Anglican Compass is excited to showcase a variety of holiday-themed events hosted by churches across the Anglican Church in North America.
O Oriens: O Dayspring
December 21st arrives draped in shadow. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice—the shortest day of the year and the longest night—often falls on this day. It’s a time when darkness seems to have truly overcome the light. Thus, it is particularly fitting that the Church assigns O Oriens, the O Antiphon naming Christ as…
Hymn Guide: Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming
The image of a rose blooming in winter, emerging from a tender stem, reflects both the beauty and the vulnerability of baby Jesus and his mother Mary.
O Clavis David: O Key of David
O Clavis David, meaning “O Key of David,” proclaims God’s appointed leadership of Christ Jesus as the fulfillment of the hopes and promises given to the dynasty of King David.
O Radix Jesse: O Root of Jesse
To many of us modern folks, the antiphon that begins with “O Root of Jesse” seems, perhaps, out of place among the others in the sequence. Poetic, sure. “Biblical,” of course. But the rest of the “O Antiphons” appear to emphasize key—sometimes eternal—attributes of who God is.
O Adonai: O Lord of Might
The O Antiphons give seven Messianic titles to Jesus. The first title, Wisdom (Sapientia), evokes God’s creation as described in Genesis and Proverbs. The second title, Adonai, derives from the second book of the Bible, Exodus, in which God delivers his people. Traditional Antiphon O Adonai, and leader of the House of Israel, who appeared…
O Sapientia: O Wisdom From On High
In the original O Antiphons, and still to this day on the church calendar, “O Wisdom” was the first of the seven
Today in the Spirit: Advent 4A (Annunciation)
We all know that sense of heightened desire that accompanies the arrival of a big day, like a wedding day or the first day of a new job. A moment of transition is at hand, and, like a child waiting for, well, Christmas, we feel more intensely that combined force of eagerness from not yet…
The Global Anglican Communion: From Canterbury to Jerusalem
Someone may ask: “Hasn’t the Anglican Communion been around for a long, long time?” This depends on what you consider a long time and how you define the Anglican Communion.
The Liturgical Home: The Tradition of Christmas Markets
The Christmas market is more than a charming winter custom or a festive place to shop; it has deep Christian roots that reach back to the medieval Church.
