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To Forgive, or Not to Forgive: Epiphany 3, Year B

The story of Jonah is written so that we can put ourself in Jonah’s place. Like Jonah, we too are faced with the issue of whether to forgive or not.

To read more, go to: http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2018/01/to-forgive-or-not-to-forgive-epiphany-3.html

The photo is a gourd sculpture of Jonah and the Whale by Alabama artist Marie Jeff.

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Many each year wonder why one of the candles on their Advent Wreath is a different color, light purple, or pink, instead of full-on purple or blue. In some circles, this candle represents the Third Sunday of Advent, also known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudate is latin for "rejoice" the first word of the Phillipians epistle reading used on this day in the Middle Ages. Even today, the readings reflect this idea of rejoicing. In the Middle Ages, it was thought this Sunday was an appropriate time to lessen the penitential nature of Advent. Pink became the color because it was a fading of the colors already used (see Faith Fact on Advent colors). There are two reasons not to use pink vestments this Sunday. One is that it divides the season of Advent. The other is that Sunday is always a feast, no matter the season. There's no reason to draw attention to the less penitent nature of any Sunday because it is always there. Sunday is the day where we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We take part in that death and resurrection too. Every Sunday is a day to rejoice. There's no need to divide Advent up to prove it. Source: Bower, James. The Companion to the Book of Common Worship. Louisville: Geneva Press, 2003, pg.100.

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Like Narnia in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, we wait in hope of Jesus coming to set us free. 

For more, go to http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/12/narinan-waiting-in-hope-advent-3-year-b.html for more.

Photo is by me of the River Jordan.

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When it comes to vestments and altar frontals for churches in Advent, some go with Purple and some go with Blue.

There are a lot or reasons that one could give for these differences. The truth is that in the 13th Century, Innocent III, Bishop of Rome, decided black would be the color for penitential seasons. Unfortunately in those days, it was very hard to get dyes to work just right. This meant sometimes the color was a little off or that it would fade very quickly. This is likely what led to the use of blue in England with the Sarum Rite of worship and purple on the continent of Europe. It's not that there is any hidden meaning with one or the other, it's just that blue and purple were the closest colors to black people could get.

This is helpful for us to realize today. Both Advent and Lent are Penitential Seasons in the church. They are both preparations for the two major feasts of the church, Christmas and Easter. Using purple for both can emphasize that.

But they are different too. Lent prepares us in moving forward to the feast of Easter. It reminds us of the past, although it can be a sign of moving forward in our life in faith if we are preparing for Baptism, Confirmation, Reaffirmation, or Reception at this time.

Advent, on the other hand, is not just about preparation for the feast of Christmas, and it's not just about remembering the events of the past. It's about preparing for the events of the future as well. In The Nicene Creed, we remind ourselves of the time when Jesus will "come again in glory to judge the living and the dead". We are preparing ourselves in Advent, as Christians have since before Christmas became a major feast of the church, for Jesus' return, of which we don't know the how, when, or where of yet. So while Advent prepares us for the feast of Christmas, it also prepares us for the future.

If we want to make this distinction between Advent and Lent, then by all means use blue. Jesus will be fine with whatever choice we make. But we should also look at the history of these two colors to realize the similarities between Advent and Lent as well.

Sources used:

Alexander, Neil. Creating Liturgical Time. New York: Church Publishing, 2014, pg. 51.

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What Would John the Baptist Do? We are called, like him, to proclaim Jesus, not ourselves. For more, click the link and read on: http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/12/wwjbd-what-would-john-baptist-do-advent.html

The photo is by me of the River Jordan.

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Happy New Year! The start of Advent marks the beginning of the new year in the Christian Calendar. This makes sense because part of what Advent is about is preparing for the Christ-child coming into our hearts as we remember Jesus' birth on Christmas. Starting our new year now is also a great reminder that we are not of this world. In The Book of Common Prayer, our Lectionary Scripture Readings reflect this change. As of 2017, we are now in Year B for our Sunday Scripture readings. This is the second year of a 3-year cycle designed to get us through the majority of Scripture each Sunday. You can find those readings here. Those of us who attend regular services each Sunday in The Episcopal Church get to hear a lot more of the Bible than we may have realized! This also marks a new year for the Daily Office Lectionary, intended for reading Scripture every day of the week. In 2017, we are in Year 2 of the 2 year Daily Office Lectionary. This is designed to get you through most of the Bible in the corse of two years. If you want to spend more time with God's Word, now is the time to start. Our Lectionary is a tool for you to use get through the vast majority of it. This season of Advent is the perfect time to start.

Photograph is by me.

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Anger is a Sign of Separation- God’s anger is a sign of sadness because He wants to be in relationship with us and we keep separating ourselves from Him. But in spite of that, God still shows His infinite love for us by dying on the cross.

To read more, go to http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/12/anger-as-sign-of-separation-advent-1.html

The photo was taken by me of the altar at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Alabama.

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“God: King of the Underdogs”

God doesn’t favor the rich and powerful, but the weak and needy. He loves those who need His help, and all of us are in need of His saving Grace in our lives. Read more at: http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/11/god-king-of-underdogs-last-sunday-after.html

Photo was taken by me of the altar at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, Alabama.

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Today is the Last Sunday after Pentecost. The liturgical color this season has been green thus far. However, you may have heard this day also called Christ the King. The emphasis of the day on Christ would suggest white is the color since white is the liturgical color of all feasts of our Lord.

When we talk about those feasts, though, we are normally talking about Easter, Epiphany, Christmas, Baptisms (and all appropriate days for them), and All Saints' Day (the day we celebrate the whole body of Christ Jesus). All those days are rooted in early Christian traditions. They also recognize different parts of Jesus' life, and through Baptism, our partaking in them.

Christ the King is much more recent. It was started by the Pope Pius XI, the Bishop of Rome, in 1925. Originally it would have been held in late October, very close to celebration of Reformation Day. Thus it is likely that this was a Roman Catholic response to a Protestant celebration.

Christ the King was not originally celebrated in The Episcopal Church at all. In fact our 1979 Book of Common Prayer does not list it. As far as the Prayer Book is concerned, today is not Christ the King, but The Last Sunday after Pentecost.

As time passed, several denominations came together to use the same readings and thus creating The Revised Common Lectionary. This included Roman Catholic and Protestant denominations working together, and slowly Christ the King made its way more firmly into Episcopal practice.

There is nothing wrong with the idea of Christ as King over the world, because it is true. The readings we have in our lectionary now relate to this idea of Christ's kingship, and it fits well with the themes of Advent, which starts next week. But does this day deserve white as its color?

It depends on who you talk to. Because it is a more recent celebration in the church, I would say no. Plus we want to emphasize that this is the end of the Season after Pentecost more than anything.

I would also say no and object to throwing in the title of Christ the King for this Sunday because we as Episcopalians are not Roman Catholic, nor are we fully Protestant. We live in that middle area often referred to as via media. If we were to celebrate Christ the King in its full Roman Catholic glory then we should also celebrate Reformation Sunday. I say it's better if show that our allegiance is truly with Jesus Christ and no other by not celebrating either day. So for the time being, I'll be following the Prayer Book and saying this is The Last Sunday after Pentecost, nothing more, nothing less.

Further Reading:

Alexander, Neil. Celebrating Liturgical Time. New York: Church Publishing, 2014, pgs. 42-43.

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In The Episcopal Church, we don't have a whole book of doctrine we adhere to. In fact, our Catechism is only 19 pages in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP 845-862 to be precise). We have always adhered to the idea that "the rule of practice is the rule of belief". In other words, if you want to know what we believe, pick up the BCP.

That couldn't be more true with our thoughts on making wills. That is something you would expect to see in the Funeral service. Instead, it is mentioned at the very end of the service for "Thanksgiving for a Child." On BCP 445, it reads:

The Minister of the Congregation is directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about the duty of Christian parents to make prudent

provision for the well-being of their families, and of all persons to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses.

We're called to make wills, especially to prevent those who follow us from getting into fights over who is owed what. And we are called to leave behind goods for "religious and charitable uses."

Just as our funerals are meant to reflect our life as people of faith, our giving in our wills to religious and charitable causes should reflect our giving in life. In other words, the BCP is not only telling us to make wills, it is calling us to responsibly stewardship as Christians and to give of our time, talent, and treasure in service to our Lord.

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“You Are Not Alone” On your journey of faith and in your training to listening to God more, you have the support of the rest of the Christian Community to help you as you move forward. To read more, go to: http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/11/you-are-not-alone-sunday-24-pentecost.html

The photograph is mine from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, AL.

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This is a Christian Formation segment I did on Winchester Cathedral in Winchester, Great Britain, which just so happens to be where I received my call for ordained ministry. 

Please go to http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/10/winchester-cathedral-personal-call.html for a transcript for the video.

The majority of the photographs are owned by me and depict mostly Winchester Cathedral, as well as the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, AL, St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Greensboro, AL. As noted in the presentation, there is a picture of St. Swithun's bridge found in Winchester that is not owned by me. I believe a historic society in Winchester. You can go to https://www.flickr.com/photos/neilsingapore/8590969516 to see the original photo.

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Be Wise Bridesmaids. Read more here: http://fathertreysthoughts.blogspot.com/2017/11/bewisebridesmaids.html

The photo was taken by of one of the windows at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greensboro, AL.

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If you go to the end of the Baptism service and look at the Additional Directions in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP pg. 312), you'll see the days where it is especially appropriate to have a baptism.

The Easter Vigil because Jesus' death and resurrection are what we are baptized into.

The Day of Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles, which we pray for in Baptism.

All Saints' Day (or the Sunday following) because we are baptized into the Body of Christ which is the great communion of saints throughout all time and space.

The Baptism of our Lord because we remember Jesus' baptism on that day.

Whenever the Bishop is present because bishops follow in the line of the apostles and "guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church." (BCP pg. 517)

On days when we don't have a baptism, the Additional Directions (BCP pg. 312) tell us we can replace the Nicene Creed with The Renewal of Baptism Vows (BCP pg. 292). While our baptism is once and for all, there are times we need to be reminded and renewed in our call to be part of the body of Christ Jesus. The Eucharist is always a reminder and renewal of our baptism, but on these particular days listed above, it is helpful for us to be extra mindful of what our Baptism really means. 

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In the Eucharistic Prayer, we recall Jesus' words at the Last Supper: "Do this in Rememberance of Me."

That "rememberance" isn't simply recalling a fact or a memory in our minds. The Greek word used in the Gospel accounts is anamnesis, and Jesus' disciples would have understood what this idea meant in context of Passover. Passover wasn't just about recalling the events of the Passover in Exodus. Instead, it was about taking part in the meal in such a way that the Israelites would have been present and part of the events of the past.

This is the way we celebrate the Eucharist. With those words, "Do this in Rememberance of Me", we become part of not only the Last Supper itself but also Jesus' death and resurrection. We take part in those events in a way beyond words. It is a holy mystery.

Because we take part in the events of the past through the Eucharist, the Eucharist itself transcends time and space. We partake in the Eucharist together not just in our own space, but with those who worship throughout our state, our country, our continent, and the entire world.

The reserve sacrament is a reminder of this fact. It is there, in part and if needed, to bring to those who are sick or otherwise unable to be present so that our Eucharist celebration does not end here, but continues beyond this time and beyond these walls.

When we use the reserve sacrament in our celebration of the Eucharist, it is a reminder that we don't celebrate separate Eucharists, but we are partaking in The Eucharist, that event that transcends time and place as well as bringing us closer to our Lord and Savior as we become present through a way beyond our understanding in His death and resurrection, those key events of our faith.

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Those of you who use Facebook have likely seen many people with a post that said “me too”. This is a campaign to raise awareness for the amount of sexual assault and harassment that woman as well as men have had to face.

Some of you may have wondered what you can do about this issue, as I have for the past week.

First of all, remember what we said at the beginning of the service, the second great commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No one wants to be harassed or assaulted, so to love your neighbor, make sure your and those around you aren’t doing that.

The next thing to do is to just talk about issues like sexual assault and harassment, appropriately of course. These are hard issues to talk about, just like it’s hard to talk about racial injustice and inequality. But when we talk about these issues openly, we can learn how to be stewards to those who have or are suffering from assault or harassment and we can insure that the generation that follows us will be better, kinder, and more loving than we are. Because that’s ultimately what we all want, for those who follow us to live in a better world than we do now.

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From the service of Compline.

Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night.  ~ The Book of Common Prayer