THE SANCTUS BELL. St. Bride s Episcopal Church FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

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1 MARCH 2016 THE SANCTUS BELL St. Bride s Episcopal Church FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN This month I am continuing the series of articles in which I hope to clarify points raised in our parish survey. In this article I do not intend to try to change anyone s mind, as you each have a right to choose to worship within the boundaries set by the Episcopal Church (which are pretty broad). However, whether you love it or not, you should, as Episcopalians, understand the prayer known as the Angelus as it is prayed in Episcopal churches and in churches in the world- wide Anglican Communion of which the Episcopal church is a member. First let s look at the prayer as a whole, and then bit by bit. The major point that should leap out to us is that the verses are scriptural. The Cirst verse, Luke 1:26-28, is a basic statement of our belief in the Incarnation. If you can t say this and mean it, then you are negating a fundamental aspect of our faith. The Angel of the Lord brought tidings to Mary And she conceived by the Holy Ghost The second verse, Luke 1:38, is a review of Mary s response to God s call. We have heard many sermons on Mary s example to us in saying Yes to God. This verse is her yes. Behold the handmaid of the Lord Be it unto me according to thy word. The third verse is from the Prologue of St. John. The Prologue is read at the end of every Eucharist in some Episcopal churches. In others, like St. Bride s it is read on specicic occasions. We all know it, it starts: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word was made Glesh and dwelt among us. If we say that we are Bible believers we should have no problem with any of these verses. Next let s look at the Hail Mary part of the Angelus. First, this is a greeting to Mary from God as conveyed by the Angel Gabriel. Many of our hymns use this same incident as text. Think of The Angel Gabriel from Heaven came # 265 and The Word whom earth and sea and sky # 264. The completion of the phrase is: FULL OF GRACE, THE LORD IS WITH THEE: Mary is full of Grace, not on her own account or her own merit, but BECAUSE God is with her. Elizabeth s greeting to the Virgin Mary follows. BLESSED ART THOU AMONG WOMEN AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB, JESUS: Elizabeth wonders And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? We know the story of Mary and Elizabeth and we can certainly understand that Mary is blessed among women because she has responded with a yes to the difcicult task God has given her. The next statement: HOLY MARY, MOTHER OF GOD is just a reiteration of who Mary is, a person set aside to be the mother of Jesus.

2 I am guessing that the upcoming phrase is a difcicult one for many parishioners. Let s start with the some basic questions. In discussing the Angelus with others I have found that if an individual answers No to these questions then the Angelus will be uncomfortable for them, as they are not in the habit of this sort of intercessory prayer. Here are the questions; 1. Do you ever ask others to pray for you? 2. Do you ever ask Saints for intercession? St. Jude for an impossible cause, St. Joseph in helping to sell a house, St. Christopher for safety in travel, St. Valentine for true love. (Yes, I do know that Mr. Christopher and Mr. Valentine are now considered holy legends- but they make really good examples in this case!) 3. Do you ever talk to your dead relatives? Do you ask Mom, What would you do in this case? or Uncle Jack, I now understand the problems you were facing and I am facing them as well, please give me guidance. For those who do not participate in this sort of prayer, then a prayer invoking anyone, including the Virgin Mary, as an intercessor will be difcicult and the Angelus may not be comfortable for you. The last phrase, is PRAY FOR US SINNERS, NOW AND AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH. By asking Mary to pray for us, especially at hour of our death, we are reminded that she was with Jesus at his death on the cross and we are asking her to be with us as a Mother would, and be a comfort to us at our time of death. The next couplet is the second place I think most people have a problem with the Angelus. PRAY FOR US, O HOLY MOTHER OF GOD THAT WE MAY BE MADE WORTHY OF THE PROMISES OF CHRIST. This is where the Protestant and Catholic natures of the Episcopal church collide. Are we saved by Jesus sacricice no matter what we do or don t do, or are we sinful in nature and therefore in need of repentance to claim the full promises of Christ. What a difcicult concept to wrap our heads around. I Cind this explanation on the issue from Carol Ann Morrow, a religious writer and editor, something that makes sense to me. So I ve taken to this way of thinking: I describe myself right before Communion as unworthy ( O Lord, I am not worthy ). Then Jesus says the word (Word) and, voilà, I am worthy. When I pray, That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ, I remember, rejoice and reposition my spiritual self in a state of undeserved but much prized worthiness. The Ginal prayer in the Angelus the Collect for the Feast of the Annunciation. It is found in The Book of Common Prayer on page 240. The Annunciation March 25 Pour your grace into our hearts, O Lord, that we who have known the incarnation of your Son Jesus Christ, announced by an angel to the Virgin Mary, may by his cross and passion be brought to the glory of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen. One last point. Often there is a fear that we are offering adoration or worship to Mary. In the preface to the Angelus in the Anglican Service Book (which along with the St. Augustine Prayer Book is authorized for supplemental use) it states the following: The councils of the undivided Church encourage the faithful to venerate and emulate the saints of the Christian family, and this is supremely true of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Adoration, however, is due only to the Holy Trinity and devotion to the saints is supplementary to the worship of the one, true, living God. I hope that no matter how you personally feel about the Angelus, you now have a better understanding of it. Mary Lovell

3 Vestry Highlights - The Vestry worked on formatting questions for the next parish survey. The survey will be available around Easter. Please turn in your Easter Flower dedications to the church office no later than Sunday, March 13th so that they may be in the bulletin on Easter Sunday. - The Senior Warden has spoken to Fr. Spear - Jones concerning our search timeline. Fr. Spear - Jones will be retiring this spring. The Vestry will be meeting with his replacement, Fr. Charles Robinson. - Additional scout groups have asked to us the building. The Vestry has approved such use pending scheduling. - David Greenfield, Jr. Warden, is working with a roofer to repair our leaks. A big thank you to those of you who contributed to St. Matthew s Food Closet. The items donated assist parishioners from both parishes. Update on Fr. Stephen The lady wilma was so emaciated from kidney disease that she had to be put to sleep last week. Fr. Stephen is missing his purring companion. His friend Kevin is here this week to help with handyman stuff as Fr. Stephen s house is on the market. Fr. Stephen goes to California next week to find a new pad! As soon as he has an address we will share it. Fr. Stephen will be visiting a priest friend and wife for Holy Week and will spend Easter week in NYC with his sisters. The Following week he will meet with movers and head west. He expects additional chemo in California. Many thanks to Mark Sayers who is installing assist bars in the men s and ladies rooms. Thanks for giving our folks a boost!

4 Horatio s Corner Dear Friends, I sincerely thank the Social Committee for the scrumptious suppers they are preparing for the Lenten Program each Sunday night. The Stations of the Cross are as meaningful as always and then after a delicious supper there is a wonderful program that shows Jerusalem as it was at the time of Jesus and the events of his ministry as well as the Jerusalem of today, going back and forth from one time frame to the other without break. It is most effective and thought provoking. I mentioned in my last writing to you that I was practically out of crumbs in my pantry and now I am happy to report that it is slowly filling up again. Along with thanking the Social Committee for the Sunday Night suppers, I thank God from the bottom of my heart for all the other people of St. Bride who are keeping things going while we are between Rectors. Our ministry is continuing, each Sunday the Altar Party serves, the organ is played, the choir sings and God is praised and worshipped by the faithful in the pews, a Mass for Healing happens each Wednesday and the Vestry meets each month and makes plans for the future. I pray we will all be faithful to our duties during this time. Even this humble Churchmouse has a duty to perform and a part to play in the life of our church. I must say how much I am enjoying the familiar (and even the unfamiliar) Lenten hymns. I am particularly fond of all the Forty Days ones. Does anybody miss the Alleluias in the Mass and in the hymns? I certainly do. By the time Easter gets here, we will all be ready to sing loud Alleluias with vim, vigor and vitality! I look forward to the day. Keeping on Worshipping and Praising, Horatio L. N. Churchmouse, A.O.A.C.M.+

5 Holy Week Schedule March 20th - Palm Sunday Low Mass /Fr. Edwards Palm Sunday with Procession at /Fr. Edwards March 23rd - Low Mass with Healing - 9:00 AM/ Fr. Gilman March 24th - Maundy Thursday - Church open for personal prayer 10:00 AM - Noon/ Ring door bell for entry. - Maundy Thursday High Mass with Procession to the Altar of Repose/ Fr. Edwards - Altar of the Repose 9:00 PM - 6:00 AM - Come spend one quiet our with our Lord. (Mary Lovell will be in the building for security.) March 25th - Good Friday - Church open for personal prayer 10:00 AM - Noon/ Ring door bell for entry - Stations of the Cross - No Services on Holy Saturday March 27th - Easter Sunday - Low Mass - Reception with Easter Bread and Pascha/ Fr. Edwards - High Mass - Reception with Easter Bread and Pascha/ Fr. Edwards

6 Prayer Chain The Vestry has approved the start of a parish prayer chain to be administered primarily by . All Contacts will be via unless you do not use a computer. For those who do not use a computer, please contact Jane in the office. She will notify Kirke of a prayer need. We have dedicated pray-ers who are faithful in holding up to God those prayer requests. This is an opportunity for requesting intentional prayer, in addition to the Prayers of the People, during our Masses. The list of prayer requests and updates will go out weekly, unless there is an emergency need. Guidelines are: - Send prayer requests to Kirke White s kirke231@gmail.com - If you would like to join these intercessors, please send your address or if you have no , give Kirke your phone number; - We can be as descriptive as we want in our requests but one can also simply request anonymous prayer if preferred; - The prayer requests can be for parish members or for family or friends. A big thank you to the Girl Scouts who will be donating 250 sandwiches to the sandwich ministry during the month of March! Your generosity will go a long way to help feed our hungry neighbors.

7 March Calendar of Events Wednesday, March 2 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Smith Thursday, March 3 6:30 AM Men s Breakfast Sunday, March 6 4 Lent 9:10 AM 5 PM - 7 PM Low Mass/Fr. Edwards Adult Formation Lenten Program Wednesday, March 9 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Eidam Thursday, March 10 Sunday, March 13 5 Lent 9:10 AM 5 PM - 7 PM Low Mass/Fr. Edwards Adult Formation Lenten Program Wednesday, March 16 Thursday, March 17 Friday, March 18 - Saturday, March 19 Sunday, March 20 Palm Sunday 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Eidam Vestry Sandwich Ministry Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards Wednesday, March 23 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Gilman Thursday, March 24 Maundy Thursday Friday, March 25 Good Friday 10 AM - Noon 8:30 PM - 6 AM 10 AM - Noon Church open for Individual Prayers High Mass with Procession to the Altar of Repose/Fr. Edwards Vigil at the Altar of Repose Church Open for Individual Prayers Stations of the Cross Sunday, March 27 Easter Sunday Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards High Mass with Flowering of the Cross/ Fr. Edwards Wednesday, March 30 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Gilman Thursday, March 31

8 April Calendar of Events Sunday, April 3 2 Easter Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards Wednesday, April 6 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Smith Thursday, April 7 6:30 AM Men s Breakfast Sunday, April 10 3 Easter Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards Wednesday, April 13 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Eidam Thursday, April 14 Friday, April 15 - Saturday, April 16 Sandwich Ministry Sunday, April 17 4 Easter Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards Wednesday, April 20 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Smith Vestry Thursday, April 21 Sunday, April 24 5 Easter Low Mass High Mass Wednesday, April 27 9:00 AM Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Alexander Thursday, April 28

9 March Birthdays & Anniversaries 04 - Kathy Gower, Steven Anderson 07- Stephen Brathwaite 11- Pete McCoy, Jr Tiffy Koslow 15 - MaryAnn Corcoran 21 - Ben Williams 23 - Aubrey Sutter 28 - Julia Consolvo 29 - Everette Floyd 30 - Ted Zepnikowski Anniversaries 05 - Steve and Florence Cupschalk 14 - Lynne and Bob Jonas Hampton Roads Anglo-Catholic Parish St. Bride s 621 N. Sparrow Road Sundays Wednesdays Low High 10:30 Low Mass with prayers for 9:00 AM Holy Days As Announced Chesapeake, VA Office Phone: (757) stbrideschurch@gmail.com Website: Facebook: St. Bride s Anglo- Catholic Parish Hampton Roads Fr. William C. Hoffman, Rector Emeritus Mr. Ralph Spoettle, Organist/ master Mary Lovell Swetnam, Sr. Warden

10 Our Mission Statement VESTRY Sr. Warden Mary Lovell Swetnam Jr. Warden David Greenfield 2016 Mary Lovell Swetnam Mark Sayers Mary Zepnikowski 2017 Robert W. Byles 2018 Steve Anderson Mike Bryant David Greenfield St. Bride s witnesses to the Catholic faith as practiced in the Anglican tradition. This includes living within the Catholic pattern of worship, doctrine and action; making full use of the Book of Common Prayer; and basing our spiritual life in the threefold rule of prayer - Holy Eucharist (Mass), Daily Office, and personal devotions. We strive for a strong and full Christian life - in liturgy, service, evangelization, justice, spiritual formation and parish fellowship. We seek revitalization of ourselves and invite others to share in this renewal based upon practical application of the Catholic faith to contemporary needs. SAINT BRIDE S CHURCH 621 N. Sparrow Road Chesapeake, VA Address Correction Requested St. Bride s is thankful for Time Sensitive - Please Expedite