Month: December 2023

Thank you very much for your continued interest in this unique teaching Web Site. As we end the Year of Our Lord 2023 and near the start of A.D. 2024, I have been working on fixing small issues that always arise with a complex site. My hope is to start A.D. 2024 with everything working the way it should. 

Video Links Issue Resolved

The AIC offers links to nearly 200 videos across several series. Recently, links from nearly all episodes hosted at Vimeo.com, became inoperative for unknown reasons. With the assistance of their customer service people, the problem was resolved. A random check across all the different programs suggests that all links are working. This coming year the AIC will take advantage of Vimeo’s new program for creating customized backgrounds whenever a video is called up. I hope to have this working during the month of January.

Bookstore Information Updated

I’ve corrected a few errors in the details in the cross-references to AIC Bookstore Publications within sections of the site. As of today, the number of pages, number of illustrations and prices are correct. Prices are shown for each book on the AIC Bookstore page. As of 12/29/2023 A.D., all twenty-two books are available for order. Twenty-one books are available in 2024 editions. The remaining book could be available in its 2024 edition in January. 

Internal Links Tested

The internal links on this site were tested and found operable as of 12/29/2023 A.D. These internal links are intended to aid in quick navigation so that no manuals or special Apps or other programs are needed to get from one page to another.  If any viewer should discover any non-functioning links, an email would be appreciated (send notices to: frron.aic@earthlink.net).

WATCH | LISTEN | READ

Finally, renewed emphasis throughout this site has been focused on Learn Your Way mantra: WATCH | LISTEN | READ. We have tried to offer teaching materials tailored to a broad range of learning styles. The final section of the 2024 A.D. edition of Christian Spirituality: An Anglican Perspective is focused on where to find our resources and how to navigate the AIC Web Site. In 2024 A.D., I plan to offer additional episodes in The War on Christianity series, with at least two additional episodes planned. It is also possible that additional Saints could be added in the Lives of the Saints (Second Series), which celebrates saints not among the eighteen with Feast Days or joint Feast Days in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.

Thank You and Happy New Year

Thanks to all of you who have been following the AIC, now well into its second decade on the Web. Your support and interest is appreciated. If you are travelling for the New Year holiday I pray for your safe travel and return home. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

I invite you to watch or listen to the AIC’s two special and unique videos for the Christmas season. Christmas: The Nativity of Our Lord, presented in two episodes covering Christmas Day and First and Second Sundays after Christmas, and The Twelve Days of Christmas, presented in twelve episodes, one each for the days from Dec. 25th to Jan. 5th.

Episode One
Episode Two

Readings, music, pictures and daily key word(s)
(no, not the same as the song of the same name!)

First Day – December 25th – Love
Second Day – December 26th – Forgiveness
Third Day – December 27th – Peace
Fourth Day – December 28th – Compassion
Fifth Day – December 29th – Obedience
Sixth Day – December 30th – Joy
Seventh Day – December 31st – Family
Eighth Day – January 1st – Church
Ninth Day – January 2nd – Angels
Tenth Day – January 3rd – Commandments
Eleventh Day – January 4th – Glorifying God
Twelfth Day – January 5th – Grace and Faith

One of my favorite aspects about Anglican worship and devotions is the tradition of Christmas Eve singing. My wife and I have always enjoyed viewing the King’s College, Cambridge, programs or the similar presentation at St. Paul’s, London. Several years ago, facing the shortage of local presentations, I created a video version for those similarly without access. Click the image below to watch the program. There is a link to an MP3 Podcast version available on the Podcast Archive page. May the Lord bless and preserve you this holiday season.

 

For the full version of the Christmas Eve Suite, use the links on the Digital Library page.

Fourth (and Final) Sunday in Advent

Tomorrow is Fourth Sunday in Advent, the last service in the season and which turns into Christmas Eve following the evening service. From the Anglican Internet Church I send greetings to all and wish you a joyful and safe celebration of Christmas.

Angels Book Now Available

Earlier this week Angels: In Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition went live on Amazon KDP Publishing. You can order the book through my Amazon Author Central page (https://www.amazon.com/author/ronald-e-shibley). This leaves only one volume still to be updated into A.D. 2024 editions. I hope to have that one in place early in January.

God bless. And, again, a Merry Christmas to all.

Prayers in the Christian Tradition Updated

Our oldest publication, Prayers in the Christian Tradition, originally printed on 8.5″ x 11″ paper on an injet printer, then folded twice and cut, then stapled into a 5.5 x 5.5 size, has been updated for 2024 with some small style changes on every page, retention of all the original indexes and a new design for the spine and back cover, is now live with KDP Publishing. The price remains $15.00. There are ancient prayers organized by purpose and content. The 2024 edition includes current information about all 21 other books available through our Virtual Bookstore on Amazon.com.

Angels: In Scripture, Art & Christian Tradition Sent for “Final” Proof

The Angel book project is nearing completion. A final proof-reading sessions were held on 12/12 and 12/13, with all corrections and changes posted on 12/14 and sent to KDP Publishing. The proof copy is supposed to arrive on Monday, 12/18. 

These changes leave only one volume stlll in the review process. With luck, the issues will be resolved in early January.

Third Sunday in Advent

The Gospel reading for Third Sunday in Advent contain’s Jesus’ firm statment that John the Baptist is the one foretold in Old Testament prophecy. I hope you will be able to attend a service in which the sermon/homily is focused on that reading.

As always, thank you for your interest and support. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

Earlier today my wife and I were saying the Third Hour (9 AM) prayers from Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity (For more, See www.anglicaninternetchurch.net/aic-bookstore). The Second Antiphon is this short prayer from a collection of prayers in the Syrian Antiochian Church tradition. It is formatted in the verse-and-response style of the Hour offices, with the response in bold type.

Great is the day of Sunday
And blessed is he who keeps it in faith;
Because on it our Lord rose from the grave;
And the nations confessed the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.
Halleluia, Halleluia, Halleluia.

The traditional Hours format is First Prayer; the General Confession and Lord’s Prayer; First Chapter (from Scripture); First Antiphon (usually Psalm verses); Second Prayer; Second Antiphon; Third Prayer; Second Chapter; Third Antiphon; Fourth Prayer; Psalm Reading; Third Chapter; Fourth Antiphon; Fifth Prayer; Fifth Antiphon; Sixth Prayer; the Grace (2 Corinthians 13:14); the Benediction.

More AIC Bookstore Publications Now Live

This has been a wonderful week for progress in getting the AIC Bookstore updated for the 2024 Editions. The whole collection in the New Testament Series ( Gospel of Matthew,Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of John, The Acts of the Apostles and Revelation) and the whole collection in the Old Testament Series (Prayer Book Psalter: History, Text & Commentary; The Prayer Book Psalter: Picture Book Edition; and The Writing Prophets of the Old Testament) are now live at our KDP Publishing site. Also updated this week is the seasonal book for Christmas; all three books in the General Studies series (Layman’s Lexicon; Beliefs of the Anglican Church; and Christian Spirituality); Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity; Occasional Services for Anglican Worship; Fr. Ron’s Kitchen Companion; and the St. Chrysostom Hymnal. KDP asked for two minor changes to the covers for Prayers in the Christian Tradition and the Easter seasonal volume. I have sent the changes to them and expect to hear back from them in a day or two. The two missing books are the service book edition of the B.C.P., which I have postponed any changes until after January 1st, and the Angels volume, which is now in the hands our proofreader.

Disturbing Trends

I’ve noted in my travels continued examples of the wandering away from Christian traditions. Just this morning I passed a sign on a local church which made no mention of “worship” but instead offers opportunities to “grow” and “share.” I plan to work this into new episodes in our series, The War on Christianity, starting in mid-January.

The Penitential Season of Advent

In the early Church, Advent was known as Little Lent. It is a time to reflect upon the promised coming of our Saviour and the making ourselves ready through penitence. I hope and pray that this year we can return to the full range of musical offerings, especially those at Cambridge and at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. There are few sounds that bring as much pleasure as choral singing of Once in Royal David’s City. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, my wife and I were delighted to have been able to attend a one-man show on A Christmas Carol presented by a great-great-grandson of the author.

Thank You

As always, I thank those of you who follow the AIC on the Web. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

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First Sunday in Advent

Advent begins on Sunday, December 3rd, being the Sunday nearest to November 30th, the Feast Day of St. Andrew. In my former parish I preached thematic sermons for each of the four Sundays in Advent. For First Sunday in Advent the theme was The Coming of the Light. You can hear this theme developed in the Podcast Homily for First Sunday in Advent using the link on the Podcast Archive page. The musical theme for the companion video series is Come, Thou Font of Every Blessings using an arrangement by Ricky Theory. In the Podcast Homily for First Sunday in Advent in our Morning Prayer-Psalter Series podcasts the homily is based on Psalm 50. The Podcast Homily in the Psalter series is linked from the Podcast Homilies-Morning Prayer page.

Web Site Changes

I have completed many changes to the AIC Web Site, with all the changes designed to make usage easier and more intuitive. Every major page now has a thematic opening image. I’ve also changed the menus both at the top and bottom of the pages so that navigation is easier and faster. These changes have been integrated into the 2024 edition of the AIC Bookstore Publication, Christian Spirituality: An Anglican Perspective. Changes were made to the look and the content of Parts One through Four. In Part Five, there are clear images on how to navigate the AIC Web Site using the thematic headings. I have asked other people to visit the site and use the modified links and report back on any further changes that might be helpful for site visitors.

Bookstore Progress Report

The updates for all the books in the Bookstore have now been submitted to our publisher. The following books have been completed, approved and made live on Amazon.com: The Prayer Book Psalter: History, Text & Commentary; The Prayer Book Psalter: Picture Book Edition; Beliefs of the Anglican Church; Christian Spirituality: An Anglican Perspective; Hear Us, O Lord: Daily Prayers for the Laity; Fr. Ron’s Kitchen Companion (with new cover); and The St. Chrysostom Hymnal. Proof copies of all the remaining volumes are due for delivery on Tuesday, 12/5. The Angels volume, the 22nd in the series, is now in the hands of the proofreader. We are having some technical/legal issues with the Service Book Edition of the B.C.P. which I hope will be easily resolved.

Here’s wishing each of you safe travel to and from your selected local parish for First Sunday in Advent. Glory be to God for all things! Amen!