May 2026
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
May 2026 from Father Tim
Spring 2026 is in full bloom with the arrival of May. This month we conclude our Eastertide Sundays (3rd & 10th) and find ourselves at Ascension Sunday on the 17th, Whitsunday on the 24th, and Trinity Sunday on the 31st. May also includes Saints Philip & James, Apostles & Martyrs (1st), the Rogation Days (10th, 11th, 12th, & 13th), Ascension Day (14th), and the seasonal Ember Days (27th, 29th, & 30th). As your priest I am always hopeful that each of you, at the very least, set aside a little time early each morning and early evening for scripture and prayer. For an Anglo-Catholic the simplest rule to follow is the lectionary in our 1928 Book of Common Prayer, where Psalms and Scriptures are assigned for each day. They were not chosen at random. There is a specific flow and purpose. For example we can look at the Psalms chosen for Whitsunday (Pentecost) the coming of the Holy Ghost. Did you realise that on Whitsun Day the 48th Psalm tells of the Apostles waiting for the “loving-kindness” of God, even the promised gift of the Holy Comforter, “in the midst of” Jerusalem, in the upper chamber, which had been the scene of the first Eucharist? Read that psalm slowly, closely, with spiritual eyes. Also consider the 68th Psalm, of the “gracious rain”, the Spirit of God, which He sent upon His inheritance, the Church. The 104th Psalm, of the “Breath” or Spirit of God, which He this day sent forth to “renew the face of the earth”. And finally the 145th Psalm, of that “declaring the power” of God, when every one heard in his own tongue the wonderful works of God, and the “memorial of His abundant kindness” was shown by the adding to the Church of three thousand souls. Is there evidence of the Holy Ghost’s influence and loving-kindness in our life? If yes, those we come into contact with should see sanctification in the midst of our daily life. They should see our fruitful growth in spiritual maturity, holiness, and an increasing likeness to Jesus Christ declaring the power of the Holy Ghost. Biblical truth grows in the hearts of His saints by the gracious rain provided by the Holy Comforter. The Holy Ghost convicts our hearts of sin, combats worldly lusts, and will renew the face of the earth all around us as He cultivates spiritual fruit in each of us, God’s people. If the Holy Ghost is doing all this in our life, the signs will be evident, and He will never leave off what He has once begun. ~ Father Tim
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Do you know any lost souls seeking comfort? Someone who needs the Breath of Life? If yes, please invite them to church this May, where they can experience the loving-kindness of God the Holy Comforter. ~ Father Tim
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At the day of Doom men shall be judged according to their fruits. It will not be said then, Did you believe? But, Were you doers, or talkers only? ~ John Bunyan, 1628-1688, English Author & Preacher
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Did you know?
Did you know St. John’s is currently concluding our Spring Care Net Baby Bottle Campaign? Did you know St. John’s has begun the process of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places? Did you know the stained glass above the altar will be reinstalled for May? Did you know our May Book Club will be discussing three of th Father Brown Mysteries, by G.K. Chesterton in May?
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Saint John May Ordo Kalendar
Sun., the 3rd of May, at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sun., the 3rd of May, at 10:30 AM, Easter IV Morning Prayer
Wednesday, the 6th of May, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sun., the 10th of May, at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sun., the 10th of May, at 10:30 AM, Easter V Mass, Rogation Sunday
Wed., the 13th of May, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, Vigil of Ascension
Thursday, the 14th of May, at 10:30 AM, Ascension Day Mass
Sun., the 17th of May, at 10:30 AM, Ascension Sunday Mass, Vestry Mtg
Wednesday, the 20th of May, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Saturday, the 23rd of May, at 9:00 AM, Morning Prayer
Saturday, the 23rd of May, at 9:45 AM, Bible Study
Sat., the 23rd of May, at 11:00 AM, Book of Life Club, Father Brown Mysteries
Sun., the 24th of May, at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sun., the 24th of May, at 10:30 AM, Whitsunday Mass, Pentecost
Wed., the 27th of May, at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer, Ember Wednesday
Sun., the 31st of May, at 9:45 AM, Psalm-Children Sun. School Class
Sunday, the 31st of May, at 10:30 AM, Trinity Sunday Mass
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Without the Spirit of God we can do nothing. We are as ships without wind or chariots without steeds. Like branches without sap, we are withered. Like coals without fire, we are useless. As an offering without the sacrificial flame, we are unaccepted. ~ C.H. Spurgeon, 1834-1892, English ‘Prince of Preachers’
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May Birthdays & Anniversaries
Carol & Bob Petrie – Anniversary – May 9
Mike Murray – Birthday – May 16
Fr. Richard Bryant – Birthday – May 17
Bill Hill – Birthday – May 21
Kim & Jim Marshall – Anniversary – May 23
Jackie Hodges – Birthday – May 23
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Why should we want to worship Jesus well?
All that we spiritually know of ourselves, all that we know of God, and of Jesus, and His Word, we owe to the teaching of the Holy Spirit; and all the real light, sanctification, strength and comfort we are made to possess on our way to glory, we must ascribe to Him… Where He is honoured, and adoring thoughts of His person, and tender, loving views of His work are cherished, then are experienced, in an enlarged degree, His quickening, enlightening, sanctifying and comforting influence. ~ Octavius Winslow, 1808-1878, English Baptist Minister who converted to an Anglican Priest
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The Spirit is compared to the wind, and, like the wind, He cannot be seen by our bodily eyes. But just as we know there is a wind by the effect it produces on waves, and trees, and smoke, so we may know the Spirit is in a man by the effects He produces in the man’s conduct. It is nonsense to suppose that we have the Spirit, if we do not also “walk in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:25). We may depend on it as a positive certainty, that where there is no holy living, there is no Holy Ghost. ~ J.C. Ryle, 1816-1900, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool
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The Islamic Dilemma
This month I wanted to leave you with a short note against Islam, on the “Islamic Dilemma”. Islam rests above all on a commitment to the complete truth and perfect preservation of the Qur’an. Muslims will claim some similar things to what we say about the Bible about the Qur’an, but with some additional claims, such as that it has been preserved with absolutely no variants or changes, not even harmless ones that wouldn’t take away from its basic truth. Now, this is simply false, but equally damaging to Islam would be to grant that the Qur’an is true! Here’s what I mean.
The Islamic Dilemma can be run in a few ways, but here let’s focus on the truth of the Qur’an: either the Qur’an is true, or it is false. If the Qur’an is false, Islam would of course be false. But even if the Qur’an is true, then Islam is still false. This is because of claims the Qur’an makes that undermine itself. Sura 3:3-4 says “He has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book in truth, confirming what came before it, as He revealed the Torah and the Gospel previously, as a guide for people, and ˹also˺ revealed the Decisive Authority. Surely those who reject Allah’s revelations will suffer a severe torment. For Allah is Almighty, capable of punishment.” The Qur’an goes further and strongly asserts the authority of the Gospel in Surah 5:68: “Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O People of the Book! You have nothing to stand on unless you observe the Torah, the Gospel, and what has been revealed to you from your Lord.” So, the claim of Islam in these and many other places is that we need to affirm the Christian Scriptures, and that they are authoritative! Right away this is not good for Islam, as the contradictions between the Bible and the Qur’an are legion (Jesus as the Son of God, the crucifixion, etc.). But, it’s not quite that easy.
A stock claim of Muslims is that the Bible has been textually corrupted and so we can’t trust it. That claim will be pressed into service here to save the Muslim from this dilemma, they will say that the Bible we have today which contradicts Islam is not what had been revealed by Allah. But that response won’t save them, as the Qur’an also affirms that Allah’s revelation cannot be altered! Surah 18:27 states “Recite what has been revealed to you from the Book of your Lord. None can change His Words, nor can you find any refuge besides Him.” Further, Surah 2:91 and 7:157 seem to presuppose that the Scriptures the Christians had in Muhammad’s day were authentic and uncorrupted. But suppose they were corrupted even in Muhammad’s day; then we have Muhammad affirming corrupted Scriptures, which is no better for the Muslim. Very rarely in apologetics are we gifted knockdown arguments that there is no coherent response to, but this appears to be one of those times. I know of no feasible strategy to get the Muslim out of this argument. So: if the Qur’an is false, then Islam is false, and if the Qur’an is true, then Islam is still false because it asserts the authority, inspiration, and preservation of the Bible. ~ Chris Stockman
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Christian joy can only be realized, when Christ reigns there, alone and uninterruptedly. If the world is permitted to occupy a larger share of the affections and the heart – if plain and known duty is neglected – if the means of grace are carelessly used – if in all your efforts, your duties, and your services – whether in the Church or in the world, you do not entreat the Divine blessing and the Divine aid – then the Spirit of God is grieved. He withdraws His cheering influence; and it is utterly impossible to have the peace and joy, which flow from the inward, abiding presence of the Savior – and which is the work – the entire work, of His Divine Spirit, the true and only Comforter. ~ William Cowper, 1731-1800, English Poet and Anglican Hymnwriter
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The Pentecost, painting by Oscar Van Veen, 1556-1629
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Spell this out in capital letters: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON. He is not enthusiasm. He is not courage. He is not energy. He is not the personification of all good qualities, like Jack Frost is the personification of cold weather. Actually, the Holy Spirit is not the personification of anything… He has individuality. He is one being and not another. He has will and intelligence. He has hearing. He has knowledge and sympathy and ability to love and see and think. He can hear, speak, desire, grieve and rejoice. He is a Person. ~ A.W. Tozer, 1897-1963, American Christian Pastor, Author, Magazine Editor, and Spiritual Mentor
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The seeking of Jesus Christ and the quest for chivalry combined lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler