The early Church focused its life around the Passion narrative and the Resurrection. St. Paul reminds us to preach Christ crucified and risen from the dead. The early Patristic writings show this emphasis on the story of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection. And, as we study the worship of the early Church we know it centered in the Eucharistic feast, which has its roots in the meal of the Upper Room and the continued proclamation of those events. Yet, those events are clearly linked to the story of the birth of our Lord Jesus. The introduction of the Feast of the Nativity was more than the Churches efforts to baptize the pagan holiday of Saturnalia. The Feast of the Nativity recalled to the people of God that the savior of the world has come among us (God with us). The Incarnation is critical to understanding the Good News.The story of the obedience of the young virgin, Mary, conceiving a child by the Holy Spirit, and then giving birth in a small middle-eastern town, Bethlehem, stirs the hearts of believers around the world. The simplicity of the story and the circumstances surrounding the Messiah’s birth give emphasis to the profound truth that heaven and earth are united and God has come among His people. The Church, like Mary, will this season “ponder these events in her heart.”

Our various cultures will celebrate the Feast of the Nativity in different ways. But central to all our gatherings will be the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Our only response to the Incarnation and the Nativity is worship. We are drawn to join the angels, the shepherds and the wise men to come in our hearts to Bethlehem and worship the newborn King.

The Charismatic Episcopal Church began in the Pro-Life Movement. It was here that the Lord Holy Spirit gave us the revelation of Convergence Worship. Those who were, because of their faith and the leading of the Holy Spirit, activists in the Pro-Life demonstrations and rescues were drawn by the Lord to worship in a manner that was fully charismatic, fully evangelical, and fully sacramental/liturgical. The adoption of signs and symbols, as well as the ancient patterns of worship, were not a journey towards something but were rooted in the same desire of the shepherds and wise men to come and worship the babe in the manger who they recognized as the Lord life and the King of a kingdom that will never end.

Around the world today, the Lord is adding to our numbers. The CEC continues to grow and we continue to get inquires from India, Europe, South America, and Asia. But more importantly, in our churches the Gospel of life continues to be preached and lived out day after day and Sunday after Sunday. Lives are being transformed through the working of the Holy Spirit. Marriages are being restored, people are being set free from addictions, families are being strengthened, fatherless children are receiving ministry, children are being educated, the hungry are being fed, prisoners are being visited, the homeless are being given shelter, military personnel are receiving ministry, the sick are being healed, and the Gospel is being proclaimed.

Christmas reminds us that the Savior has come into the world and so we have hope. The truth of Christmas continues to motivate believers to action. The Feast reminds us that like Mary and Joseph who were entrusted with the care of the infant Jesus, so we are entrusted with the Gospel. The message of “God with us”, that brought new life to us, is now to be brought to the least, the lost, and the lonely. We who have been evangelized are now called to evangelize both in word and action.

As you gather to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity may you be blessed by the presence of family and friends. May the Lord Holy Spirit draw your hearts to the babe in the manager and make you once again aware of His love.

Under His mercy,

The Most Rev. Craig W. Bates,
Patriarch

CEC Hosts Ecumenical Pentecost Service in Estonia

May 26, 2010 – 1:37 pm

On Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 the Annual Ecumenical Pentecost Service was broadcast on Estonian National Television. This year’s service was held at Saint Stephen the Martyr Charismatic Episcopal Church at Harkujärve, near Tallinn, the capital city of the Republic of Estonia.

The service was led by The Very Reverend Dr Heigo Ritsbek, The Vicar General of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia and the Rector of St Stephen the Martyr CEC. Father Ritsbek also preached at the service.

The Right Reverend Einar Soone, the President of The Council of Churches in Estonia and a bishop of The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, gave the greeting and the benediction. Leaders and laypeople from several other denominations also participated in the service. Those represented were the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Estonian Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church in Estonia, St Gregory Parish in Tallinn of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Baptist Union of Estonian, the Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church, the United Methodist Church in Estonia, The Adventist Union of Estonia and The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia.

The service was carried on Estonian National Television Channel One with a viewing audience of over 24,000 people. As there are less than 1 million Estonians in Estonia, it reached a large percentage of the homes in the country

On Sunday, May 23rd, 2010 there will be the Annual Ecumenical Pentecost Service on Estonian National Television, which will be this year from Saint Stephen the Martyr Charismatic Episcopal Church at Harkujärve, near Tallinn, the capital city of the Republic of Estonia.

The service will be led by The Very Reverend Dr Heigo Ritsbek, The Vicar General of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia and the Rector of St Stephen the Martyr CEC. Father Ritsbek will preach at the service, the President of The Council of Churches in Estonia, The Right Reverend Einar Soone, a bishop of The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, will give the greetings and the benediction.

The Rev Fr Thomas Eriste and The Rev Dcn Janek Tamme will assist Dr Ritsbek at the service. Two choirs will sing – ecumenical Baptist and Methodist Chamber Choir of Tallinn and the Children’s Choir of the local School where St Stephen the Martyr is located.

The prayers will be read at the service by the church leaders of the Estonian Council of Churches – Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, Estonian Orthodox Church of The Moscow Patriarchate, Estonian Orthodox Church, Roman Catholic Church in Estonia, St Gregory Parish in Tallinn of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Baptist Union of Estonian, Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church, United Methodist Church in Estonia, The Adventist Union of Estonia and The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia.

Fr Ritsbek Preaches at Catholic Cathedral, Tallinn

by The Very Reverend Dr Heigo Ritsbek
Tallinn, Estonia

On Thursday, January 14, 2010 there was an ecumenical Evening Prayer service at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Tallinn, Estonia. The sermon was delivered by The Very Reverend Dr Heigo Ritsbek, the Vicar General of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia. The church was jampacked with Christians from various denominations in Estonia.

Dr. Ritsbek to Open Franklin Graham Festival

May 28, 2009 – 3:15 pm

Tallinn, Estonia

On Saturday, May 30th, The Very Rev Dr Heigo Ritsbek, The Vicar General of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia, will lead more than 10,000 people in opening prayer at the Franklin Graham Festival in Tallinn, Estonia. Michael W. Smith and many world-famous Christian musicians will participate. Fr Ritsbek serves as a Vice Chariman of the Executive Committee of the Franklin Graham Festival in Estonia.

Please pray for Fr Ritsbek, that God would anoint his prayer and that the Gospel would spread in this beautiful country.

CEChome.com

The Council of Churches in Estonia at their Board meeting on January 18, 2007 chose 9 churches where the National TV worship service broadcasts would be in 2007. From St Stephen the Martyr Charismatic Episcopal Church in Tallinn the First Advent Mass (December 2, 2007) will be televised all over Estonia. In 2005 the All Souls Day Mass from St Stephen the Martyr was televised over Estonia. On December 17th 2006 there was a 30 minute broadcast on Estonian TV about The Very Rev Dr Heigo Ritsbek. So thanks be to God – The CEC of Estonia is very visible!

The Very Rev Dr Heigo Ritsbek+
Vicar General of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia+

From July 14 – 16, 2006 more than fifty people gathered for the summer camp of The CEC of Estonia. Masses, morning prayers, evening at camp-fire, lectures, film night (videos of the church activities + movie “Luther” (2003) and a music program by a country-folk group from an Evangelical Covenant Church and many sporting events filled the program of this camp. The Rev Fr Janis Danielson – the only CEC priest in Latvia – was also present. Participants expressed their thanks to the Lord for this time being together. The camp was one of the events this year, which commemorates the 10th anniversary of The CEC of Estonia, established in 1996. In September there will be major celebrations in the presence of our Patriarch, the Archbishop Austin Randolph Adler.

Final Mass of the summer camp in an abandoned Lutheran
Church building near Pärnu in southwest of Estonia

May 27, 2006 was a special day in Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia. After more than two years of regular services, the Holy Cross Charismatic Episcopal Church was officially established. At the Mass, the Vicar General of The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia, The Very Rev Dr Heigo Ritsbek was celebrating, assisted by the Rector of the parish, The Rev Fr Jaanus Kangur. The nice facility, former Baptist building, which is currently used by 4 different congregations, was full of worshippers.

On March 16th, the Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia was received as a full member into the Estonian Council of Churches (ECC) after more than a three year period of an observer status. This decision was taken unanimously by the 9 full members of the ECC: The Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Apostolic Orthodox Church of Estonia, The Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, The Roman Catholic Church in Estonia, The United Methodist Church of Estonia, The Union of Evangelical Christian and Baptist Churches of Estonia, The Estonian Christian Pentecostal Church, The Union of Adventist Churches of Estonia, Armenian Apostolic Church in Estonia. The Charismatic Episcopal Church of Estonia, led in Estonia by The Very Reverend Dr Heigo Ritsbek as the Vicar General, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in September 2006.

On Sunday, January 29th, the Vicar of the St Barnabas the Apostle CEC in Pärnu, The Rev Fr Thomas Eriste preached a sermon at an ecumenical worship service at Agape United Methodist Church in Pärnu.