Episcopal 101: Red Letter Days

Or, "another time you didn't know you were using church-speak".

Usually when someone says "it's been a red-letter day", what they mean is "it's been an important and notable day." And that's essentially what the church means too: In liturgical calendars and old/ fancy prayer books, some days are printed in red letters to show their significance. These include: major feasts of the church year, including the principal feasts, feasts of our Lord, feasts of all apostles, evangelists, and other major saints' days and festivals. The term is applied to those feasts for which the BCP provides full propers, including collect, OT lesson, psalm, NT epistle, and gospel. Lesser feasts and observances are printed in black.
(thanks episcopalchurch.org. you're the best.)

Pics from Youth Ministers' Retreat

Saint of the Week: Richard Hooker

(Richard Hooker's feast day was November 3.)

Richard Hooker was one of the most influential Anglican theologians. Here's a quick rundown of three of his most famous points:

1. Justification by Faith. "God is no captious sophister, eager to trip us up whenever we say amiss, but a courteous tutor, ready to amend what, in our weakness or our ignorance, we say ill, and to make the most of what we say aright." In other words, even people who did not believe in justification by faith (he referred specifically to Roman Catholics)could still be saved by it.

2. He is also famous for arguing for a middle way (via media) between Roman Catholicism and Puritanism. Both of these doctrines are still a major part of who we are as Anglicans today.

3. Think back to Confirmation classes. Remember the 3-legged stool of Anglican theology? Quick refresher: scripture, reason, and tradition are all essential components to discerning God's will.

These theologies are still an important part of who we are as Anglicans today.

Collect
O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings
1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 13-16
John 17:18-23
Psalm 37:3-6,32-33
or 19:7-11(12-14)

What Soft Drinks Are Doing to Your Body

Things you should know before you pick up that next can (or bottle)...remember: your body is a temple.

Happening and Youth Encounter Spirit!!!

Get your red hot applications for Happening and Y.E.S. right HERE. Deadlines are approaching fast.

Sun One

From the Rev. Beth Magill, St. David's, Austin:

Yesterday we had the first Sun One gathering, which is the Austin Area Episcopal Youth Groups. With temps in the upper 70s and crystal clear Texas skies, we played a rousing game of kickball to get everyone warmed up. Then came the greatest game EVER - Kingball. Though plagued with the plethora of rules and unfamiliar landscape of cones, the youth were troopers. We had a rousing hour long game, in the midst of which Diocesan Bishop Andy Doyle granted a few group absolutions to free everyone from being tagged. Even Bishop Doyle had fun, as his tweet indicated, "At Sun 1 episcopal youth event at Zilker, Austin...I luv being bishop!" Well done Diocese of Texas, you are indeed worthy of the greatest game EVER.

Episcopal 101: Commemoration of All Faithful Departed

Also known as All Souls' Day, the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed comes one day after All Saints' Day. Some churches roll the two celebrations into one; others keep the feasts separate. The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed is a day to remember and pray for the people in our lives who have passed.

Collect:
O God, the Maker and Redeemer of all believers: Grant to the faithful departed the unsearchable benefits of the passion of your Son; that on the day of his appearing they may be manifested as your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings
Wisdom 3:1-9
or Isaiah 25:6-9
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
or 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
John 5:24-27
Psalm 130 or
Psalm 116:10-17

Episcopal 101: All Hallows Eve

The evening of Oct. 31, which precedes the church's celebration of All Saints' Day on Nov. 1. The BOS provides a form for a service on All Hallows' Eve. This service begins with the Prayer for Light, and it includes two or more readings from scripture. The options for the readings include the Witch of Endor (1 Sm 28:3-25), the Vision of Eliphaz the Temanite (Jb 4:12-21), the Valley of Dry Bones (Ez37;1-14), and the War in Heaven (Rv 12:[1-6]7-12). The readings are followed by a psalm, canticle, or hymn, and a prayer. The BOS notes that "suitable festivities and entertainments" may precede or follow the service, and there may be a visit to a cemetery or burial place.

The popular name for this festival is Halloween. It was the eve of Samhain, a pagan Celtic celebration of the beginning of winter and the first day of the new year. This time of the ingathering of the harvest and the approach of winter apparently provided a reminder of human mortality. It was a time when the souls of the dead were said to return to their homes. Bonfires were set on hilltops to frighten away evil spirits. Samhain was a popular festival at the time when the British Isles were converted to Christianity. The church "adopted" this time of celebration for Christian use by observing All Saints' Day on Nov. 1, and All Hallows' Eve on the evening of Oct. 31.

(from An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church)

Saint of the week: James Hannington & his companions

James Hannington was born in Sussex, England in 1847. He was a poor student, and pursued a career in his father's counting house. With the death of his mother, Hannington was inspired to attend university. He was ordained a deacon in 1874.

Inspired by the story of two murdered missionaries, Hannington joined the Church Missionary Society and set off for Zanzibar in 1882. He became seriously ill on the trip, however, and returned to England.

In 1884, Hannington was ordained Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa. He set off for Uganda; upon arrival, Hannington and his companions were jailed on the orders of King Mwanga. After a week of imprisonment, the missionaries were all killed.

Many other Christians were martyred under King Mwanga in the following years. The Martyrs of Uganda are commemorated on June 3.

The Collect
Precious in your sight, O Lord, is the death of your saints, whose faithful witness, by your providence, has its great reward: We give you thanks for your martyrs James Hannington and his companions, who purchased with their blood a road into Uganda for the proclamation of the Gospel; and we pray that with them we also may obtain the crown of righteousness which is laid up for all who love the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Readings
1 Peter 3:14-18,22
Matthew 10:16-22
Psalm 124 or
Psalm 116:1-8

Episcopal 101: Deacon

Deacons are members of one of three distinct orders of ordained ministry (with bishops and presbyters). In the Episcopal Church a deacon exercises "a special ministry of servanthood" directly under the deacon's bishop, serving all people and especially those in need (BCP, p. 543). As they proclaim the gospel, lead intercessions, wait at the eucharistic table, and direct the order of the assembly, deacons act as sacred messengers, agents, and attendants. The revival of the order of deacons in the twentieth century has emphasized social care and service. Many bishops in the Episcopal Church expect their deacons to promote care of the needy outside the church. In addition to those ordained deacon as a permanent vocation, there are also "transitional deacons" who are ordained deacon as a preliminary step toward ordination as a priest. This practice is required by the canons of the Episcopal Church. A deacon wears his or her stole over the left shoulder and fastened at the waist on the right side.

(as always, thanks to An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church)