JANUARY 2016 THE SANCTUS BELL. St. Bride s Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 JANUARY 2016 THE SANCTUS BELL St. Bride s Episcopal Church From the Senior Warden Upcoming Events Since we as a parish are beginning to explore who we are and what we want in a new Rector, I thought it might be helpful to use this column to clarify some of the questions that are beginning to emerge in our discussions. The first theme will be what we are as Episcopalians. This answer comes from the Episcopal Church headquarters and can be found at library.episcopalchurch.org/article/whatmakes-us-anglican. It discusses the terms, Episcopal, Anglican and Catholic and is very clear about our use of each of those terms. Mary Lovell The Episcopal Church, having its roots in the Church of England, is also an Anglican Church. Like all Anglican churches, the Episcopal Church is distinguished by the following characteristics: Protestant, yet Catholic Anglicanism stands squarely in the Reformed tradition, yet considers itself just as directly descended from the Early Church as the Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox churches. Episcopalians celebrate the "Mass" in ways similar to the Roman Catholic tradition, yet do not recognize a single authority, such as the Pope of Rome. Worship in one's first language Episcopalians believe that Christians should be able to worship God and read the Bible in their first language, which for most Episcopalians, is English, rather than Latin or Greek, the two earlier, "official" languages of Christianity. Yet the Book of Common Prayer has been translated into m a n y l a n g u a g e s, s o t h a t t h o s e Episcopalians who do not speak English can still worship God in their native tongue. The Book of Common Prayer Unique to Anglicanism, though, is the Book of Common Prayer, the collection of worship services that all worshipers in an Anglican church follow. It's called "common prayer" because we all pray it together, around the world. The first Book of Common Prayer was compiled in English by Thomas Cranmer in the 16th Century, and since then has undergone many revisions for different times and places. But its original purpose has remained the same: To provide in one place the core of the instructions and rites for Anglican Christians to worship together. The present prayer book in the Episcopal Church was published in Many other worship resources and prayers exist to enrich our worship, but the Book of Common Prayer is the authority that governs our worship. The prayer book explains Christianity, describes the main beliefs of the Church, outlines the requirements for the sacraments, and in general serves as the main guidelines of the Episcopal life. Scripture, Tradition, and Reason The Anglican approach to reading and interpreting the Bible was first articulated by Richard Hooker, also in the 16th Century. While Christians universally acknowledge the Bible (or the Holy Scriptures) as the Word of God and completely sufficient to our reconciliation to God, what the Bible says must always speak to us in our own time and place. 1/3 2 Christmas 1/6 The Epiphany Mass Mass 1/10 1 Epiphany 1/17 2 Epiphany 1/24 3 Epiphany 1/31 4 Epiphany

2 The Church, as a worshiping body of faithful people, has for two thousand years amassed experience of God and of loving Jesus, and what they have said to us through the centuries about t h e B i b l e i s c r i t i c a l t o o u r understanding it in our own context. The traditions of the Church in interpreting Scripture connect all generations of believers together and give us a starting point for our own understanding. Episcopalians believe that every C h r i s t i a n m u s t b u i l d a n understanding and relationship with God's Word in the Bible, and to do that, God has given us intelligence and our own experience, which we refer to as "Reason." Based on the text of the Bible itself, and what Christians have taught us about it through the ages, we then must sort out our own understanding of it as it relates to our own lives. Seaman s Sack A big thank you from the Norfolk Seaman s friend society and the seamen receiving seaman sacks. Your generosity helped bring happiness for those far away from home and family at this time of the year. Ordo Kalendars The 2016 Ordo Kalendars are avai lable for 3 dol lars each. Please leave 3 dollars in envelope on the bulletin board and pick up your Kalendar on the book case. We are excited to announce the arrival of Elliot Lyon Davis, first grandchild of Fr. Ted Edwards! A big thanks to those of you made and delivered sandwiches this past year! Dining Out The next dining out event will be held on January 17 at a Surf Rider Restaurant to be announced. Please stay tuned for details!

3 Horatio s Corner Dear Friends, It s coming down to the end of Advent now and it s so wonderful to hear the Advent hymns, fill the Crèche Sunday by Sunday and light the candles in the Advent Wreath. I was glad to hear Fr. Ted tell everybody that it was a good Advent Discipline to use the Advent Wreath at home for Advent devotions. I plan on doing for sure next Advent. I am keeping Fr. Powers in my daily prayers and hope that all of St. Brides is doing the same. While I do miss him, I am impressed with the supply priests we re having and thank God daily that they come and Celebrate Mass for us. I also am pleased to once again come to hear Morning Prayer and what a blessing that Mr. Byles does such a good job. It s so nice to hear the Canticles sung once again. I know that I am not the only one who will sorely miss the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, but once again am so thankful that we can have a Christmas Eve Mass on Christmas Eve. Doing without things I ve come to take for granted is a good thing, I m convinced. I hope I will appreciate the Midnight Mass the next time are privileged to have it! It seems that I keep thinking of things to be thankful for and one more is the dedicated people who work to keep St. Bride s open and worshipping God, especially with our prayers and our attendance. I wish you all a Blessed Advent and look forward to seeing each and every one of our parishioners here at St. Bride s during the upcoming Christmas Season! Our King and Saviour Draweth Nigh, O Come Let Us Adore Him, Horatio L. N. Churchmouse, A.O.A.C.M.+

4 January Calendar of Events Friday, January 1 New Years Day/Office Closed Sunday, January 3 2 Christmas Low Mass/ Fr. Gilman High Mass/ Fr. Gilman Wednesday, January 6 The Epiphany Thursday, January 7 6:30 AM Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Smith Solemn High Mass/Fr. Smith Men s Breakfast Sunday, January 10 1 Epiphany Wednesday, January 13 Fr. Eidam Thursday, January 14 Friday January 15 - Saturday January 16 Low Mass/Fr. Gilman High Mass/Fr. Gilman Low Mass with Healing Sandwich Ministry Sunday, January 17 2 Epiphany Wednesday, January 20 Thursday, January 21 Sunday, January 24 3 Epiphany Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Smith Vestry Sanctus Bell Deadline Wednesday, January 27 Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Eidam Thursday, January 28 Sunday, January 31 4 Epiphany

5 February Calendar of Events Wednesday, February 3 Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Smith Thursday, February 4 6:30 AM 7:00 AM 7:30 AM Men s Breakfast Sunday, February 7 Last Sunday After the Epiphany Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards High Mass/ Fr. Edwards Wednesday, February 10 Ash Wednesday Thursday, February 11 Low Mass with Imposition of Ashes/Fr. Smith High Mass with Imposition of Ashes Sunday, February 14 1 Lent Wednesday, February 17 Low Mass/ Fr. Edwards Low Mass with Healing/Fr. Eidam Vestry Thursday, February 18 Friday, February 19 - Saturday February 20 Sandwich Ministry Sunday, February 21 2 Lent Low Mass/ Fr. Gilman High Mass/ Fr. Gilman Wednesday, February 24 Low Mass with Healing/ Fr. Alexander Sanctus Bell Deadline Thursday, February 25 Sunday, February 28 3 Lent

6 January Birthdays 1 st - Janet Trexler 23 rd - Mark Sayers 11 th - Susan Chapman, Rachel Harris 13 th Bob Byles 18 th - Catrina McCoy 23 rd - Mark Sayers 25 th - Emily Williams 28 th - Carolyn Martin Hampton Roads Anglo-Catholic Parish St. Bride s 621 N. Sparrow Road Sundays Wednesdays Low High 10:30 Low Mass with prayers for 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

7 Our Mission Statement VESTRY Sr. Warden Mary Lovell Swetnam Jr. Warden Mark Sayers 2015 Steve Cupschalk Lynn Greenfield Kirke White 2016 Mary Lovell Swetnam Mark Sayers Mary Zepnikowski 2017 Robert W. Byles 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