Welcome to Ijebu Anglican Diocese
OPENING SERVICE FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE TWELFTH SYNOD HELD AT THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR, ITALOWAJODA, IJASI, IJEBU-ODE ON THURSDAY 19TH APRIL, 2012
The proceedings commenced at about 11.00am with the Diocesan Bishop, the Rt. Rev. E. Ayodele Awosoga greeting the congregation: “Christ is risen”, to which they responded: “He is risen indeed, halleluyah”. He then proceeded to welcome all, particularly some of the dignitaries – the great Preacher; our UK guest; and Ven. Dr. Adesanya – after which Ven. Tunde Abiala was invited to say the opening prayer.
The processional hymns were CH 351: ‘Crown Him with many crowns”; CH 367: “O Saviour, precious Saviour”; and CH 101: “In the Name of Jesus”.
The Diocesan Bishop presided over the first part of the Holy Eucharist. The old Testament reading, 1 Kings 18:16-39, was taken by Prof. Mrs. L.A. Adesanya.
The Psalm 15 was chanted.
The Epistle, Ephesians 5:1-20, was taken by Rev. Oluseye J. Aderemi.
The Gradual Hymn CH 153, “Guide us, O Thou great JEHOVAH”, was rendered.
The Gospel, Matthew 15:1-14, was read by Rev. Chris Taiwo.
Hymn before the Sermon, CH 514, “Lead us, O Father, in the path of peace” was sung.
Ven. (Arch.) Olusegun Kuti then commenced his sermon. He thanked the Bishop for asking him to come back to Ijebu Land to a people whom he jokingly referred to as the only tribe with a name in the Bible, “Jebusites”. He acknowledged the two other Bishops in attendance.
Speaking on the Synod theme, “ESOTERICISM”, which he described as intriguing, he confessed he worked so hard and thoroughly, but at the end got confused because of the depth of the theme. He said he could only give a simple personal definition to mean: “anything, anybody or any teaching in the whole creation that says look within you and you will find out the meaning and purpose of living”.
He said one reason people do not like the Bible is that it is too direct – it looks at you straight in the face and calls you a sinner and that you must repent.
Religion, which has been from the beginning in the Garden of Eden, was the counterfeit or the alternative which Satan offers to man, in order to make him to be less than what God has created him to be.
He said that the central theme of Christianity is Christ, who gives eternal life, and taking Christ out of Christianity will only result in IAN – I AM NOTHING.
He recalled what happened some years back at the University of Lagos when Muslim Students pasted posters with the inscription: JIHAD in red all over the place. The Christians after prayer got a divine inspiration, and in the place of JIHAD, they wrote: “JESUS IS HUMAN AND DIVINE”.
“Easter men and women” do not only celebrate the death of Jesus but also His resurrection and His second coming, when He would rule for ever.
Christian religion is natural rather than being supernatural, because it makes you to look and see the beauty of God who has created and made you wonderfully. To think to do something great outside of God would only lead to “ME-ism” and not “God-ism”, which only leads to destruction. The strength Christianity offers is not what you can conjure up yourself, but something you receive. Jesus Christ on the cross did say “It is finished”, meaning that all one needs to be godly has been made available by Him.
A religion which has God as a servant and not the sovereign is useless. He pointed out that a “Psychological Perfection Supermarket”, where people can go to buy what makes them feel good, as is currently being promoted is dangerous.
There are only two religions in the world:
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One in which man tries to meet his Creator.
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One in which the Creator reaches down to meet man. This he said is Christianity, where the Saviour came down to man that we may behold Him. The foreman is about ME – esotericism! He warned about the New Age religion, which he said was against the Jews, Christianity and Jesus Christ, all about ME. He also mentioned the New Tolerance which proposes that every person, belief, value, lifestyle, perception and so on of men are all equal, and therefore no need to quarrel! This which is fast catching up already with the young ones must be rejected.
He brought out some of the wonderful things God has prepared for us in Ephesians 1-5, and highlighted some in Ephesians 1 to include: a relationship with God through Christ that can not be severed; an acceptance that can not be challenged; an inheritance that can never fade away; the seal of God which is upon us. He then querried what business anybody therefore must have with any work of darkness, whatever name they are called. He stressed that in the light of this, no Anglican has any reason to do anything outside Christ. To further buttress his point he drew our attention to page 23 of our New Liturgy. This also underlines the truth that we must live and must believe what we say with our mouths.
Since Christ says “I am the way, the truth, and the life” and that “no one comes to the father except through me”, then Christians must not be involved in “amulumala” (Syncretism). He therefore pleaded with us, saying: “I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ, walk in the light, and have nothing to do with the work of darkness” thrice. He pointed us all to the fact that “d” in darkness means all that is very terrible –disease, death and so on.
He then read out a poem that anchored his testimony on Jesus.
He rounded off his almost 45 minutes Sermon by praying for repentance for sinners and rededication for Christians.
The Diocesan after the sermon invited the Preacher, whom he referred to as “egbon” (brother) to give his testimony in song.
The Choir thereafter rendered a special anthem – “Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice”.
The Creed was chanted.
The Rt. Rev. Dr. B.F.R. Ogunbanwo led the prayer of intercession.
The Choir rendered their Anthem: “Rejoice in the Lord Always”
The Offertory Hymn: CH 679 (1st and last stanzas) was sung.
The Rt. Rev. S.G. Kuponu presided over the second part of the Holy Eucharist.
Hymns during Communion:
CH 450, 453, 441, 357; “That Wonderful Name Jesus” and “He is Lord Amen”, “O come let us adore Him.
The Post Communion Prayer was said by the Diocesan.
In his notices, he blessed God for the rain, and called on Ven. Sangoyinka to distribute prizes to the winners of Bishop Akintemi Bible Quiz Competition. The highlight is that Ijebu Imusin Archdeaconry emerged the Best Overall Winner.
The Diocesan invited the representatives of SOS children village, Owu Ijebu, to come and sensitize the congregation about their activities.
The Diocesan introduced our Guest from the UK, Rev. Alexandar Neil McKinion, Vicar – St. Matthew’s at the Elephant & Castle, London; the Guest Preacher, Ven. (Arc.) Segun Kuti and thanked everybody and the legal officers.
The Clerical Secretary recognized the Bishops of Ijebu North and Ijebu South West Diocese, greeted the President of the Synod and Mama Ijebu. He then informed the house that the formal opening of the Synod and Bishop’s charge would hold the next day. He also announced the Women Diocesan Night Vigil for Friday 10 pm at the Cathedral.
The Diocesan personally thanked the two Bishops in attendance and Ven. John Bamgbose (Rtd.); Ven. Dabiri (Rtd.) and Major General T.B. Ogundeko (Rtd.)
The Diocesan Anthem, I.O.M. 303 was sung followed by the Benediction by the Diocesan.
Withdrawal Hymns CH 492: “Thine for ever! God of Love” and CH 516: “Rock of ages! Cleft for me” at about 2.00pm.
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The Word for Now
Col 3:12-17
(12) Therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
(13) Put up with one another and forgive each other if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, you also should forgive.
(14) Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which ties everything together in unity.
(15) Let the peace of Christ also rule in your hearts, to which you were called in one body, and be thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you with all richness and wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, and singing to God with thankfulness in your hearts.
(17) And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.