"Rest is so important because it honors our faith and trust in God, who provides all things for us."
As Bishop Alex embarks upon his summer vacation, he encourages us to enter boldly into periods of rest and receive restoration from God.
"I am delighted to be together with the people of God throughout the ACNA."
Bishop Alex took a moment out of a busy but joyful week to send greetings to our diocese from Provincial Assembly, noting the warmth that our staff and volunteers have added to the event in Latrobe, PA.
"As you pray for the Assembly of the ACNA, I invite you not to miss an opportunity to gather yourselves. Where there is opportunity to gather together with brothers and sisters in the Lord is always a foretaste of the glory that we will one day have with the Lord, entirely."
"In times of transition, it is easy for us to look to our anxiety and fears, but pray that we would see the Lord leading us in this season."
As the diocesan bishops of the Anglican Church in North America prepare to discern and elect a new archbishop for the Province next week, Bishop Alex invites us to give thanks for Archbishop Foley Beach's sacrificial decade of service to the denomination and pray the College of Bishops to have grace to be looking to the Lord.
"How do we know who to ordain? It is fundamentally a discernment of the church, which is different from any other career path."
As we prepare to ordain Erik, Krystal, and Wes on June 8, 2024, Bishop Alex answers the questions: why do we ordain people and how does one discern a call to be ordained? We welcome all of you to join us for the ordination service, which will take place at St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Sewickley, PA.
Have you noticed a little extra buzz around the office lately? We've been working on a new visual identity for the Diocese, which will include a website, new fonts, and other printed (and embroidered!) materials, but perhaps the most exciting recent development is our new diocesan logo.
"These are the ongoing ordinary work of the church: to be evangelizing (proclaiming the gospel) and to be forming and shaping and discipling believers. That is, in Ordinary Time, the ordinary work of the church."
As we enter the long season of "Ordinary Time" in the church year, Bishop Alex emphasizes the two-prong mission of the church—to be both kingdom-minded and relational.
"As we think about Pentecost, I love to hold both of these things together—the daily, mundane reality that I need his Spirit with me just to make the right choices in my life, and also the spectacular, supernatural gifts that remind us that God is truly a mighty God."
Is "Pentecostal" a bad word? Watch to find out! As we approach the Feast of Pentecost this Sunday, Bishop Alex explains the background and meaning of Pentecost and how God equips us to do the work he has given us to do.
"The Ascension reminds us that Jesus is indeed at the right hand of the Father. His sovereignty—his rule and his reign—is real. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, sometimes it doesn’t look that way, but it is our conviction as Christians that Jesus is King and he remains King. And in the midst of things that are challenging, that is an important comfort to us."
Bishop Alex reflects on the poignancy and hope we can find in Ascension Day, when we might be wondering, "Is everything going to be okay?"
"One of the things that we are disconnected from, as we don't (most of us) plant our own food, is the reality that we actually are dependent upon God for his gracious provision for us."
In reflecting on the upcoming Rogation Days and their original purpose in our church calendar, Bishop Alex points out the continued value of regularly connecting with the idea of our dependence on God and reminding ourselves that the very breath in our lungs is a gift from Him.
