Good day,

Happy Christmas Season!! 

What’s going on around here? Well…

Prayer Study: Every Thursday in January, 4-5pm in the Trinity Centre. We’ll discuss, reflect, and practice various aspects of prayer. Don’t worry if you missed the first one (the weather was horrible that day), please join us this Thursday. 

Guild of St. Joseph Breakfast, Saturday, January 11, 9:30am in the Trinity Centre.

Lenten Retreat: Saturday, March 1, 9:30am – noon in the Trinity Centre. We’ll reflect on what the purpose of Lent/Lenten practices are for us; we’ll engage in scripture study and reflection, and, hopefully, renew our spiritual energy.

Lenten Bible Studies on Zoom: every Monday through Lent, 7-8pm. (The practice will usually be to study the Gospel for the upcoming Sunday but we can also address any questions that have come up for you from hearing the Gospel on the Sunday the day before the study). 

 A Liturgical Note for You:

What is a Christmas Feria?:  Each day on the calendar that is not assigned a feast, memorial, or commemoration is called a ferial day. Right now each of these days is a “Christmas Feria”.  The Holy Day of the Baptism of the Lord (Sunday, Jan.12) marks the end of the Christmas season and the creche is removed from the church after the liturgy is finished.  After that, the colour becomes green for Ordinary Time (ordered time) and we order each Sunday as a “Sunday After the Epiphany” until the last Sunday before Ash Wednesday. Of course, there is one exception this year – February 2nd (The Holy Day of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple) actually falls on a Sunday this year (and takes precedence over the usual Sunday liturgy) and so the liturgical colour is white that day. 

Today is the Epiphany, the day when the wisemen came to worship the new king of the world, symbolizing the inclusivity of the Gospel for every nation. Do you know about Epiphany House Blessings? Traditionally chalk is blessed at this service to be used to bless homes by chalking a blessing above the main door of worshipers’ homes. If you’re interested in learning more, the Diocese of Montreal provides a “do it yourself” blessing leaflet at www.montrealcathedral.ca/2016/01/epiphany-prayer-for-home-blessing-chalking-the-door 

Just so you’re not confused by seeing older numbers on their website, what we would write this year, for 2025, would be 20 + C + M + B + 25.  The + is a cross and the letters stand for Christus Mansionem Benedicat (Christ Bless this House).  

One last thing…under no circumstances is the Epiphany ever moved to the Sunday after January 6. This Sunday is always The Baptism of the Lord. This year it is Sunday, January 12.

The Holy Day of The Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the time called “Christmastide”. This event was originally celebrated on the same day as the Epiphany. In fact, in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches, Jesus’ baptism remains the integral part of their celebration on January 6th called the Great Feast of the Theophany. Why is it such a big deal? This feast reveals the Holy Trinity to the world…God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by Saint John the Forerunner, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. And, Jesus’ baptism holds great significance for us as his disciples.  Perhaps you have noticed that the prayers of the people in the BAS for Christmas (the Litany for the Incarnation on page 120) contains the story arc for our salvation in Christ Jesus beginning with the announcement to Mary and ending with Jesus’ baptism in the river Jordan. Then we pray for God’s kingdom to become the kingdom on earth.  Like the prayers for Advent, there is transformational theology present in our prayers.  Part of our ongoing transformation into the likeness of Christ happens when we pray these prayers together throughout the Christmas season so let us not be quick to discard them as “boring”.  Remember, petitions can be added to the prayers in the BAS.  Here is what the Russian Orthodox church has to say about baptism: “It was the will of God that all who wished to become members of the grace-filled Messianic Kingdom should be baptized. Baptism took on the meaning of a “door” into the Kingdom of God. As the progenitor of the new mankind that was restored by Him, Jesus Christ was due to enter first into the Kingdom which He was establishing, to open the way to salvation for people, and to teach them to fulfill the will of God. Simultaneously, the Saviour’s immersion in water at the moment of His baptism also had the aim to sanctify baptism, to turn this symbolic rite into a grace-filled, restorative Christian sacrament.”  To read more: http://www.holy-transfiguration.org/library_en/lord_xmas_bapt.html

For Your Devotions:

Friday, January 10th is the commemoration of William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, who died in 1645.   Laud, religious advisor to Charles I, was both brilliant and austere. He wasn’t well liked – even by those who agreed with him, but much of the way our church looks and functions is thanks to Laud’s innovations and adherence to the regulations of the church. For example, it was Laud who introduced altar rails. Why? you may ask. Because the local dogs were wandering into the church and, well, um, you know. Also, clerics were using the Holy Table as a desk when it wasn’t in use for Holy Eucharist. Love him or hate him, Laud truly loved God and the Church.  He was eventually beheaded during the Civil War…his persecution of the Puritans came back to bite him. For more:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-Laud

Saturday, January 11th is the Holy Day of The Holy Innocents. You may have celebrated this already on December 28th since this is the alternate date. Regardless, here is the low-down once again…

This is the remembrance of the innocent children slaughtered in Bethlehem on the order of King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill Jesus. This feast most likely originally shared the day of The Epiphany but eventually was designated its own day of observance.  It was a day of fasting and mourning. In fact, in medieval England, children were reminded of the solemnity of the day by being whipped in bed.  What a way to start your day!  For more info:  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Feast-of-the-Holy-Innocents

In the joy of Christ,

Susan