On October 23rd, Christians worldwide celebrate the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem, also known as James the Just or James, the Brother of the Lord (more on that later). St. James of Jerusalem was a remarkable leader and writer of the early Christian Church. His wisdom, character, and contributions to Christian thought continue to…
The Liturgical Home: Holy Michael and All Angels
The Church celebrates the Feast of Holy Michael and All Angels on September 29th! We also know this feast as Michaelmas (pronounced mik-uhl-mus), a shortening of “Michael’s mass.” It is the special day set aside by the church to celebrate Michael, the captain of the heavenly host, and all other angels. Why do we sometimes…
The Liturgical Home: The Nativity of John the Baptist
The Nativity of John the Baptist, celebrated on June 24th and also known as the Summer Christmas, Nativity of the Forerunner, or Johnmas (I love that one!), is the special day we commemorate John the Baptist’s birth. It was once a highly celebrated feast day, though it doesn’t receive the recognition it once did, which…
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…
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,…
Today in the Spirit: Epiphany & Epiphany 1A
Prepositions are important in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). One change in the BCP 2019 that can easily go unnoticed is the designation “Sundays of Epiphany” in the new book versus “Sundays after Epiphany” in the 1979 (and 1928) books. The choice of wording in BCP 2019 conforms with a desire to return to…
Introducing The Liturgical Home
The Liturgical Home is an Anglican Compass series of articles and books on serving the Anglican family. It is a place to learn everything you need to know to incorporate your faith into your home. A powerful way for Anglicans to live out their faith in their home is by celebrating the seasons of the…
Hymn Guide: See the Conqueror (ft. an exclusive video with Jenny & Tyler!)
“See the Conqueror” is a wonderful hymn on the Ascension of Christ. It is not widely known, but we hope to make it more popular, with God’s help! It was written by a 19th-century English bishop named Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1855), the nephew of poet William Wordsworth. Bishop Wordsworth authored many books, including The Holy Year, a book…
Palm Sunday: A Collect Reflection
The Collect for Palm Sunday Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way…
Why You Should Follow the Church Calendar with Your Family at Home This Advent
“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…
