Web site: http://www.amfellow.org/home.php?ss4 Email: TheScoop@amfellow.

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Monthly Newsletter
of the
American Fellowship Church
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Let there be Light on governments and their agencies;

Light on churches and their agencies;
Light on politics and politicians;
Light on us all.
Reverend Theodore H. Swenson, Founder
American Fellowship Church, since 1975

The Faith of February The Future of Faith

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere,
February can feel long and chilly, even though, three
years out of four, it’s only four weeks long. With
only 28 days, of course, the month of February can
even go by without a single full moon!
February is truly a month of faith: faith that the
light and warmth will return, the days will lengthen,
the ice and snow will melt, the groundhog will come
out of its snug burrow and, by the end of the month,
we look forward to the springtime of renewal and the
return of migrating birds.
Midmonth, of course, Valentine’s Day brightens
hearts, young and old. Although famously about love,
the Saint Valentine history resonates with the
frequencies of faith. At least three different Saint
Valentines, all of them Christian martyrs, are dated to
February 14th In fact, history tells us that a total of
The first three centuries of Christianity were
characterized by faith in the spiritual teachings of
Jesus, states Professor Harvey Cox in his rigorously
researched, profoundly enlightening 2009 book, The
Future of Faith (NY:HarperCollins) From the fourth
to the twentieth century, with the rise of the clerical
class, dogma and doctrine superceded spiritual and
ethical guidelines. Hence, the “Age of Belief.”
But the resurgence of spirit over the last fifty years
has shifted that imbalance significantly. “Faith is
resurgent while dogma is dying,” asserts Prof. Cox
World wide, the doctrine and dogma of centuries is
giving way to a return to faith. Thence, the “Age of
Spirituality,” and a world in which barriers among
different religions will break down and true
spirituality will replace formal religion.
!

14 Saint Valentines were martyred in Rome because Harvey Cox is Hollis Professor
of Divinity emeritus at Harvard
they refused to disavow their Christian faith. Let us University where he has taught
honor their courage and faith as we celebrate the since 1965.
Saint Valentine’s Day festival of Love.
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;,(61!%&!($<!='#>3+++?@(,*#11+24+)A!!!!!
© 2010 - 2011 The American Fellowship Church, Incorporated
 Web site: http://www.amfellow.org/home.php?ss4 Email: TheScoop@amfellow.org 2

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Purpose in Ministry !
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From the AFC Ministers’ Training Course, p. 19 !

Always remember that your purpose as a minister "#$!%&'&()*+(,!%*((-.*!/0-+1!
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is to promote spiritual growth and development. But
realize, too, that people must have some of their basic Our Belovèd
needs satisfied so that they may turn their attention to Who art All That Is,
spiritual growth and development. People must have hallowèd be Thy name.
enough food and clothing and a place to live that Thy love endure.
offers adequate shelter from the elements. This is the Thy peace ensure
least they must have. on earth as is so in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily sustenance
Charitable works are appropriate for churches and and forgive us our separation
ministers. When you help people to meet their basic as we forgive those
needs, you are helping them to prepare for spiritual who distance themselves from us.
growth and development. Lead us ever toward Thy Light
and deliver us from our ignorance,
Our Church believes that it is more effective to for Thine is all Light, all Learning
offer help than to push it on to someone. We believe and all Love
the person must feel a need to respond to your offer forever.
in order for a helping relationship to develop. Many Amen.
churches try to make people respond to them from a
Reverend Barbara
feeling of guilt or fear. We believe this is not a
healthy approach.

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For information about our Minister’s Training,
Well-Being, Bible Study, and Counseling, courses,
click here!
! will be considered for publication and are subject
Nuptials in New Hampshire
Marriages may be solemnized by any ordained
minister of the gospel who resides in the State of
New Hampshire. The officiating minister must be in
good standing with his or her church.
To remain in good standing with the American
Fellowship Church you must hold an unexpired
minister license ID card and be in "regular
communion" with the Church. That means you
must contact us at least once a year, and if any of
your contact information should change (your name,
physical address, or email), you must notify us within
two weeks of the change.
Ministers who do not reside in New Hampshire
may obtain permission to perform a marriage upon
application to the Secretary of State.
The I#&&(A#!J+()9 is always available for brief
posts from you, our AFC clergy. All submissions
to editorial review.
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Our Thanks…
…to YOU, our &01213456%&7880%readers. We
welcome you to the American Fellowship Church, your
on-line neighborhood church, always as close as your
computer keyboard and your iGadget.
The American Fellowship Church is here to support
your ministry, ethically and practically. For certificates
and other documentation, for training courses and
professional development, we are your primary source
and resource.
"9:% &01213456% &7880! is published monthly for the
ordained ministers of the American Fellowship Church by the
Church Board of Directors. Please address all correspondence
to TheScoop@amfellow.org

Note: Effective January 1, 2010, same-sex marriage

is legal in New Hampshire.

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;,(61!%&!($<!='#>3+++?@(,*#11+24+)A!!!!!
© 2010 - 2011 The American Fellowship Church, Incorporated