The Anglican tradition has inherited many ancient pieces of liturgy. Therefore, it may be surprising to learn that the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (traditionally held on or near Christmas Eve) is a relatively recent invention. It celebrated a century of the practice in 2018. Born from the profound grief and turmoil of the…
Go to the Nearby Wilderness This Advent
In the middle of Advent, we encounter John the Baptist in the desert. In fact, every year, Anglicans devote half of Advent to the prophet of the wilderness, John the Baptist. Even the 2019 Book of Common Prayer‘s collect for the Third Sunday in Advent references the prophets: O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your…
The Liturgical Home: What is Advent?
The following is an excerpt from The Liturgical Home: Advent by Ashley Wallace. What is Advent? All of Scripture is a sacred love story, the love of God the Father for His people. It is a story filled with expectation, longing, and fulfillment. From the beginning, God has lovingly walked with us, called to us, and…
The Church Calendar: A Rookie Anglican Guide to the Christian Year
What time is it? At first glance, it might not seem like it, but this is one of the most important questions a human being can ask! Thankfully, there’s an Anglican answer! Or, better, there is a Christian answer that the Anglican tradition helps proclaim! While the secular calendar organizes life around civic holidays, national…
Fasting & Feasting in Lent
The penitential and preparatory season of Lent includes 40 days of fasting. However, if you look at the calendar closely enough and do the math, you’ll see that the actual season is a bit longer. Why? Within those 40 days, we exclude those Sundays. Sundays are feast days and cannot be fast days. These Lord’s…
Advent: John the Baptist and Me (Part 1)
John the Baptist looms large on the horizon during Advent. Why John? Isn’t this after the birth of Christ? Why would we read this before Christmas? John’s ministry was to prepare the way for Christ, and we are doing this during Advent. You may remember the beautiful story of the baby who leaped for joy… (Note: To…
Themes of Advent
Advent is right around the corner. But what are the themes of Advent? The overarching theme of Advent derives from John the Baptist’s words: “Prepare the Way of the Lord!” What Does Advent Mean? Advent starts with an apocalyptic theme on the first Sunday. You might be wondering what the Second Coming of Christ has…
