Church of the Redeemer, Episcopal

Two books which I highly recommend that deal with this very subject are "Care of the Soul" and "The Reenchantment of Everyday Living", both by Thomas Moore. These would be great individual reading or topics for group discussion.

April 18, 2010

We are now in the season of Eastertide, a joyous season in which we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord, Jesus, the Anointed One of God. This is not only the celebration of His resurrection but the celebration of our resurrection as well! We need to remember that as we live and breathe in Him, we are also raised with Him to eternal life. Give thanks to God each day for his bountiful mercies and for the greatest gift of all, life everlasting in Our Lord Jesus. May the blessings of Eastertide be with us all. Thanks be to God!

The Prayer Book states that "on occasion" the confession of sin may be omitted, and it is during the season from Easter to Pentecost when that "occasion" occurs. There is an ancient tradition in the Church which dates back to the Council of Nicea when the practice of kneeling was forbidden during the Great 50 days from Easter to Pentecost; thus since the confession is done while kneeling it is impractical to use the confession during this time. It is also somewhat inappropriate to use the confession while we are celebrating the joys of Eastertide since we have just come through the period of Lent where our emphasis was upon self-examination and confession of our sins. Of course, as a matter of one's private devotional life the confession may be said at anytime, but the practice of corporate confession within the liturgy during Eastertide is omitted in order to emphasize the joyous celebratory aspect of the Easter season. Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Let us be glad and sing to the Lord our God!

Pay special attention to the Gospel narrative for today, Palm Sunday. As we hear the story of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, at first we are filled with joy, but very quickly our joy turns to dismay because the very ones who welcomed Our Lord as king are the same ones who cry "Crucify Him!" Humanity is truly, to a large degree, schizophrenic, a Greek word simply translated meaning "split-minded"; not in the sense that we use the term in its modem clinical sense of mental illness, but in the sense of its original meaning that we can't make up our minds. Humanity is no different today than it was in Our Lord's day; mankind does not know what to make of Jesus. Is he King of Kings and Lord of Lords, or is he a trouble maker who upsets our "practical' lives, someone who confronts and challenges us, someone who makes us uncomfortable? Thus the question is for each of us, who is Jesus to me? As long as he doesn't ask too much or upset my comfortable life too much then I am all to willing to call myself a "Christian"; but if he asks me to do the hard work of discipleship, loving the unlovable, being merciful to those who themselves show no mercy, being kind to those who are mean spirited and unkind, will I then join the ranks of those who cry "Crucify Him!" I leave you these thoughts to ponder as we enter Holy Week.

Just a reminder, today is the 5th Sunday in Lent which leads us to Palm Sunday next week, the beginning of Holy Week. I want to encourage everyone to take some time from our busy schedules to attend as many, or all, of the services of Holy Week that we can. As I mentioned, a week from today is Palm Sunday; on Wednesday of Holy Week there will be no services since we will be having services on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. There will be no services on Holy Saturday since that is a day upon which we give our Flower Guild all the time they need to prepare the Altar for the Feast of the Resurrection with the beautiful flower arrangements for this principle feast of the Christian year. I urge you to make your preparations to be with us on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday for these supremely important services of our Christian year. This coming Wednesday will be our final service of Stations of the Cross for this Lenten Season, so if you have not attended one of our midweek services of Stations of the Cross, I urge you to try your best to be with us this Wednesday at 7 PM. We will also have our final meatless/dessertless potluck dinner for this Lenten Season. Have a blessed Holy Week as we look forward to the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord.

This week, the Episcopal Church, and the Christian corrnnunity at large, lost a dear friend, scholar, and priest in the death of the Rev. Doctor Heber Peacock. Heber was a close personal friend of mine and I want to take just a few moments to remind each of us of his life and work. Heber was originally a Baptist minister who was more active in the academic world that in parochial church life. He taught in several seminaries and was one of the chief translators and administrators of the project which produced the "Good News Bible"., Heber came into the Episcopal Church as a priest during the bishopric of Bishop Weinhauer. Heber was a talented and gifted linguist who had an amazing command of the Biblical languages, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, but he was also a compassionate and caring priest who was an associate priest at Grace Church, Merrimon Avenue, and priest in charge of 81. Francis Church, Whittier NC, for several years. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him, but be assured that the many gifts he gave to the Episcopal Church and the English speaking world will live on. Wherever and whenever the "Good News Bible" is read, the work of Father Heber Peacock continues. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

Tempus Volat! Time definitely flies. We are reminded of this constantly, and today is the third Sunday in Lent! Where has the time gone? In just a few short weeks we will be moving into Holy Week and then to the Feast of the Resurrection. Hopefully everyone will try to make time in their schedules for the services of Holy Week, i.e. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday, during which we are reminded of both the gifts and sacrifices of Our Lord. He instituted the Holy Communion, which we commemorate on Maundy Thursday, as His gift to His Body, the church, as a means of remembering Him but also the means by which we are joined to each other. We gather on Good Friday to remember the stark reality of the crucifixion, His supreme gift of salvation and reconciliation with our creator. On Holy Saturday there are no celebrations of Holy Communion, rather we observe a simple liturgy of prayer and scripture readings which reminds us of the human aspect of His nature. He died, just as each of us will, a real death, experiencing the ultimate aspect of His humanity, BUT, and this is the key point of our Christian belief, God raised Him from death! He overcame death and because of his triumph over death we do not need to fear death, because as He lives we also live as members of His mystical Body. This is what the Feast of the Resurrection is all about, the celebration of life, new and unending life as members of the Body of Christ. So, as we continue our Lenten journey, let us always have our eyes and hearts fixed upon the Third Day, the day of Our Lord's Resurrection!

I want to take a few minutes to remind everyone that throughout Lent our Wednesday evening service is the Stations of the Cross. The tradition of walking the Way of the Cross goes back to around the early 4th century when pilgrims to the Holy Land visited the various sights which were associated with the journey Our Lord made from the time of his arrest to the arrival at the place of the crucifixion at Golgotha. Eventually the sights, or stations, were finalized at fourteen and the practice of making representations of each sight, such as those we have along the walls of our church, became widespread throughout large areas of Christian Europe. This practice allowed worshipers to "walk" the Way of the Cross without actually having to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, which for many was impossible. We are reminded of the last hours of Our Lord's life as we walk with him each week. We are reminded of the brutality and suffering he endured for us. We cannot fully appreciate the joy of Easter morning unless we have walked the Way of the Cross with Our Lord during the season of Lent. The Feast of the Resurrection is truly meaningful when we experience Our Lord's supreme sacrifice as portrayed in the Stations of the Cross. We need the season of Lent with its penitential tone to both prepare us for, and help us to appreciate fully, the meaning of Easter. I invite each one to join us in walking the Way of the Cross this Lenten season.

As we begin our Lenten journey together this first Sunday in Lent, I want to make a few suggestions for some reading which I trust will enhance the spiritual discipline which you hopefully have chosen to undertake, or if you have not yet decided upon a discipline, perhaps these short books will help you to decide the direction you may want to take in deepening your spiritual life. First, two of these books are fairly easy reads, although they are thought provoking and somewhat challenging, as they should be; the other two are a bit longer but are, in my opinion, essential reading for those who are truly interested in the development of their spiritual life. Of the easier reads I recommend a book by Megan McKenna, "Lent: The Sunday Readings", which is a book of insightful commentary on the Lenten Sunday readings for years A, Band C in the Eucharistic Lectionary cycle. Another book which gives a fine overall survey of the unique character of Anglican spirituality is by John R. H. Moorman, "The Anglican Spiritual Tradition", a fine book which helps us to understand the elements that have helped to shape the spiritual attitude of those in the AnglicanlEpiscopal tradition. The next two books are by two of my favorite authors, "No Man is An Island", by Thomas Merton, and "The Cost of Discipleship", by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Each of these great works are challenging and provoking in their own unique way. Merton's work deals, in broad scope, with what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ and our place in community and relationships. Bonhoeffer's book examines the issues involved in what it means to be a follower of Jesus and the "cost" of that discipleship. All of these books are available, or can be ordered, from Accent on Books. I hope these suggestions will enhance this Lenten season for you. Have a Holy and Blessed Lent.

Today's service of Advent Lessons and Carols is part of the tradition of Anglicanism in which the seasonal emphasis is placed on the readings from Scripture and carols which tell the story of the events leading up to the birth of Jesus. No one knows exactly when the service originated but it has been observed since perhaps the 1930's as a seasonal adjunct to the overall theme of Advent. The readings and carols help prepare us for the celebration of the Feast of the Incarnation. In them, we hear the story of the promised Messiah from the prophets of the Old Testament and from the Gospels the story of Mary to be the mother of Jesus. These stories and songs recount the history of the people of Israel up to the coming of Our Lord; in them we share in the joyous expectation of His coming; His coming then two millennia ago, but also His second coming at some point in the future. Join us today as we hear the story of the Messiah told in the words of Holy Scripture and Advent Carols.

Today is New Year's Day for the Christian Church! The first Sunday of Advent begins a new liturgical year, year C, and I want to pass on a few thoughts concerning the season of Advent. Although the color of Advent is purple, the season of Advent is not a penitential season in the same sense as that of Lent. Rather, Advent is a somber season in a sense, yet filled with expectation. It is primarily a season of preparation for the joys of Christmastide, a time in which we prepare ourselves spiritually for the annual Feast of the Incarnation, but also, in the greater eschatological sense, for the actual return of Our Lord as stated in the Nicene Creed. I urge everyone to take some time for spiritual preparation, slowing down from the busy demands of the world and modern secular life while intentionally making time for prayer and reflection. A healthy spiritual life demands that we make time to nourish ourselves spiritually, doing those things and activities that help us to become more in touch with our spiritual consciousness. May each of us have a blessed Advent!

This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday after Pentecost, a day upon which we celebrate Christ's eternal reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. Next Sunday, Advent 1, begins the new church year when we will be reading selections from the Gospel of Saint Luke for the Sunday Eucharist. I encourage everyone to read St. Luke as part of your daily prayer life. Also, take time to read the other appointed lessons for each Sunday, the Old Testament lesson, the Psalm, and the Epistle. Together, these readings will help us to know in greater detail the story of the people of Israel from whom our Lord descended, and most importantly, His story, the Gospel. Have a Holy and Blessed Advent!

This past Wednesday was Veteran's Day, a day on which we honor all those who have served in the Armed Forces of our nation. We must always remember that freedom is not free. There is a cost involved in service and lives given for the defense of our nation. Unlike Memorial Day when we honor those who gave their lives while serving our country, Veteran's Day is for honoring all who have served in our nation's Armed Forces in the various tasks involved in the defense of our freedom. Let us join together in thanking those who have served our country as members of the Armed Forces.

In a short few weeks from today we will begin a new church year on Advent 1, November 29th. On the Sunday of 1st Advent, we will begin year C for our Eucharistic lectionary and year 2 for the Daily Office. Your Churchman's Ordo Calendar has all the info for the Eucharistic readings on the back of each month's calendar where you will find the readings for each Sunday of the month (you will need to consult the lectionary in the back of the Prayer Book for the Daily Office readings), but I want to remind everyone that the lectionary in our Prayer Book for the years A, B, and C are for the "old" Prayer Book lectionary; they are not the Revised Common Lectionary readings which the Episcopal Church is now using. The RCL is used by Roman Catholics, United Methodists, Lutherans, and Episcopalians. This may seem a bit confusing but eventually all Books of Common Prayer will have the RCL, but as of now, they do not. I suggest that anyone who wants to buy a new Prayer Book make sure that the volume they are purchasing has the RCL, or wait until the new Prayer Books with the RCL come out. The Daily Office lectionary is not affected by the RCL; only the Eucharistic readings for Sundays fall under the RCL schedule. I highly recommend that everyone try to read the lessons for Sundays ahead of time, if possible, and pray and reflect upon the words of Holy Scripture as a major part of our daily and weekly prayer lives.

Today is All Saints' Day which has fallen on a Sunday this year. It is a day upon which we remember all the saints of the church, both known and unknown. The word "saint" is derived from the Latin term Sanctus, meaning holy, but in the sense of the saints of the church it doesn't mean a spiritual elite or a select group of folk who are holier than others but rather it means simply all the faithful members of the Body of Christ who have gone about living and doing their Christian duty throughout the centuries. The saying "no saints, no church" is very true! Without the ceaseless witness and work of countless saints of the church there would be no Christianity. It is our duty as the Body of Christ in our own time to instill Christian values in our children and grandchildren, for they will be the bearers of the Standard of Christ into the future. In every age since the time of the first apostles there have been those who have carried on the work of Christ and it is even more important for Christians in our age to continue the work of Christ so that there will be a Christian Church for future generations. We do this through working, praying, and giving for the spreading of the Kingdom of God.

This coming Wednesday, Father Weissman will be celebrating the Eucharist while I am out of town. I encourage all who can to attend this service. As you may know, I have been using Evening Prayer for our mid-week service in order to remind us of the "other" weekly (and daily) services which the Prayer Book provides. The Daily Office is an important aspect of our corporate prayer life and should not be neglected. Both Morning and Evening Prayer may be read by lay persons as the officiant, but only a priest or bishop can celebrate the Eucharist. It is important for us to remember that Morning and Evening Prayer serve to keep us mindful of the need for prayer on a daily basis and provides prayers for every aspect of the human condition. Also, if we read the Daily Office on a regular basis we will read the greater part of the Holy Scriptures over a period of two years because the Daily Office lectionary, which is in the back of the Prayer Book, is designed to provide readings which allow us to read most of the Scriptures over this period of time. If we diligently observe reading the Daily Office, either on our own or corporately, we would, over a period of just a few years become very familiar with the entire Bible, both Old and New Testaments. I encourage everyone to make use of our Book of Common Prayer and learn to use it to its fullest extent. It has been a major source for Anglican worship for close to 500 years!

A recent study has shown that virtually all mainline Christian churches are losing members, but the Episcopal Church has suffered not only member loss but fragmentation as well. Since its departure from the mother Church of England following the Revolutionary War, the Episcopal Church has been a small minority among the protestant churches in America; Episcopalians have historically made up only 3% of the religious population of our nation. In the past thirty years or so the Episcopal Church has fragmented into at least four distinct groups over a variety of issues; prayer book reform, the ordination of women, human sexuality, and other issues. The bottom line is that the Episcopal Church is not only losing members but it is also losing its sense of what it means to be CHURCH. But as I said earlier, this is not just peculiar to the Episcopal Church but to all mainline churches! American religion has become largely one more aspect of our American consumerism. Religion has become a commodity within a market from which consumers pick and choose. When they don't find what they are looking for, they simply move on to another religious venue where they can either be entertained, achieve an emotional high, or associate with folks who tend to be their social peers. It has been said that we are living in a post-Christian, increasingly secular age in which religion has little appeal to modem tastes and attitudes and, if this is true, what then is in store for religion in America? Do we become part of the "market mentality" and offer a product in order to attract members, or do we remain true to our traditions and become a smaller, but "faithful remnant," providing the resources for those seeking the spiritual life in a quiet, mature, prayerful manner, in essence, the traditional Episcopal way? I welcome your thoughts on this.

This coming Tuesday is the commemoration of William Tyndale, a very important figure in the development of the English translation of Holy Scripture. Tyndale lived during the reign of Henry VIII, a time in which the old catholic order was undergoing radical change throughout Europe. Tyndale wanted to give the English people the Scriptures in their own native language but Henry and the bishops of the Anglican church were reluctant to depart from the established Bible the western branches of Christendom had used for nearly a thousand years, the Latin Vulgate. Tyndale left England and went to Germany where the Reformation was already under way. There he translated and published the first modern translation of the Bible in English, but tragically Tyndale was hunted down by the English authorities and put to death as a heretic. Ironically, within just a few short years as the English portion of the Reformation developed, Henry VIII did authorize an English translation of the Bible, most of which was based on the very translation by William Tyndale! We should remember that it was the Anglican church which gave the English speaking people the English Bible, and that the King James Version was the culmination of a process of translation which began with the English priest, scholar, and reformer, William Tyndale.

In as much as Padre and Linda were at the beach last week, there will not be a Rector's Corner today. Welcome back Padre and Linda, We understand you had a great time and there was plenty of relaxing.

In the day to day life of the Episcopal Church there are aspects of governance that affect each of us although many are unaware of this. For instance, I'm sure that everyone knows the role of bishops and priests in the life of the church, but how many of us understand the role of the vestry. In essence, the vestry consists of lay people chosen in each parish to oversee the temporal affairs of the church, the day to day decision making for the maintenance and upkeep of the physical plant, i.e. buildings, furnishing, etc. as well as the financial aspects of church life. The vestry takes its name from a time when the members of this group actually met in the vesting area, the sacristy, to discuss the business of the church. Those members who met in the vesting area, the area where the ministers actually vested themselves for the services, became known as the "people of the vestry", and later as simply the vestry. Today, the vestry meets in different areas of the church to discuss the business of the day, but its role is essentially the same today as it was hundreds of years ago ... to plan and provide for the day to day activities of the church and its financial welfare. The clergy's role in the leadership of the church is basically to care for the spiritual needs of the church, while the vestry's role is to oversee the temporal aspects of church life. We will soon be electing new vestry members and with that thought I invite and encourage you to consider serving on the vestry and exercising your talents and gifts for our parish.

At this past General Convention of the Episcopal Church full communion with the Moravian Church was approved. This is a significant move for the Episcopal Church but it has special meaning for Episcopalians in North Carolina because the Moravians were some of the earliest settlers in the piedmont of our state. Originally the Moravians were from Bohemia and were known as the Bohemian Brethren as well as the Unitas Fratrum, but eventually they simply became known as the Moravian Church. They were some of the first of the German Pietistic groups placing extreme emphasis upon an emotional aspect of the religious life. They exerted quite a bit of influence upon John Wesley and his Method in the Church of England. In a very true sense, the Moravians were the forerunners of modern charismatic religion from the standpoint that they felt that each person had to have an emotional religious experience in order to be assured of one's salvation. This is somewhat strange to Episcopalians who, as we are sometimes known as God's "frozen chosen", have usually rejected such emotionalism in our religious lives, but it is nevertheless an aspect of religion that has become a significant part of southern Protestantism. As in most such attempts at full communion with other groups the Episcopal Church usually sees little, if any, major change. For the most part such attempts at joining with other religious groups has met with minimal success and in this particular instance I do not foresee any great measure of union taking place. Real substantive union would be if the catholic branches of Christendom were to reunify, i.e. the Roman, Anglican, and Orthodox churches. That would be truly significant!

As all should be aware, Father Hanks is on vacation this week and therefore, there will not be a Rector's Comer today. We wish Padre and Linda a safe and relaxing vacation. If any pastoral issues arise before they return, Father Steve Weissman will be available. Thanks Father Steve.

I want to say thanks to everyone for helping make Bishop Taylor's pastoral visit a great success. Both he and Jim Pritchett, his canon, complimented us on the overall state of the parish. We, the vestry and I, did express concerns to him in regard to the impact the recent economic downturn has had upon our parish and he assured us that it is not just Redeemer that is going through a tough time financially but the entire diocese and the national church, as well. Small churches have an especially tough time of it during times such as these because we don't have the resources nor the base for giving that larger churches have. I encourage each one to invite friends and family to our Church of the Redeemer. We are a unique parish and I feel that we have much to offer those who are seeking traditional Episcopal worship or another perspective on their personal spiritual journey within the context of a tradition that is both older and different than the typical southern protestant church. So bring friends and family; all are welcome.

As we welcome Bishop Taylor today, I want to encourage everyone to take a few moments to greet him and chat with him after the service. It is important for us to remember that he is the link between the time in which we live and the apostolic ministry which began with the twelve men Our Lord chose to be His companions during his earthly ministry. The very word "Episcopal" comes from the Greek term for an overseer, episcopos, which is comprised of two components, "epi" meaning over or upon, and "scopos" meaning to look or see. Welcome Bishop Taylor!

Just a quick reminder that next Sunday, Bishop Taylor will be with us for the 10:30 service at which time he will baptize two infants and confirm one adult, as well as preach and celebrate the Holy Eucharist. I urge everyone to attend if at all possible to meet Bishop Taylor. Also, I remind everyone that there will be no early service next week, only the 10:30 service.

The gospel readings for the next few weeks are taken from the 6th chapter of the Gospel according to John. These are the most important Eucharistic teachings in the entire New Testament. In them, Our Lord uses metaphorical language to describe himself as the "true bread which has come down from heaven". He also tells us that whoever eats this bread will never hunger; whoever drinks his blood will never thirst. He assures us that whoever eats this bread will have eternal life and that He will raise them up at the last day. It is His teaching in these passages that has been the reason that historic catholic Christianity has placed such emphasis upon Eucharistic worship over the past two millennia. I urge each one to spend some time over the next few weeks reading the 6th chapter of St. John's Gospel to better understand what Our Lord teaches us about His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist and the benefits we receive thereby.

As you may be aware, our Asheville deanery participates in the building of homes in the Habitat for Humanity program which we undertake every two years. This year, the deanery is scheduled to build a home at the Habitat for Humanity site located on Warren Haynes Drive in West Asheville beginning later in the fall. If you are interested in helping in any way with this project please let me or Kim O'Donnell know and we will help you get in touch with the folks who are coordinating the project. Also, we will be sponsoring a fund raising music festival along with St. Luke's parish at some point in October to help with the Habitat project; more to come in regard to these events later.

As we begin a new series of confirmation classes, I want to make a few remarks regarding the Episcopal Church and its place in the history of Christianity for everyone's enlightenment and edification. First, we all know that the Episcopal Church is the daughter church of the Church of England, but what does that actually mean? It means that the Episcopal Church is, in essence, that form of the Church of England which was planted in the American colonies during the time they were part of the British Empire. Our theology, liturgy, and to a great extent, our polity are derived from the Church of England. Christianity came to the British Isles sometime in the early decades of the 2nd century AD, probably between the years AD 125 and 150, or thereabout, at which time this British form of Christianity was closely allied with the Christianity of Gaul, or modem France, as well as Rome itself. This first phase of Christianity in the British Isles is known as the Romano/British era of Christianity which eventually morphed into the 2nd distinct phase, the Celtic era. We will be covering this and more in our confirmation classes. Hope to see your there!

As we celebrate this 4th of July, our National Independence Holiday, I want to take a moment to remind us of another aspect of the results of severing our bonds with our mother country, England. Although we won our independence from England in the Revolutionary War, our ties with England have remained strong and viable; we share a common language and much of our civil law comes from the Anglo-Saxon common law which developed over the centuries in England. But we must not forget our religious heritage, for, as the Prayer Book states on Page 11 in the Preface, that "this church is far from intending to depart from the Church of England in any essential point of doctrine, discipline or worship." Most American groups can trace their religious roots back to the Church of England, certainly the Episcopal Church, but also the Baptist churches and the Congregational churches such as the English Presbyterians, as well as the Methodists. We all share our common "Church of England" roots.

Just a quick reminder that confirmation classes will begin Sunday, July 19th, at 9:30 AM and will continue each Sunday until the visitation of Bishop Taylor on August 23rd• We will cover the history, theology, and worship of our Episcopal Church during our 30-40 minute sessions. The confirmation classes are offered to anyone wishing to be confirmed, for those wishing to reaffirm their faith, or for those who simply want to know more about the Episcopal Church. All are welcome! The classes will be held in my office; let me know as soon as possible if you plan to attend.

Our Bishop, Porter Taylor, will be with us on Sunday, August 23rd, at the 10:30 service, which will be the ONLY service on that Sunday. I strongly encourage all who regularly attend the early service to come to the 10:30 service to meet Bishop Taylor and participate in the Episcopal rite of Holy Confirmation, which brings me to the subject of today's Rector's Comer. I will begin a confirmation class in mid-July at 9:30 on Sunday mornings for those who wish to be confirmed in the Episcopal church or for those who would like a "refresher" course in the history, theology, and worship of the Episcopal church. If you are interested in attending the confirmation class please let me know. I want to let everyone know way ahead of time so that you may make plans accordingly. We will begin on Sunday, July 19th.

We have just completed the season of Eastertide and the Feast of Pentecost; now we begin the long "green" season of the church. The color green symbolizes growth and it is during this time, "ordinary time", as it is known, that we settle into a period of doing the work of the Christian life. It is a time in which we will hear the story of the earthly ministry of Our Lord read on Sunday mornings, and since we are in liturgical year B, the readings will be from the Gospel of St. Mark. For those who have a Church calendar, you will find the readings for each Sunday on the back of each month, so by all means I encourage each one to take some time throughout the week to read, pray and reflect on the weekly scripture readings. We Episcopalians read Holy Scripture regularly in the daily office and Sunday lectionaries to the extent that we read virtually the entire bible through every two years for the daily office and every three years for the Eucharist. This is a truly consistent, thorough, and intentional reading of Holy Scripture. We do not "pick and choose" only the parts of the bible we particularly like; we read it ALL, allowing the Holy Sprit to speak to us through the words of Holy Scripture. We should be proud of our Anglican heritage of scripture reading; and let us not forget that it was the Anglican Church that gave the scriptures to the world in the English language. Thanks be to God!

Today is Trinity Sunday, a day upon which we celebrate the unique character of Christianity, which is that we worship one God in Trinity of persons but also in their unity of substance. That which we accept today as Trinitarian orthodoxy was worked out by the Christian church in the 4th century through the councils of Nicea and Constantinople. Here the church came to the understanding that God is made known to us in three distinct ways, Father, primordial Being; Son, expressive, creative agent of that primordial Being; and Holy Spirit, the life-giving, nurturing agent of that primordial Being. Thanks be to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for giving us life, not just life in the here and now, but life everlasting in Christ, Our Lord.

On this Pentecost Sunday we are honored to participate in the baptisms of two new members of the Body of Christ. Today we will administer with great joy the sacrament of Holy Baptism to Owen Thompson and Heath Ervin Marvin Fullbright. We are especially honored to have their families with us today to help celebrate their baptisms. Congratulations and welcome to the parents of these youngsters, Kristen and Jason, Owen's mom and dad, and Crystal and Kelsey, Heath's mom and dad. We also extend a warm welcome and congratulations to the grandparents, aunts and uncles, and all the members of their respective families. Thanks be to God for all his many blessings but especially for His giving us new life in His Son, Jesus, Our Lord. It is thus with great joy and gladness that we welcome Owen and Heath into the body of Christ.

Tomorrow, May 25th, is Memorial Day, a day upon which we remember and pay honor to those who gave their lives in defense of our nation. This day is a day of remembrance which is different from Veterans' Day or Armed Forces Day in that it is set aside especially to remember those who died while serving in the Armed Forces. The men and women who paid the ultimate price with their lives in defense of our nation are to be honored and remembered for their service and to remind us that freedom as we know it in America is not without cost. Our freedom has been won and maintained through the service and sacrifice of these we remember today, those who gave their lives in defense of our country. Let us never forget them or their sacrifice. May they rest in peace.

Today is Rogation Sunday, the 6th Sunday after Easter. The word Rogation comes from the Latin term, rogare, which means to ask. The Rogation days were, and still are, days set aside for the special observance of prayers for the abundance of crops and the yield of the earth and our environment. In earlier times there were processions through the fields as prayers were offered for the abundance of crops and some parishes still observe this with a short procession around the grounds of the church as prayers are offered for the natural environment. We should pray for the welfare of our planet at all times, but more importantly, we must be good stewards of the gifts God has given us which come forth from His bounty and use the gifts of our planet wisely and moderately. Let us pray on this Rogation Sunday for wisdom and right understanding of our responsibilities toward our "mother earth". May God continue to bless us with the gifts of the earth and may we always be mindful of our part in the conservation of our planet and its resources.

Today, the 5th Sunday of Easter is also Mother's Day! I would like to extend a very happy greeting to all moms and encourage each of us to take some time to spend with our moms, if at all possible. I also want to remind us that the Church is our mother in a very real way, symbolized by Mary, Our Lord's mother, who is venerated by her Church for the role she fulfills as the mother of her children, the members of Christ's Body. Thanks be to God!

This past Saturday, May Second, was the commemoration of St. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, who was the leading exponent of Trinitarian orthodoxy in the early fourth century. The debate he carried on with the priest Arius over the nature of Christ led to the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. This was one of the first major Christological controversies and led to a showdown between the two churchmen and their supporters. The Emperor Constantine called for a meeting of the bishops of the Church to come to an agreement on this issue of the nature of Christ, i.e. was he a created being and therefore not technically part of the Godhead, or was he, as Athanasius argued, fully God and the second person of the Holy Trinity. Athanasius' group won the day and as a result the definitive statement which was formulated at Nicaea became the basic statement of the Christian Faith as we know it today, which is there is one God in Trinity of persons. There are not three Gods, but one God consisting of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sharing the same substance equally. In the back of the Prayer Book is the section on Historical Documents of the Church; there you will find the Athanasian Creed, a longer form of the creedal statement which comes to us from the fourth century. I encourage you to take some time and familiarize yourself with the historical statements of the Church and to better understand the long process the Church has undertaken in the development of its understanding of our Trinitarian Faith.

Yesterday, April 25th, was the commemoration of St. Mark the Evangelist. St. Mark is considered by most biblical scholars as the author of the first of the written gospels. It is a somewhat short work which tells the life of Jesus from his baptism through his crucifixion and resurrection, consisting of only 16 chapters. In two of the other canonical gospels, Matthew and Luke, the gospel of St. Mark is virtually reproduced to a large degree causing scholars to mostly agree that they were each based in large part upon the gospel of St. Mark. Our liturgical year B is based upon readings from the gospel of St. Mark for the most part, thus I urge each of us to take some time each week to read the gospel of St. Mark in its entirety over the coming months. Having done so, when we begin liturgical year C on the first Sunday of Advent this year we will have laid important groundwork for our readings from the gospel of St. Luke which we use in year C. It is very important for Christians to know the story of Jesus, and the best way to learn His story is to read the gospels from beginning to end!

The word "grace" in its theological context is a term we often hear used in the churches, but do we really understand what it truly means? It is derived from the Latin term "gratias" which means essentially favor. In the Christian context it is God's free gift of love and acceptance of us. God's favor is something we cannot earn; it is not based upon our personal moral or ethical "goodness", but rather it is God's free gift to us even though we are sinful mortals. The free gift of God's grace has been made manifest to us in Our Lord Jesus for it is in Him and through Him that we have access to God. This is the basis upon which Christianity and its theology rests.

Today is the Sunday of the Passion, or Palm Sunday. The day begins on a note of joy as Jesus enters Jerusalem hailed as King, but just as quickly the cries of acclamation change to "crucify him, crucify him". What does this tell us about our sinful human nature? What is it about mankind that causes us to be so fickle? Is this not the culmination of all the things we have talked about during our Lenten journey, those things that cause us to wander from the path which God sets out for us? The reaction of the crowds as depicted in the Passion Gospel show us how we have erred and strayed from God's truth. It is no less true today! God's truth in Christ is spumed and shunned in order that we may follow our own willfulness, and so the awful realization is brought home to us today that we are like lost sheep in desperate need of a shepherd. But those same sheep can often become like ravenous wolves when pride, anger, envy, etc. rule the hearts of men. Let us be ever mindful and thankful for the loving kindness and mercy of our God and Father who forgives us our ignorance and blindness.

We are coming close to the end of Lent and in just one week we will be entering Holy Week. It is extremely important for us to experience not just the regular midweek services of Lent (Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays) but also to participate in the services of Holy Week as well. First there is Palm Sunday which marks the triumphal entry of our Lord into the city of Jerusalem but also quickly turns to his betrayal and arrest, all of which is related in the Liturgy of Palm Sunday. Next there comes Maundy Thursday with the commemoration of the institution of the Holy Eucharist, followed by the vigil by the Altar of Repose where we spend an hour throughout the night with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. On Good Friday, we have that special Liturgy which reminds us of the Crucifixion and Burial of Our Lord, truly one of the "black" days of the Church calendar. On Holy Saturday we are reminded of Our Lord's lying in the tomb; on this day there is no celebration of the Holy Eucharist, only a short Liturgy of the Word. But let us remember that all of Holy Week is to prepare us for the coming of the "third day", Easter Sunday, the day on which Our Lord rose from the tomb, defeating death and opening the way to eternal life for the members of His Body, the Church. I invite all to join us for the solemn observances of the special services of Holy Week!

Today is Rose Sunday, the 4th Sunday in Lent. It is also known as Mothering Sunday, Refreshment Sunday, and Laetare Sunday. Let's take them one at a time. Obviously, Rose Sunday is known as such due to the Rose colored vestments that are worn by the clergy on 4th Lent as a way of demonstrating that the penitential aspect of Lent is somewhat lightened up on this day. But what about "Laetare" Sunday? Laetare comes from the Introit at the Mass, Isaiah 66:10 which states "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem"; Laetare means to rejoice. Mothering Sunday comes from the custom in some parts of England of visiting one's mother on 4th Lent, or perhaps visiting the cathedral of a diocese which would have been considered the "mother" church of that diocese, or perhaps from the older traditional Epistle for 4th Lent from Galatians 4:26 in which it is stated "Jerusalem, the mother of us all". Refreshment Sunday comes, most likely, from two sources; first is that of the feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1-14) which was, up until 1969, the Gospel reading in many churches for 4th Lent; but also in various parts of Christendom it was customary to eat small cakes as a part of the relaxation of the Lenten discipline which was allowed on 4th Lent. So, rejoice and be glad for the mighty works of God in Christ that are made known to us today as we continue our journey through Lent and Holy Week to the joys of the Feast of the Resurrection.

This coming Wednesday is the Feast of St. Patrick, Ireland's most famous Christian figure. But the irony is that although Patrick is associated with Ireland, he was British. He was born in Britain to Christian parents but was abducted by Irish raiders when he was about 16 years old. Patricius, his Romano-British name, was forced into servitude for a period of 6 years or so, after which he was able to escape and return to Britain. But soon after he had returned home he had a vision in which he saw the Irish people entreating him to come back and help them, which he did. He was ordained to the priesthood and returned to Ireland remaining there for the rest of his life, with the exception of a few periods of travel, working among the people and spreading the Gospel of Christ, eventually becoming the Bishop of Ireland. Patrick is known as the Apostle of Ireland, and it is through his work that not only Ireland but Scotland as well, subsequently became Christian.

On Wednesday evenings throughout Lent we will be using the Stations of the Cross for our mid-week service. This is an ancient service which began in the 4th century with pilgrims tracing the steps of Our Lord in the city of Jerusalem as a devotional practice. They began at the place traditionally known to have been Pilate's house and ended at Calvary, stopping at various places on the way which were associated with Our Lord's journey to the Cross. Later in the Middle Ages the practice was observed in Christian Europe in both homes and churches using paintings or carvings depicting the events, 14 stations in all, in which prayers and meditations were read at each station. The Stations of the Cross were popularized by the Franciscans in the late medieval period and their usage has been revived by the Anglican Church's Oxford Movement. I invite you to join us on Wednesday evenings for the observance of the Stations of the Cross!

Today is the first Sunday in Lent and, as you have all heard me say, it is the time of the church year in which we each take a good, hard look at our spiritual condition. The idea of sinfulness is something most of us would like to avoid in regard to our view of ourselves and how we think others view us, but that isn't really the heart of the matter. The heart of the matter is, in the truest sense, the condition of our hearts in the spiritual sense. The word "person" comes from the Latin term, persona, which meant a mask that an actor wore in a play. We all wear masks to some degree but we can't hide the true condition of our hearts from God. There is no "playacting" with God; God knows better than we do the condition of our souls. But quite often we don't have a real knowledge of who we are because we tend to wear our masks and play the part we think we need to play for whatever reasons they may be. But the season of Lent is a time in which we can all work at taking off the mask and corning to terms with who we really are. It may be that we won't like what we see, but with God's help we can turn around, i.e. be converted, and begin the hard work of becoming genuine people. Conversion is something that needs to happen daily; not just once in our lifetime, but everyday. We can make a new start with God's help. May this Lenten season be a time of renewal and constructive spiritual discernment for each of us!

This coming Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and one of the two official fasting days (Ash Wednesday and Good Friday) of the Christian year. It is a day of solemn Christian obligation. Ash Wednesday, known as such due to the imposition of ashes upon the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of our mortality and of our willingness to accept and acknowledge our sinfulness, marks the beginning of the season of Lent in which the early Church catechumens were prepared for Holy Baptism, but also as the Prayer Book states, those who had been separated from the body of the faithful because of notorious sins, were reconciled and restored to the fellowship of the Church. Let us therefore use this coming Lenten season as a time for self-examination, a time to reevaluate our spiritual condition, and as a time in which we each take steps to be reconciled with God and our neighbor. May we each have a Holy and Blessed Lent!

Today is the Sunday known in earlier times as Sexagesima, sixty days before Easter. It is the mid-point of the short season of pre-Lent. As I have said, this season which occurs just before the beginning of Lent proper is a good time for us to do some preliminary spiritual self-examination. What are our spiritual concerns? What do we find lacking in our spiritual lives? These are good questions to begin our quest for a meaningful Lenten discipline. One excellent place to begin our work in the life of the spirit is to read the works of some of Christianity's modem notable spiritual mentors such as Thomas Merton, Kenneth Leech, Henri Nouwen, and one of my favorites, Thomas Moore, two works of whom I feel deserve special mention, "Care of the Soul" and "The Reenchantment of Everyday Life." Any of the books by these writers will open our eyes to greater understanding and growth in the life of the spirit.

This coming Sunday is the Sunday known as Septuagesima, meaning seventy days from Easter Sunday. It is the beginning of what is known as "pre-Lent" or the three Sundays prior to Ash Wednesday. During this short three week period it is very appropriate for our thoughts to begin to turn toward our Lenten discipline which will begin officially on Ash Wednesday. Perhaps you may want to adopt a regimen of regular Scripture reading or to enhance your prayer life by devoting more time to praying for the needs of others or some other concern you may have. Whatever it may be, a Lenten discipline helps us to become more centered in our spiritual lives and to prepare for the joys of the Feast of the Resurrection in which we are reminded of our own pledge of eternal life as members of the Body of Christ.

Tomorrow, February 2nd, is the Feast of Candlemas, or the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, which took place 40 days after his birth according to Jewish Law (Luke 2:22-39). This ancient feast of the Church dates back to around the year AD 350 where it was first celebrated at Jerusalem. The Emperor Justinian ordered its observance at Constantinople in the year AD 542 as an act of thanksgiving for a cessation of an outbreak of the plaque; from there its observance spread throughout the eastern portion of Christianity and gradually to the Latin west. This feast was known as "The Meeting", the meeting between Simeon and Jesus as a baby, but also as the Purification of the Virgin Mary. It is celebrated by the lighting of candles, hence the name Candlemas, and the singing of the Nunc Dimittis, which are the words spoken by Simeon when he beheld the baby Jesus. For us today, we should be reminded that the candles symbolize the Light of Christ which enlightens the world, but also, as in the words of the Nunc Dimittis, our eyes behold our salvation as we behold Our Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. We will observe this ancient feast of the Church on this coming Wednesday evening, February 4th.

The book of Jonah, from which our Old Testament reading comes today, is one of the first books of the Bible to hint at the possibility that God's mercy and concern is extended to people other than the people of Israel, the Jews. How then, is salvation achieved? That's the entire point, salvation isn't something we can achieve or earn, it is the FREE gift of God. Scripture teaches that for Christians the point of origin, or the beginning, of salvation is baptism. It is the norm by which all followers of Christ become members of His Body. Scripture does not teach that salvation comes by way of an emotional experience nor by doing good works; as a matter of fact the protestant idea of "being saved" at an "altar call" is unscriptural. Nowhere in the Bible is an "altar call" ever mentioned. What is stated over and over throughout the New Testament is that baptism is the door to eternal life in Christ. Our Lord himself tells us in the Gospel of St. John that in order to enter the Kingdom of God we must be born of WATER and the SPIRIT. This is what the Christian church has taught from its very beginning that baptism, not an "altar call", is what Our Lord commands us to do in order to participate in His life. He further commands us to receive His Body and Blood on a regular basis for our spiritual nourishment, and this also the Christian church has taught and practiced since its beginning. These are the normal means of grace for Christians, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion, that truly are Scriptural.

The theme of today's readings is the call to ministry, that of the young boy Samuel, and those whom Our Lord chose to be his first followers, the apostles. As the stories from the Holy Scripture show, quite often those who are called to ministry are reluctant to obey God's call, fearful that they don't have the ability to fulfill their appointed vocation, but God knows what He is doing and He never calls anyone to service without providing them with all they need to perform the duties He gives them. This is the way it is when God calls us to service. If we will answer His call He will supply the strength and wisdom for us to fulfill that to which He calls us. He doesn't ask us to perform miracles, that's His job! All he asks of us is that we be willing instruments for His purposes.

Today, the Sunday after Epiphany, is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. It is also one of the most appropriate days, along with Easter, Pentecost, and All Saints Day, within the church year for the sacrament of Holy Baptism to be administered to those wishing to become members of the Body of Christ. You will often hear those who come from the protestant traditions talking about "being saved", especially here in the south, but we must remember that historic Christianity, (i.e. pre-Reformation Christianity), has always taught that salvation begins with our baptism. It is through the sacrament of baptism that we become members of the Body of Christ and heirs, through Him, of the Kingdom of God. Our Lord teaches us in the Gospel of St. John that we must be born of water and the spirit if we want to participate in the life of Christ and be assured of our place in God's Kingdom. Thus it is that the Christian life, and more importantly eternal life, begins with our becoming members of the Body of Christ, and we do that through our baptism.

The Feast of the Epiphany is quickly approaching; in fact it arrives this coming Tuesday, January 6th. The Epiphany of Our Lord is the commemoration of two events; the visitation of the three Wise Men, but also, and more importantly, His manifestation to all the nations of the world, in biblical terms, to the gentiles. Significantly, the revealing of Our Lord to all the people of the world shows that God in His great mercy has opened the way of salvation to all people. Today, there are many who do not know of the "good news" of the Gospel of Christ; stranger still, there are many who profess to be followers of Jesus who have yet to learn what it really means to be a follower of Him. There are many who have not heard the Gospel of Christ because they have not been in the circumstances nor in the situation where the Gospel could be proclaimed to them, but there are also many who have heard but yet do not understand His message of kindness, charity and unquestioning love. The Gospel of Christ must be proclaimed not only to those who have not heard but also to those who have heard but have not understood. The Epiphany of Christ must occur in our hearts daily, not just on January 6th!

Today, December 28, is the commemoration of the Holy Innocents, the children who were murdered by King Herod in his attempt to destroy the child foretold to become King of the Jews. Since the date falls on a Sunday, the Lord's Day, it is transferred to a weekday in the following week. We should take this time in the coming week to reflect on all those innocent ones of the world, who are neglected and forgotten, victims of war and aggression, who, through no fault of their own are caught up in circumstances beyond their control. Likewise, there are many innocent children, and adults, who are victimized bystanders in the machinations of the powerful, who have no voice in the actions of the rulers of the world, just as in King Herod's time. Who will be their voice if not the Church? Let us not forget these whom Christ loves and let us be the voice of advocacy for them. The Church of Christ must be the voice which calls for justice and equality for those who cannot speak for themselves. Have a blessed Christmastide!

As we approach the feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, I would ask that we each take a few moments to reflect on the blessings God has given us and to give thanks for all the many gifts God gives to us from His great bounty. This Advent season is a good time to stop and give thanks for all those small day to day gifts of God that we so often take for granted. We could begin with giving thanks to God for life itself, for without the life giving Spirit of God none of us would even exist. Creation itself is a great wonder and sacrament of God; we need to take time to pray and meditate on the wonders of God's enlivening, creative nature for without it we would not be! Be thankful, rejoice, and spread God's creative, loving spirit throughout the world, beginning right here where we live. As Ambassadors of Christ it is our duty and calling to be agents of the love of God. Remember, there is no place in the Kingdom of God for hatred, malice, bigotry, or uncharitableness; there is only a place for love and kindness ... because that is where the AUTHOR of love and kindness dwells, JESUS, Our Lord and Redeemer.

This Sunday, Rose Sunday, at the 10:30 service we will be having a service of Advent lessons and carols. These lessons and carols tell the story of the people of God from the beginning of creation to the promised coming of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus. Let us each be reminded through the lessons and carols of our own individual sinfulness which only He can take away and our need to be transformed in his likeness. May we be drawn nearer to Him throughout this Advent season and prepare a place for Him in our hearts as we await the Feast of the Incarnation, the birth of Our Lord. Have a blessed Advent!

In today's Gospel reading, we are told that the people from all around the area near the Jordan River came out to John the baptizer to be baptized in expectation of one who was to come. Who was this person the people of Israel expected? The words of the prophet Isaiah tell us there is a voice crying out in the wilderness "prepare the way for the Lord". In the Hebrew language, in which the book of Isaiah was written, it is customary to replace the name Yahweh, which is the name of the God of Israel, with the word Adonai which means Lord. In the opening of St. Mark's Gospel he repeats the words of the prophet Isaiah referring to the Lord who is to come, Jesus. Therefore when Mark uses these words from Isaiah, he is telling us that the Lord God Yahweh is coming to us in the person of Jesus. This is the heart and soul of the Christian Gospel, that God became incarnate in Jesus, and as St. Ignatius stated nearly two millennia ago, "God came to mankind so that mankind could come to God". This is the great mystery of the Incarnation: God has come to us even though because of our sinfulness we could not come to God, God nevertheless has come to us. Thanks be to God for His loving mercy and kindness, and the even greater mystery is that all He requires of us is that we love Him and in turn be merciful, kind, and loving to our brothers and sisters of the world. Have a blessed Advent!

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a new liturgical year (year B) begins and we will be following the Gospel of Mark for most of the coming year in the reading of the Gospel during the Eucharist. The Gospel of Mark is considered by most Biblical scholars to have been the first of the Gospels, written most likely in the mid to late 60's AD. It is the shortest of the Gospels and seems to be the Gospel upon which both Matthew and Luke were based. I encourage everyone to read the lessons from Mark's Gospel in advance of the week in which they are read (you will find the readings for each Sunday on the back of each month of the Churchman's Ordo calendar) and to get to know the story of the life of Jesus as it is told in this, the first of the Gospel's to be written. Have a blessed Advent!

Today is the feast of Christ the King which falls upon the last Sunday of the season of Pentecost. Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and we will begin a new liturgical year, Year B for the Eucharistic lectionary. Advent is a time of expectation and preparation. Its tone is somewhat subdued but not in the sense of the somber tone of Lent. During Advent we still use the Gloria and the Alleluia as well as flowers on the altar, although the flowers are not quite as flamboyant as those we would use in the more joyous seasons of the Church year. The main point of Advent is spiritual preparation for the celebration of the Feast of the Nativity. Let us use the season of Advent to help us make a holy preparation for the coming of Our Lord. If you have been coming to church on a limited basis, strive to make part of your Advent discipline the resolution to attend more often if at all possible. One way we can all make better preparation throughout Advent is to spend less time in the worldliness of commercialism and consumerism and to make more time for God and His Church.

This past Friday the Episcopal Church celebrated the consecration of Bishop Samuel Seabury, the first bishop in America. Before his consecration there were no Episcopal rites celebrated in America which means that no priests could be ordained, no confirmations celebrated, and there were no bishops to be chief pastor to all who affiliated themselves with the newly formed Episcopal Church. The Episcopal Church before the Revolutionary War was simply the Church of England in the colonies. Samuel Seabury went to England to receive consecration but was unable to be consecrated by English bishops due to the fact that he could not take the oath of allegiance to the king. He therefore found himself having to go to Scotland to be consecrated by the line of Scottish bishops for which in turn he agreed to adopt much of the Scottish Prayer Book for use in the first American Book of Common Prayer of 1789. We give thanks for the life of dedication and ministry to the Episcopal Church of its first bishop, Samuel Seabury.

The last Sunday of this month, the first Sunday of Advent, we will begin a new lectionary year which will be Year B for the Mass and Year 1 for the Daily Office. Year B uses the Gospel according to Mark for most of the Sundays throughout the liturgical year which we begin on November 30th. I encourage each of us to use the lectionary readings as part of our daily prayer life, and I will remind you that the Episcopal Church began using the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) last Advent. Even though the Prayer Book lectionary, found near the back of the Prayer Book, and the RCL do differ somewhat, the Gospel readings are virtually the same. Until the new Prayer Books containing the RCL come out, you can still find the readings for each Sunday on the back of the Liturgical Year calendar for each month. We will have the new calendars by mid-December. Hopefully, the new Prayer Books with the RCL will be printed before long and we will have them in the pews sometime next year. I also encourage each one of us to purchase a new Prayer Book for our use at home and church in order to enhance our knowledge of the liturgical year readings. A good practice is to read the lessons for each Sunday sometime during the week prior to when we hear them read during the service. In this way, we can allow the Holy Scriptures to speak to us, not just on Sunday, but as part of our weekly preparation for the Holy Eucharist. This is the essence of our Anglican worship, hearing the Word of God and partaking of His gifts to us in the Sacraments of the Church. Word and Sacrament define our Anglican way of Christian discipleship.

Today is All Saints Sunday and we are pleased to administer the Sacrament of Holy Baptism to a new member of the Body of Christ, Trevor Grant Stock II. As we welcome young Trevor into the One Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of which Our Lord is the Head, let us also be reminded of our own baptism and the responsibility which we each have for living out our baptismal vows. Today, as we renew our baptismal vows, let us carefully and prayerfully consider the great gift we each have received in our becoming members of the family of God. As the gift is great, so is the responsibility we each have for living out our Christian discipleship. We are to be transformed people, no longer the old self-centered person we once were, but kinder, gentler, more generous, and more tolerant people, awake to the needs of our brothers and sisters of the world. We welcome young Trevor Grant Stock II into the Body of Christ!

In this week's readings from both the Old Testament and the Gospel, we hear the phrase "love your neighbor as yourself'. One of the way Christians can fulfill this commandment (notice the word "commandment" which does not mean OPTIONAL), is to be generous with those in need. It was part of the ethic of the people of Israel that they were to be generous in their dealings with both their own people and the stranger among them. The word used in the Latin translation of the Holy Scriptures, the Vulgate, which means "love", is caritas, from which we get the English word "charity". The word charity is often misused in that it is often taken to have a negative connotation. In its root form charity simply means love. We are commanded to love and therefore our love is to be generous in every way. We are not to withhold from those who are in need. A simple act of kindness is one of the greatest ways we can fulfill God's commandment "to love our neighbor as ourself'. Be generous to a fault! Our Lord tells us "the measure by which you give is the measure by which you shall receive". He also reminds us that "in as much as you did it (or did not do it) to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it (or did not do it) to me". The way we treat our brothers and sisters is in essence the way we treat Our Lord. Let us consider these words carefully and prayerfully.

In just a little over another month, we will be entering the season of Advent, which is the four week period preceding the Feast of the Incarnation. This coming Advent, we will begin the new lectionary year "B" during which time our readings for the Gospel will be taken from the Gospel according to St. Mark. I encourage all to take this time to become more familiar with the story of the life of Our Lord as it is set forth in the Gospel of Mark. Use the lectionary in the back of the Book of Common Prayer to find the readings for each Sunday (even though we are using the Revised Common Lectionary). In this way we will hopefully read the Gospel lesson in advance of each coming Sunday and use the lessons as part of our prayer life, allowing the words of the Gospel to speak to us daily and to shape and form our lives as Christians.

This past Sunday I spoke about our Anglican tradition in the way we Episcopalians read and interpret the Holy Scriptures; but it might surprise you to know that although Christianity came to the British Isles nearly 2000 years ago, the English Bible is only roughly 500 years old. British Christianity used the Latin forms of the Bible, the Old Latin and subsequently the Vulgate, for the first 1500 years of its history. It is important to note that Christianity has gone through at least four distinct phases in the British Isles; 1st, the Romano-Celtic period (c. 125-664); 2nd, the Anglo-Saxon period (AD 664-1066) during which for the greater part, the British Church was part of the Roman Catholic Communion; 3rd, there was the Anglo-Norman period (AD 1066-1520's) when the British Church was closely allied to the Gallic Church in the French speaking part of Europe; then 4th, and finally, there came the modem period of Anglicanism when the English Church broke with Rome during the Protestant Reformation in the early 1500's. It was during this last period that the language of the English people truly became the language of the English Church. Both the Scriptures and the Services of the Church were set forth in the English language, the two crowning examples of which are the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Version of the Bible.

Two of the most important figures in the development of the translation of the Holy Scriptures are remembered at this time by the church, St. Jerome and William Tyndale. St. Jerome was the 5th century scholar/monastic who translated the scriptures from Greek and Hebrew into Latin, which was the language of western Christianity. Roughly one thousand years later, William Tyndale translated the Greek, Hebrew and Latin scriptures into English, the first full translation of the scriptures into the language of the English people. Without the work of these two scholars we would not have the Holy Scriptures in the two most important languages of western civilization, Latin in the Middle Ages and English in the modem age. Thanks be to God for their gift to the Christian Church.

The 8th century collect says that God exercises omnipotence chiefly in showing mercy. Today's readings from Exodus and Psalms show examples of divine mercy, when God provided for the wandering Israelites despite their grumbling; the epistle shows the ultimate example of divine mercy, when Christ relinquished his omnipotence to suffer with the human race.

Last Sunday's Exodus reading was about God's providing quails and manna in the wilderness. Today's is a parallel instance during their trip through the Sinai desert, where he supplies water at Meribah, quarreling and Massah, testing. Those sites became proverbial for putting God to the proof, as in Psalm 95:8, "harden not your hearts, as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works." Later, to rabbinic commentators the waters symbolized wisdom and the Torah which God gave Israel. Rabbi Paul claimed that the Rock from which waters came to save the Israelites was Christ. (I Cor. 10).

Psalm 78 is one of several psalms which recite the history of Israel, likely written to be used at temple festivals marking those historic events. The opening four verses are characteristic of the wisdom schools stress on ancient lessons as guides for living. That preface is followed in today's excerpt by verses 12-16, which rehearse the mighty works which God had performed for Israel at the Exodus and during their journey through Sinai. The psalm will go on to reproach Israel's repeated faithlessness.

Embedded in today's passage exhorting the Philippians to be humble is a hymn to the pre-existent Christ which Paul may have written or may have quoted: Christ humbled himself to servanthood and death, for which God exalted his name above all. Whereas Christ was eternally equal with God, humanity's making ourselves equal with God (as in humanity's Fall), would constitute idolatry, robbing God of his due: "For that robbery of theirs was the Son of God robbed ... and quite spoiled of his glory. For their puffing up, he was made empty; for their lifting up, was He brought thus low," wrote the great preacher Lancelot Andrewes of this passage. (Bishop Andrewes' feast was September 26th.) This epistle about divine self-humbling was read earlier this month on Holy Cross Day, as well as on the feast of the Holy Name and Palm Sunday.

Early in the week before his arrest, during a debate with Jerusalem's religious authorities, while he is defending his right to have expelled temple money changers, Jesus uses a tale of two contrasting farm­sons (common Biblical figures), to criticize those reputable Jews who did not repent, unlike disreputable people who did repent at the warnings of John the Baptist.

The Oxford Movement, or Anglo-Catholic movement within the Church of England, began in the 1840's under the leadership of two of the church's finest leaders, John Keble and Edward Bouverie Pusey. We remember E. B. Pusey on September 18 for his work in revitalizing the historic catholic aspect of Anglicanism. He helped remind the English church of its great tradition of sacraments and ceremony when English Christianity had fallen into evangelical doldrums and helped restore the beauty of Christian worship to an English church that had become little more than a vestige of the once glorious medieval English Church.

Today, September 14th, is Holy Cross Day, one of the principle feasts of the church on which special devotion is given to the Cross of Our Lord. The days following Holy Cross Day are also part of the traditional ember days during which special prayers are offered for the clergy and their ministry. During the four embertides of the year, those who are in the process of ordination are asked by their bishops to communicate with them regarding their spiritual life and their journey toward the diaconate and the priesthood. Let us be mindful of the Cross upon which Our Lord gave His life for the salvation of mankind.

For the past couple of Sundays, I have been calling our attention to the rubrics in the Prayer Book and this Sunday is no different. I would like to call your attention to the italicized parts of the Eucharist, the directions, as it were, so that you may better understand the flow of the liturgy. As I have previously mentioned, there are some parts of the service which "may" or "may not" be used; much of this depends on whether the Eucharist is being celebrated on Sunday or on a weekday. Also notice that there are parts of the service where it states that the people may join the celebrant in saying part of the service and there are directions which state that the people may stand or kneel; either is appropriate.

I would like to draw your attention to the rubrics of the Prayer Book, from the Latin term for the color red, ruber; for at one time they were actually printed in red so that they would stand out and be more easily seen. The rubrics are the directions for the use of certain parts of the liturgy which may be optional, or obligatory; sitting or standing, singing or saying. For instance, you will see that certain parts of the liturgy state that a particular part "may" be used as opposed to "is" said or sung. Hymns, anthems, and such are usually optional, as is the use of the Nicene Creed on weekdays. Also, the confession "may" be omitted on occasion. It will greatly help us in our worship if we become familiar with the rubrics and how they are used; there are also further directions for the celebration of the Eucharist beginning on page 406. I encourage each one of us to get to know our Prayer Book better and to use it faithfully and regularly.

It has been our custom to sing the Nunc Dimittis after the 10:30 Eucharist on Sunday mornings, but we need to be reminded that the Nunc Dimittis is actually an evening canticle to be sung, or said, at either Evening Prayer or Compline. It is not part of the liturgy of the Eucharist, but rather of the evening Daily Office. In order to emphasize the fact that it is not a part of the liturgy of the Eucharist, we will sing the Nunc Dimittis after the dismissal on Sunday mornings, which will help to emphasize the extra-liturgical nature of its use on Sunday morning.

In as much as Father Hanks and family was on vacation this week, the Rector's Comer is on vacation as well. It will return in next week's bulletin. We hope you had a great vacation and got plenty of rest Padre & Linda!

This past Wednesday, August 6th, was the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, a major feast of the Church. The Transfiguration marks the beginning of the final period of Our Lord's earthly ministry, and following this momentous event his steps now turn toward Jerusalem and the final acts of His earthly ministry. Let us not forget the words which came from heaven at the Transfiguration; "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him."

An interesting aspect of North Carolina history is just now coming to light and it has to do with the earliest European settlements in the New World. Since the founding of the American colonies, it was accepted historical fact that English colonists were the first to establish settlements in what was to become North Carolina. However, there has been newly found evidence at a site recently discovered near Morganton which shows that a Spanish settlement established by the explorer Juan Pardo was inhabited there in the 1560's. Pieces of clay jars which held wine for Holy Communion, a type made only in Spain for that very purpose, have been found in the archaeological site along with other Spanish artifacts; thus, the first Christian worship in our area was most likely Roman Catholic!

This past Friday was the feast of St. James the Apostle. He, along with his brother John and St. Peter, formed a special triumvirate among the twelve disciples who were present at many of the more notable events in the ministry of Our Lord. St. James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred, probably around the year AD 47 or 48. Medieval legends told of his bones being carried to Spain and enshrined in the little chapel which later became a famous shrine to which pilgrimages were made beginning around the mid-9th century; a shrine which still exists today known as Santiago de Compostela, or the Shrine of St. James of Compostela.

This past Saturday was the feast day of St. Macrina, AD 327-80, sister of two of the early church's most famous theologians, Gregory of Nyssa and Basil the Great. She was in every way on the same level with them in her abilities as a theologian and acted as both mentor and confidant to each of them. She established one of the first monastic communities for women in the mid 300's on their family estate in Pontus. Macrina and her followers cared for orphans, the elderly, and the poor, providing a model for later monastic communities who would establish the foundations of what became the earliest hospitals. Her efforts in education also provided the impetus for schools which became a major part of monasticism in the later middle ages.

The word "grace" in its theological context is a term we often hear used in the churches, but do we really understand what it truly means? It is derived from the Latin term "gratias" which means essentially favor. In the Christian context it is God's free gift of love and acceptance of us. God's favor is something we cannot earn; it is not based upon our personal moral or ethical "goodness", but rather it is God's free gift to us even though we are sinful mortals. The free gift of God's grace has been made manifest to us in Our Lord Jesus for it is in Him and through Him that we have access to God. This is the basis upon which Christianity and its theology rests.

The word "grace" in its theological context is a term we often hear used in the churches, but do we really understand what it truly means? It is derived from the Latin term "gratias" which means essentially favor. In the Christian context it is God's free gift of love and acceptance of us. God's favor is something we cannot earn; it is not based upon our personal moral or ethical "goodness", but rather it is God's free gift to us even though we are sinful mortals. The free gift of God's grace has been made manifest to us in Our Lord Jesus for it is in Him and through Him that we have access to God. This is the basis upon which Christianity and its theology rests.

As many of you know, this past Saturday, June 21st was the eighth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It has both been a blessing and a pleasure to serve as your priest, and moreover, I look forward to many more years of shared ministry with each of you. Again, my thanks to you for all your love and support over these past eight years.

This past Monday, the Anglican Church commemorated the ministry of Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham. Bishop Butler was a voice which spoke strongly for the traditions of anglicanism during the mid-1700's when so much of Anglicanism was being assaulted by pietism and its adherents, those who felt that only emotional forms of religion were valid. Bishop Butler argued forcefully for the sacramental life of the Church and is considered one of the greatest proponents of the "catholic" aspect of our Anglican heritage.

This past Monday, the Church commemorated one of our Celtic saints, Columba, abbot of the monastery at lona, a small, rocky island off the coast of Scotland. Christianity in the British Isles had been robust and thriving until the invasion of the Germanic tribes in the early 5th century. As a result, Christianity receded to the far western reaches of Britain, chiefly in Ireland and Wales. Through the work of the Celtic saints, such as Columba and Patrick, Christianity did not die out, but endured until the coming of the Roman mission led by Augustine of Canterbury in 597 where the Celtic Church and the Roman Church joined together in 664 at the Council of Whitby.

On June 1st, the Church commemorated the Feast of St. Justin Martyr, one of the first apologists for Christianity. Justin was born to pagan parents in the area which is now Syria around the year AD 100. He was converted to Christianity when he was about 30 years old, spending the remainder of his life explaining Christianity to the pagan world. In his defense of the Christian Faith, he used philosophical arguments to explain Christianity. In one of his apologies he gives one of the earliest descriptions of the Christian Eucharistic worship which he states takes place on the first day of the week, i.e. Sunday. He was martyred around the year AD 167.

This past Monday was the commemoration of St. Augustine of Canterbury who, in AD 597, began the Roman Catholic mission to the British Isles. Christianity had been introduced into the British Isles as early as around the year AD 125, but during the upheavals of the Germanic invasions of Britain in the 400's AD, the Celtic form of Christianity had been forced to the extreme western parts of Britain. Augustine was sent to Britain by Pope Gregory the Great to re-establish Christianity in the British Isles. Thus, the second phase of Christianity in Britain began under Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, which lasted until the reign of King Henry VIII. During this period, the Church in England was part of the Roman Catholic form of Christianity.

This past Thursday, the Church celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi, the feast in which special devotion is given to the Body and Blood of Christ in the great Sacrament of the altar. Since the early middle ages, Christians have bowed in reference to the mystical presence of our Lord in the Sacrament which is reserved in the tabernacle of the altar. Thanks be to God for his gift of the Body and Blood of his Son, our Lord Jesus.

This past Monday, the Episcopal Church commemorated the I st Book of Common Prayer, one of the lesser feasts ofthe Church calendar. Although it is considered a "lesser" feast, it is nonetheless a very important commemoration in the life of Anglicanism as a whole because the Book of Common Prayer, and especially the first volume, has been the most important unifying feature of Anglican worship since 1549. Written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer during the reign of King Edward the VI, the Book of Common Prayer drew upon prayers, daily office, and Eucharistic worship source material which spanned over a thousand years of Christian worship. It is one of the great monuments of the English language, along with the English versions of the Bible, which helped not only to enhance the worship of the English speaking people, but also to bring the English language to the forefront of the language and literature of the world. It is one of the great treasures of the English speaking people.

Today is the birthday of the Church! Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter Sunday, which was originally known as the Feast of Weeks in the Jewish tradition. The Feast of Weeks was a spring harvest festival which celebrated the ingathering of the first crops 50 days after the festival of Passover. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and others who were with them at the time. The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the age of the Church, which is the beginning of the continuation of Christ's work in the world by His followers. This day is also known as Whitsunday (White Sunday) because of the white baptismal garments worn by those who were baptized on this day. Pentecost is one of the major feasts of the Church at which time baptism is especially appropriate. If there are no baptisms on this day it is also appropriate for all baptized persons to renew their baptismal vows, as we shall do today. Happy Birthday!

We are now in that period of the liturgical year which is the 'twixt and 'tween time; the time between Ascension Day and Pentecost. Our Lord's earthly ministry has been completed and we are now waiting for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. This is what many in the Church refer to as "little Advent" in that we are expectantly awaiting the arrival of the Comforter, the one who will guide the Church as it continues the work of Christ in the world. Our task is to clearly discern what it is God calls us to do in order that Christ's work may continue. The discernment process consists of three basic aspects, prayer, corporate worship, and faithful study of Holy Scripture. These are also the fundamental aspects of the Christian life; may we become more and more faithful in our observance of each of them.

Today is Rogation Sunday, which comes from the Latin term "rogare" to ask, a feast of the Church which falls on the Sunday prior to Ascension Day. Rogation Days were originally an ancient pagan festival (pagan originally meant a country dweller, i.e. a farmer), the Robigalia, in which the people would process through their grain fields asking the gods to deliver their crops from blight and mildew. Christianity took over these observances and recast them into a period of prayer for the good yield and increase of all the crops and farm produce associated with the Spring planting season. These were days of prayer and fasting; we today should observe Rogationtide as a time when we pray for the needs of all mankind, but especially for food for people throughout the world.

In today's reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear the story of the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. Stephen, whose name means "crown" in Greek, was most likely a Greek convert to Judaism who in turn became a follower of the Jesus movement. He is said to have been the first of the deacons, those 7 men chosen to look out for the needs of the widows and orphans of the community. Stephen's "crime" was that he preached the truth concerning Jesus, the Christ. He also reminded the Jewish nation that God does not need a Temple for his earthly dwelling place. The Jews considered this to be blasphemy. St. Stephens' day is commemorated on December 26th.

On Wednesday of this past week, the western Church commemorated the feast of one of the modem martyrs of Christendom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister in Germany during the Nazi era was imprisoned for his opposition to Hitler and his Nazi party, and was implicated in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer was executed just before the end of World War II but fortunately for the Christian Church, we have many of his writings, of which I highly recommend "The Cost of Discipleship". Bonhoeffer's life and writings remain a source of inspiration for all Christians.

In today's Gospel periscope, we have, as New Testament scholars tell us, the essential elements of the Eucharist. The four-fold action of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving constitute the necessary actions for the consecration of the elements in the celebration of the Mass. Although the blessing of the cup is not depicted in today's reading the action is, in essence, the same basic scheme of taking, blessing, and giving. We are told that the eyes of the disciples were opened as they broke bread with the Risen Lord. May our eyes also be opened as we share His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.

It is now the season of the Church known as the "Great 50 Days" of Eastertide, the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost. During this time the use of the shout of praise "Alleluia" is not only permitted but encouraged. The word as we use it is a Latinized version of the Hebrew "halleluyah", an ancient acclamation which simply means "praise ye Yahweh". It is therefore most appropriate that we praise God for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Our Lord, the great Sacrament of God, whose very name, Yeshua, means "Yahweh is Salvation".

The Book of Common Prayer states that the Confession may be omitted at times. Why would we want to omit the Confession and when would that be appropriate? There is actually a very good reason which comes from the Council of Nicea in the year AD 325. The Council of Nice a forbade kneeling during the "Great 50 Days'" i.e. the fifty day period from Easter to Pentecost, and since confession is always done while kneeling, it is during the "Great 50 Days' that it is most appropriate to omit the Confession. The focus of Lent was on self-examination and confession, but the emphasis of the "Great 50 Days" should be on the joy of Christ's resurrection, thus during this period from Easter to Pentecost many churches of the catholic tradition do in fact omit the Confession to emphasize the joy of Easter.

Today begins the most somber period of the Christian liturgical year, Holy Week. We are reminded of the fickle nature of the human heart as we hear the cries of the throngs of those who welcomed Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday turn to cries of "crucify him" within a matter of only a few days. But let us not forget the constant love of God for His people in the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the supreme sacrament of love, which we will celebrate on Maunday Thursday this week. God loves us, not because we merit or deserve His love for the things we do, but rather because in His infinite mercy and compassion He loves us as the sinners we are. Therefore the Holy Eucharist is not only an outward and visible sign of God's love for us, it is the outward and visible sign of the bond of love He requires us to have for one another. Have a blessed Holy Week.

One might wonder what connection there is between the Old Testament reading and the Gospel for today, the vision of the "dry bones" and the raising of Lazarus. But if we think about it the obvious theme in each reading is the dead being restored to life. Ezekiel's vision is a metaphor for the restoration of the people of Israel, their captivity being like death in a sense, the "dry bones" being reconnected and covered with sinew, muscle, and skin symbolizing the rescue and restoration of the people of Israel from their captivity under the Babylonian empire. Likewise, Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead demonstrates the mighty power of God, restoring the dead to new life, the life which all who believe in Him share as members of His Body.

Today is Rose Sunday, known traditionally in western Catholicism as "Iaetare" Sunday, from the opening words of the introit for the Mass today "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem". Although this is no longer used in the Anglican churches we still observe this mid-Lent Sunday as a time for "lightening up" from the somber tone of the first three Snnday's of Lent. In England this Sunday was known as "mothering Sunday" from the custom of visiting one's mother on this day or perhaps visiting the "mother" or cathedral church of the diocese. May we also recognize and affirm this Sunday the gracious gift of "Holy Mother Church" given to us for our comfort by God through His son, Jesus Christ Our Lord.

In today's epistle, St. Paul tells us that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." How often we Christians forget this great truth, that Christ died for sinful humanity and that His church exists for sinners. The Christian church is not a club for a moral elite, those who do no wrong according to the value system of "religious" rules and regulations. In fact, there are many non-Christian religions which are very moral and ethical, but the church which Christ founded exists specifically for the healing, reconciliation, and restoration of those who know they are sinful and in need of God's salvation. Salvation which is offered freely to all in Christ, our God and our brother. May this Lent be a time of renewal and hope.

In the reading from St. John's gospel for today we hear Our Lord telling a leader of the Jewish people, Nicodemus, that he must experience spiritual rebirth. This happens in two way, first he must be born "from above" in order to "see" the Kingdom of God; secondly he must be born "of water and spirit" if he wants to "enter" God's Kingdom. These two spiritual necessities are the "way" we enter and participate in the life of Christ, through conversion, being born from above, and re-generation, baptism into the Body of Christ, which is our "way" to God's Kingdom.

The word Lent comes from the Old English word "lencten" which means "to lengthen", referring to the days getting longer in Spring. Lent then, is the 40 day period which precedes the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord, the Christian Church's pascha, our Passover. The crucifixion of our Lord took place during the Jewish feast of the Passover, the feast which celebrated and reminded the Jewish people of their deliverance from their bondage in Egypt. That is why we, as Christians, remember the crucifixion and CELEBRATE the Resurrection of Our Lord, the one who is our deliverance from the bondage of sin. He is our Paschal Lamb, the one who was sacrificed for our sins, our Passover. Have a blessed Lent.

Shrove Tuesday, with its pancake supper, has been a tradition within western Christianity for many centuries, dating back at least into the Middle Ages. But a forgotten, and mostly overlooked, aspect of the pre-Lenten season is the 3 day period just before Ash Wednesday known as Shrovetide, Shrove Tuesday and the 2 days prior to it. The word Shrove comes from an Old English term "shrive" which means to make one's confession, accept the assigned penance, and to receive absolution. Thus the 3 days of Shrovetide were the time for Christians to be "shriven", that is to make one's preparation for a Holy Lent by means of contrition which involved, as earlier stated, confessing one's sins, accepting the penance, and receiving the assurance of God's forgiveness through absolution. As you will hear in the words of the Exhortation at Evening Prayer on Shrove Tuesday the Church still offers these benefits of spiritual discipline to its members. As the Book of Common Prayer states on page 446, confessions may be heard "anytime and anywhere". The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available to any and all for the benefit of their spiritual health.

This past Friday, January 25th, was the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Saul of Tarsus was a vehement persecutor of the followers of Christ, believing himself to be championing the truth of God by stamping out what he believed to be a great heresy within the Jewish faith. At his conversion, Saul came to realize that his zeal for what he thought was the will of God for him was actually the very opposite of that which God wanted him to do. Saul, now known as Pul, came to realize just how truly misguided he was in persecuting the people of Christ and went on to spend the rest of his life working to build up the Body of Christ. May we also come to realize our own misguided attitudes and also work to build up the Body of Christ.

January 18th, the feast of the Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle, is one of the more important Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Christian Year. This feast commemorates the spiritual insight given to Saint Peter which enabled him to recognize Our Lord as the Messiah, the Holy One of God, and to confess and profess this truth to the world. Let us also join with Saint Peter and confess and profess Jesus as God's Holy One and let us strive to walk daily in His most blessed steps.

This Sunday, the Sunday after the Epiphany, is the Sunday which commemorates the baptism of Our Lord. It is a special time when we are also reminded of our own baptismal vows. But this date, January 13th, is also the commemoration of St. Hilary of Poitiers, who championed orthodoxy in the western parts of Christendom during the "arian" controversy of the mid-4th century. We give thanks for St. Hilary and all the saints of the Church who have preserved the Christian Faith throughout the ages.