Christ Church - Episcopal

06/02/2026

Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2022:
In the second century, after a brief respite, Christians in many parts of the Roman empire were once again subjected to persecution. At Lyons and Vienne, in Gaul, there were missionary centers which had drawn many Christians from Asia and Greece. They were living a devout life under the guidance of Pothinus, the elderly Bishop of Lyons, when persecution began in 177.
At first, the Christians were socially excluded from Roman homes, the public baths, and the market place; insults, stones, and blows were rained on them by pagan mobs, and Christian homes were vandalized. Soon after, the imperial officials forced Christians to come to the marketplace for harsh questioning, followed by imprisonment.
Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to extract public accusations that Christians practiced cannibalism, in**st, and other perversions. These false accusations roused the mob to such a pitch of wrath that any leniency toward the imprisoned Christians was impossible. Even friendly pagans now turned against them.
The fury of the mob fell most heavily on Sanctus, a deacon; Attalus; Maturus, a recent convert; and Blandina, a slave. According to Eusebius, Blandina was so filled with power to withstand torments that her torturers gave up. “I am a Christian,” she said, “and nothing vile is done among us.” Sanctus was tormented with red-hot irons. The aged Pothinus, badly beaten, died soon after. Finally, the governor decided to set aside several days for a public spectacle in the amphitheater.
Eusebius depicts Blandina in particular as standing in the person of Christ: “Blandina was suspended on a stake, and exposed to be devoured by the wild beasts who should attack her. And because she appeared as if hanging on a cross, and because of her earnest prayers, she inspired the combatants with great zeal. For they looked on her in her conflict, and beheld with their outward eyes, in the form of their sister, him who was crucified for them, that he might persuade those who believe in him that every one who suffers for the glory of Christ has fellowship always with the living God.”
On the final day of the spectacle, writes Eusebius, “Blandina, last of all, like a noble mother who had encouraged her children and sent them ahead victorious to the King, hastened to join them.” Beaten, torn, burned with irons, she was wrapped in a net and tossed about by a wild bull. The spectators were amazed at her endurance.
Eusebius concludes: “They offered up to the Father a single wreath, but it was woven of diverse colors and flowers of all kinds. It was fitting that the noble athletes should endure a varied conflict, and win a great victory, that they might be entitled in the end to receive the crown supreme of life everlasting.”

06/02/2026

Day One of VBS at Rainforest Falls:
This week we are traveling to the rainforest to learn about nature—and the nature of God. Today we learned that God is our creator. God made everything: the world, the sun, plants, birds, fish, frogs...everything! And he made us in his image. We are special and unique and loved by God. Come back tomorrow when we'll learn more about God and his creation.

06/01/2026

May recap:

May was another full month as we finished the Easter Season and ended our Program Year.

We started off on May 3 with Youth Sunday, where our youth took leading roles in worship and we recognized our graduating high school seniors.

That evening, the choir gave their final Evensong of the season in Jones Chapel.

On May 6, the Choir School of Macon ended its academic year with a showcase and awards ceremony. Several singers received their surplices and were promoted to chorister.

On May 17, we had our last day of Sunday school for the summer and the children celebrated filling their memory verse jar with a Sundae Sunday party in the Great Hall.

On May 20, the Matt Miller Quintet fill the Great Hall with music at Jazz on Walnut Street.

On May 21, the Christ Church Choir celebrated the end of their season with a choir appreciation barbecue in Jones Chapel.

On May 24, celebrated the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the Church on Pentecost with streamers and red velvet cake.

On May 31, we celebrated the beginning of the season after Pentecost with Trinity Sunday, where we gave thanks for God's self-revelation in the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

On to summer!

06/01/2026

The Rev. Dr. John McCard led us in worship and gave a wonderful message on the importance of doctrine in guiding our experience of God as we celebrated Trinity Sunday, the first Sunday of the season after Pentecost.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

From Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2022:
In the middle of the second century, there came into the young Christian community a seeker for the truth, whose wide interests, noble spirit, and able mind greatly enriched it.
Justin was born into a Greek-speaking pagan family about the year 110 in Samaria, near Shechem. He was educated in Greek philosophy. Like Augustine after him, he was left restless by all this knowledge. During a walk along the beach at Ephesus, he began speaking with a stranger, who told him about Christ. “Straightway a flame was kindled in my soul,” he writes, “and a love of the prophets and those who are friends of Christ possessed me.” He became a Christian as a result of this encounter, and thereafter regarded Christianity as the only “safe and profitable philosophy.”
Around 150, Justin moved to Rome. As philosophers did in those days, he started a school—in this case, a school of Christian philosophy—and accepted students. He also wrote. Three of his works survive: a dialogue in Platonic style with a Jew named Trypho, and two apologies in defense of the Christian faith. Justin’s First and Second Apologies defend Christianity against the Greek charge of irrationality and against the Roman charge of disloyalty to the empire. These two works provide us with important insights into the developing theological ideas and liturgical practices of early Christianity.
While teaching in Rome, he engaged in a public debate with a philosopher of the Cynic school named Crescens, accusing him of ignorance and immorality. Angered, Crescens brought legal charges against him. Justin and six of his students were arrested and brought before the prefect Rusticus. As the custom was, Rusticus gave them an opportunity to renounce their faith. All steadfastly refused to do so. Justin and his students were all put to death around the year 167.

06/01/2026

From Lesser Feasts and Fasts, 2022:
This feast commemorates the visit of the Blessed Virgin to her cousin Elizabeth, recorded in the Gospel according to Luke (1:39-56).
Elizabeth, who was then pregnant with John the Baptist, greeted Mary with the words, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Mary broke into the song of praise and thanksgiving which we call the Magnificat, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.”
In this scene, the unborn John the Baptist, the prophet who was to prepare the way of the Lord, rejoices in the presence of him whose coming he is later to herald publicly to all Israel, for the Gospel records that when Mary’s greeting came to her kinswoman’s ears, the babe in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy.

06/01/2026

Rainforest Falls VBS Participants, we’re ready for you! A special thank you goes to all of our “Prep Party” helpers, “Adopt a Prop” volunteers, and wish list donors. The parish house looks amazing, and it wouldn’t have been possible without your help! Please pray for a safe and fun week ahead as our 100+ participants, youth, and volunteers celebrate the nature of God!