Hello,

Sorry, this post is late but I’m still having trouble getting into the rhythm of sending it out on Fridays (especially when travelling or busy doing other things.) I’m going to write myself a huge reminder note. Anyway…

Algoma Deanery Council Tonight: Monday, May 25, 7pm on Zoom.

In Person Easter Book Study: The Meal that Jesus Gave Us: Understanding Holy Communion by N.T. Wright. Tuesday, May 26 at 4:30pm in the Trinity Centre.

Next Movie Night: Friday, May 29, 6pm in the Trinity Centre, “Wild Hogs” starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, and William H. Macy

Friday, June 5: $5 Monthly Meal. 5pm for take-out and 5:30pm for eating in. We’ll be having meatloaf, rice, vegetables, and squares for dessert. Email susan.montague2@gmail.com to order.

Yard Sale!! We’re moving and you can benefit. We have all sorts of treasures up for grabs from various households being downsized or purged. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 20, 8am – noon at the Trinity Centre. 

A Liturgical Note For You:   A Refresher Plus…Avoiding Heresy on Trinity Sunday?

First the refresher:

The Principal Feast of the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost comes from Greek and means the fiftieth day. We celebrate it, therefore, on the 50^th day following the day of resurrection. It is the day when, in Luke’s account, the disciples were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many people were then inspired, by Peter’s speech explaining this strange experience, to be baptized and follow the way of Jesus Christ. This is why Pentecost is designated as a day especially appropriate for baptisms. If nobody is being baptized, we renew our baptismal vows as part of the Sunday worship. In Jewish history, Pentecost (Shavuot) was primarily celebrated as a day of thanksgiving for the first fruits of the harvest and so Christianity’s use of the same festival name indicates the view that, for Christians, the giving of the Holy Spirit is the first fruits of a new God-given system of ordering our lives that fulfills the Law.

Ember Days Following Pentecost: The English title for these days, “Ember,” is derived from their Latin name: Quatuor Temporum, meaning the “Four Times” or “Four Seasons.” How this came about is actually not certain – in the early church there were only three Ember seasons. Today, these four “times” are set apart for special prayer and fasting and for the ordination of clergy.

Trinity Sunday. It is a Principal Feast in our Church. Here is what Britannica had to say…  Feast of the Holy Trinity, also called Trinity Sunday, is a feast in honour of the Trinity. It is celebrated in the Christian churches on the Sunday following Pentecost (the 50th day of Easter). It is known that the feast was celebrated on this day from as early as the 10th century. Celebration of the feast gradually spread in the churches of northern Europe, and in 1334 Pope John XXII approved it for the entire church.

Where does the heresy come in? Have you ever tried to describe what the Trinity is? Most people I know use the concept of water in different forms…liquid, solid (ice), and gas (steam). The problem is, this is one substance presenting itself in three forms. Why is this a problem? Because, as Christians, we profess that God is three distinct persons – not one person in three different forms. Sabellianism is the heresy that denies the eternal distinction among the Persons of the Trinity which are central to our faith as expressed in the creeds. While it does preserve the unity of God, it conflicts with the biblical witness to three co-eternal Persons. Sabellianism is a modalistic view of God that emphasizes divine unity at the expense of the distinct, co-eternal Persons of the Trinity and so it has been historically condemned. But how do we describe God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in terms of both unity and totally distinct persons? It is a unique situation that seems to defy human description but we do our best. If anyone comes up with a way to say it that isn’t heretical, let me know. 

For Your Devotions: 

Tuesday, May 25th is the commemoration of Bede, Priest, Monk of Jarrow, Historian and Educator, died 735.  He is also called The Venerable Bede and is known as the Father of English History. He wrote or translated about 40 books on practically every subject you can think of. (I had to read his works for my studies in Old English) His most famous work is The Ecclesiastical History of the English People which provides crucial information on the history of conversion to Christianity of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. In addition, Bede was an ordained priest, studied scripture extensively, lived according to monastic disciplines, and sung the daily offices without fail. Surprisingly, for such a well-known scholar, it appears that Bede never left the small geographical area around the two monasteries where he grew up (other than a very occasional visit to Lindisfarne and York). For more info:  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Bede-the-Venerable 

Wednesday, May 26 is the memorial of Augustine of Canterbury, 1st Archbishop of Canterbury, died 604 (transferred from Sunday). Augustine is thought to have been born in Rome. He was the prior of the Benedictine monastery in that city until 596 when Pope Gregory the Great sent Augustine with 40 monks into the mostly pagan land of England. This was a very dangerous situation and Augustine turned back. Bolstered by Gregory’s letters of support, Augustine landed in England in the spring of 597 – his presence and work established Canterbury as the point of union for the eventual world-wide Anglican Communion and he is now known as the Apostle to England. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Augustine-of-Canterbury

Thursday, May 27th is the commemoration of John Charles Roper, Archbishop of Ottawa, died 1940. The Archbishop was not only a great scholar but was also able to put his ideas into action. He was highly influential in the Anglican Church during the Prayer Book reform of 1918, the depression of the 1930’s, and at the Lausanne Conference on Faith and Order in 1927 (which was a step towards the foundation of the World Council of Churches). He was deeply devoted to prayer and provided an amazing example as he readily shared his spiritual gifts. For more info…  https://friardavidop.blogspot.com/2010/05/john-charles-roper.html

Saturday, May 30th is the commemoration of Roberta Elizabeth Tilton, the founder of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Canadian Church. Roberta Elizabeth was born into a world where women did not have the right to vote and, in fact, were not legally considered persons. They were not even allowed to have a bank account.  I am thankful for women like her!  She was a champion not only for women but also worked endlessly against all ills in society…  https://www.acwcanada.com/our-history.html

In the joy of the risen Christ,

Susan