Where are you Christmas?

What does Christmas mean to you?ย  A discourse as we approach a most special time.

The last few weeks have been intensely busy for me and I havenโ€™t had the opportunity to truly appreciate the Advent season.  Advent comes from the Latin word โ€œadventusโ€ meaning โ€œthe comingโ€ or โ€œthe arrival.โ€  In the Christian tradition, this is a time to prepare for the arriving of Christ (either the birth of Christ, Christ entering our hearts, or the Second Coming of Christ).  After the autumn harvest, and the days shortening, it used to be a time for the world to slow down, refocus on the spiritual aspect of our lives, and prepare oneself for the coming year.

While not always the case, Christmas is a very special time for me.  Some of my darkest times were around Christmas, but also some of my fondest times.  For Christians, we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  This feast day, nearly coinciding with the winter solstice, signals the end of the darkness, the lengthening of days, and rekindles the light of hope that we all need in our lives.

This discourse is not about when Christmas starts (ahemโ€ฆitโ€™s 25 Dec, and not before), the duration of Christmas (12 days following Christmas Day, until 6 Jan; or if youโ€™re extra-traditional, 40 days following Christmas Day)), or when Christmas decorations should go up or come down.  You do you; to each your own.

Many others have complained about the commercialization of Christmas before, and I will not be the last.  Why is our society so obsessed with the desire for gifts and consumption at Christmas?  What happened to spending quality time with family and friends?  What happened to creating lasting memories rather than the acquisition of material goods?  It is ironic that Christmastime is when we see all those ads about homelessness, hunger, and the needy; but the majority of Christmas spending ends us being gifts and trinkets for those who probably are not in need. 

In a post-COVID-19 world, our lives seem even busier, and more stressful, than ever.  Can we recall those days when during the dark days of the lockdown, when we yearned for the slightest opportunity for human contact?  And those times when we all said to ourselves, I will make a better effort to be with friends and family once restrictions are lifted.

Rather than seeing peace, love, and joy around me, the Christmas season now is filled with stress, unpleasantness, and worry.  This Christmas is probably a lot more difficult for many than in the past.  Rising inflation and cost of living is making it difficult for many to put food on the table.  As we adapt to the โ€œnew normalโ€ of a post-COVID environment, we want to make up for those two years of โ€œlostโ€ Christmases, and possibly over-compensate.

I admit that Iโ€™m no great example to emulate; I am materialistic, I like my โ€œstuff.โ€  And Iโ€™ve been told that people have difficulty buying me gifts since I already have everything.  I havenโ€™t been as charitable as I had in the past.  Only recently have I been able to take a breath from the hecticness of my life and reflect on the โ€œuglinessโ€ of what I became in the name of work/getting things done, and that humbled me, that made me feel terrible.  From a spiritual side, only with Advent half-over have I started to prepare myself for Christmas and remind myself of the importance of this time of the year.  But that reinforced a key tenet of Christianity; that we are all imperfect beings, and acknowledging our flaws and mistakes is the first step to becoming better (or more holy, should you want to use religious language).

My Christmas desire is that we all take a pause from the busyness of life, forget about the material world, spend time with family, friends, and loved ones, and be thankful for all goodness and blessings that we have in our lives.ย  Cherish the things that bring us lasting joy and reflect on the important truly important things in life.ย  Only then, can we appreciate the true meaning of Christmas.

Saint Ambrose, Doctor and Poet, Bishop of Milan, 397 AD

Today is the Minor Feast Day of Saint Ambrose, Doctor and Poet, Bishop of Milan, 397 AD.

He, along with Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great, are considered the first Four Doctors (teachers) of the Latin Church.

Ambrose is the patron saint of Milan, beekeepers ๐Ÿ, and candlemakers ๐Ÿ•ฏ. He also converted and baptized Saint Augustine of Hippo (I always remember that because of the Simpson episode: https://youtu.be/HLv2FCGhPPw )

Collect (of a Doctor of the Church, Poet, or Scholar): O God, who by thy Holy Spirit hast given unto one man a word of wisdom, and to another a word of knowledge, and to another the gift of tongues: We praise thy Name for the gifts of grace manifested in thy servant Ambrose, and we pray that thy Church may never be destitute of the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ambrose of Milan

โ˜˜๏ธ Happy St. Patrickโ€™s Day โ˜˜๏ธ

โ˜˜๏ธ Happy Feast of St. Patrick, Missionary and Bishop, 461 A.D. โ˜˜๏ธ

Collect of the Day (from the Church of Ireland Book of Common Prayer, 2004): O Almighty God, who in thy providence didst choose thy servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, that he might bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of thee; Grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.

St Patrick

St. Patrick is often credited for explaining the Holy Trinity using a shamrock as an analogy, but even his analogy has issues.

For those not familiar with the Holy Trinity, it is the theological concept where there is one God, but exist as three distinct persons comprised of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This concept is fundamental in mainstream Christian denominations.

Explaining the Holy Trinity is not easy and has caused many heretical analogies. One famous heresy of the Holy Trinity is Arianism, the idea that the Son and Holy Ghost created from the Father and thus not co-equal and co-eternal. St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra (yup, Olโ€™ St. Nick from Christmas ๐ŸŽ…๐Ÿป) alleged slapped Arius in the face to the shock of the other attending bishops at the Council of Nicea in 325AD when Arius was explaining his heresy.

I choose to not try to understand the Holy Trinity, but accept it as something not understandable by us mere mortals. Any explanation on our plane of existence is and will always be flawed.

Usually, I post this video on Trinity Sunday, but since it references St. Patrick, I think it is also appropriate for today.

St. Patrickโ€™s Shamrock Analogy

Ash Wednesday 2022 โž•

Remember that dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Another Lent is upon us. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, and for the faithful, many will attend church and receive the imposition of ashes (have ashes drawn on their foreheads) as a sign of our own mortality and impermanence in this world. It also should remind us to be humble, that we are all are not masters of the universe, but a small cog in a complicated universe and often powerless against things beyond our control.

People observe Lent in different ways. Many people give up something for Lent, whether it be food, action, activity, or a material good. Something we can โ€œsacrificeโ€ as a sign of our faith. Some choose to use Lent as their โ€œsecond New Yearโ€™s Resolution.โ€ Traditionally, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the three pillars of Lent. Three things Christians should be doing regularly, but with particular emphasis during Lent.

Over the last two years, we have all given up a lot. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed many restrictions that forced us to give up things in life. I remember Lent 2020 was jokingly called โ€œthe Lentiest Lent.โ€ One of the things we gave up was interaction with our community. Humans are social creatures and we need social interaction (whether we admit it or not). With COVID restrictions being left and things resuming and opening up again, we are resuming activities that were not possible for the last two years. Sadly, the world has changed, the way we interact with others in community has changed, and it will take time for us to build those community connections and rapport before we can call things โ€œnormalโ€ again.

And just when things were about to get back to normal, Russia invaded Ukraine and the world is thrown into chaos again. Who could have imagined that parts of Europe would be at war again? Why are humans so good at destruction, conflict, and strife yet so bad at doing things for the common good?

During this Lent, I hope that you will reflect on what people around the world are giving up or have lost against their will and that we all pray for peace, that you are able to find peace within you (peace from all the stresses and uncertainties of the world), and peace beyond you (for peace from war and conflict as well as peace in the sense of harmony and tranquility) .

Happy Valentineโ€™s Day ๐Ÿ’˜

Today is the minor feast day of Saint Valentine, Bishop and Martyr, of the early Christian church. Tradition has it that he was executed on this day (think about that you lovers, blood is on your hands).

Whether you are in love, loved, lost love, or searching for love, remember that you are always loved by God, and as Whitney Houston sang, He will always love you!

Collect: O God, who didst bestow upon thy Saints such marvellous virtue, that they were able to stand fast, and have the victory against the world, the flesh, and the devil: Grant that we, who now commemorate thy Martyr Valentine, may ever rejoice in their fellowship, and also be enabled by thy grace to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold upon eternal life; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Merry Candlemas! ๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿ•ฏ

๐Ÿ•ฏToday is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

๐ŸŽ„The 40 days of Christmas is over.

In the past, I would have taken my candles to church to have them blessed for the coming year, but the cathedral has not resumed in person worship yet. #COVIDtide

My favourite canticle, the Nunc Dimittis or the Song of Simeon (often called โ€œThe Nuncโ€ by me), said/sung at Evening Prayer. According to Luke 2:25-32, Simeon was a devout Jew who had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem for the presentation and purification of Mary, Simeon was there, and he took Jesus into his arms, fulfilling Godโ€™s promise.

Collect of the Day: Almighty and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿ•ฏ๐Ÿ•ฏO Lord Jesus Christ, the true light of the world, presented at the Temple on this day, bring forth the light to end the perilous darkness of night in our lives, so thy love can shine by these candles before us, and mercifully grant, that our hearts may be purified by the brightness of the Holy Ghost. Through, Jesus Christ, the Son, who with the Father and Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon):
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, / according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, / Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, / and to be the glory of thy people Israel.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, / and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, / world without end. Amen.

Groundhog Day also occurs on the same day as Candlemas

Morning Prayer for the Fourth Sunday After Epiphany and the commemoration of Charles Stuart, King and Martyr, 1649

The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Psalms: 119, Pts 3 & 4

1st Lesson: Amos 7

2nd Lesson: John 7. 53 – 8. 11

Collect: O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect from the Sarum Missal: O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot stand upright, grant to us such health of mind and body, that by thy aid we may overcome those things which we suffer for our sins. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Charles the Martyr: O Lord we offer unto thee all praise and thanks for the glory of Thy grace that shined forth in Thine anointed servant Charles; and we beseech Thee to give us all grace that by a careful studious imitation of this Thy blessed Saint and Martyr, that we may be made worthy to receive benefit by his prayers, which he, in communion with the Church Catholic, offers up unto Thee for that part of it here Militant, through thy Son, our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

A Memorial Picture of Charles I, Oil on canvas

Morning Prayer for the Third Sunday After Epiphany

Morning Prayer for Epiphany 3

Continuing with โ€œChurch at Homeโ€ since in-person services continue to suspended within the Diocese.

The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Psalms: 95, 97

1st Lesson: Amos 5. 6-24

2nd Lesson: John 6. 41-end

Collect (being also the same as the Collect from the Sarum Missal): 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.

Morning Prayer for the First Sunday After Epiphany

Morning Prayer for Epiphany 1

Continuing with โ€œChurch at Homeโ€ since in-person services continue to suspended within the Diocese (but only in Nova Scotia) .

The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Psalms: 66

1st Lesson: Isaiah 42. 1-12

2nd Lesson: John 4. 1-26 (27-42)

Collect: O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which 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 fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epiphany Collect: O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, that we, who know thee now by faith, may be led onward through this earthly life, until we see the vision of thy heavenly glory; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who with thee and the Holy Ghost liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

Prayer in times of plague or sickness: O Almighty God, who in thy wrath didst send a plague upon thine own people in the wildernes for their obstinate rebellion against Moses and Aaron, and also in the time of King David, didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand, and yet remembering thy mercy didst save the rest: have pitie upon us miserable sinners, who now are visited with great sickness and mortality, that like as thou didst then accept of an atonement, and didst command the destroying Angel to cease from punishing: so it may now please thee to withdraw from us this plague and grievous sickness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning Prayer for the Second Sunday After Christmas

Merry Christmas! ๐ŸŽ„ Today being the Ninth Day of Christmas.

In-person services continue to suspended within the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Psalms: 132

1st Lesson: Isaiah 41. 21-end

2nd Lesson: 1 John 1. 1 – 2. 6

The Christmas Collect: Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure Virgin: Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Prayer in times of plague or sickness: O Almighty God, who in thy wrath didst send a plague upon thine own people in the wildernes for their obstinate rebellion against Moses and Aaron, and also in the time of King David, didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thousand, and yet remembering thy mercy didst save the rest: have pitie upon us miserable sinners, who now are visited with great sickness and mortality, that like as thou didst then accept of an atonement, and didst command the destroying Angel to cease from punishing: so it may now please thee to withdraw from us this plague and grievous sickness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning Prayer for the Second Sunday After Christmas