Liturgy Lesson for the First Sunday in Advent: The Three Advents
November 30, 2008
Advent! The name conjures ancient and traditional images of candles…wreaths…and anticipation…of the coming Nativity…but, more importantly, of Christ’s Second Coming. Over the centuries, the Church has developed a specially-focused spirituality for Christians during Advent, to help them examine themselves in light of St. Matthew 24:43-45, which speaks about being ready for the Lord’s return. To this end, our seasonal Sunday liturgies and daily Scripture devotions have been designed to guide our Advent journey into a deeper experience of the mystery of Christ, with special appreciation for how He came to us—and for what purpose. Not surprisingly, then, our Fathers in the Faith have chosen Scriptures accenting three Advents: the Advent of Christ’s physical birth in Bethlehem, the Advent of Christ coming into our own lives, and the Advent of his Second Coming at the history’s end. This discipline of liturgy, daily reading, and contemplative, Spirit-led prayer in this season of anticipation calls us to a personal encounter with the living person of Jesus and His purpose for our lives, as we invoke the help and presence of the Holy Ghost. Consequently, when the Spirit edifies us through these added devotions, it will be helpful for us to think about how we should journey and grow through the season—and to ask ourselves—if the Lord were to come today, would he find us ready to meet Him? Maranatha—come quickly, Lord!
Liturgy Lesson for Thanksgiving: Giving Thanks in the Eucharist
November 26, 2008
Thanksgiving, established by the Continental Congress in the 18th century, is a day we traditionally gather to feast and remember the Lord’s mercy and blessing to us all. In the Church, we offer our thanksgiving, more often called Holy Communion, Mass, the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Eucharist (Greek: “Thanksgiving”), Anglican Christians have observed this holiday with special prayers and lessons for the Eucharist celebrated that day. Rightly, Christian thanksgiving should focus on this service—which we hold at All Saints on Thanksgiving Eve. This is a very proper observance, since the sacrament of Holy Communion was ordained, as the Catechism says, “for a continual remembrance of His death and the benefits which we receive thereby.” But it’s more than a memorial meal. St. Paul wrote, by God the Holy Ghost, in 1 Cor 10:16, that it’s actually koinonia—partnership, as at the altar of sacrifice, in the Lord’s Blood and Body. This is one of the deepest mysteries of the Gospel—imparting Jesus’ life itself to our spirits. It is also a means by which we confess Christ to the World, while honoring Him by “showing forth His death until He come.” And we should partake in it as often as we have opportunity, in obedience to His command and to edify ourselves and resist sin. With good reason, the ancient Church celebrated daily—they were thankful they had survived another day—and needed as much of Christ’s nature as they could get to face the new day. Consequently, they always linked thanksgiving with Communion. Real thanksgiving, then, is given to God our Father, thanking Him for His provision and asking for more of Him…less of us.
National Bible Week
November 23, 2008
Many people may not know that since 1940 National Bible Week has been officially celebrated in November. This year, it runs from November 23 through November 30, during the Thanksgiving Day holiday. What better time to begin a family tradition of reading the Bible and giving thanks for the freedom to openly read the word of God.
From its beginning, National Bible Week has been a time for government leaders to unite and promote a single message—pick up the Bible and let its words speak to you, whatever your status in life might be. Every US President since Franklin Roosevelt has issued a National Bible Week message. State governors have also used the occasion to issue their own official proclamations regarding this little known special week. In 2004, Texas Governor Rick Perry said in part in his proclamation, “Today from homes and places of worship, the Bible’s influence continues as a strong diving force. Beyond its unquestionable spiritual significance, the Bible casts a wide net of profound influence on diverse aspects of our society, ranging from music and history to art and literature.”
Stories have always been a primary way for people to impart wisdom and information from one generation to the next. The Bible is full of stories, a fact that has helped earn it the nickname, “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” It is still one of the top-selling books of all times and has been translated in to many languages so that it can be read around the world.
The stories in the Bible are so powerful they appear everywhere and are constantly being retold in many ways. In the past 50 years, Bible stories have been retold in:
- The Passion of the Christ
- Godspell
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- The Ten Commandments
- Ben Hur
- Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat
This is just a partial list of some popular and successful retellings of Bible stories. If you were to add titles and stories that had Biblical themes, allusions, and backdrops, the list would be even longer.
Since it is so easy to get basic Bible stories in such entertaining ways, why should anyone need or want to read the Bible? In a world where every message is full of hidden agendas and efforts to sway people toward thinking or believing in a certain way, there is nothing like going to the original source to truly understand what makes the Bible such an amazing book. The Bible also speaks to each person individually, and those who read it regularly will tell you that with each reading they find new insights.
Sharing the Bible with others can also enrich your understanding of what God is saying to us. All Saints provides many opportunities to experience the Bible with others. Our church office staff will be happy to find the perfect setting for you, or you can go to our Web site, www.allsaintsanglican.net, and search the many links and resources listed there.
This Thanksgiving as you gather with family and friends, why not make a reading from the Bible part of your celebration. It might be the start of a wonderful new family tradition!
Liturgy Lesson for St. Andrew the Apostle: Manly or Courageous
November 22, 2008
St. Andrew the Apostle, whose day we commemorate this morning, was born the son of Jonah and St. Peter’s brother, in Bethsaida of Galilee. They were fishermen together at Capernaum the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Although Jewish, his name was Greek, taken from the word andreia, meaning “manly or courageous.” He proved a Godly example of both. Although certainly a “manly man,” his interest in the spiritual life as a disciple of the Baptist led Andrew to instantly recognize Jesus as Messiah, and then introduce Him to his brother. This personal “Jesus encounter” changed Andrew forever—he abandoned his life and business to follow the Lord, and focused his fisherman’s work ethic with spiritual insight and a servant’s heart, working for others and the Kingdom instead of himself. In every mention of him in the Gospels, he’s helping someone in need or trouble—something with no reward for himself. When condemned to death for preaching the Gospel, as if to prove his name, he faced his crucifixion Nov 30th, 60 AD, on an X-shaped (St. Andrew’s) cross, not just courageously, but happily—knowing his reward was not in this life, but with His Lord in Heaven—a “manly man” in God’s way! This is the lesson for his day, then—may we be so changed by our own “Jesus encounter” that we abandon our selfish lives to help those around us for the Kingdom’s sake—for the Heavenly reward!
Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist
November 19, 2008
All Saints will celebrate Thanksgiving with a service of the Eucharist on Wednesday, November 26, at 7:00 PM.
Father Chip’s Thanksgiving liturgy lesson reminds us why we observe Thanksgiving with the Eucharist:
Thanksgiving, established by the Continental Congress in the 18th century, is a day we traditionally gather to feast and remember the Lord’s mercy and blessing to us all. In the Church, we offer our thanksgiving, more often called Holy Communion, Mass, the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Eucharist (Greek: “Thanksgiving”), Anglican Christians have observed this holiday with special prayers and lessons for the Eucharist celebrated that day. Rightly, Christian thanksgiving should focus on this service—which we hold at All Saints on Thanksgiving Eve.
Join us at 7:00 PM on Thanksgiving Eve, November 26th to remember the Lord’s mercy and blessing to us.
NOTE: The Wednesday Night Supper Club will NOT meet on Thanksgiving Eve.
Advent and Christmas Schedule
November 19, 2008
The schedule of services for Advent and Christmas is now available.
Please download the schedule, mark your calendars, and join us for these beautiful worship services that lead us to the glorious Christmas Eve Mass celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour.
Liturgy Lesson for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Trinity: Healing of Body, Soul, and Spirit
November 15, 2008
According to Anglican folk custom, we linger in the pews until we extinguish the lights (candles)—a devotion showing our reluctance to leave the Lord’s courts. However, after today’s service, we leave the altar lights burning, so many congregants will be leaving without waiting. During this time, those desiring healing of body, soul, or spirit should come to the front of the nave (pews) to ask our Lord’s grace via an ancient healing service conducted directly following our main worship time. Although many in today’s culture associate divine healing with more Pentecostal Christian expression, it’s very Scriptural and also deeply-rooted in sound Christian doctrine and liturgy. St. James tells us if there are sick among us, we should call for the presbyters of the Church to anoint them and pray for them to be saved and raised up. Likewise, we lay hands on the sick, recalling to our Lord one of the last promises He made to us during His earthly ministry, citing that “they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.” May it be so, O Lord of Healing—glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost!
Team Member or Spectator?
November 14, 2008
Bible Reading: 17And say to Archippus, See that you discharge carefully [the duties of] the ministry and fulfill the stewardship which you have received in the Lord. –Colossians 4:17 (Amplified Bible)
Bonus Readings: Colossians 4:7-18; Ephesians 4:10-12; Romans 12:3-5; 1 Corinthians 12:13-15
Fall in Texas always brings old college memories back to me like it was yesterday. Hundreds of us came from all over the world to be part of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets. Get the education and make our mark in life. The first lesson they taught us was teamwork, based on love of God, Country, Duty and, the team itself. When one of us worked …we all did. When one suffered, likewise. And when victory came, large or small, we all won. What an unforgettable feeling of family.
No time was this more publicly displayed among the student body in those days than at an Aggie football game, when, to a person, we all stood the entire game, with fires in our collective bellies—a Twelfth Man, ready to take to the field as a player, if needed. If someone wanted to be a simple spectator, they couldn’t see the game, unless they joined in and stood with us. Unity of purpose!
This same spirit united us in school, and then, later in industry, agriculture, politics, or the world’s battlefields. Our hallmark results inspired famous Army General George S. Patton to quote that battles were won by West Pointers, but wars were won by Texas Aggies. It was our sense of teamwork and purpose that distinguished us. [NOTE: Lord willing, it might, one day, give our football team an actual winning season, but—that’s another topic. (Insert crying sounds here)]
As I remembered that ancient rite of passage and those lessons, I thought, “That’s how it ought to be in the Church and local parish: each one doing his part; all working together to build God’s kingdom, with our Time, Talent, and Treasure. We’d win big for the Lord if we did it like this. Unity of purpose!”
St. Paul was a team player. He surrounded himself with good men to help build the Kingdom, and named some in today’s first Bonus Reading: Tychicus and Onesimus, whom the great apostle used as couriers. Aristarchus, St. Mark, and Justus, who stood by and encouraged him. St. Luke, who later documented his journeys. And Epaphras, the prayer warrior. In short, everything from logistics and administration to spending time on their knees, calling down Heavenly interdiction—everyone stood up, ready to play, and did all they could to encourage and support those on the field. There were no real spectators. Everyone was involved.
Teamwork is still needed in the local parish, the basic family unit of the Church Militant. Sure, we’re all busy, and sometimes we’re tempted to be merely spectators. Problem is, if the majority is standing up, we won’t be able to see the action. Maybe that’s what was going on with Archippus—he had to be encouraged to stand up and be ready to play. I think we all need a little of that. And at the end of our lives, it won’t matter how much we did outside God’s stadium—all He will want to know is whether we were willing to be part of the team …or not. And He’ll ask: did we love the team more than ourselves?
Think about it: No matter how talented, one player can’t win alone. Neither can only a few people successfully build a parish ministry. It takes teamwork—and that begins with just standing up.
Contemplative Prayer: Holy Spirit, show me how to stand up and be part of the team!
All love in the Beloved,
Chip+
Salt & Light flyer
November 10, 2008
Download a flyer about the Salt & Light course beginning December 5th. The evening begins with a provided dinner at 6:30 PM followed by class at 7 PM. The course will last about 14 weeks.
Liturgy Lesson for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity: The People’s Work
November 9, 2008
I recently sat on a working committee that was tasked with assembling a new prayer book, and the bishop was going around the room asking everyone which prayerbook we used. When I responded the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, someone asked me why we would not adopt a more modern language version. I responded with the translation above, saying what we do in God’s house in worship is our work before Him, like working out in a gym, and that since the older language forced us to pay more attention, then, if we worship in Spirit and Truth, it will yield a more disciplined and focused result. There are huge analogies there. First, we make a considered decision to go to workout, and prepare ourselves by being properly rested and dressed for the task. In the gym, we wear clothes suitable for the exercises. The same is true with what we wear to worship—except instead of sweats and t-shirts, we wear our best to reflect the spiritual exercises we do. Once we arrive at the gym, we don’t immediately rush to the equipment—we set it up for us and get stretched and warmed up. Ditto for God’s gym—we do an examen—asking the Holy Ghost to show us where we need to confess and/or forgive, and then we spend time in prayer, doing our preparation for worship—our warm-ups and stretches. In the gym, we would not do our exercises wildly, but would exercise proper form to derive the desired effect. Same in the People’s Work—aligning our bodies, souls, and spirits towards the end of rendering service to God and welcoming His Presence by the Holy Ghost into our lives, to change us from what we would be without this work into what He intends for us to be. After we finish, we leave, grateful for the workout, feeling energized and better equipped for the day. The same way when we do the liturgy, powered and guided by the Holy Ghost—the Word convicts and edifies us, and Jesus reveals and shares Himself with us in the Sacraments and prayers. And we are healthier because we work hard!
