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http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/thisweekinchristianhistory/

"April 29, 1607: English settlers establish the first Anglican church in the American colonies at Cape Henry, Virginia."

What kind of a "church" do you imagine when you read the above excerpt - a simple wooden-sided structure like the "Little Church in the Wildwood", or a magnificent, spire-topped cathedral such as we see today?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R3LDJc7O8Q

Well, it was nothing of the sort! The first Anglican church in the New World was nothing more than a mere wooden plank for an alter, nailed between two trees under the cover of a piece of sailcloth. From there the service was conducted, marking the meeting of believers with each other and God.

Such an occasion is reminiscent of the words of Jesus when he said to the Samaritan woman at the well - " "Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem...Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4: 21, 23, 24, NIV)

Those who want to engage in genuine worship of God will be able to do that whether they are surrounded by trees or the trappings of the greatest cathedral ever built. For it is not the building of our hands, but the bending of our hearts combined with the drawing of his Spirit that makes worship possible and meaningful!

More permanent structures followed this original meeting in the forest, but the object of their worship remains unchanged and eternal - it's all about Jesus!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeAwBmb_x28

Of course we know that such freedom of worship as we enjoy today was not always possible for Christians -

"April 30, 304: The last and most punishing anti-Christian edict during Roman Emperor Diocletian's reign is published. The ensuing carnage was so horrific that it was said even the coliseum lions got tired..."

Eventually, the Roman emperor let up on his bloody rampage against Christians, but not before thousands upon thousands of people died simply for confessing that Christ was their Lord and Savior.

They were burned as human torches, killed by gladiators, torn apart by lions and wracked on machines in the arena for the entertainment of the bloodthirsty Roman masses - enduring suffering beyond imagination - but would not deny the name of Jesus.

Because when one has met Jesus and accepted what He did on the Cross, there is no going back from it, any more than you or I could deny the existence of someone that we have personally met and visited with.

May you meet with Him where ever you are today!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkVjbt7pbI&feature=related

<blockquote data-quote="burnt" data-source="post: 568027" data-attributes="member: 2584">http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/thisweekinchristianhistory/&quot;April 29, 1607: English settlers establish the first Anglican church in the American colonies at Cape Henry, Virginia.&quot;What kind of a &quot;church&quot; do you imagine when you read the above excerpt - a simple wooden-sided structure like the &quot;Little Church in the Wildwood&quot;, or a magnificent, spire-topped cathedral such as we see today? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R3LDJc7O8QWell, it was nothing of the sort! The first Anglican church in the New World was nothing more than a mere wooden plank for an alter, nailed between two trees under the cover of a piece of sailcloth. From there the service was conducted, marking the meeting of believers with each other and God. Such an occasion is reminiscent of the words of Jesus when he said to the Samaritan woman at the well - &quot; &quot;Woman,&quot; Jesus replied, &quot;believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem...Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.&quot; (John 4: 21, 23, 24, NIV)Those who want to engage in genuine worship of God will be able to do that whether they are surrounded by trees or the trappings of the greatest cathedral ever built. For it is not the building of our hands, but the bending of our hearts combined with the drawing of his Spirit that makes worship possible and meaningful!More permanent structures followed this original meeting in the forest, but the object of their worship remains unchanged and eternal - it&#039;s all about Jesus!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeAwBmb_x28Of course we know that such freedom of worship as we enjoy today was not always possible for Christians - &quot;April 30, 304: The last and most punishing anti-Christian edict during Roman Emperor Diocletian&#039;s reign is published. The ensuing carnage was so horrific that it was said even the coliseum lions got tired...&quot;Eventually, the Roman emperor let up on his bloody rampage against Christians, but not before thousands upon thousands of people died simply for confessing that Christ was their Lord and Savior. They were burned as human torches, killed by gladiators, torn apart by lions and wracked on machines in the arena for the entertainment of the bloodthirsty Roman masses - enduring suffering beyond imagination -&nbsp; but would not deny the name of Jesus.Because when one has met Jesus and accepted what He did on the Cross, there is no going back from it, any more than you or I could deny the existence of someone that we have personally met and visited with.&nbsp; May you meet with Him where ever you are today!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkVjbt7pbI&amp;feature=related</blockquote>

[QUOTE="burnt, post: 568027, member: 2584"] http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/thisweekinchristianhistory/ "April 29, 1607: English settlers establish the first Anglican church in the American colonies at Cape Henry, Virginia." What kind of a "church" do you imagine when you read the above excerpt - a simple wooden-sided structure like the "Little Church in the Wildwood", or a magnificent, spire-topped cathedral such as we see today? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R3LDJc7O8Q Well, it was nothing of the sort! The first Anglican church in the New World was nothing more than a mere wooden plank for an alter, nailed between two trees under the cover of a piece of sailcloth. From there the service was conducted, marking the meeting of believers with each other and God. Such an occasion is reminiscent of the words of Jesus when he said to the Samaritan woman at the well - " “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem...Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4: 21, 23, 24, NIV) Those who want to engage in genuine worship of God will be able to do that whether they are surrounded by trees or the trappings of the greatest cathedral ever built. For it is not the building of our hands, but the bending of our hearts combined with the drawing of his Spirit that makes worship possible and meaningful! More permanent structures followed this original meeting in the forest, but the object of their worship remains unchanged and eternal - it's all about Jesus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeAwBmb_x28 Of course we know that such freedom of worship as we enjoy today was not always possible for Christians - "April 30, 304: The last and most punishing anti-Christian edict during Roman Emperor Diocletian's reign is published. The ensuing carnage was so horrific that it was said even the coliseum lions got tired..." Eventually, the Roman emperor let up on his bloody rampage against Christians, but not before thousands upon thousands of people died simply for confessing that Christ was their Lord and Savior. They were burned as human torches, killed by gladiators, torn apart by lions and wracked on machines in the arena for the entertainment of the bloodthirsty Roman masses - enduring suffering beyond imagination - but would not deny the name of Jesus. Because when one has met Jesus and accepted what He did on the Cross, there is no going back from it, any more than you or I could deny the existence of someone that we have personally met and visited with. May you meet with Him where ever you are today! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZkVjbt7pbI&feature=related [/QUOTE]

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