Clergy and Clergy Wives Retreat 2024

The recent Clergy and Clergy Wives Retreat for the Mid-Atlantic Diocese of the Charismatic Episcopal Church was held on the scenic Kent Island, MD, providing a restful setting for reflection, fellowship, and spiritual renewal. During the retreat, the clergy gathered to renew their vows, reaffirming their commitment to ministry. A special moment was celebrated as Fr. Sam Foss and Deacons Caleb Northwood and Eli Northwood graduated from St. Michael’s Seminary, with the exciting announcement that Deacon Caleb Northwood will soon be ordained as a priest. 

 

The worship music was anointed and heartfelt, led by Deacon Caleb Northwood, enriching the retreat experience. It was a joy for all to welcome Fr. Sam and Trinity Foss’ new baby, David, into the community. Bishop Rob Northwood shared an inspiring message focused on the word “Gather,” a directive that he felt was given by the Lord to guide the Diocese forward in unity and purpose. 

 

Sarah Northwood provided practical insights on utilizing social media to reach the lost and strengthen church communities, encouraging all to leverage digital platforms effectively. Husbands and wives then had a chance to meet separately with the bishop and his wife, creating spaces for tailored support and fellowship. The clergy wives agreed to start meeting online monthly to support each other through prayer, committing to stay connected and uphold one another in their unique roles.  

 

The retreat was a refreshing and unifying experience, strengthening bonds within the diocese and setting a purposeful vision for the future. 

 

 

Reconciliation – 25 Years in One Mighty River

THIS POST WRITTEN MARCH 2023 – DELAYED RELEASE

Avery Northwood
March 7, 2023

25 Years in One Mighty River

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of The Church of Reconciliation in Bel Air, Md., now the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of the Mid Atlantic. The congregation was honored to welcome Archbishop Craig Bates and his wife Cathy to help celebrate the occasion.

This is the Silver Anniversary of a parish birthed and formed entirely within the ICCEC. In 1995 Bishop Rob Northwood, then a deacon serving and helping to establish Christ the King Church in Towson, MD, received a prophetic word that he would plant a church in Bel Air, MD just 15 miles North of his current assignment. This was received with excitement even though he was currently studying at seminary, selling cars full time, fathering the first of many children, and was newly married. In February of 1996 he was ordained a priest and one week later was hosting the church’s first service in his home’s basement.

The church’s inaugural communion wine was very bitter, it’s first tabernacle was handmade, simple, and wooden, and it’s first service was marked by a sense of purpose and unity. The memories warmly recalled by many parishioners still present after all these years included recollections of Sarah Northwood, the Bishop’s wife, self-teaching guitar for praise, the home’s modest kitchen being used for coffee and fellowship, the living room being used for mid-week Bible study, the dining room a Sunday school classroom, the laundry room for the vesting clergy.

This reminiscence serves a greater purpose than nostalgia, it serves to illustrate the nature of a humble initiative serving a divine vocation. The recurring theme of each member’s recollection was the presence and hand of God through the years that would follow, His guidance in times of confusion, His blessing in times of want, His protection in times of turmoil, His love poured out to those who came seeking.

The question kept presenting itself all through the celebrations and testimonies and memories spoken: “Who would attend a church in a nondescript residential basement?” The answer of course; those who came thirsting for something real, something new, something touchedby God. Each trailblazing member was there for something intangible and beyond a youth group, nursery, outreac

h program, preaching, or praise. Each was there only to experience the Holy Spirit’s move, the written truth spoken, the Body and Blood of Christ, the community of a sincere church family.

These elements have flourished in the church today. The latest generation of seekers has found something that they describe in all the same terms. They have found a home, a family, something old and something new, something rich, something they can be a part of.

Looking ahead we see a vista, bright days, further stories of God’s greatness, stories so grand the coming generations will pass them on and anticipate God’s power in their lives. Looking ahead we see souls flocking to the church, the three streams integrated in worship. We see weddings, funerals, birthdays, baptisms, celebrations, and many, many more anniversaries. This year, The Church of Reconciliation’s 25th year, will be a mountaintop year. A year of long sight. A year of approaching horizons.

 

To God Be the Glory!

The Cathedral Church of Reconciliation

A Young Priest in the Mid-Atlantic Diocese

A Young Priest in the Mid-Atlantic Diocese

Our growing diocese has been yet again richly blessed. The Cathedral Church of Reconciliation is proud to announce the upcoming ordination of Deacon Samuel Foss to the office of Priest in the Spring of 2022. Following years of seminary work and prayerful dedication to his calling, Deacon Foss (26) will honor Christ’s Church with his service as priest. Deacon Samuel was raised in the Methodist Church and received a calling to ministry in high school. He attended college at Towson University and after attending a semester of Saint Stephen’s Certificate Program through the Cathedral church, discerned a calling to the CEC and to ordained ministry therein. He has been a faithful servant to the church since his ordination in 2020 and looks forward to what God has in mind for the coming days. Please be in prayer for our brother as he readies his heart for the next step in his journey.

An Archdeacon Appointed

An Archdeacon Appointed

Bishop Northwood has appointed an Archdeacon, which is a role of recognition as well as a mark of honor. The role has been appointed to Deacon Larry Rieger of Saint Michael’s and All Angels Church, Virginia. He is being recognized for his dedicated service to his church, to his Diocese and previously, his district. He has served since it’s formation, on the Bishop’s Council as well as on the board of his local parish. He has been faithful in trivial tasks and matter of great import. Deacon Rieger has graciously accepted his new role and will be publicly installed in the Spring of 2022. The role is both a great honor and a great responsibility as our diocese has in mind a vision for further establishing the Kingdom of God in Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Washington D.C., and Delaware. This is no small undertaking and the Archdeacon will be pivotal in this regard. Thank you Deacon Larry from the people of the Diocese of the Mid Atlantic for your continued service.

Deacon Rieger is the resident Deacon and parish administrator for Saint Michael and All Angels. He is a graduate of a Benedictine college (Belmont Abbey).  Separate from a secular bachelors and masters education, the Deacon also holds a Masters of Theology from Kings College, has completed his coursework at Saint Michael’s Seminary of the CEC. He was ordained to the ancient and apostolic order of the Diaconate on 24 June, 2017.

Deacon Rieger had a successful secular career, starting as an Infantry Officer in the 82d Airborne Division. He remained in the reserves both in the US and overseas before he transferred to the retired reserves as a Major. He served the Army as a civilian for 36 years before retiring in 2015 to pursue full time ministry work.

Meet Our Diocesan Pro-life Coordinator

Mrs. Ruth Yorston, Praise Leader, Musician, wearer of many hats, has been appointed by Bishop Northwood as Pro life Coordinator for the diocese. The wife of Father Ian Yorston of Saint Andrew’s Parish in Petersburg, VA, she has served the pro life cause since her young days as an activist, event coordinator, and outspoken representative for the unborn. Ruth is a former abortion worker turned pro-life advocate and educator. She is former director of Greater Columbus Right to Life and personally organized a cohesive sidewalk counseling ministry. She has spoken locally and nationally regarding the fight for life in the United States. 

Ruth will serve as a resource and aid for any parish or parish member who is interested in joining the pro life cause, starting a pro life ministry, or anyone who is simply looking to be connected with an ongoing pro life effort in their region. She asks that you reach out to her via the diocesan office.

The diocese is blessed to have such a driven, capable, and passionate person leading one of our most valued and central efforts. The CEC was born in the midst of the United States Pro Life movement and will continue to fight for the rights of the unborn and of all living souls. All life is sacred.

2021 Clergy and Wives Retreat Recap

2021 Fall Clergy and Wives Retreat October 7th-9th (Synopsis by Fr. Jeffery Welch)

Early in October this year our Bishop Rob Northwood hosted all the clergy and their wives of our Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic CEC at a Spiritual Retreat at Solomon Island’s Holiday Inn. The Lord gave us beautiful weather on the ride there and all through the Retreat. We were blessed with several guests especially our Patriarch Bp. Craig Bates and his wife Cathy and Rev. Dr. Bob Engle From World Vision and The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI).

Bishop Rob led us in Holy Communion Friday morning bringing us the first message through the sermon. He emphasized our Church’s mission to take the full gospel into all the world through signs and wonders as well as preaching and teaching. We do this because “our” Church is not ours!  It belongs to our Lord Jesus. As in the story of the Samaritan Woman at the well, we are called to find ‘key’ people who will help open up whole communities to the gospel.  He concluded that we needed to form small discipleship groups within the parish to minister and reach outside our parish.

Bob Engle taught the next two sessions. He shared his experiences as a World Vision missionary to the inner city (with his family) since 1982 and how God called him to learn different cultural languages. It was not always easy.  But just like Jesus’ example there is no ‘gain without pain’! His talks were filled with ‘truth nuggets’ such as “If you want people to learn to build a ship, teach them to love the lonely immensity of the sea;” All the while emphasizing we are in an invisible spiritual war between two Kingdoms; How the currency of the galaxy is souls; and Jesus is LORD of all. This means the Church is central to our Christian life, the gospel is the basis of discipleship, the Holy Spirit empowers us for action, and we need to embrace and share the Kingdom of God. He added there is no great commission without a great submission to Christ.

Our Patriarch Bishop Bates preached at the Holy Communion on Saturday morning as the Retreat ended. He shared extensively of his personal spiritual journey including how God led him into the CEC and it’s early growing pains (as any creature of God experiences). He emphasized our need to re-commit to all three “streams” of the CEC, particularly true revival through our evangelical efforts. He emphasized the priesthood of all believers, not just the ordained clergy, and that true revival comes from committed laity involved in liturgy, charismatic ministry and going out to make disciples of all nations (including differing cultures). He left us with this golden truth-nugget: We don’t bring people to Christ… we are to bring Christ to the people where they live.

Great fellowship was enjoyed by all at meals and times of relaxed sharing while seated outside each evening. It was a refreshing and wonderfully challenging Spiritual time. Thank you Bishop Rob.

Let’s Pray

In late October the clergy and several lay persons of the diocese gathered at the cathedral church in Bel Air, MD to pray. That was the entire agenda, just pray. Bishop Northwood called the event a mountaintop prayer gathering and gave no agenda to the prayer, although he did state that it was neither politically driven or topically inspired. The purpose of this gathering was to hear God’s voice and to pray and call upon His name in the year so many have called “A year of foresight” “A year of 20/20 vision”.

Of the gathering Father Michael Pacella of Williamsburg, VA wrote:

 There was great anticipation in the air because we have not been able to meet regularly since the eruption of Covid-19. The Bishop provided great leadership and guidance which enabled the Holy Spirit to flow freely. Truly it was the fire in the fireplace! The worship and preached words were rich and up-lifting. I received a word from the Book of Ezekiel about the dry bones living again and being resurrected into a great people. This can be found in Ezekiel 37. 

Many similar words were given which brought much edification to all.

The fellowship was excellent and fruitful too. We are truly a team and a growing family. The honor of having so many young people among us was also a blessing. I was refreshed spiritually and affirmed by the ministry that the Bishop provided for all who desired prayer. 

God is moving mightily in the Mid-Atlantic Diocese. We are truly blessed to have such a fine and spiritually sensitive leader, as we do in Bishop Rob Northwood.

Father Terry Murphy of Christ the Redeemer in Baltimore:

As we were praying after our lunch, I had a vision of a memory from my past. I was in the backyard on the alley side of our row home in the city. When a saw a familiar sight of a man carrying a bag and wearing a knapsack, with his tools. This man would occasionally come through the neighborhood and ask if anyone wanted their knives sharpened. I then saw Jesus stopping by each church asking if they wanted their “knives” /gifts sharpened. The impression I got was some churches were not interested.

During worship and Fr. Jim singing “Power in the name of Jesus “ I saw the Bishop take his crozier and smash the chain in the center of the link…and the link exploded with force…Bishop Rob asked me to wait after Fr Jim sang “O Come to the Altar” and worship at Jesus feet. The Bishop Rob asked me to share…I did and I said we all have chains…and asked him to break mine…The Bishop asked me to come forward….it was powerful and Bishop Rob prayed over me in proxy for Fr. Rob and Meg….later I saw Bishop Rob use his crozier again breaking another enemy stronghold.

The prayer began on Friday morning and concluded Saturday. Both days it continued well into the late afternoon, with words being given and confirmed, praises being sung, and ministry to many individuals. Praise God for a powerful movement in such a strange hour as this! It was refreshing for all to see and receive a fresh wind from the motion of the Holy Spirit and inspiring to see such fire within the sanctuary and “the fireplace” of apostolic authority.