Watchwords

The Lord often speaks to us through with word-play. We see this throughout the Bible, but the prophet Jeremiah is particularly rich in this prophetic device. In the first chapter of his book, the Lord asks Jeremiah, “What do you see?” The prophet responds, “I see a branch of an almond tree” (shaqed in Hebrew). “You have seen right,” affirms God, “for I am watchful (shoqed in Hebrew) to bring my word to pass”. Here is the word play between “almond” (shaqed) and “watchful” (shoqed). What makes the connection significant is that the almond tree is the first tree to bloom in Israel’s Spring. While it is the first to awaken and blossom, however, the almond tree is also the last to bear fruit and anyone who owns one must therefore wait patiently to reap its harvest.

Like the almond blossom, God’s Word keeps watch as we wait on its promises and God watches over His Word until it accomplishes His purpose. Like the watches over His word to accomplish His purpose. A friend of mine once commented on our shared ministry: “It’s scary and messy.” This is true; the Christian life may be a straight and narrow road, but there are lots of bumps long the way. The call of God is to take Him at His word and not as our circumstances find us, allowing his Word to watch over us. God’s heart is that we encounter each day, like in the blossoms of the almond, the extraordinary beauty of His presence and to trust Him for the harvest. May these Watchwords open the eyes of your heart to the beauty of His loving presence and give you faith, trust, and confidence for the harvest that He has promised and will accomplish in the lives of all who hope in Him.

Bishop Andrew Williams began his professional life as a corporate litigator in the United Kingdom from 1989-1998, but despite a successful career, it was during this time that he began to sense that something significant was missing in his life. Much to the surprise of Bp. Williams and his wife, Elena, they found themselves drawn into something far deeper, and ultimately came to a living faith in God through the love, support and friendship of their Anglican Parish. A time of discernment followed, and after much prayer and strong encouragement from those who knew him, he resigned from his law firm and began training for ordination at Trinity College, Bristol. He graduated with an honors degree in theology and was ordained in the Diocese of Exeter in 2000, after which he spent six years as Associate Vicar of St. Andrew’s, Chorleywood, a vibrant suburban congregation just outside London. Prior to arriving at Chorleywood, he served a congregation in the southwest of England.  Since October 2009, Bp. Andrew served as the Senior Pastor of Trinity Church in Greenwich, CT, with an area of focus in developing and overseeing missional communities and multi-site congregations.

On January 10, 2019, the Anglican Church in North America’s College of Bishops consented to the election of the Rt. Rev. Andrew Williams as the next bishop for the Anglican Diocese of New England (ADNE).

The ADNE is a united Anglican movement in New England that seeks to demonstrate God’s transforming power through Word, Sacrament, and Spirit in order to draw people into a personal relationship with God in Jesus Christ and help them become members of the Body of Christ, His Church. We are committed to a 3-streams expression of the Christian Church: having an evangelical faith, charismatic gifting, and catholic order. We are a diocese of the Anglican Church in North America and in partnership with the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our heart is that all in New England might come to know Jesus Christ and be committed to His words: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself.”

You can reach Bishop Andrew and the Anglican Diocese in New England by emailing ad-ne@ad-ne.org or calling the diocesan office at (978) 388-0650, or visit our website at www.ad-ne.org. To find out more about the Anglican Church in North America, visit www.anglicanchurch.net.