate: 7/30/2023Bible: Matthew 7:15-25Length: 49 min. - [Slaves to Christ or Slaves to Judgement](http://127.0.0.1/slaves-to-christ-or-slaves-to-judgement/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Slaves to Christ or Slaves to JudgementSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchEvent: Sunday ServiceDate: 7/23/2023Bible: Romans 6:19-23Length: 39 min. - ["Growth Mindset" Course (UC Davis Cont.)](http://127.0.0.1/growth-mindset-course-uc-davis-cont/) - I recently took the Growth Mindset course from the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. The material is partly based on the book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. In the book, Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D., of Stanford University, explores the power of mindset and how it influences success in various aspects of life, demonstrating - [Narnia: "By Jove" Localization in Spanish](http://127.0.0.1/narnia-by-jove-localization-in-spanish/) - Last week I finished the first half of CS Lewis's "El León, La Bruja,y El Ropero" (or the "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe) in Español from the Chronicles of Narnia series. In this most recently school year, I taught the English version of the book to our third graders using the books and - [Mankind in Adam is dead & Mankind in Jesus is Born Again](http://127.0.0.1/mankind-in-adam-is-dead-mankind-in-jesus-is-born-again/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: The analogy is simple in that both the humanity of Adam and the humanity of Christ were made by God in special ways. They were both miraculous births by God's intimate intervention. Both made from the uncorrupted - [Launching Canterbury Theological Library, Los Altos, CA](http://127.0.0.1/launching-canterbury-theological-library-los-altos-ca/) - Western Seminary has gifted us the library from their former San Jose campus. I'm very excited to have acquired over 3,000 books plus book carts and double-sided shelving. Setting up our small theological library will be an exciting project. Here are some steps that come to my mind as I am working through the process - [My Ancestry.com's DNA Results](http://127.0.0.1/my-ancestry-coms-dna-results/) - Studying my own ancestral origins has always been a fascinating endeavor. While both of my parents' birth certificates indicate "white" as their ethnicity, their individual family trees are a bit more complicated. My mother, with her name Thora, carries a strong connection to her Swedish heritage. My father's identity has been shaped by his Mexican - [Officer - Overseer in KRS-One's "Sound of da Police" - Psuedo-Etymological Fallacy](http://127.0.0.1/officer-overseer-in-krs-ones-sound-of-da-police-psuedo-etymological-fallacy/) - Officer/Overseer Psuedo-etymology KRS-One is an Bronx rapper famous for his political and social commentary infused lyrics. One of his more controversial songs was "Sound of da Police" (1994) which builds from the anti-police rhetoric common the late 80s and early 90s rap music. It was released just six years after the Compton, CA based NWA - [A Day at Stanford Hospital (Palo Alto, CA) with the Spiritual Care Team](http://127.0.0.1/a-day-at-stanford-hospital-palo-alto-ca-with-the-spiritual-care-team/) - In the heart of Silicon Valley, amid the bustling city of Stanford, a remarkable journey of service and compassion unfolds every day. Kafunyi Mwamba, a recent visitor to Saint Paul's Los Altos, wears multiple hats in the community. He also serves as the Volunteer Coordinator and Palliative Medicine Chaplain at Stanford Hospital. During a visit - [Attended the 57th General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church](http://127.0.0.1/attended-the-57th-general-council-of-the-reformed-episcopal-church/) - As a presbyter (priest) in the Reformed Episcopal Church, I am also a voting member of the General Council. I recently had the privilege of attending the 57th General Council in historic Charleston, South Carolina. The council, which marked the REC's first in-person multi-diocese gathering since 2017, was a momentous occasion filled with fellowship, celebration, - [Anglican View of the Church Fathers](http://127.0.0.1/anglican-view-of-the-church-fathers/) - While some authors seem to go far towards the substitution of the fathers for the written word of God, others in their abhorrence of that excess have run into the opposite, fancying, as it would seem, that they exalt the Divine oracles just in the same proportion as they disparage the uninspired writers of the - [Total Victory](http://127.0.0.1/total-victory/) - Truman addressed the Armed Forces in 1945 with his famous Total Victory radio address: “The war, to which we have devoted all the resources and all the energy of our country for more than three and a half years, has now produced total victory over all our enemies.”Truman delivered this speech on May 8, 1945, - [Criss-Crossing the Lug Nuts: A Balanced Approach to Moralistic vs. Christocentric Preaching](http://127.0.0.1/criss-crossing-the-lug-nuts-a-balanced-approach-to-moralistic-vs-christocentric-preaching/) - At the gym we go to, the workouts are categorized into Endurance (longer cardio, more but lighter reps), Power (short bursts like sprints and plyometric exercises), and Strength (inclined runs, heavier weights). This categorization adds variety to our routine and gives some muscles rest days while cycling through different parts of the body. Some days - [Confusing Anglican Labels](http://127.0.0.1/confusing-anglican-labels/) - In response to a recent message, I typed out what I thought would be helpful distinctions of historic Anglican "brands." Brands is the wrong word, but I don't know exactly how to describe the variety of intellectual schools within our tradition. Overall, I find these labels unhelpful, yet they continue to be used. I find - [Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Satan's Temptation of Christ](http://127.0.0.1/solus-christus-christ-alone-satans-temptation-of-christ-2/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:nnTitle: Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Satan's Temptation of ChristnSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasnBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchnEvent: Sunday ServicenDate: 2/26/2023nBible: Matthew 4:1-9nLength: 44 min. - [Solus Christus - Christ Alone - Satan's Temptation of Christ](http://127.0.0.1/solus-christus-christ-alone-satans-temptation-of-christ/) - Christ Alone – Solus Christus “For the devil would not have assailed thee, unless he had seen thee brought to greater honor. Hence, for example, from the beginning, he attacked Adam, because he saw him in the enjoyment of great dignity.” – St John Chrysostom“Whereby doubtless he received more abundant spiritual strength from God. Forty - [Christ's Death March to Jerusalem and to the Cross](http://127.0.0.1/christs-death-march-to-jerusalem-and-to-the-cross/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:nnTitle: Christ's Death March to Jerusalem and to the CrossnSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasnBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchnEvent: Sunday ServicenDate: 2/19/2023nBible: Luke 18:31-34nLength: 44 min. - [An Incorruptible Crown - Serious Winning by the Power of the Resurrection](http://127.0.0.1/an-incorruptible-crown-serious-winning-by-the-power-of-the-resurrection/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:nnTitle: An Incorruptible Crown - Serious Winning by the Power of the ResurrectionnSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasnBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchnEvent: Sunday ServicenDate: 2/5/2023nBible: 1 Corinthians 9:25; Revelation 5:10nLength: 41 min. - [Jesus turns Water into Wine: Marriage on the Third Day and the New Creation](http://127.0.0.1/jesus-turns-water-into-wine-marriage-on-the-third-day-and-the-new-creation/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:nnTitle: Jesus turns Water into Wine: Marriage on the Third Day and the New CreationnSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasnBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchnEvent: Sunday ServicenDate: 1/22/2023nBible: John 2:1-11; Matthew 12:50nLength: 32 min. - [Who is St. John the Baptist? Three "I Am" Phrases from St. John the Baptist](http://127.0.0.1/who-is-st-john-the-baptist-three-i-am-phrases-from-st-john-the-baptist/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:nnTitle: Who is St. John the Baptist? Three "I Am" Phrases from St. John the BaptistnSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasnBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchnEvent: Sunday ServicenDate: 12/18/2022nBible: John 1:19-23; Isaiah 40:3nLength: 41 min. - [39 Articles: Ecumenical or Confessional?](http://127.0.0.1/39-articles-ecumenical-or-confessional/) - From Catechesis at Saint Paul’s on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. Page numbers are from Kindle edition, not the print book. Quotes from Chapter 6 of The Thirty-nine Articles: Their Place and Use Today by Prof J I Packer and R T Beckwith. Link: https://amzn.to/3VdalJ6"If confessing the faith is a Christian duty, the Creeds are a Biblical - [Study Guide: A Use for the 39 Articles](http://127.0.0.1/study-guide-a-use-for-the-39-articles/) - "One's sacramental theology expresses one's doctrine of God and man, creation and redemption, sin and grace, the work of Christ and of the Holy Spirit... it is in truth the roof of one's theological house..." (pg. 91) - [The Armor of God in the Old Testament](http://127.0.0.1/the-armor-of-god-in-the-old-testament/) - A new MP3 sermon from Saint Paul's Anglican Church is now available on SermonAudio with the following details:nnTitle: The Armor of God in the Old TestamentnSpeaker: Rev. Steven MaciasnBroadcaster: Saint Paul's Anglican ChurchnEvent: Sunday ServicenDate: 11/6/2022nBible: Ephesians 6nLength: 47 min. - [Abraham Kuyper - Calvinism and the Transformation of Culture - Biography and Impact](http://127.0.0.1/abraham-kuyper-calvinism-and-the-transformation-of-culture-biography-and-impact/) - Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) dominated the religious and political life of the Netherlands for nearly half a century, and his ideas continue to inspire an international school of thought. A prolific intellectual and theologian, he founded the Free University in Amsterdam and was instrumental in the development of Neo-Calvinism. He was also an active politician, serving - [Family Photos April 2022](http://127.0.0.1/family-photos-april-2022/) - [Books for Starter Anglicans](http://127.0.0.1/books-for-starter-anglicans/) - Recently, a parishioner requested a book table which got me thinking about what to include. Here's what I decided to buy for our Parish Book Table: Knowing God, JI Packer (Affiliate link) Outline of an Anglican Life, Tarsitano Signed Sealed and Delivered, Sutton Monkhood of All Believers, Peters (Affiliate link) Although the institution of monasticism - [The Prayerbook as the Basis for a Unified Christendom](http://127.0.0.1/the-prayerbook-as-the-basis-for-a-unified-christendom/) - In 1861, Bishop Cummins delivered a sermon in Philadelphia, in behalf of the Bishop White Prayer Book Society, and in 1867, after he had been consecrated to the Episcopate, as Assistant Bishop of Kentucky, he preached before the Convention of that Diocese that same sermon, rewritten, with additional matter. "Again, we claim this high position - ["Tomorrow" in memoriam Dr. Gary North](http://127.0.0.1/tomorrow-in-memoriam-dr-gary-north/) - Tomorrow. For years I would ask Dr. North a question and he would simply reply “Tomorrow” - which meant he was going to think it over and give me a full answer the next day. He encouraged me, challenged me, and even berated me from time to time. In times of mental darkness, Dr. North - [RNS Quotes: On Indian Christian Persecution](http://127.0.0.1/rns-quotes-on-indian-christian-persecution/) - A press release published in the Religious News Service (RNS) entitled, "Californian clergy coalition prays and speaks for persecuted Indian Christians" quotes me with the following: “The great moral evil that will be remembered in the year 2022 is the persecution of the millions of Christians in India,” declared Fr. Steve Macias, a priest in - [Recap of Ministry for 2021](http://127.0.0.1/recap-of-ministry-for-2021/) - These are some highlights of my ministry activity for 2021 - feel free to ask questions in the comments. I currently serve as the Rector of Saint Paul's Anglican Church and Headmaster of Canterbury School and below are some of my extra opportunities in addition to my typical duties leading daily chapel and weekly services. - [American and Anglican: Anglicanism as the Founding Faith of the Colonies and the American Republic](http://127.0.0.1/american-anglican/) - Did you know the first Communion service in the New World happened on the West Coast using the Anglican Book of Common Prayer? What church did American members of the Church of England (like George Washington) belong to after the English lost the Revolutionary War? How did Anglicanism become the Episcopal Church in the United - [Covenant Renewal in History (Through New Eyes)](http://127.0.0.1/covenant-renewal-in-history-through-new-eyes/) - The Movement of History in James B Jordan's Through New Eyes. Download the chapter here: http://34.223.225.245/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Movement.pdf The Movement of History: “After the fall man entered into a decline.” (p. 167) The World of Noah “Covenant Renewal” (Noahic Covenant) Christian view of Time is not “cyclical” but linear in liturgical rhythmic patterns. (recreate)Pagan view: ”wheel of time”or seasonal. (reincarnate) Ark Symbols: - [Transformation by Worship (Through New Eyes)](http://127.0.0.1/transformation-by-worship-through-new-eyes/) - Through New Eyes, Chapters 11-13Book Link: http://34.223.225.245/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/TNE-Transformation.pdf Study Guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xn1_vsdko90OH6A6qhfgzEsIr4Fy7ccFHYN6CvmFqCs/edit?usp=sharing The Process of Transformation Henry Van Til: [Culture] "is the activity of man as image-bearer of his Creator in forming nature to his purposes." The Five & Six-Fold Patterns Compare to four-fold of Dom Gregory Dix: —Offertory, Thanksgiving, Fraction, Communion. Jordan: “Such simple, mundane actions - [Biblical Typology of Astronomy, Trees, Animals, and Angels (Through New Eyes)](http://127.0.0.1/biblical-typology-of-astronomy-trees-animals-and-angels-through-new-eyes/) - Through New Eyes, Chapters 4-9 Book Link: http://34.223.225.245/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Features.pdfBuild a house? Need a blueprint. The Heavenly Blueprint: “What we have seen thus far is that heaven forms the model for the earth - socially, artistically, morally, spiritually, and in every other way.” (p. 47) Typology: “early Church Fathers regarded typology as central to their understanding of - [Symbolism and Worldview - Through New Eyes](http://127.0.0.1/symbolism-and-worldview-through-new-eyes/) - PDF: Chapter 3 - Symbolism and WorldviewDownload Symbolism is not some secondary concern, some mere curiosity. In a very real sense, symbolism is more important than anything else for the life of man. Our symbols create and reinforce our worldview. They pattern our thoughts and lives, often in ways we are not consciously aware. Jordan - [The Purpose of the World - Through New Eyes](http://127.0.0.1/purpose-of-the-world/) - PDF: Chapter Two - The Purpose of the WorldDownload Book:Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World by James B. JordanSummary: The way the Bible uses symbols shows us how to interpret God's natural revelation. When we see how the Bible speaks of stars, gemstones, lions, lambs, fish, trees, and thorns, we will - [Through New Eyes - Intro](http://127.0.0.1/through-new-eyes-intro/) - Through-New-EyesDownload - [Books I Read in February 2021](http://127.0.0.1/books-i-read-in-february-2021/) - In February 2021, I finished 8 books. 18 so far for 2021. Here’s what I’ve been reading: Thoughts for Young Men by JC RyleLink: https://amzn.to/3qqcOjrHow to Be Unstoppable: A Blueprint for Creating Massive MomentumLink: https://amzn.to/3ro2J85Heiland by Franklin SandersLink: https://amzn.to/30jQQnzSaffron Fascists: India's Hindu Nationalist RulersLink: https://amzn.to/3bl8QnQExpert Secrets by Russell BrunsonLink: https://amzn.to/3rv6qsIBuilding a StoryBrand by Donald MillerLink: - [How Could Satan Be So Foolish?](http://127.0.0.1/how-could-satan-be-so-foolish/) - Jesus was surely tempted by Satan - tempted to turn stones into bread, tempted to cast himself down from the top of the temple, and tempted to receive the kingdoms of the world. Yet Jesus overcomes Satan's temptations. We can sin when offered good things, too. This is the point of Lent after all, that - [Persecution of Christians in India (Zoom Discussion)](http://127.0.0.1/hindutva/) - On Tuesday, February 23rd, I'll be presenting on "Hindutva" as part of an online Zoom discussion on the persecution of Christians in India. "Hindutva" is a very dangerous socio-political ideology that combines a xenophobic version of Hindu extremism with a militarized and violent nationalist political ideology. Scholars on Indian politics refer to it as "Saffron - [My First 7AM Mass](http://127.0.0.1/my-first-7am-mass/) - I've put myself into a strange schedule for Lent. I've decided to, "say mass" (or as we typically describe it in Anglicanism "celebrate Holy Communion") every day during Lent. We have 46 days in Lent - six of them are Sundays where we have normally have our weekly communion service. Monday through Saturday in Lent - [Anglican Christians without Canterbury?](http://127.0.0.1/anglican-christians-without-canterbury/) - Dr. Charles Erlandson’s book, Orthodox Anglican Identity: The Quest for Unity in a Diverse Religious Tradition (Wipf and Stock: 2020) is a well thought through effort to mark out a meaningful definition for theologically orthodox Anglicanism. (Buy on Amazon) Erlandson recognizes the increasing difficulty in defining Anglicanism and acknowledges the existence of various and often - [How Benedictine Spirituality Came to Celtic Christianity and the English Church](http://127.0.0.1/how-benedictine-spirituality-came-to-celtic-christianity-and-the-english-church/) - The formalization of religious monasticism into the fabric of Christian identity coincided with the collapse of the Roman Empire. Historians mark the year 476 AD as its end when its last emperor Romulus Augustus was deposed. It is in crisis where monasticism takes on a truer sense of its own Christian identity. Reflecting on the - [Prayerbook Asceticism](http://127.0.0.1/prayerbook-asceticism/) - The Anglican Book of Common Prayer reintroduces a monastic identity to the Church in England in two significant ways. First, it's nearly the same narrative of St. Benedict’s own Rule. When the way of the ancient monastery had become overly complicated by long and difficult to follow rules, St. Benedict introduced a simple plan for - [The Optimistic Ebb and Flow of Moorman's History](http://127.0.0.1/the-optimistic-ebb-and-flow-of-moormans-history/) - Dr. John R. H. Moorman’s book A History of the Church in England (A&C Black: 1953) outlines nearly two millennia of the Church’s history in the British Isles. Moorman traces the history of Christianity in England back to the early Christian accounts of men like Tertullian in the 3rd century and throughout its various Celtic, - [Jesus Heals a Deaf Man (St. Mark 7:31)](http://127.0.0.1/jesus-heals-a-deaf-man-st-mark-731/) - Lower Chapel at Canterbury Christian School for January 19, 2021. - [Monks and Monasticism in the Anglican Tradition](http://127.0.0.1/monks-and-monasticism-in-the-anglican-tradition/) - The bones of the monastic hours can certainly be found in Cranmer's daily offices, but what influence did monasticism have on the development of Anglican theology? From St. Aidan's Lindisfarne community to Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, asceticism played a significant role in the historical, political, and religious development of the theology of the - [Why I started a STEM Club at our Classical School](http://127.0.0.1/why-i-started-a-stem-club-at-our-classical-school/) - I lead various classes and after school clubs at Canterbury - our parish's classical school. I teach the Bible in Chapel, instruct P.E., and various campus clubs and programs. One of them is a STEM club which is an acronym for "science, technology, engineering, and mathematics." A few years back when I first arrived at - [Epiphany Blessing 2021- Chalking the Door](http://127.0.0.1/epiphany-blessing-2021-chalking-the-door/) - Following sung matins at Saint Paul's - students and teachers join us in front of the Church for the blessing of the doors for Epiphany. Chalking the door is one of the Christian Epiphanytide traditions used in order to bless churches and homes. The initials, C, M, B, are inscribed above the doors with the - [Perks of Church Planting with Alcoholics Anonymous](http://127.0.0.1/perks-of-church-planting-with-alcoholics-anonymous/) - Yesterday, I celebrated Holy Communion for a congregation in California's Central Coast. They are recently without a minister and are in the process of basically re-planting the congregation in the transition. They've been meeting in a storefront office in a business park. Visit Christ the King Grover Beach (REC - Anglican Church in North America) - [How I Learned to Read in Public School](http://127.0.0.1/how-i-learned-to-read-in-public-school/) - Our English alphabet system is composed of 26 letters that produce 44 sounds (phonemes), making the structural basis of our very complicated English vocabulary and grammar quite simple. Therefore, teaching children to read often begins with recognizing and memorizing the alphabet's letters and sounds. But not in all American public schools. For over a century - [Carnivore Month 2021](http://127.0.0.1/carnivore-month-2021/) - In January 2020, I participated in my first Carnivore Month. It was a great start of the year for me. It helped me kickstart a personal weight loss from 262 lbs down to 238.4 lbs by the end of that month. For those who aren’t familiar with the carnivore diet – it's a way of - ["The English Church Before It Was Roman"](http://127.0.0.1/the-english-church-before-it-was-roman/) - Did Anglicanism begin with Henry VIII? How did Christianity get to the British Isles? What is Celtic Christianity? On the Feast of St. George (England's Patron Saint) Father Macias outlines a view of Church history that describes the conciliar goals of the English Reformation and the historic authenticity of an Apostolic, Orthodox Anglicanism. - [Commencement Address at St. Andrew's Academy, 2020](http://127.0.0.1/commencement-address-at-st-andrews-academy-2020/) - I spoke for less than 20 minutes on milestones for Christian high school graduates using the “smart by 20, married by 30, and rich by 40” formula. St. Andrew’s Academy is a private, preparatory school in a beautiful rural area of Northern California. The Academy is a parochial ministry of St. Andrew’s Church, of the Diocese - [The "Beefeaters"](http://127.0.0.1/the-beefeaters/) - There’s a bit of folklore that teaches that the British “Beefeaters” that protect the Tower of London and Crown Jewels are named such because of their diet. Some say they were actually paid in chunks of beef, others say eating mostly meat made them premier soldiers, and others describe a regal arrangement in which they - [The Historic Case for Paedocommunion (Child Communion)](http://127.0.0.1/the-historic-case-for-paedocommunion-child-communion/) - “Those who say that infancy has nothing in it for Jesus to save, are denying that Christ is Jesus for all believing infants. Those, I repeat, who say that infancy has nothing in it for Jesus to save, are saying nothing else than that for believing infants, infants that is who have been baptized in - [How is God called Father?](http://127.0.0.1/how-is-god-called-father/) - Our most basic statement of faith, the Apostles’ Creed sets forth the essential truths about how we are to understand the Christian God. This Creed begins with, “I believe in God the Father Almighty” as the foundational statement of Christian theology and serves to articulate the first leg of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. - [The Father-Leader](http://127.0.0.1/the-father-leader/) - The Faith of our Children I sat across the table from a father holding his beautiful five-month-old daughter. On my lap, I have my own infant son and another of mine, a toddler, underfoot. Somewhere in between the prattling about of these tiny humans, we were actually able to get a few complete thoughts out. - [The Unlikely Ascension of Jesus](http://127.0.0.1/the-unlikely-ascension-of-jesus/) - The Ascension of Jesus can be a confusing scene. It is to be counted among the high holy days of the church calendar. Events on the church calendar are limited to items of theological significance, which is why the nativity (Christmas), passion (Good Friday), and resurrection (Easter) of Christ are memorialized with such pomp. Yet - [Prayer of Humble Access](http://127.0.0.1/prayer-of-humble-access/) - The historic prayer book of the Anglican Communion, "The Book of Common Prayer," includes some controversial prayers. Despite often receiving praise as a work of the Reformation, its verbiage can also feel uncomfortably Catholic. Its emphases on saints and sacraments can seem wetted from the pen tip of Thomas Aquinas rather than Thomas Cranmer. One ## Pages - [Anglican 101](http://127.0.0.1/anglican101/) - Anglican 101: Prayerbook Resources and Training Are you interested in learning more about Anglican spirituality and the Book of Common Prayer? Are you interested in learning how to pray like an Anglican or joining an Anglican Church? Are you curious about what conservative Anglicans in North America believe about the Bible, Sacraments, and Culture? Perhaps - [About Rev. Steve Macias](http://127.0.0.1/about-me/) - The Reverend Father Steve Macias is the Headmaster at Canterbury Christian School and Rector of Saint Paul’s Anglican Church in Los Altos, California. Denominational Affiliation (REC/ACNA) He is an ordained presbyter (priest/elder) in the Reformed Episcopal Church, a founding jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America under the care of The Most Rev. Dr. Ray R. Sutton (Church - [Downloads](http://127.0.0.1/downloads/) - Link: The Book of Common Prayer (American 1928) Link: On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius of Alexandria Link: Captains and Courts: A Biblical Defense of Episcopal Government by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Ray R. Sutton Link: Through New Eyes: Developing a Biblical View of the World by Rev. James B. Jordan Link: Paradise Restored : A - [Request A Plant Here: The Anglican Mission Map](http://127.0.0.1/plant-here/) - “And other seed fell on good ground, and brought forth fruit…” – Mark 4 : 8 Across the world, Anglicans are asking one simple question: “Can a faithful parish be planted here?” This map collects those prayers and interests. Each point represents individuals or small groups longing for worship according to the Book of Common - [The Churching of Women in the Anglican Tradition](http://127.0.0.1/churching-of-women-in-the-anglican-tradition/) - Sunday at Saint Paul’s, we had the joy of “churching” a new mother, and it was such a beautiful reminder of how our Anglican tradition cherishes both birth of new covenant children and the vocation of motherhood. If you’ve never witnessed a churching service—or are curious about what it really means—here’s a friendly, Anglican (or, - [Praying the Daily Office (Anglican Book of Common Prayer)](http://127.0.0.1/anglican101/praying-the-office/) - How to Pray the Daily Office A step by step guide on how to use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer to pray the Daily Offices of Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer (American 1928). Why is it called the Daily Office? The term "Daily Office" refers to a set of - [Contact](http://127.0.0.1/contact/) - Thanks for your interest in contacting me. Here are some of the specific reasons you may want to get in touch with me and how to do it. If you have a question, comment, or idea, please send me an email to: steve[@]stevemacias.com. 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