October 20, 2018
NEEDED!
We are in need of an clergyman who would be qualified and willing to fill the Military Endorser position in the Emmanuel Communion. Our previous endorser has moved overseas for post graduate work and is no longer able to maintain the responsibilities of that position. If you are interested please contact the Presiding Bishop at eacommunion@gmail .com
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NOTICE! Our House of Bishops, after deep deliberation and souls searching, has unanimously agreed that our ministry shall be commonly known as The Emmanuel Communion. There are reasons for this change that we would be willing to discuss privately, but due to the non-scriptural trending of the world wide ethos known as Anglicanism we can no longer describe ourselves by this name. We remain incorporated as the Emmanuel Anglican Communion, Inc., but are "doing business as" The Emmanuel Communion.
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July 3, 2016 240 years of Independence!!!
Tomorrow will mark the 240th Birthday of our independence from England! What a blessed nation we are.
Our newly birthed EAC now has a logo. Our Deacon in the Diocese of Southeast Asia, Deacon Looi Joon Hui, has created several choices and the House of Bishops has selected the one you see below. It is the shield of faith with the Cross of St George and a circle with the flame signifying the Holy Spirit, The flame represents the Holy Spirit as well as the Holy Trinity, one fire, three flames, one God, three Persons and the letters are for Jesus Christ Conqueror in the Greek. The banner across the bottom declares the English translation of Emmanuel - "God With Us."
Thank you Deacon Joon Hui for your hard work and your wonderful contribution to this move of God known as the EAC.
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May 23, 2016
The Emmanuel Anglican Communion House of Bishops has elected to seat Bishop Edward Skiba as it's founding Archbishop and includes Bishops Barry Becchio, David Franceour, Omomaro Okekaro,Geoff Ames and Daniel Thomas as founding Bishops.
The Diocese of Missions and Chaplaincy (DoMaC) will continue under the See of Abp Skiba and is now a part of the Emmanuel Anglican Communion. All Bishops and clergy who are presently under the covering of DoMaC have expressed a desire to continue with the EAC as have all clergy in other ministries under Bishops, Becchio, Thomas, and Franceour. The changes to this DoMaC ministry page will be taking place in the near future but the address will remain the same.
We ask your fervent prayers that God's will be done as this new ministry moves forward in the work of the Kingdom... "Come Holy Spirit... open our eyes and our ears to see and hear the will of the Father as we work in His vineyard alongside all of our brothers and sisters in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church." Amen.
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August, 2015 Around the Diocese
Things have been quiet since Bishop Ed returned from Texas and Fr Tom Abbott's ordination.
Bishop Ed Skiba and Bonnie have acquired a 27 acre plot in the Florida panhandle and will be setting up a family homestead as well as a future Christian Retreat facility. The plan is to move there in approximately one year.
So much for news around t the Diocese of Missions and Chaplaincy. Bishop Ed urges all to "pray without ceasing" for the salvation of our nation, wisdom for our leaders and peace in the Middle East.
Pax Christi.
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May 1, 2015 New priest ordained in Texas
Please welcome our newest priest, Father Tom Abbott of Wells, Texas, to the Diocese of Missions and Chaplaincy. Father Tom has been a friend of Bp. Ed for about 30 years, has been an Ordained Deacon for about 20 years, is a retired US Naval Officer who is now homesteading 92 acres. He is also a Master Gardener and is engaging in "subsistence farming."
“God is calling people from every Christian walk and tradition into lives of intentional prayer, simplicity, and holiness. He's rekindling a hunger for the ancient paths and spiritual disciplines of the monastic fathers. The most unique part of this call, however, is that God is not calling these people to enter a monastery, but to live monastic lives at home and at work! This growing movement is called Lay Monasticism (or sometimes “Domestic Monasticism”). It's a way of shaping daily life around the patterns and practices of monastic spirituality; joyfully relinquishing oneself to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit through Scripture, quiet contemplation, hidden prayer, and disciplined faith; drawing one ever closer in love to Jesus Christ; and honoring His life through the living sacrifice of one’s own life.” (1.)
Father Tom's first Eucharist
Here is an excerpt from a recent post of his:
"The monk is in the monastery. The monk is also on Wall Street, on Main Street, and down on the farm." -- Mark Plaiss, (The Inner Room: A Journey into Lay Monasticism)
“God is calling people from every Christian walk and tradition into lives of intentional prayer, simplicity, and holiness. He's rekindling a hunger for the ancient paths and spiritual disciplines of the monastic fathers. The most unique part of this call, however, is that God is not calling these people to enter a monastery, but to live monastic lives at home and at work! This growing movement is called Lay Monasticism (or sometimes “Domestic Monasticism”). It's a way of shaping daily life around the patterns and practices of monastic spirituality; joyfully relinquishing oneself to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit through Scripture, quiet contemplation, hidden prayer, and disciplined faith; drawing one ever closer in love to Jesus Christ; and honoring His life through the living sacrifice of one’s own life.” (1.)
I have long been one of those called into this lifestyle. Here at Deerfield Abbey (2.), I am striving to pattern my life after a “Rule of Life” that is an adaptation of the Rule of St. Benedict. By that, I mean that my day follows a Benedictine model of prayer, worship, study, and work. Prayer is observed throughout the day in a very abbreviated and modified version of the monastic "Office of the Hours" (set times of prayer throughout the day that call me into the presence of God), thereby sanctifying my time, work, and worship. Lest you think that all this makes me a sour, dour, “holier than thou” sort of fellow, I am also influenced by the lives of the early Celtic monastic saints, and that means that all this occurs within the context of celebration, joy, and even humor. Yes, there is much work and “spiritual activity”, but this is also a fun way to live. Yes, I said fun.
I am also keenly aware of the many recent global developments (e.g., in scientific advances, geo-politics, environmental instability, terrorism, economic failures, etc.) which suggest that there could soon be dramatic changes to the modern way of life in the USA, and the world at large – perhaps even ushering in the return of Jesus Christ. Therefore we are striving to learn how to live if we wake up one morning to find ourselves living in the 19th century and, by necessity, need to return to the practices and disciplines of a "peasant" society; without the readily available resources of electricity, utilities, grocery stores, medical care, and other conveniences. As time and resources permit, we are learning how to do more the "old fashioned" way and are examining such issues as alternative energy, heirloom food production and storage, animal husbandry, herbal medicinals, and the like. At a minimum, we have a wholesome and healthy lifestyle – and if some sort of disaster overtakes the nation, we may be a beacon of light in an otherwise dark situation.
(1.) I owe much to my dear friends at St. Brendan’s Monastic Fellowship for information, friendship, and their modeling of this lifestyle – oh, and I stole a lot of this write-up from their website … with their permission, of course - http://www.saintbrendans-online.org/
(2.) We have named our homestead “Deerfield Abbey” as a bit of a joke, Deer to hunt in the forest, and Fields to grow food and fodder, and our “Abbey” is community of believers wherein resides an Abbott (not an abbot – get it?).
Fr. Tom has a great sense of humor, speaks Hebrew and Russian and is passionate for the things of God. We will be posting some of his thoughts from time to time and would encourage all to contact him and welcome him into the Communion. Bp. Ed and Bonnie are visiting with the Abbotts at Deerfield Abbey for several weeks and are learning much about subsistence living. Fr. Tom and Jennifer have also just become a great grand parents to his newest clan member, great grandson Aayden, born May 5th.
As you can see, the ordination was informal and took place in their living room, unofficially referred to as the Chapel of St. Columba. Fr Tom will be entering the EC Benedictine Order through Bishop Abbot Barry Becchio.
Fr. Tom can be reached at: tom@deerfield-abbey.org
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March 11, 2015
Our Moderator and Archbishop, ++John Simons, is taking a short sabbatical until June 1, 2015 and will make a trip to Spain with his lovely wife Jana for a time of renewal and refreshing. He has been dealing with health issues as well as professional challenges in his work as a Hospice Physician and needs a time of spiritual as well as physical renewal.
Archbishop Simons has appointed Bishop Edward J. Skiba as the Secretary General for the CACI to serve as a contact point for Abp. Simons and to attend to the daily administrative functions of the Moderators Office. Bishop Ed can be reached at his Diocesan email address... domac.bishop@gmail.com or at his cell phone number 772-341-9026.
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February 3, 2015
The recent Bishop's Council meeting was a time of fellowship and updating of the ministries throughout the Communion. Bishop Bob Corrao joined us by Skype from Connecticut and Bishop Dan Thomas joined by Skype from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia where it is 13 hours later than here. Our sessions consisted of the reading of research papers, Presentation of a Licentiate Diploma to Diana Whitecross and Diocesan reports by the respective Bishops.
Discussion was engaged in on clarification of existing Canons with some addition proposed. More information will be forthcoming after all of the CACI Bishops have been informed of the proposals and have had an opportunity for input.
Two new priests were received into the CACI, Fr. Mick Benton of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Fr. Rick Benton of Jacksonville, Florida. In addition they were inducted into the order of St. Alcuin (Benedictine) as was Ms. Diana Whitecross.
The Bishop's Council meets yearly and the General Convention is a biannual event and will be scheduled for this coming year.
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January 17th, 2015 will be the official retirement date of Bishop Ed Skiba from his position as a chaplain at Treasure Coast Hospice, Stuart, Florida. Bishop Ed has been employed there for seven years and three months, ministering to people in the final months of their lives and providing a spiritual presence for their loved ones when they did not have a pastoral presence in their lives. in addition, he has been available to Hospice staff and nursing home personnel in times of spiritual need.
"This has been the most meaningful ministry I have been privileged to be a part of" said the Bishop. "The experiences I have had in the presence of people who have contributed greatly to our society during their lifetimes, and the knowledge I have gained in listening to them, is a treasure to me and a tremendous asset to the ministry God has given me. I have dealt with the passing of children from disease to a 109 year old lady who lived her life to the fullest. It has given me a view of life that very few are privileged to experience."
Bishop Skiba will continue as the chaplain for Stuart, Florida Police Department and Fire/Rescue and now will be able to get more deeply involved in the development of the Diocese of Missions and Chaplaincy, CACI.
He and his wife of almost 49 years, Bonnie, will maintain their home in Indiantown, Florida, near their family in Palm Beach Gardens.
