Memorial Day
May 31, 2010
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead; We give thee thanks for all those thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence, that the good work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen. ~ 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Liturgy Lesson for Trinity Sunday: Our Triune God
May 30, 2010
Trinity Sunday celebrates the great Christian belief in our triune God—one belief (among many) that distinguishes us from any religion, anytime, anywhere. We aren’t pagan polytheists, worshipping multiple gods, but believe in the one true God, expressed in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost—but still, one God. He revealed this truth to us via His Word—Holy Scripture—and much of the New Testament would be unintelligible without it. The Word trumpets God’s Trinity nature: He is one God in Isa 44:6-8; II Sam 7:22 & Deut 6; the Father is God in St. Matt 6:9; St. John 20; Rom 9:25 & II Cor 6:18; the Son is God in St. John 1 & 20; Heb 1: 1-8 & I Tim 3:16; the Holy Ghost is God Acts 5:3; I Cor 2:11 & Ps. 139:7. In liturgical worship, we reverence the invocation of the Blessed Trinity in worship with the Sign of the Cross, made over our forehead, breastbone and to either shoulder—which also commemorates the Jewish Passover—the Blood of the Pascal Lamb, Jesus, applied to door and lintel, forming a cross by which we enter our dwelling place. The Church Fathers correctly represented Trinity with green, as this is the time of growth and fullness, because we have received God’s fullness God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost—and grow in Him!
That’s My King
May 28, 2010
Francis Elborne: The Man Behind the Music by Alice Goodwin
May 26, 2010
Music can touch the soul in a way words alone cannot. The choir at All Saints has the opportunity to work regularly with a director who understands that and challenges his singers to take their ministry seriously. Francis Elborne said recently that his goal is to create a classical Anglican choral program at All Saints. As the result of his efforts during the past two-and-a-half years, the choir now has a repertoire of 53 anthems and in the past year has grown significantly in numbers and abilities.
Francis has been involved with church music almost all of his life. He joined the choir at the local Anglican church in London at the age of 7 and soon became the boy soloist. At the age of 12 he began learning to play the organ and accompanied and sang in the choir which was directed by Professor F.T. Durrant from the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Organists. As an adult he has continued to play in a variety of churches in addition to various other jobs. Francis and his wife Vivienne were the Executive Director and the Artistic Director of San Antonio’s San Pedro Playhouse for many years.
Francis’ background in organ, voice, and composition and his lifelong love for classical church music has transformed the choral program at All Saints. For example, he recently moved the choir’s position, so that the altos and basses now face the sopranos and tenors at the front of the church, improving the quality of the music. He has also schooled the choir in both Anglican and Gregorian chant and enhanced the Wednesday services by adding Compline as an alternative to the sung Evensong service. The Hallelujah Chorus sung on Easter morning this year is an example of Francis’ commitment to presenting the choir with music that will stretch their abilities and enhance the worship of the congregation.
All Saints has been blessed through the efforts and talents of Francis and his choir members. Newcomers are welcome; however, because of limited rehearsal time, it is essential that singers have prior choir experience. Those interested and willing to commit their time and talents to this ministry are encouraged to contact Francis.
Global Day of Prayer
May 23, 2010
Today is the Global Day of Prayer, when we join together with Christians around the globe to pray for repentance and salvation for the world.
The miossion of the Global Day of Prayer is to call Christians from around the world to unite in repentance and prayer and to work together as God’s servants for the blessing and healing of the nations of the world.
“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7: 14)
ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, guide, we beseech thee, the Nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. (Prayer for the Family of Nations from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer)
Liturgy Lesson for Pentecost: Come, Holy Ghost!
May 23, 2010
Pentecost! The very name conjures the image of that first empowerment of the Church Militant as documented in Acts 2. On this day, we commemorate the Holy Ghost’s pouring Himself on Christ’s disciples, as they waited before Him, obedient to the Lord’s instruction. We regard the day as the Church’s birthday, because the gift of the Holy Ghost was then bestowed on the new Christians, filling and baptizing them with power to work for the Kingdom, as Christ promised—launching them on their apostolic mission to carry the Gospel to the world. Taking place 10 days after the Ascension, on the Jewish Festival of Shavuot (Weeks)—sometimes called “the Day of the First Fruits”—it was a significant time for the new Church, as God the Holy Ghost, for the first time, began to manifest the Gifts of the Spirit outlined in 1 Corinthians 12, while growing the first Fruit of the Spirit enumerated in Galatians 5. We call it “Pentecost” from the Greek word pentecoste, meaning “fiftieth,” since the holiday occurs fifty days after Passover and Easter. “Whitsun” is similar—a corruption of the German “Pfingsten”—and also means “fiftieth.” The liturgical color is red, representing the fire of the Holy Ghost and the Blood sealing the third and final Covenant God made with mankind. Preceded by the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, this New and third Covenant rightly sets the stage for the Church’s longest season—Trinity (Three)—celebrating our new relationship with our triune God and the season of growth and spiritual plenty blessed by the fullness of God-Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Come, Holy Ghost—fill us with celestial fire!
Feed His Sheep
May 21, 2010
Bible Reading: “After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”—John 21
Bonus Reading: John 21:4-17; Jeremiah 16:16; Habbukuk 1:14; Matt 4:18
How I love spring, especially in south Texas. Full of new life and possibilities. And this year, owing to the seemingly constant (but thank you, Lord!) rain, we have a bumper crop of wildflowers…and wildlife. And one of my favorite things to do…is fish in spring.
The fish are just ready, it seems. How I love the entire experience…the smell of the water, the sway of the boat under my feet, and the thrill when the fish is on. I love it. Well, most of the time, anyway.
This year, I discovered the joy of fishing for freshwater red drum in one of our local lakes. These are a big, powerful fish, and great table fare. I had some early success catching them on light tackle—then, I learned…there are zillions of ways to lose the fish. I can’t describe the empty, helpless feeling when the line suddenly goes slack… and the much-anticipated fish is not landed, but…gone. But, if you’re gonna catch something, as the saying goes, you have keep your line in the water. It’s the engaging yourself that puts you in line for productive fishing.
The thing about fishing is that is does draw you in. Focuses you on the pursuit. Sometimes the pursuit becomes the issue, though instead of the productivity and joy. And sometimes, no matter how hard you fish, you just get zip. But, if you’re a fisherman, you keep fishing. That’s what St Peter did in our lesson. But he needed what the Lord had for him.
Peter, like us all, was weighed down by the fact he couldn’t see what God’s plan going to be for him. In fact, his whole world was rocked. That’s probably one reason why he was fishing…he needed something else to focus on. The problem was, he was doing it on his own, and getting nowhere, and the frustration left him empty and hungry. That speaks to us all, with huge volume. Then he had an unexpected Jesus moment.
He and six other disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. They had given up, in fact, and were beaching their boat, when Jesus, who was standing on the beach, called to them and asked them if they had caught anything for breakfast. The dejected fishermen admitted their failure. Although they did not recognize Him, when He told them to let out their nets just one more time, they did—and the net was actually overloaded with fish—yet, amazingly, didn’t rip open. Suddenly the joy and productivity was back—and then, they recognized the Lord. It was a moment of amazing fulfillment, reassurance and nourishment—for both their bodies and their hungry souls. They needed success. And they needed the communion with the Lord and each other. Once they had this recharge, an interesting thing happened. Jesus challenged and tasked them in this well-known conversation:
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”
Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”
Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
So here’s the thing: we can do everything we can to NOT think about what the Lord may have for us…we can try to make the circumstances productive and fulfilling…and Jesus may even be there with us, and speak to us. But we aren’t catching anything until we hear His Words to us. And there’s no joy in what we do. Suddenly we do hear Him, and when our joy and fulfillment return, we recognize Him and there is immense relief…but with a question and a job.
Do we love Him? Feed and care for His sheep:
Involve yourself in Christ’s flock.
Get to know them and be part of their lives.
Reach out to those who have drifted away and bring them to back to the fold.
Worship. Teach. Love. Laugh. Help. Visit. Pray. It’s spring!
And keep fishing for the one that got away—those that are still swimming in the World. Sure, there’s been a lot of rain, but, wow—lots of new life out there.
Grace and peace,
Chip+
Pentecost Prayer Vigil
May 17, 2010
Pentecost Prayer Vigil
Saturday May 22, 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
[After the Ascension] the apostles returned to Jerusalem . . .They all joined together constantly united in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers
Acts 1: 12, 14)
Please join us in prayer at church or home for All Saints Anglican Church on Saturday, May 22nd for:
- Further anointing of Holy Spirit on clergy, leadership, and parishioners on Pentecost Sunday
- Healing for the sick
- Boldness to spread the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ
If you would like to participate in this vigil at the church, please choose at 30 minute (or 1 hour) time slot and notify Alice Goodwin through the contact form below. The apostles and the women who followed Jesus were constantly united in prayer before Pentecost. Let’s do the same thing, praying that the Holy Spirit would fall afresh on All Saints’ clergy, church leaders and parishioners.
It would be great to have more than 1 person for each time slot. The Vigil will start with Morning Prayer at 8:30 am and conclude at 6:00 pm with a light dinner and fellowship. There are many time slots still empty between 12:00 noon and 5:00 pm. If you plan to attend dinner, please let Alice know via the contact form.
If you cannot come to the Church, please set aside a period of time to pray on Saturday 22 May for the Holy Spirit to bless All Saints in a mighty way on Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church.
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit . . . (Acts 2:1-4)
Liturgy Lesson for the Sunday after Ascension Day: Ascensiontide
May 16, 2010
We have entered Ascensiontide, commemorating our Lord’s ascension to the Father in Heaven. We keep this day—40 days after Easter—because Jesus miraculously ascended 40 days after the Resurrection. This was the final act of His earthly ministry and final demonstration of His divinity, removing all possibility of doubt from the Apostles’ and disciples’ minds. His ascension completed His work of Atonement, when He destroyed the work of the Devil—His primary mission among us in His flesh. Ascensiontide lasts 10 days, beginning at Ascension Day and ending at Whitsunday, or Pentecost. It’s also important to note that He ascended bodily, in a perfected flesh, acceptable for Heaven—as we will one day, as well, since Scripture teaches us that “…where He is, we shall be also” and “…shall be like Him” for we shall see Him as He is (St. John 14 & I St. John 3). Moreover, our Lord, before He ascended, gave instructions to the disciples to go wait for empowerment in Jerusalem—setting the stage for the Church Militant’s most powerful day—its birthday, Pentecost. So we should, as the angel instructed the disciples, not stand staring into a cloud, but work expectantly for His return in glory, with a new prayer—Maran’athah (Maranatha), meaning, “our Lord comes.” Come quickly, Lord—establish your Kingdom in our lives, now and even more so upon Your return in glory!
Liturgy Lesson for Rogation Sunday: Beseech
May 9, 2010
The Rogation Days are the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before we commemorate our Lord’s Ascension to the Father in Heaven on Ascension Day. “Rogation” comes from the Latin “rogare”, meaning “to beseech.” Although the term “beseech” could be taken as a call for penitence, this is not the intention of the Easter season. Rather it is one of asking for God’s blessing on the works of our hands—industry and agriculture—the means of our livelihoods. A singularly Anglican holiday, it’s no longer observed in the Church of Rome, but, since the reign of Elizabeth I, it has been a decided observance of the English church. Rogation Days are an ideal time to remember—and rededicate our jobs, investments, and other economic activities to our Lord, in Whom we live and move and have our being, while invoking His Presence in all we do, committing our ways to Him, so that He, as promised in Scripture, guides our paths.
