Hello! It’s a beautiful day out there. I hope you have a chance to get out and enjoy it.

There are no close events to announce so here’s a heads up for down the road:

Thursday, August 7, 4-5pm at the Trinity Centre is our next Prayer Study. We will be continuing our exploration of contemplative prayer and will participate in a meditation on the Holy Spirit. Hope to see you.

Another dancing “Fun”Raiser is coming your way! We’ll be having an evening of ballroom dancing in October at the Trinity Centre. I’ll provide the details when I know them.

A Liturgical Note For You:

Since, during this week the green of Ordinary Time is interrupted by a couple of different colours, I thought I’d refresh your memory on what these colours represent.

White: The Holy Day of Mary Magdalene is white because white is used for saints who were not martyrs. White is the symbol of the heavenly realm and God’s divine light. This is the colour of cleanliness, holiness and simplicity. On icons and frescoes, saints and righteous people are usually depicted clothed in white as righteous ones – people who were good, honest, and lived by “the Truth.” In the same manner, white was used in the swaddling bands of babies, the shrouds of the dead and the robes of angels. Only righteous souls were depicted as wearing white. For these reasons, white is the colour used for baptismal robes. Among other significances, we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ at our baptism. White is also the colour used at funerals, connecting this to our baptism and the victory we gained in Christ through the baptismal mystery.

Red: The Holy Day of James the Apostle is red because he was a martyr. Red is the colour of heat, passion, love, life and life-giving energy, and for this very reason red became the symbol of the resurrection – the victory of life over death. The Anglican Church also associates red with the Holy Spirit as “the Lord, the giver of life.”  But at the same time, it is the colour of blood and torments, and the color of Christ’s sacrifice. Martyrs are therefore depicted in red clothing on icons.  

Green: The rest of the week is green which is the colour of natural, living things. It is the color of grass and leaves, youth, flowering, hope, and eternal renovation. Ancient iconographers often painted the earth green to denote where life began – such as in scenes of the Annunciation and the Nativity. As we journey through Ordinary Time, hearing the stories of the growth of the early church which inform and nourish our own lives in the church, it makes sense, then, that the colour for this time is green.

For Your Devotions:

Tuesday, July 22nd is the Holy Day of St. Mary Magdalene. She is one of Jesus’ most celebrated disciples. In fact, in the tradition of the Eastern Church, Mary Magdalene is regarded as the equal of an apostle.  According to the Gospel of Luke, Jesus cured her of seven demons.  All four Gospel writers tell of her unwavering devotion to Jesus in staying with him while he hung on the cross and name Mary Magdalene as one of the women who went to the tomb early on Sunday morning. Both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of John say she was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection. Mary of Magdala was a devout and loyal follower of Jesus. She likely had money and influence since she is known as Mary of Magdala – or Mary Magdalene – rather than simply Mary. She was probably one of the wealthy women on whom Jesus and the other disciples depended for financial support as they travelled about the countryside. For more information:   https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Mary-Magdalene

Friday, July 25th is the Holy Day of St. James the Apostle.  James, his brother John (the sons of Zebedee), and Peter were the three disciples in Jesus’ inner circle. They witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration and went off alone with him in the Garden of Gethsemane.  James is the only apostle whose martyrdom is recorded in the New Testament (Acts 12:2) – he was beheaded at the order of King Herod in 44 AD. For more information: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-James-son-of-Zebedee

Saturday, July 26th is the commemoration of Anne, Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Although she is not mentioned in the canonical gospels, Anne is mentioned as Mary’s mother in some of the apocrypha (such as the Gospel of James) and in the Qur’an.  There are numerous fascinating stories about this woman including that Mary was born from a virgin birth just as Jesus was. For more information see p.224 here: https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/ForAlltheSaints.pdf  

In the joy of Christ,

Susan