Good day,

This Wednesday, Nov.20 is the first Advent Zoom Bible Study. We will gather online at 7pm this Wednesday – and each Wednesday until Dec.18. Please email me (susan.montague2@gmail.com) if you’d like the Zoom invitation.

Advent Retreat this Saturday, November 23, 9am – noon at the Trinity Centre. The theme is “Advent: What Are We Waiting For? Refueling the Hope of the Thriving Early Church”.  There’ll be coffee and muffins waiting for you. Please bring your prayer journal with you (if you have one). We will be learning, praying, and reflecting on various ideas and scripture passages. See you there. 

Next Week:

Thursday, November 28, 11:30am at the Cathedral is the annual “corporate communion” for St. Andrew’s Day. All Anglican women are invited.

Christmas Market, Holy Trinity (Trinity Centre) on Saturday, November 30, 11am – 3pm. Chili lunch for just $7, crafts, jams & pickles, “new to you”, and a lot more!

In December: The Cathedral’s presentation of “Unto Us a Child is Born” is Sunday, Dec.8. The poster with more info is in last week’s post.

A Liturgical Note For You:

This coming Sunday is The Reign of Christ, the end of our Christian year. It is the final Sunday of the Season after Pentecost (Note that it is not the season of Pentecost – there is no such season. Why not? Because Pentecost is part of the season of Easter. Anyway…).  The Reign of Christ is the culmination of all that has come before and launches us into Advent with the passionate hope fuelled by the knowledge that Christ is, indeed, King of all things, reigning with Father and Holy Spirit, one God.  Sunday’s Gospel reading brings us back in time to the dramatic scene of Jesus being questioned by Pilate. Jesus is battered and bruised, on his knees before the representative of the Roman Empire. How could this possibly be the king we worship and await? We hear – and we clearly see – that God’s idea of power and kingship and kingdoms is NOT the same idea that humans hold of these things. Jesus tells us his kingdom is not of this world. Be careful with this phrase – especially if you are preaching. When John uses the word “world”, he is referring to the human-made additions to God’s good creation. The word “of” in Greek denotes origin and it means “from out, out from among, suggesting from the interior outwards.” So…what Jesus is telling us is that his kingdom, God’s kingdom, does not come from human-made institutions, organizations, and ideas of power/kingship. God’s kingdom rejects the human idea of power and embraces equality, love, compassion, forgiveness, and so on.  

For Your Devotions:

Monday, November 18th is the commemoration of Hilda, Abbess of Whitby, died 680.  Hilda was a Northumbrian princess raised, in exile, as a Roman Catholic. Although her family regained their throne, she chose to give up her wealth and status, adhering to “Celtic Christianity” and becoming the founder and abbess of the famous monastery at Whitby. The monastery became a centre of learning under Hilda’s guidance – her education and wisdom were legendary. The Celtic Christians observed Easter on a set date rather than always on Sunday like the Roman churches.  Consistency was desired in order to quell accusations of inauthenticity arising from those outside of Christianity (and for other reasons too).  The controversy was settled at a synod held at Hilda’s monastery.  She accepted the decision to observe Easter always on the Sunday (the first day of the week when Jesus was resurrected from the dead) and she encouraged unity over the need to be right. That’s a quality we still need more of these days too! See p.350 for more info:  http://c2892002f453b41e8581-48246336d122ce2b0bccb7a98e224e96.r74.cf2.rackcdn.com/ForAlltheSaints.pdf 

Tuesday, November 19th is the commemoration of Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary who died in 1231. Elizabeth was betrothed in infancy to Louis IV of Thuringia whom she married in 1221 when he acceded to the throne. He died of the plague 6 years later and Elizabeth took refuge from his brother by going to her uncle. She gave all of her wealth to a hospice she built for the sick and poor, dedicating the rest of her short life (she died when she was just 24) to those in need. For more info:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Elizabeth-of-Hungary

Wednesday, November 20th is the commemoration of Edmund, King of East Anglia, martyred in 869 or 870.  We don’t know much about Edmund but, the legend is, he was martyred by the Danes who had defeated him. He refused to renounce his faith or give his kingdom to the “heathens.” The details of his murder are rather gruesome…To learn more, go to p.354:  http://c2892002f453b41e8581-48246336d122ce2b0bccb7a98e224e96.r74.cf2.rackcdn.com/ForAlltheSaints.pdf  

Saturday, November 23rd is the commemoration of Clement of Rome who died around 100 AD.  Yes, I’ve said this before and I know I’m a “Church Geek” but, I find it really exciting to know I can read what was written by someone who almost certainly met Paul in Rome and probably even heard him preach! Clement’s letter to the Corinthians (yes, those Corinthians again) spelled out the church hierarchy and apostolic succession (that the bishops succeeded the apostles…i.e. taught what the apostles taught). Tradition has it that Clement was martyred by being tied to an anchor and then thrown into the sea. For more info, check this out: https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1-300/clement-of-rome-11629592.html