St. Gabriel

1103 10th Ave. Greeley, CO 80631

History

It is the mission of St. Gabriel Church to provide a meeting place for the administration of the Holy Sacraments and for witnessing to the Truth of God. We seek to follow through the direction of the Holy Spirit, where Christ would lead us day by day.

We are located in downtown Greeley in a victorian house, historic building, housing the church and fellowship hall on the first floor. Sunday 9:45 Morning Prayer (1928 BCP) followed by Holy Communion at 10:00 am. Wednesday Holy Mass at 6pm.

Clergy

Meet Fr. Lawrence Kern 48 yrs a priest in His service:

Since I have been a priest for more years than Bishop Michael is old, he asked me to jot down some impressions acquired during those years. I was a convert

from a Protestant church. I wanted the Sacraments and “Decently and in Order” had a tremendous appeal. I recall as a child counting the organ pipes as the sermon

went on interminably, the extemporaneous prayers turned into sermons to God, and I did not want a social group when I wanted a closer walk with God, Himself.

My ordination followed being an aspirant for Holy Orders, a term as postulant, and a year or so as a candidate for Holy Orders. This gave everyone a time to reflect on whether there was a vocation or not. In the Diocese of Colorado, at that

time, there was a strong bishop who wanted Christ’s Body, the Church, to grow and conform to His commands.

1928 BCP and Missal

The English Missal, the American Missal, and the Altar Service Book (1928 BCP) were all allowed. After ordination, I was assigned a circuit comprised of four missions.

Two had a missal, and the others an Altar Service Book. All were there so the priest could say Mass/Holy Communion “decently and in order.” The 1928 Prayer Book itself is a great piece of English literature. It covers all of

life from birth to death. Morning and Evening Prayer are designed so one prays through the whole Bible. In other words, the Prayer Book 1928 is complete in and of itself.

The Duty of Clergy

In the early years of Colorado, all the mining camps saw the establishment of Episcopal churches for the salvation of souls. Is that not still our job whether layperson or members of the clergy? We all need to recognize

that our calling is from God’s mercy but also with a judgment as to whether we were faithful stewards of the gift He has given us. In Wyoming, Bishop Ziegler saw to the establishment of the church in every town. We need to work to

make our own congregation strong--with the help of Sacramental life. Here, missions had the stipend set by the diocese and no one thought of wealth or such. Poverty, chastity,

and obedience may not be vows we take but certainly must observe. As I recall, after leaving the Episcopal Church USA, Bishop Mote received $14,000 as rector of the parish. Not exactly Goldman Sacks.

Listening to EWTN call-in programs suggests the continuing church is not alone in having unhappy members trying to disrupt the functioning of the local or larger church. Priests make up the service as they go

along ignoring the rubrics (a little stronger than suggestions), people try to stir up trouble for a well meaning priest and so on.

We, in the Continuum need to see what our branch holds uniquely, do the service “decently and in order,” and follow through on those duties of a priest, deacon, or bishop as described in the Prayer Book Office

of Instruction and the part of the Great Commission to which we are called.

Saint Gabriel's Church
Holy Catholic Church Anglican Rite
Diocese of Holy Trinity & Great Plains
1103 10th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631
970-356-2786

The Rev. Lawrence Kern      970-356-2786