Grace Church Blog

Moving to a New Site!

2011-06-27T21:58:00.000-07:00

New Every Morning has moved to a new location! Please point your browser to:

http://www.anglicanradio.blogspot.com/ for uninterrupted audio feed!

Quincy Radio - Episode #6 - Bishop Nolden!

2011-06-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

An interview with the new Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Quincy!

Pentecost, 2011

2011-06-11T20:55:00.001-07:00

4 Easter 2011

2011-06-11T20:34:00.000-07:00

Returning Soon!

2011-05-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

For all of you who have been wondering "where has New Every Morning gone?", please be assured that we will return before long. The Sundays of Paschaltide have been jubilant and bright at Grace Church, and the homilies have been of a much more pastoral nature, geared to the individual congregations at each mass.

We plan to begin podcasting homilies again on Whitsunday. Until then, please stay tuned and wrap yourselves up in Holy Scripture and the writings of the Fathers!!

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

2011-04-25T09:14:00.001-07:00

Triduum Sacrum and Easter, 2011

2011-04-23T05:07:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, no homilies are being posted during Holy Week and the Triduum Sacrum. Podcast homilies will resume on Low Sunday, 1 May.

If you are in Galesburg, please join us for the Great Paschal Vigil, beginning at 8:00 this evening (Saturday). The weather looks promising, so plan on being outside for a substantial amount of time for the blessing of the new fire. Dress accordingly, that is. After the vigil, please plan to stay for food, drink and and fun in the parish hall - break your fast with all the foods which we denied ourselves this Lent!

Easter Day Masses are at 8:00 and 10:00 AM, and Easter Day Mass at Zion, Brimfield is at 1:00 PM.

Christós Anésti! Alithós Anésti!
Christos voskres! Voistinu voskres!
Christus Surrexit! Surrexit vere!
Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

Quincy Radio - Episode 5 - Bishop Morales!

2011-04-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

Bishop Morales addresses the Diocese. Find The Present Future on Amazon!

Passion Sunday

2011-04-09T18:42:00.000-07:00

Lent IV

2011-04-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

Quincy Radio - Episode #4

2011-03-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

Fr. Jason Miller - Coordinator of Healing Ministries in the Diocese of Quincy!

Lent III

2011-03-26T19:28:00.001-07:00

Lent II

2011-03-21T19:47:00.000-07:00

Lent I

2011-03-12T19:23:00.000-08:00

Ash Wednesday, 2011

2011-03-09T19:56:00.000-08:00

Quinquagesima 2011

2011-03-05T20:54:00.000-08:00

Quincy Radio - Episode #3...The Eggheads!

2011-03-05T20:36:00.000-08:00

Contact Cris Potthoff at zion.eggheads@gmail.com
Check out the Ukranian Gift Shop online!

Quincy Radio - Episode #2

2011-03-03T21:58:00.000-08:00

An interview with the Rev. Canon Patrick Smith, the newly-installed Canon Evangelist of the Diocese of Quincy and the Rector of St. John's Parish in the city of Quincy!

Sexagesima 2011

2011-02-26T18:47:00.000-08:00

Click here for the fasting pamphlet referred to in the podcast.

Septuagesima 2011

2011-02-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

Midweek Patristic Coffee-break!

2011-02-16T13:12:00.000-08:00

St. Gregory of Rome & St. Gregory of Nyssa weigh in on the errors of astrology!

The Sixth Sunday After the Epiphany

2011-02-12T20:07:00.000-08:00

Quincy Radio - Episode #1

2011-02-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

An interview with the Rt. Rev. J. Alberto Morales, OSB, the Ninth Bishop of Quincy.

The Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany

2011-02-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

Midweek Patristic Coffee-break!

2011-02-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

From On the Divine Liturgy, by St. Germanus of Constantinople.

The Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany

2011-01-29T18:18:00.000-08:00

Midweek Patristic Coffee-break!

2011-01-26T13:55:00.000-08:00

From On The Holy Spirit by St. Basil the Great.

Epiphanytide Greetings!

2011-01-24T12:17:00.000-08:00

The Third Sunday After the Epiphany

2011-01-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Second Sunday After the Epiphany

2011-01-18T11:38:00.000-08:00

Some thoughts before the annual parish meeting...

THE COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The First Sunday After the Epiphany

2011-01-08T19:14:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT
O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people who call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfill the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Romans 12:1-5
THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 2:41-52

Epiphany Mass! Blessed Chalk! Yay!

2011-01-05T20:13:00.000-08:00

For my parishioners who went home with blessed chalk from this evening's mass but not an "instruction sheet", the form of the inscription (to be written on the front door-frame of your house) is thus:

20+C+M+B+11

The initials refer, of course, both to the three wise men (Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar) and to "Christus Mansionem Benedicat" - May Christ bless this house. If you are part of our far-flung "cyber-parish" (like in Canon City, Colorado, whoever you are!), you could write me at janikowski AT grics.net and I will send you some blessed chalk! What a deal! Just remember to put the "@" symbol in place of the AT, ok?

And please remember, the parish Epiphany party starts at 6:30 tomorrow night (Thursday). Please bring an h'ors d'oeuvre to pass around.

The Epiphany

2011-01-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

(A reminder: Epiphany Eve Mass is this Wednesday at 6:00 PM, complete with a station at the creche and the blessing of chalk)

THE COLLECT

O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant, that we, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Ephesians 3. 1. ff.

THE GOSPEL. St Matthew 2. 1. ff.

The Second Sunday After Christmas

2011-01-01T18:52:00.000-08:00

The Collect.

LMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that the same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle. Isaiah lxi. 1.

HE Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

The Gospel. St. Matthew ii. 19.

HEN Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judæa in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Photos from the Animal Blessing at the Shelter!

2010-12-31T19:46:00.000-08:00

To see the rest of the photos, please click on our Picasaweb albums in the right sidebar! If you are interested in adopting any of the furry little fellas' below or in donating to a fantastic community resource, please contact the Prairieland Animal Welfare Center at 309-342-1275 or find them online at www.kchs.net

(L to R) Sr. Warden Michael Haptonstahl, Jr. Warden Cara Frakes, Parish Administrator Sandy Bruington and Fr. Janikowski present P.A.W.C. Director Erin Buckmaster with pet supplies and a monetary donation to help the Center.

New Year's Eve...

2010-12-31T14:27:00.000-08:00

...and we are off to the blessing of animals at the Prairieland Animal Welfare Center here in Galesburg. If you are in town, come by at around 5:30 for the invocation, luminaria lighting and the blessing of the "residents" at the shelter. Stop back here at the 'blog (later on tonight) for photos of the event, God willing.

Christmas!

2010-12-23T18:08:00.000-08:00

Just in case you were wondering...

Friday, 24 December:
8:00 PM - Vigil Mass of Christmas
11:00 PM - Sung Matins of Christmas Day
11:30 PM - The 1st Mass of Christmas: Midnight Mass
(Nursery available. Reception in the parish hall following mass)

Saturday, 25 December:
10:00 AM - The 2nd Mass of Christmas: Mass at "daybreak"
1:00 PM - The 3rd Mass of Christmas: Mass in the daytime (at Zion Church, Brimfield)

See you in church!!

Looking ahead to the Weekend...Advent IV

2010-12-17T12:51:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT.

O LORD, raise up (we pray thee) thy power, and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness, we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us, thy bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through the satisfaction of thy Son our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Philippians 4:4-7

THE GOSPEL. St. John 1:19-28

from THE CROWN OF THE YEARWeekly Paragraphs for the Holy SacramentBy Austin FarrerDacre Press, Westminster

ADVENT iv
ADVENT is a coming, not our coming to God, but his to us. We cannot come to God, he is beyond our reach; but he can come to us, for we are not beneath his mercy. Even in another life, as St John sees it in his vision, we do not rise to God, but he descends to us, and dwells humanly among human creatures, in the glorious man, Jesus Christ. And that will be his last coming; so we shall be his people, and he everlastingly our God, our God-with-us, our Emmanuel. He will so come, but he is come already, he comes always: in our fellow-Christian (even in a child, says Christ), in his word, invisibly in our souls, more visibly in this sacrament. Opening ourselves to him, we call him in: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; O come, Emmanuel.

Advent III (Belated...Sorry!!)

2010-12-13T13:28:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT.

O LORD Jesu Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare the way before thee: Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 1 Cor. 4. 1-5

THE GOSPEL. S. Matth. 11. 2-10

from THE CROWN OF THE YEARWeekly Paragraphs for the Holy SacramentBy Austin FarrerDacre Press, Westminster

ADVENT iii
JESUS gave his body and blood to his disciples in bread and wine. Amazed at such a token, and little understanding what they did, Peter, John and the rest reached out their hands and took their master and their God. Whatever else they knew or did not know, they knew they were committed to him, body and soul; they were consenting that he should die for them, and that they, somehow, should live it out. The cock had not crowed twice that night before Peter thrice denied, but still he knew he was committed to Christ, for Christ had given him his body and his blood. Christ’s body and blood lived in him, and Christ forgave him; there was no breaking of the sacramental tie. We are not worthy of Christ, but we are bound to Christ. With all the sincerity of our minds let us renew the bond, and pray to live for him who has died for us.

Second Sunday in Advent

2010-12-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT.

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant that we may in such wise hear, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Romans 15:4-13

THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 21:25-33

Incidentally, I happen to think that this Sunday's bit from Father Farrer is one of the finest of the entire year...

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Fr. Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

ADVENT ii
ADVENT brings Christmas, judgement runs out into mercy. For the God who saves us and the God who judges us is one God. We are not, even, condemned by his severity and redeemed by his compassion; what judges us is what redeems us, the love of God. What is it that will break our hearts on judgement day? Is it not the vision, suddenly unrolled, of how he has loved the friends we have neglected, of how he has loved us, and we have not loved him in return; how, when we came (as now) before his altar, he gave us himself, and we gave him half—penitences, or resolutions too weak to commit our wills? But while love thus judges us by being what it is, the same love redeems us by effecting what it does. Love shares flesh and blood with us in this present world, that the eyes which look us through at last may find in us a better substance than our vanity.

First Sunday in Advent (Belated...Sorry!)

2010-12-02T12:17:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Romans 13. 8-14

THE GOSPEL. S. Matthew 21:1-13

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Fr. Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

ADVENT i

OUR journey sets out from God in our creation, and returns to God at the final judgement. As the bird rises from the earth to fly, and must some time return to the earth from which it rose; so God sends us forth to fly, and we must fall back into the hands of God at last. But God does not wait for the failure of our and the expiry of our days to drop us back into his lap. He goes himself to meet us and everywhere confronts us. Where is the countenance which we must finally look in the eyes, and not be able to turn away our head? It smiles up at Mary from the cradle, it calls Peter from the nets, it looks on him with grief when he has denied his master. Our judge meets us at every step of our way, with forgiveness on his lips and succour in his hands. He offers us these things while there is yet time. Every day opportunity shortens, our scope for learning our Redeemer’s love is narrowed by twenty-four hours, and we come nearer to the end of our journey, when we shall fall into the hands of the living God, and touch the heart of the devouring fire.

"Equipping the Saints" Lectures

2010-11-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

Father Michael Brooks on St. Paul's Letters:

Father Tom Janikowski on Anglican Spirituality:

The Sunday Next Before Advent

2010-11-22T13:08:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT.

STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LESSON. Jeremiah 23. 5-8

THE GOSPEL. St. John 6. 5-14

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xxv
THE Church has shown a special affection for the mysterious narratives of Christ’s feeding the multitudes, seeing in them the type and figure of the feast still more mysterious and holy which Christians share. The evangelists' story throws no light upon the working of the miracle, except in telling us that Jesus gave thanks over the bread and certainly everything becomes charged with divine power when we have given thanks for it to God. Our whole life becomes a sacrament of blessing to ourselves and others, if we are sincerely and continually thankful for it to our Creator. In the sacrament we celebrate today, Christ says a final grace for us over the banquet which divine goodness has spread for us in the past year. Consider how marvellous, how various, how rich a thing our existence has been, and is. Christ's thanksgiving is alone worthy and sufficient. He makes the thanksgiving for us, by the offering of his life; we say the words after him, we receive the crumbs that he has blessed.

The Archbishop's Thanksgiving Message...

2010-11-19T12:53:00.000-08:00

Archbishop Duncan's Thanksgiving Greeting from Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh on Vimeo.

Safe Harbor Fund Raiser - Thank You!!

2010-11-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

Through a very quickly thrown-together fund raiser for the Safe Harbor Family Crisis Resource Center, Grace Anglican Church managed to make a donation of $150, coming largely from your pennies, nickels and dimes! Thank you!!

The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity

2010-11-14T19:02:00.000-08:00

THE COLLECT.
O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ's sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Coloss. 1. 3
WE give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints; for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit and increaseth, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth. As ye also learned of Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf; who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and make request that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

THE GOSPEL. S. Matth. 9. 18
WHILE Jesus spake these things unto John's disciples, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples. And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: for she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, he said unto them, Give place; for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR: Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xxiv
THE Church celebrates the sacrifice of Christ with joy and not with sorrow. It would be an outrage ever to regret that God had achieved his purpose, and if there is one thing God has certainly desired, it is that he should be sacrificed for our salvation. His sacrifice is a joyful feast, a wedding, a drinking of wine. We make merry with a bridegroom because he has obtained what he desired, and we rejoice with the Divine Son, because he has his desire also. He desired to unite his Church with him by an irreversible act, and in dying he has accomplished it. It is the overflowing of the bridegroom’s pleasure that enlivens the guests, and the Church rejoices in the overflowing of the joy of God. We cannot be as glad at what Christ has done for us, as he is glad to have done it.

All Saints' Sunday!

2010-11-06T13:15:00.000-07:00

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle: Revelation 7: 2-17

The Gospel: St. Matthew 5:1-12

Looking Ahead to the Weekend: Trinity XXII

2010-10-29T06:29:00.000-07:00

THE COLLECT. LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE: Philippians 1: 3-11

THE GOSPEL: S. Matthew 18: 21-35

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xxii
THE error of the unmerciful servant in Christ’s parable is that he asserts his rights. He has a right to the recovery of his debt, and a right to the assistance of the law. He insists on having what is due to him, and he gets his due--he gets the prison and the torment. Perhaps hell is for those who ask for it; to those who claim their rights God gives their deserts, the rest he handles not in accordance with their merits but in accordance with his mercy. We all think we have rights--rights to so much pleasure and ease, rights to be let alone, rights to spend most of our money on ourselves, rights to receive apologies, rights to get our own back, rights to neglect other people's cares and concerns unless we have a fancy to meddle with them. Having rights is damnation; salvation is the receiving of Christ’s body and blood, as paupers existing on the dying charity of the Son of God. We are not our own; we are bought with a price.

"Equipping the Saints" Lectures!

2010-10-10T19:21:00.000-07:00

Father Michael Brooks on St. Paul's letters:

Father Tom Janikowski on Anglican Spirituality:

Looking Ahead to the Weekend: Trinity XIX

2010-10-09T20:32:00.000-07:00

THE COLLECT.

O GOD, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant, that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Ephes. 4:17-32

THE GOSPEL. S. Matth. 9. 1

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xix
ST MATTHEW’S story of the paralytic abbreviates St Mark’s account. St Mark’s fuller story reads like a burial-scene. The paralytic is helpless as the dead, he is carried out like the dead by his four bearers; a hole is opened for him, as for the dead, and he is lowered into it, as into his grave. But, falling, he does not fall into clay, he falls before the feet of the Son of God, who says to him first ‘Thy sins are forgiven thee’ and then ‘Arise and walk’. Jesus is by his own death the forgiveness of our sins; he is the resurrection and the life through his own resurrection. We are thrown into the life-giving sepulchre of Christ, we touch the slain and living Christ, his body and his blood; our sins are forgiven us, and we live by him; we arise to walk in all those good works that he has prepared for us to walk in.

Resources on Saints now Available!

2010-10-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

If you were at the Inquirers' class tonight, you know that I promised some resources for you all - well, here they are (click the title above or HERE)!

Looking Ahead to the Weekend: Trinity XVIII

2010-10-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

THE COLLECT.

LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. 1 Cor. 1. 4-8

THE GOSPEL. S. Matth. 22. 34-46

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xviii
ST FRANCIS DE SALES says that it is a special sign of God’s goodness that he actually commands us to love him. It is wonderful enough if he permits us to love him; a few brave spirits might avail themselves of due permission. It is still more wonderful if he invites us to love him the responsive and the generous might answer the invitation. But he commands us to love him, because he will have us all to do so. He will not be deprived of any man's love. Nor will he be deprived of any part of our love, for he commands us not merely to love him, but to love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. The love of God holds out two hands to catch and take us: one is the commandment that we should love, the other is the act of his own love in the sacrifice of Jesus. He does not mean that we should escape him; see, he has taken us between his two hands.

October & November Downloads Available!

2010-09-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

If you look over to your right (on the screen, not in your office or in the coffee shop), you might notice the "Calendar and Newsletter Downloads" box. Go ahead and click on the newsletter and calendar links, and read the spiffy .pdf files that pop up. Read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, as it were. Enjoy!

Looking Ahead to the Weekend: Trinity XVII

2010-09-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

THE COLLECT.

LORD, we pray thee, that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE Ephesians 4:1-6

THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 14:1-11

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xvii
THANKSGIVING, eucharist, is the very name of this sacrament, and it is the occasion appointed by God himself for us to offer our thanksgivings to him at all times. The only perfect thanksgiving ever made is the thanksgiving of the Son of God to his Eternal Father, and so thankful he is, that he finds the giving of his whole being continually to his Father not too much for the expression of his thanks. And when he came amongst us men for our salvation, his thankoffering to the Father embraced not only his life, but his voluntary death. On the night before he died he gave us this sacrament, and he gave it under the form of thanksgiving, adapting to his purpose the common Jewish thanksgivings for food and drink. We give thanks in his eucharist for all the bread of God; for food, for the nourishment of mind and soul—and has not God given us such a mind that it is fed with all his wondrous works, and such a soul as to feed on Jesus Christ, Man and God?

Looking Ahead to the Weekend...Trinity XVI

2010-09-17T06:34:00.000-07:00

THE COLLECT.

O LORD, we beseech thee, let thy continual pity cleanse and defend thy Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without thy succour, preserve it evermore by thy help and goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE EPISTLE. Ephes. 3. 13-21

THE GOSPEL. S. Luke 7. 11-17

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Fr. Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster

TRINITY xvi
CHRIST taught us to pray for daily bread in saying the Pater Noster, and added some comments to the prayer. He taught that for the very reason that God is our Father and we his family, it is fitting that we should seek our bread from his hand. We say the Pater Noster in this sacrament, remembering how Christ went from the Last Supper straight to Gethsemane, and prayed to his Father there in the spirit of a true Son. Abba, Father, he said, asking for the wholesome bread of life if he could have it, but willing to receive the bitter cup of death and shame if it was his Father’s will. St. Paul says that it is the Spirit of Sonship, overflowing from Christ to us, which speaks in our hearts when we say Our Father. We kneel with Christ in Gethsemane to say that prayer, and even then it is not truly said unless Christ says it in us through the Holy Ghost.

New Every Morning is the Love (Melcombe)

2010-09-15T13:21:00.000-07:00

For those who are still wondering about the name...here is the source. A poem by John Keble, with music by Samuel Webbe. Please be warned that when you access the page an endless loop of synthesizer music begins. Listen as long as you care to...!

"New Every Morning" at CyberHymnal

Some Anglican Inquirers' Class Resources

2010-09-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

Here are the same links that were just recently added to the "resources" page at the church website. I post them here, as well, for your convenience.

Interlinear Greek New Testament

Interlinear Hebrew Bible

Just as a final word, I would remind you that while we Anglicans have our doctrine grounded soundly and firmly in Holy Scripture and the Tradition of Holy Mother Church, we are not locked into only one translation of Holy Scripture. Please remember that all English translations are just that - translations. With that, I will leave you with yet another link to my personal favourite translation (and it is one that we do not use in the context of Liturgy!).

English Standard Version

Equipping the Saints - September Classes

2010-09-10T22:51:00.000-07:00

Please use the embedded players in the right sidebar to listen on your desktop!

Why the ACNA is Growing...

2010-09-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

The Anglican Church in North America is becoming one of the fastest growing Christian bodies on this continent not because of cool programs such as "Anglican 1000" (a drive to plant 1000 new congregations within the tenure of our Archbishop, the Most Rev. Robert Duncan), but because of faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We are raising up an average of one new church planter daily, and that is not because "Anglican 1000" has a cool website or great communication aids and resources, but rather because our purpose is to glorify Christ and allow Him to change our lives. Jesus Christ is in control here - not us.

Do you want to find out what all the excitement is about? Come and visit an Anglican church this Sunday. If you are near Galesburg, Illinois, you can come to one of the finest Anglican parishes in the whole Midwest - Grace Anglican Church, at 151 East Carl Sandburg Drive! Masses are at 8 and 10 AM, and we would love for you to worship with us...you will be glad you came for a visit!

Looking Ahead to the Weekend...

2010-09-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity

THE COLLECT.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gal. 5. 16-24

S. Luke 17. 11-19

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer

TRINITY XIV
JESUS broke the bread of the Supper into as many pieces as there were disciples present. Peter took one piece, John another and so on until there was none of it remaining. He gave his mysterious body away to his friends without remainder and without reserve, for that was the principle of his life. He also said to his disciples, ‘Give, and it shall be given unto you.’ But I do not find that I give myself away as he gave himself away. I find that I am jealously keeping my life for myself, stealing this and that part from my neighbour and from God, making up little closed packets of pleasure and pride. ‘Give, and it shall be given to you’. If we could once for all give ourselves away, be perfectly at the disposal of God and of men, Jesus would fully give himself to us.

A Good Book...

2010-08-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

For some reason or another I do not normally share what it is that I am reading at any given time, but a book I have recently picked up stands out as a real gem. The Rt. Rev. N.T. Wright's Simply Christian is a wonderfully basic read, designed to challenge non-believers and give new believers a run for their money. It is perfectly designed for the simple-minded parish priest who hopes to improve his apologetics, as well!

The Bishop of Durham has really knocked one for six with this work, and within the first few pages I found nuggets that I would stowing away in my evangelism tool kit. Thank you, Bishop Wright, for a great resource and an enjoyable read.

Check it out here at Amazon.com

Looking to this Weekend: Trinity XIII

2010-08-28T06:25:00.000-07:00

THE COLLECT.

Almighty and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service: Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Galatians 3:16-22

Luke 10:23-37

And a little something from Westminster Abbey...

A Few Words on Anglican Hymnody...and a Free Audio Book!

2010-08-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

The "low" or "said" mass is an aberration in Christianity, having cropped up in the middle ages, and then only in the Western Church. The East knows of no such phenomenon, as every celebration of the Divine Liturgy in Orthodox churches is a "sung" service. Sadly, most western Christians know the "said" mass as the standard - it began to become the norm when priests of the middle ages began saying more "private masses" and realities dictated that these be "low" or "said".

As Anglicans, it is not normative that masses be "private," and yet we still have the situation of most weekday services and many Sunday services being "said" services. This is a pity, for there are many individuals who will only attend masses without music, thereby depriving themselves of something of which they might not even be aware. They miss out on the beauty of music, to be sure, but perhaps even more importantly they deprive themselves of an invaluable treasure-trove of Anglican theology, heritage and tradition. One can get a feel for Anglican liturgy, somewhat, from only going to "said" services, but the one who feeds on this as a steady diet will never fully speak the same language as Anglicans have for centuries.

It has been said that hymns are the theology you take home with you from church, and there is much truth in this. Excellent Anglican poets such as the Blessed George Herbert, the Blessed John Keble, Anglican translators such as John Mason Neale, and gifted hymn writers such as Reginald Heber have for generations helped us understand the world through an uniquely Anglican lens, and have given us words and phrases that in the mouths of preachers subsequently have rolled off the tongue in a gentle manner - giving us familiar and common language that expresses our singular Anglican spirituality, so deeply rooted in an understanding of the Incarnation of God in Jesus Christ and His great and wondrous mercy.

Truly, "the Church with psalms must shout, no door can keep them out; but above all, the heart must bear the longest part." Such a profound insight into how we as Anglicans think. And if you don't know where that comes from or who penned those words, perhaps you need to get to more sung masses! Being an Anglican means sharing those things that makes us Anglican!

A free audio book, you ask? Yes!! The national office of the Anglican Church in North America has made available a link to a free download of Tim Keller's book Ministries of Mercy: the Call of the Jericho Road. This was a well-planned offer, as the link expires at the end of August and the last Sunday of August (this weekend) is Trinity XIII this year, the Gospel reading for which is...the Good Samaritan! Well planned, folks in Pittsburgh! Please click here to access the site, follow the links, get a free account and then download your book. Just be patient and follow the instructions. If you have questions, you can post them here.

The New Name of This Blog and Some Book Titles From Tonight's Theology on Tap...

2010-08-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

I thought I should clear this up...the new name of this blog, "New Every Morning" should not suggest to you, dear reader, that there will be new material every morning. Traditional Anglicans in the audience might recognize this title as coming from a poem by a true Anglican saint - the Blessed John Keble:

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

The title, then, refers to that undying and ever-new love of God that He showers so abundantly upon us. To read the entire text and hear the music that usually accompanies it in our hymnals, you could click here to go to the Cyberhymnal.

For anyone interested in reading a couple of the texts we discussed this evening at Theology on Tap, here you go:

Rapture: The End-Times Error That Leaves the Bible Behind. David B. Currie, Sophia Institute Press. 2003.

Left Behind or Left Befuddled: The Subtle Dangers of Popularizing the End Times. Gordon L. Isaac, Liturgical Press. 2008.

Theology on Tap!

2010-08-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight at 7:00 we will meet at Cellar Pizza (51 North Prairie Street in Galesburg) for this month's "Theology on Tap" session. Tonight's topic is "Apocalypse...Now?" - a look at popular end times beliefs and what the Bible and the Church actually say about it. Bring a friend and head on downtown! See you in the Cellar!

A Priest's Prayer

2010-08-24T05:21:00.000-07:00

Words of the Blessed George Herbert, above the rectory door in Bemerton.

A Good Prayer for Daily Use...

2010-08-23T04:19:00.000-07:00

For the Church.

O GRACIOUS Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldest be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

(The Book of Common Prayer, p. 37)

Looking to this Weekend: Trinity XII

2010-08-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and art wont to give more than we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of thy mercy; forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

2 Corinthians 3. 4 ff.

S. Mark 7. 31 ff.

Trinity XII - poem from the Blessed John Keble - click here

from THE CROWN OF THE YEAR Weekly Paragraphs for the Holy Sacrament By Austin Farrer Dacre Press, Westminster TRINITY xii

JESUS broke the bread which he gave to his disciples, and they did the same afterwards in observing his sacrament. In fact the earliest name for it was 'the bread-breaking'. He broke it himself, in token that his enemies would break his body; he broke it himself, because his sacrifice was voluntary, he consented that they should do what they did. In the prayers after the consecration I must also break the bread; I must break it over the name of Jesus when I pray for deliverance from all evils through his death. Must I break the body, must I perform in solemn symbol the work of Christ's executioners? I must, for I must accept, I must identify myself with his willingness to die for my salvation. There are no limits to the self-bestowing love of God; no truth is more common on our lips than this, and none more distant from our hearts.

National Back to Church Sunday

2010-08-19T18:52:00.001-07:00

Sunday

12 September 2010

Grace Anglican Church in Galesburg, Illinois

10:00 AM

Be there!

"Grant Me To See My Own Errors, and Not Condemn My Neighbor..."

2010-03-20T06:07:00.001-07:00

Lenten Prayer Of St. Ephrem The Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life!
Take from me the spirit of sloth,
faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity,
humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.
Yea, Lord and King! Grant me to see my own errors and not condemn my neighbor, for Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen.

The First Sunday in Lent

2010-02-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

"The Devil's snares are chiefly spread for the sanctified, because a victory over the saints is more desired than over others." - St. Hilary of Poitiers

"Why did He offer Himself to temptation? That He might be our mediator in vanquishing temptation not by aid only, but by example." - St. Augustine of Hippo

Quinquagesima

2010-02-13T17:22:00.000-08:00

I share with you all the best answers I have ever heard to the question "why fast?" Thank you to Father Deacon Michael Hyatt, who listed these four in a lecture on fasting:

1. To foster dependence on God
2. To share in the Divine Likeness.
3. To break the strongholds of sins.
4. To seek God's help in overcoming our adversaries.

The Summary of Guidelines

2010-02-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

For those listening from a distance and for those who prefer to have such things in ready-to-hand digital format, I have posted below a short summary of the ancient fasting guidelines that are in the handout (inspired largely by a handout from St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Church of Austin, Texas) available at church this weekend in preparation for the upcoming Lenten fast. Please remember that these guidelines are something of a "goal" and it is not expected that all Christians will enter into the fast in exactly the same way. Remember, too, that in all things pertaining to fasting you are encouraged to seek the counsel of your priest.

Categories of Foods:

Category I Meat and Meat Products: (includes beef, pork, chicken, etc., as well as items which have beef gelatin [such as some commercial brands of gelatin], lard [some commercial breads and crackers], etc.)

Category II Dairy Products: (includes butter, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, etc., as well as items containing dairy whey [some commercial breads and margarine], milk extracts, etc.)

Category III Fish: (includes sardines, tuna, trout, bass, shark, etc., but not shellfish such as lobster, shrimp, crab, oysters, scallops, clams, mussels, etc.)

Category IV Olive Oil: (according to some, this extends to all oil) and Wine (which includes all alcoholic beverages such as whiskey, beer, etc.)

Fasting during Lent

Weekdays during Lent: Abstinence of Categories I, II, III, & IV
No Abstinence of Shellfish, Fruit, Vegetables and Vegetable products During, this period, we should regulate both the amount of food we consume as well as the frequency of eating. In ancient times, one would fast during the day, taking one meal of abstinence in the late afternoon. In modern practice, at meal times, smaller quantities than normal may be eaten and no food eaten between meals.

Saturdays & Sundays during Lent: Abstinence of Categories I, II, & III
No Abstinence of Category IV or of Shellfish, Fruit, Vegetables and Vegetable products. On Saturdays and Sundays during Lent, the quantity and frequency of meals are not restricted.

Feast of the Annunciation (3/25) and Palm Sunday: Abstinence of Categories I & II
No Abstinence of Categories III & IV or of Shellfish, Fruit, Vegetables and Vegetable products. On these Great Feasts of the Church, the quantity and frequency of meals are not restricted.

Sexagesima

2010-02-07T15:18:00.000-08:00

I enlist the aid of the Holy Fathers St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great and St. Ephraem of Syria today in a consideration of the discipline of Lent that is nearly upon us. The Gospel, from St. Luke, is quite neatly seen in "the microcosm of our life in Christ" that the holy season of Lent can be.

Coincidentally, as this is also "Meatfare Sunday" for our brothers and sisters in the Eastern Church, I was thrilled to have Kobe beef in Peoria after the 1:00 mass! How lovely!

Septuagesima is Upon Us...

2010-01-31T07:25:00.001-08:00

Greetings from the last Sunday of this portion of my sabbatical! The pre-Lenten Sundays have begun, and Canon-fire is without a homily today. God willing, this will be remedied next weekend as we go back to our "regularly-scheduled programming". I appreciate your patience with me during my time away, and I look forward to being back with you all soon. See you on Sexagesima!

Here is a homily for you, however, from the pen of St. Gregory the Great for this Sunday, drawing upon today's Gospel - from the 20th chapter of St. Matthew:

On the GospelGiven to the People in the Basilica of the Blessed Laurence on Septuagesima Sunday St. Gregory the Great, Bishop and Doctor Translated by M.F. Toale, D.D. (PL 76, 1153-1159.)

Many things need to be said in the explanation of this Gospel reading, which I wish, if I can, to set out briefly, lest you be wearied both by the long-drawn out procession, and by a too prolonged explanation. The kingdom of heaven is like to a man, a householder, who hires labourers to cultivate his vineyard. Who more truly resembles the householder than Our Creator, Who rules the world He has made, and governs His elect in this world, as a master cares for the subjects of his household? He too possesses a vineyard, namely, the Universal Church, which, from the time of just Abel until the last of the elect that shall be born at the end of the world, has brought forth as many saints, as it has sent forth shoots.
This Householder therefore, in the morning early, at the third hour, the sixth, the ninth, and the eleventh, hires labourers to till His Vineyard; because from the beginning of this world until the end He ceases not to gather together preachers to instruct the multitude of the faithful. For the morning of the world was from Adam to Noah: the third hour from Noah to Abraham: the sixth from Abraham to Moses: the ninth from Moses till the Coming of the Lord: the eleventh from the Lord’s Coming till the end of the world. In which last hour the holy Apostles were sent as preachers, who, though they came late, yet received the full wage.
At no time therefore has the Lord failed to send workers to cultivate His Vineyard, which is to say, they instruct His people; as from the beginning by means of the Patriarchs, then the Doctors of the Law and the Prophets, and lastly by means of the Apostles, He has attended to the care of His Vineyard, when as it were by His labourers He has formed worthy dispositions in His people. The workers of the early morning, and of the third hour, the sixth, and the ninth, signify the ancient Jewish people, who, in their elect have from the beginning of the world endeavoured to serve God in true belief, and have not as it were ceased to labour in the cultivation of the Vineyard. But at the eleventh hour the Gentiles were called, and it is to them it was said: Why stand you here all the day idle?
They who during so long a period of time had neglected to labour for their true life, have been standing all the day idle. But consider what they answered when questioned: They say to him: because no man hath hired us; since no Patriarch had come to them, and no Prophet. What does this mean: No man hath hired us, if not, that no man hath preached to us the way of true life? What excuse therefore shall we make for neglecting to do good, who have come almost from our mother’s womb into the light of faith, who have heard the words of life from our cradle, who together with our mother’s milk have drunk in heavenly teaching from the breasts of holy Church?
2. We may also see in these same varying hours the changing of the years in the life of every man. For the morning is the childhood of our reason. The third hour can be interpreted as adolescence, because while the heat of youth increases, it is as though the sun mounts higher in the sky. The sixth hour is young manhood, because as the sun is now as it were in its zenith, so now is the full strength of manhood attained. Mature age is signified by the ninth hour, in which the sun descends from its highest point, because in that age man already declines from the heat of youth. The eleventh hour is that time of life which is called senility or old age; concerning which the Greeks are wont to describe those that are advanced in years, not simply as old men, but as elders (presbyters), that in this way they may show that they are more than old men who arc regarded as advanced in years.
Because therefore one man is called to the good life in boyhood, another in youth, another in manhood, another in later life, another in old age, the labourers are as it were called at different hours to the Vineyard. Therefore, dearly Beloved Brethren, look to your manner of living, and see whether even now you are labourers of God. Let each one look to what he is doing, and let him consider whether or not he labours in the Vineyard of the Lord. For they who in this life seek the things that are their own, have not yet entered the Lord’s Vineyard. For they work for the Lord who think upon the Master’s gain and not upon their own; who serve Him with eagerness of love and the fervour of devotion; who are watchful to gain souls, and hasten to bring others with them to the true life. But he who lives for himself, who feeds on the pleasures of his own flesh, is rightly rebuked as idle, because he seeks not for the fruit of divine labour.
3. He that has failed till his latest years to live for God, has truly been standing idle till the eleventh hour. Whence was it rightly said to those who were inert till the eleventh hour: Why stand you all the day idle? As if he said openly to them: And if you have been unwilling to serve God in youth and in manhood, at least in your old age come to your senses, and though it is late come yet to the ways of true life, since little time is left you wherein to labour. And such as these, therefore, the Householder calls to Him; and for the most part gives them their wage earlier, since they go forth from the body to His Kingdom earlier than those that appear to be called from their childhood. Did not the Good Thief conic at the eleventh hour, though he came late, not through age but through punishment, and he confessed God from the cross, and almost with the words of his confession yielded up the breath of life. The Householder began indeed from the last to pay the denarius that was due, for even before Peter He leads the Thief into the repose of paradise.
How many Fathers were there before the Law, how many lived under the Law, and yet without any delay they entered the Kingdom who were called at the Coming of the Lord. They received who came at the eleventh hour that same wage which they desired with all their heart who had laboured from the first; because they who came to the Lord at the end of the world received the wage of eternal life equally with those who were called from the beginning of the world.
Because of this they who had preceded them in labour murmuring said: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. They have borne the burthen of the day and the heats, because they to whom it befell to have lived from the beginning of the world, must also suffer more prolonged trials of the flesh. For to each one to bear the burthen of the day amid the heats means, to be wearied by the heats of his own flesh throughout the days of a long life.
4. But you may ask how can it be said that they murmured who were called, though at evening time, to enter the Kingdom? For no one who murmurs enters the Kingdom, and no one murmurs who enters there. But because the Fathers, however justly they lived until the Coming of Our Lord, were not brought into the Kingdom until He had descended Who would open the gates of Paradise by the intervention of His death, they it was who murmured, because they had lived justly in order that they might enter the Kingdom, and yet they suffered long delay before they entered the Kingdom. It was they who had laboured in the Vineyard, and it was they who murmured, whom the abodes of hell, however peaceful, had received after their just lives. It was therefore, as it were after their murmuring, that they receive the denarius; they who after the long ages of hell reached at length the joys of the Kingdom. We however who have come at the eleventh hour, we murmur not after our labour, and we also receive the denarius, because coming into this world after the Coming of the Mediator, we are brought into the Kingdom almost as soon as we depart from our body; and we receive without any delay that which the ancient Fathers merited to receive after prolonged delay.
For which reason the Householder says: I will give to this last as to thee. And since to enter heaven is due to the goodness of His will, He rightly adds: Is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Foolish is the questioning of man against the goodness of God. He should not complain if He does not give what He owes not, but if He does not give what is due. Whence He aptly questions: Is thy eye evil because I am good? Let no one exalt himself because of his work, or because of his time: for having completed the last sentence Truth then proclaims: So shall the last be first, and the first last. For though we know what or how much good we have done, we know not with what exactness the heavenly judge will weigh it. And it is certain that every man must greatly rejoice to be in the Kingdom of God at last.
5. But after these words, truly terrible is that which follows: For many are called but few are chosen: because they are many that arrive at faith, but few that are led into the heavenly kingdom. Behold how many are here gathered for this day’s festival: we fill the church from wall to wall, yet who knows how few they are who shall be numbered in that chosen company of the elect? Behold the voices of all proclaim Christ, but the lives of all do not proclaim Him. Amid many keep company with God in word, but shun Him in deed. And it was with this in mind that Paul said: They profess that they know God: but in their works they deny him (Tit. i. 16). For this reason also James says: That faith without good works is dead (Jas. ii. 20, 26). And says the Lord Himself by the mouth of the psalmist: I have declared and I have spoken: they are multiplied above numbers (Ps. xxxix. 6). At the call of the Lord the faithful are multiplied without number, because not a few come also to faith who do not belong to the elect. Here below they are mingled with the faithful, through confession, but because of their reprobate way of life they shall not merit to be partakers of the lot of the faithful. This sheepfold of the Church receives young goats with the lambs; but, as the Gospel bears witness, when the judge shall come, He shall separate the good from the bad, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (Mt. xxv. 32).
Nor can they who are here slaves to the pleasures of their bodies, be there numbered in the flock of His sheep. There the judge shall separate from the lot of the humble those that now exalt themselves upon the horns of pride. Neither shall they receive a kingdom, who though formed in heavenly faith, with all their hearts seek the things of earth.
6. And within the Church, dearest Brethren, you will see many such persons, but you must neither imitate them, nor despair of them. What a man is today you can see, but what each one will be tomorrow no man knows. Often he that was seen to be behind us, has in his zeal in doing good conic to outstrip us: amid he whom today we excel, tomorrow we may scarce follow. We know indeed that while Stephen was dying for the faith, Saul held the garments of those that stoned him. Therefore did he by the hands of those who stoned also cast stones, since he encouraged them all to stone him. And yet this same person, within the holy Church, surpassed in labours the one whom, by persecuting him, he made a martyr.
Two things there are therefore upon which we should carefully reflect. Because many are called and but few chosen, the first is: let no one presume on his own salvation; for though he be called to faith, whether he is worthy of the eternal kingdom he knows not. The second is: let no one presume to despair of his neighbour, whom perhaps he sees lying in sin; for he knows not the riches of the divine mercy.
7. I shall now, Brethren, relate to you something which has happened recently, and if from your heart you look upon yourselves as sinners, you will then love yet more the omnipotent mercy of God. In this very year, in my monastery, which is situated close to the church of the blessed martyrs John and Paul, a certain brother, turned to repentance, entered the monastery, was devoutly accepted, and became himself yet more devoutly changed in life. His brother followed him into the monastery: in the flesh, not in the spirit. For though detesting the monastic dress, and the monastic life, he remained in the monastery as a guest; and he was unable to discontinue living there, though he shunned the life of the monks, because he had neither occupation nor the means to live.
His evil conduct was a burthen to all; yet all endured him with patience out of love for his brother. And though he knew not what followed after this present life, yet, arrogant and uncertain, he scoffed if anyone wished to instruct him in this. And so, flippant in speech, restless in movement, empty in mind, disorderly in dress, dissipated in behaviour, he lived on in the monastery, but in the dispositions of the world.
During the month of July last, he was stricken down in that epidemic of the pestilence that you remember; and as he was approaching his end he was urged to put his soul in order. The power of life now remained only in his heart and in his tongue, his extremities were already dead. The brethren stood by him, helping him in his end by their prayers, as far as God permitted. Suddenly, beholding the demon coming to take possession of him, he began to cry out in a loud voice, “Look, I am delivered over to the dragon to be devoured; but he cannot devour me because of your presence. Why do you delay me? Go away that he may finish me!”
And when the brethren exhorted him to sign himself with the sign of the Cross, he answered as well as he was able: “I want to bless myself but I cannot, because I am held fast by the dragon: my throat is held in his jaws, and the foam of his mouth has smeared my face. Look! My arms are imprisoned by him who has my head in his jaws!”
While he was saying this, trembling, pale, and dying, the brethren began ever more earnestly to pray for him, to help by their intercession this man here tormented by the presence of an evil spirit. Then of a sudden he was delivered, and began to cry out aloud, “thanks be to God. See, he has gone, he has fled: the dragon who already had me in his grip, has fled before your prayers.” There and then he vowed to serve God, and to become a monk; but from that moment until now he lies oppressed by fever and weakened by pain. He was truly snatched from death, yet not fully restored to life. For he is afflicted by tedious infirmities, and tormented with grievous weakness: the severe fire of purification burning away the hardness of his heart; for it has pleased divine Providence that prolonged illness shall cleanse him of even more prolonged habits of evil-doing.
Who would have believed that this man would have been preserved and converted? Who can fathom the so great depths of the mercy of God? An evil-living young man sees in death the evil spirit he has served in life; nor did he see him that being brought down he might lose his life, but that he might learn who it was that held him in bondage, and knowing might resist him, and resisting would overcome him; and he saw him by whom, unseen, he was held a slave, that he might afterwards be free.
What tongue can speak of the bowels of the divine mercy? What soul is not awed at the richness of the divine kindness? It was this treasure of the divine mercy the psalmist had in mind when he said: Unto thee, O my Helper, will I sing, for thou art God my defence; My God My mercy (Ps. lviii. 18). Here reflecting on the labours of which man’s life is made up, he calls God his helper. And because He lifts us out of present tribulation into eternal peace, he calls Him also his defence. But remembering that He sees our evil-doing, and suffers it in patience, that He is unmindful of our offences, and with all this brings us through repentance to final reward, he wished not to say that God was merciful, but called Him mercy itself, saying: My God my mercy.
Let us keep before our minds the evil we have done: and let us think of the great kindness with which we are suffered in patience; and let us consider what are the deep sources of the mercy of God, that not alone forgives our offences, but having forgiven our sins, promises an eternal kingdom to those that repent of evil-doing. And from the depths of every heart let us cry out, let us all together cry: My God my mercy, Who livest and reignest, Three in One, and One in Three, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany

2010-01-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

Using the 1662 Book of Common Prayer lectionary, this homily addresses the Gospel for the Second Sunday after the Epiphany - John 2:1-11. This same Gospel reading crops up in the American lectionary on the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, so feel free to listen to this sermon twice!

Thanks to the wonderful folks in the parish family of Trinity-in-the-Fields in Marion, Arkansas, where we visited this past weekend, and where this homily was preached!

The Rector's Sabbatical...

2010-01-14T13:42:00.001-08:00

Please be patient as the Rector is taking some time away as part of his sabbatical year. There will likely be something posted within the next week of two. Thank you for your patience!

The Second Sunday after Christmas

2010-01-02T20:32:00.000-08:00

-5 F! The chapel never quite warmed up this evening!

St. Stephen the Protomartyr

2009-12-26T17:12:00.000-08:00

A blessed feast of the Protomartyr to all of you! And yes, that is my father in the picture to the left...he really was a pitcher!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T18:39:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! God bless us, everyone! In this year's Christmas sermon I am afraid that you will find a rather weary priest allowing Charles Dickens to flavor some of his thoughts on the true meaning of Christmas - yet, of course, only insofar as it accords with the true Faith of the Holy Church of God!

May your 12 Days of Christmas continue along in blessed and grand style! Please check back soon for (God willing) St. Stephen's and St. John's day homilies!

The Fourth Sunday of Advent

2009-12-20T20:01:00.000-08:00

No...I guess I really don't know the difference between a quilt and a comforter...

The Third Sunday of Advent

2009-12-13T19:54:00.000-08:00

Our good and faithful Father Deacon Michael delivered a wonderful homily this morning, and we caught this audio at the 10:00 mass. One seldom stops to think of the reaction of John the Baptist's disciples in the whole mix, now, does one? Listen to what Father Deacon had to say by listening in the dandy little embedded player above!

Later today, at Zion Church in Brimfield, Father Thomas had a few things to say about St. Lucy, whose feast fell on this Gaudete Sunday. You can listen in this dandy little embedded player below!

The Second Sunday of Advent

2009-12-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

For those who had been asking, the "three things to do" that I have been rambling on about the past two weeks are:

1. Daily study of Holy Scripture.
2. Daily prayer.
3. Deliberate action to follow Christ more closely.

Don't wear yourselves out!

The First Sunday of Advent

2009-11-29T18:08:00.000-08:00

A blessed First Sunday of Advent to all of you! For those who wanted to see exactly what it was that the Blessed John Keble wrote, here 'tis:

AWAKE—again the Gospel-trump is blown—
From year to year it swells with louder tone,
From year to year the signs of wrath
Are gathering round the Judge's path,
Strange words fulfill'd, and mighty works achiev'd,
And truth in all the world both hated and believ'd.

Awake! why linger in the gorgeous town,
Sworn liegemen of the Cross and thorny crown?
Up from your beds of sloth for shame,
Speed to the eastern mount like flame,
Nor wonder, should ye find your King in tears
Even with the loud Hosanna ringing in his ears.

* * *

Thus bad and good their several warnings give
Of His approach, whom none may see and live:
Faith's ear, with awful still delight,
Counts them like minute bells at night,
Keeping the heart awake till dawn of morn,
While to her funeral pyre this aged world is borne.

But what are heaven's alarms to hearts that cower
In wilful slumber, deepening every hour,
That draw their curtains closer round,
The nearer swells the trumpet's sound?
Lord, ere our trembling lamps sink down and die,
Touch us with chastening hand, and make us feel Thee nigh.

The Sunday Next Before Advent - Christ the King

2009-11-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

Recorded at Zion Church, Brimfield. Happy Christ the King Sunday! Next stop...Advent!

The Twenty-second Sunday After Trinity

2009-11-08T15:26:00.000-08:00

Ten thousand talents? One hundred denarii? 3,000 shekels? $14 Trillion ? Just how big is the national debt, anyway? Not too big for our Father in heaven to forgive, luckily! If only He were the one doing the earthly bookkeeping!

All Saints' Sunday - Grace Anglican Church is 150 Years Old!

2009-11-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

The Rt. Rev. Edward MacBurney, SSC - the 7th Bishop of Quincy - was on hand to celebrate a Solemn High Mass and preach on Sunday, 1 Novemeber 2009 - our sesquicentenary celebration at Grace Church! It was a wonderful morning, and mass was followed by a gala brunch and reception!

Happy Birthday, Grace Anglican Church!

The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity - Stewardship

2009-10-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

This is, to be honest, perhaps the longest I have ever preached - not to scare you off, as I think it goes pretty quickly, but I think you might want to go and get a cup of coffee or a nice spot of tea before you begin listening.

St. Luke the Evangelist

2009-10-17T17:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Feast! Click here (or on the title) ...OR...just use the embedded player below to listen to this homily, preached in the Chapel of St. Margaret of Scotland on the Eve of St. Luke! Please let me know if there are any hiccups with the new, embedded player!

The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

2009-10-14T05:15:00.000-07:00

A quiet little homily, preached in the quiet little Zion Church! I get some help this week from a myriad of fellows...St. Augustine, St, Gregory, St. Jerome and C.S. Lewis!! Click here or on the title to listen!

St. Francis of Assisi

2009-10-14T05:09:00.001-07:00

Deacon Michael Henley edifies us with his homily on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Click here or on the title to listen!

The Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity

2009-09-28T11:57:00.000-07:00

An homily recorded at Zion Church, Brimfield on the Sixteenth Sunday After Trinity.

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2009-09-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

In Hoc Signo, Vinces!

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

2009-09-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

I will hopefully record the homily tomorrow, but I just want to remind all of the family at Grace Parish that although we may face persecution and hatred, we do so for the sake of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Let us have that Cross impressed inwardly in our lives and expressed outwardly in our work - so that all might be drawn to our Lord who has been lifted high on the hard wood of the cross!

In Him we triumph! He is the ONLY way to the Father! The Cross of Christ is our battle flag! The Cross is our Ensign! In this sign we will conquer!! Alleluia!!

Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity

2009-09-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

The Good Samaritan, with a little help from the Hymnody of the Holy Orthodox Church...and some thoughts from St. Basil the Great.

Twelvth Sunday after Trinity

2009-09-10T05:54:00.000-07:00

"Ephphatha - that is, be opened."

Eleventh Sunday after Trinity

2009-08-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

"O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion"

Our Candidate to Holy Orders, Mr. T. Michael Henley, delivered a fine homily this weekend, one that began and ended with these lines from the poem "To a Louse" by the great Scottish Poet Robert Burns.

Click here (or on the title) for the homily.

Mr. Henley will be ordained (Deo volente) to the vocational Diaconate on Monday, 14 September. Please keep him in your prayers!

And in case you would like the rest of the poem, here 'tis:

Ha! Whare ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly,
I canna say but ye strut rarely
Owre gauze and lace,
Tho' faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.

Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her --
Sae fine a lady!
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.

Swith! in some beggar's hauffet squattle:
There you may creep, and sprawl, and spr
Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Whare horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations.

Now haud you there! ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rils, snug an' tight;
Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,
Till ye've got on it ---
The vera tapmost, tow'ring height
O' miss's bonnet.

My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose ou
As plump an' grey as onie grozet:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie ye sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum!

I wad na been surpris'd to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy:
Or aiblins some bit duddie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss's fine Lunardi! fye!
How daur ye do't.

O Jenny, dinna toss your head,
An' set your beauties a' abread!
You little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin!
Thae winks an' finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin'!

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!

The Ninth Sunday After Trinity

2009-08-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

"The Prodigal Son"..."the Good Parent"..."the Merciful Father"..."God and His Three Sons". By whatever name you come to understand this parable, it is powerful. The Late George Arthur Buttrick helps me out with some thoughts this week.

Click here (or on the title) for the homily.

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity

2009-08-03T14:23:00.000-07:00

This is a rather strange offering this week - we have a brief update from the Standing Committee of the Diocese, a "pastoral letter" from the Rector, and then a ever-so-short homily concerning the Epistle and Gospel. Take it for what it is worth...and don't forget to stand fast and keep your eyes on the Cross!

Trinity VII

2009-07-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

The Wailing Wall, Fr. Austin Farrer (again) and the Rolling Stones all thrown together in this homily concerning the feeding of the 4,000 in St. Mark's Gospel.

Click here (or the title) to listen to the homily.

Click here (or the photo) to send prayers to the Wailing Wall!