Good Friday is the most somber day of the Christian year. On this day, we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. But why do we call the day “Good Friday”? The etymology of Good Friday goes back to Middle English, where “good” had the sense of “holy.” At the time, other days in…
The Beautiful Simplicity of Lent
Lent is an opportunity to pare back our overstuffed lives, to return to simplicity and awareness of the Holy Spirit, to share in a small way the sufferings of the saints, and to receive once again the gospel of Christ, who took the entire penalty of our depravity, “making peace by the blood of his…
10 Ways to Preach the Good Friday Sermon
As a pastor, when I encouraged people to attend our Good Friday liturgy, I would say something like this: “On Good Friday, we gather to remember the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and his death upon the Cross. If you’re wondering whether to attend, I ask you to consider one question. Would you…
The Liturgical Home: Shrove Tuesday
It’s time for Shrove Tuesday, also called Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, and Carnival. And I’m excited, not only because we will eat pancakes but also because it means we are only a day away from Lent, my favorite season of the year! The End of the Carnival The word Carnival comes from the Latin expression,…
The History of the Holy Week Collects
We outline the history of the Holy Week Collects, located on pages 607–609 of the Book of Common Prayer 2019. In researching this topic, we drew especially from commentaries by Massey Hamilton Shepherd, Jr., Marion J. Hatchett, C. Frederick Barbee, and Paul F. M. Zahl. What is a “Collect?” A collect is a short, formal prayer, written in “collect…
The Way of the Cross: An Invitation to Holy Week
Holy Week is the high mark of the church’s liturgical year. In it, we celebrate Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem, from his arrival on Palm Sunday to his death on Good Friday. Then, we celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday, with all the momentous events in between. There are many ways to commemorate the week,…
How Maundy Thursday Hooked Me
A few years ago, leading up to Holy Week, I was about 50/50 on becoming an Anglican. I saw some things I liked, I didn’t understand a handful of other aspects, and I wrestled with leaving a tradition that raised me, and then Holy Week got me. It was all over from there. Now, I…
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…
Ember Days: A Rookie Anglican Guide
I don’t know about you, but when I first heard about “Ember Days,” I thought of a dying fire! However, when I began my ordination process, I quickly found out that Ember Days, also called Embertide, are about ordination and Holy Orders, not about fireplaces. What Are Ember Days? As the 2019 ACNA BCP notes,…
Holy Week: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Starting on Palm Sunday, Holy Week begins. As I put it in my overview of the Church calendar and the Christian liturgical year, The last week of Lent, Holy Week, remembers the last week of Christ’s earthly life, beginning with Palm Sunday’s commemoration of Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Holy Week is the week between…
Lent: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Beginning on Ash Wednesday and lasting for 40 days, Lent is a season of fasting and penitence in preparation for Easter. The Church year revolves around two “cycles,” one for Christmas and one for Easter. As the Christmas cycle begins with Advent, the Easter cycle does likewise with Lent. The season has a penitential character….
10 Ways to Preach the Easter Sunday Sermon
Talk about pressure—the Resurrection is the biggest event in the history of the world. Individuals and families who rarely darken the doors of a church will find their way into your sanctuary on Easter. While our culture has morphed the moment into lilies, butterflies, eggs, and bunnies, people still desire to hear this story. And why not?…
