Good Shepherd - Our Past and Our Future

           Good Shepherd Anglican Community-formerly Incarnation Orthodox Church- began as Incarnation Episcopal church in Detroit Michigan many decades ago. Incarnation had a rich Anglo-Catholic liturgical and faith tradition. In the 1970’s Incarnation with the approval of the Episcopal Church was received into the Antiochian Orthodox  Church as a “Western Rite” parish, where it remained until its closing.  In 2001 needing costly repairs, the old church building on Dexter was closed. It was  hoped that it would reopen in a new location.  Eventually plans to   re-establish  Incarnation  Orthodox  Church  were  abandoned.   

Following 10 am Holy Eucharist

Sacrament of the Sick

Directory

Priest-in-charge:  Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Lowery SSC

Priest Associate: Rev. Fr. David Wearne Ed.D.

Priest Associate: Rev. Fr. Doug Carson

Organist: Mrs. Rosetta Maddick

 To contact us: use e-mail contact below.

About Our Faith

Our faith comes from Jesus Christ the Son of God, the teachings of the Bible, the undivided church and the Creeds and Councils. Through these things we are given the way, the truth, and the life.

Church politics, lobbies, legislation, and secular pressures are powerful things that can and do affect attitudes, belief's and outcomes. They have no place in the Church, for they are not of the Holy Spirit, but are of human origin. God, in His economy, His love, and His mercy, is where we look for affirmation and blessing, not in church legislation.

We all need conversion, Patriarchs, prelates, and people. We find this in Jesus, in the saving grace of His sacraments, and in a life of prayer. Conversion of heart, is where we find God's approval, not by way of church-approved legislation that runs counter to the deposit of Catholic faith given to the Church.

Throughout time and society, people have challenged the Church, thinking that present values are wiser than those of the past. This kind of thinking has become commonplace in some churches today, replacing divine revelation, with modern experience. They seek to reject and redefine the teachings of the Church in order to fit with the wishs of some, or current trends. Divine salvation is replaced by human liberation, and the worship of God by the celebration of human dignity. From this viewpoint, the authority of the Bible becomes relative, and not the divine revelation of God. The doctrine and teachings of the Church are then thought of as being limited by the cultural standards of the ancient world from which the canon of Holy Scripture comes.

Vincent of Lerins (dc AD 450) wrote "Within the Catholic Church, we hold that which has been believed everywhere, always, and of all". St. Vincent also wrote, "the true and genuine Catholic believes that, and that only, which he is certain the Catholic Church has held universally and from ancient times". That is why scripture is called "Holy", it is of God and we are devoted to the service of God.

We live in a deeply divided and troubled society, and it is sometimes hard to navigate spiritually and emotionally, while respecting differences in opinions and beliefs. Human diginity is, and can be maintained within the authority of Holy scripture. Therefore, I humbly submit that we should pray that all may come to know the truth and healing that is found in Jesus Christ.

Fr. Patrick Lowery SSC