Several years ago, I served as the Assistant Rector at a large Anglican Church. This meant, of course, that I had the wonderful opportunity of preaching cultural holiday weekends when attendance would be predictably low ... i.e. Memorial Day Weekend, Labor Day Weekend, etc. One of the key weekends that I always got to preach was the First Sunday of [...]
Flickering candles, hot coffee, and saffron buns. This Scandinavian Advent tradition has its roots in the story of a 3rd-century martyr who brought light and aid to Christian saints in hiding. Celebrated on December 13 (one week after St Nicholas day), the feast day of St. Lucy is one of warmth, light, abundance, and generosity—pointing towards the coming of the [...]
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. Yes, Lent is the most obvious wilderness season of the Church’s year—a full 40 days and then some to seek the Lord in the desert with prayer and fasting. [...]
The following is an excerpt from A Thrill of Hope: Celebrating Advent at Home 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, searched for [...]
I had an idea, and it was a great idea! My family was going to do something new that year. Every night, we were going to sit down at the dining room table and do Advent devotions together. I could already see how the night was going to go in my mind’s eye. It was going to be amazing. It [...]
The American Dream In the American imagination, the “holiday season”—that stretch of weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas—is a magical one. It calls to mind beautifully decorated tables and the nearness of loved ones. It is shrouded in soft light and comes with the promise of fulfilled longing. Whether we carry childish hope for the ultimate gift from Santa— like the [...]
Want more Advent recipes, devotions, and traditions to try at home? Check out A Thrill of Hope: Celebrating Advent at Home! Picture this. Every evening during the last nine days before Christmas, a great crowd forms in the village streets. A small child dressed as an angel leads the figures of Joseph, Mary, and the donkey. Behind the figures, a procession [...]
Advent is one of my favorite seasons. As a person who did not grow up celebrating Advent, I have absolutely fallen in love with it. Advent is beautiful and holy and full of hope! (If you’d like to read more why you should follow the Church calendar in your home this Advent, you can read my previous post here.) At [...]
“For everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:10)—I am sure you know the verse well. We are all familiar with it, and yet it is so often misused. People will often quote the verse in response to a bad thing that has happened or a hard time that you are going through. But if you look back at the verses [...]
In our family's first year as Anglicans, we accidentally celebrated All Saints' Day (November 1) with the traditions more commonly associated with the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day, November 2)! This year, I'm looking forward to observing each day in its proper time and fashion! (To learn more about All Saints' Day, read our Rookie Anglican Guide.) [...]
While the close of October is typically known for Halloween, its liturgical forerunner is All Hallows' Eve (Oct. 31) followed by All Saints' Day on November 1st. Even though many saints of the church are remembered throughout the calendar year, All Saints' provides a dedicated day to call to memory those saints who have led the way before us. We [...]
Michael-what? Michaelmas is a shortened form of "Michael's Mass" (just like Christmas is a shortened form of Christ's Mass). It is also known as the feast day of Holy (or "St.") Michael and All Angels. Celebrated similarly to Thanksgiving, Michaelmas conjures images of cool fall days, abundant harvests, and feasting. Festivities focus on the defeat of sin and Satan, often [...]
Why do Anglicans celebrate “feast days” for various “saints”? After all, aren’t all Christians saints? If you’re asking these questions, you’ve come to the right place! Biblical Beginnings Commemoration of saints has its roots in the Bible. In 1 Cor. 11:1, St. Paul writes: “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” From this we learn one of the [...]
The Church year revolves around two cycles: the Christmas cycle (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany) the Easter cycle (Lent, Holy Week, Easter, Pentecost) But what about the rest of the year? Well, there are two periods of the liturgical year that are called “ordinary time” that stitch together the Christmas and Easter cycles. One is the Season after Epiphany, and the other [...]
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 are about ordination and Holy Orders, not about fireplaces. What are Ember Days? As the 2019 ACNA BCP notes, “Ember Days are set aside for prayers for [...]
“Since the days of Pentecost, has the whole church ever put aside every other work and waited upon Him for ten days, that the Spirit’s power might be manifested? We give too much attention to method and machinery and resources, and too little to the source of power.” – J. Hudson Taylor “It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, [...]
The sixth Sunday of Eastertide, known as Rogation Sunday, is a day that Anglican pastors should get dirt on their vestments. This is not only encouraged, it’s expected. The psalmist said ‘all flesh is like grass,’ so it’s good that the people of God walk along grass in worship and praise a few times a year. Rogation Days are a [...]
Today is Easter Monday! Yes, Easter is a 50 day season and today is the first weekday of that season. Each day of the week during the week after Easter is marked out for special emphasis. Here's the Collect for Easter Monday: Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast may be made worthy [...]
Easter Sunday is only the beginning! A great fifty-day feast (known as "Eastertide," "Easter Season," or "Easter Time," as well as "Paschaltide," "Paschal Season," or "Paschal Time") kicks off on Easter Day. In the Church Year, this is quite literally fifty days of feasting. Easter is the high point of the Church Year. So it makes sense that we would [...]
There are actually two Collects for Easter Sunday First, Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord; who [...]
Holy Saturday O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of your dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy Saturday is one of [...]
Good Friday Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Asking God Every collect makes [...]
Maundy Thursday Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may receive it thankfully in remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord, who in these holy mysteries gives us a pledge of eternal life; and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one [...]
We'd like to share some music and artwork recommendations for Holy Week. If you have other suggestions, please let us know in the comments below! Music for Holy Week Music for Holy Week and Easter (Gramophone) Music for Holy Week: A Specialist's Guide (Gramophone) Music for Easter & Holy Week: Classical Music Compilation (Youtube) Songs for Holy Week (Calvin Institute [...]
