Good day and Happy Thanksgiving!

This Friday, 11am at St. Luke’s Cathedral, is a special Holy Eucharist: It is a National ACW Communion Service. The National President of the ACW will be there.

Wednesday, October 18th is the next Holy Eucharist to be celebrated in the Lady Chapel at Bishophurst, 7pm.

All Saints’ Day Evening Prayer on Zoom! Jay and I will be leading a service of Evening Prayer on November 1, 7pm. More info to follow. 

Since it is a holiday, I’m not going to include a liturgical teaching. However, I thought you may like to know about the possible Christian roots of the superstition surrounding Friday the 13th as we approach one on our calendar.

This fear of “13” and of “Friday the 13th” has been around for so many centuries that we actually are not sure when it started. Western Christian culture has long associated the number “12” with completeness: the 12 tribes of Israel, the 12 days of Christmas, the 12 apostles, and so on (there are other non-Christian examples too, such as the 12 zodiac signs and 12 months in a year).  Its successor, “13”, has gotten a bad reputation. Fear of the number 13 even has a name: triskaidekaphobia. Judas is considered to have been the 13th guest at the meal we call “the Last Supper” and, of course, we all know that Judas betrayed Jesus and Jesus ended up being killed on the Friday. Many Christians therefore have held the unwritten belief that having 13 guests at a dinner is a bad thing – that it is courting death. Better be careful with your number of guests at your Thanksgiving dinner this evening! 

On that note, here is a prayer for Thanksgiving you may consider using:

God of heaven and earth, we sing of your bounty and your goodness in the abundant harvest, in the changing seasons, and in the wonder of nature. With generous hearts, may we share what we have received with those who have little, so that none may hunger or thirst and all may know your wide justice; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Your Devotions:

Tuesday, October 10th is the commemoration of Paulinus, First Bishop of York, Missionary, died 644.  In 601, Paulinus – a Roman monk – was sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. He was made a bishop and set off for Northumbria. The life of an Archbishop in England was a lot different back then – Paulinus did convert the king of Northumbria (Edwin) and many others but then fled to Kent when Edwin was murdered by Anglo-Saxon kings bent on destroying the newly founded church. Never a dull moment…For more information check out p.300 here: http://c2892002f453b41e8581-48246336d122ce2b0bccb7a98e224e96.r74.cf2.rackcdn.com/ForAlltheSaints.pdf 

Friday, October 13th is the commemoration of Edward the Confessor, King of England, who died in 1066. Edward was king from 1042 until his death. His reign was peaceful and prosperous – which is saying a lot for that time in history! Edward spent a lot of time in church, confessing his sins, which is why he earned the name of Confessor. For more information: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/edward_confessor.shtml.  For an interesting legend about Edward meeting St. John the Evangelist, check this out: http://www.mercedesrochelle.com/wordpress/?p=383

In thanksgiving for God’s abundant gifts,

Susan