Hello,

Lenten Lunches continue Wednesday through Lent…12-1pm at Christ Church.

Zoom Bible Studies also continue through Lent; Mondays, 7-8:15pm. Same link each week. (Send me an email if you’d like to join us but don’t have the link: susan.montague2@gmail.com)

A Liturgical Note For You:

Well, there’s a lot to say about the week leading up to the Day of Resurrection so let’s start now with a little at a time…

The Sunday of the Passion, with the Liturgy of the Palms:  Perhaps you are wondering why we read the Passion Narrative on the Sunday before Good Friday and then we read it again on Good Friday.  People who do not know the liturgical history of this practice speculate that perhaps we read the Passion on the Sunday for all of those people who don’t show up to the worship service on the Friday. Nope. This Sunday is named “The Sunday of the Passion, with the Liturgy of the Palms” in order to reflect the fact that the Passion actually dominates the liturgy for this day. The palms may seem to be the main part of the worship since we sing, and process, and wave palm branches around. It is highly recommended that, whenever possible, this part of the service (The Liturgy of the Palms) take place somewhere other than the church itself...perhaps outdoors if weather permits, perhaps in the church hall, or even at the back of the church (if there is room) and then everyone would process to their seats in the church behind the altar party when the Liturgy of the Passion begins. 

The Liturgy of the Palms was first introduced by the Jerusalem Church in the late 300’s but the western church did not begin celebrating this liturgy until some time in the 600’s – and they changed it from an evening procession around the city into a morning procession into the church.  

More next time…

For Your Devotions:

Tuesday, March 25th is the Holy Day of the Annunciation of the Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the day that the angel, Gabriel, announced to Mary that God had chosen her to bear the Saviour of the world. Her humble and willing acceptance of this role is also celebrated and is set before us as an example. This date – nine months before Christmas – was in place by the seventh century.  It is interesting to note the differing attitudes toward this day among the various denominations…The Roman Catholic Church views it as a solemn feast in honour of Mary; the Lutheran Church names it a festival.  The Anglican Church calls it a “principal feast” and follows the Orthodox Church in viewing the day not primarily as a feast in honour of Mary but rather of Jesus Christ on the day of his incarnation. For more information, check out For All the Saints, pp.124-5… https://c2892002f453b41e8581-48246336d122ce2b0bccb7a98e224e96.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/ForAlltheSaints.pdf

Thursday, March 27th is the commemoration of Charles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Philippines and of Western New York, died 1929.  Charles was an early leader of the ecumenical movement seeking to reconcile the divided Church (and he was Canadian). Here’s a great quotation of his: “The unity of Christendom is not a luxury, but a necessity. The world will go limping until Christ’s prayer that all may be one is answered. We must have unity, not at all costs, but at all risks. A unified Church is the only offering we dare present to the coming Christ, for in it alone will He find room to dwell.” His leadership helped bring about the first Faith and Order Conference in 1925 which eventually led to the establishment of the World Council of Churches. For 17 years, as the Bishop of the Philippines, Charles brought the gospel to the people and worked tirelessly to end opium trafficking.  For more info: http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Charles_Brent.htm

Saturday, March 29th is the commemoration of John Keble, Priest, died 1866.  Keble was dissatisfied that the church had become, in his opinion, a mere institution of society rather than the prophetic voice of God. He was a professor of poetry at Oxford but became known for his leadership of the “Oxford Movement” which looked back to the beginnings of the Christian Church for guidance in matters of faith and order especially emphasizing the Anglican Church’s continuance of traditions concerning the episcopate, priests, and the sacraments. This marked a revival in Anglicanism of the beauty of the ceremony and symbol of the Anglican liturgy. To read more:  http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/123.html

In the hope of Christ,

Susan