For All the Saints

Forerunners of Christ with Saints and Martyrs
Tempera on wood, Fra Angelico, 15th Century

Before the observance of Hallowe'en entered North American popular culture in the early 1900s, steadily being incorporated into darker forms of observance, it was (and still is, in some quarters) an annual Christian celebration of All Hallows' Eve, or the evening before All Hallows' Day, known now to us as All Saints' Day or simply "All Saints".   The latter, and the day following -- All Souls' Day -- are the second and third day of the three day (triduum) known as Hallowmas, a time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs and dearly departed Christian believers (souls).

In observance of All Saints this year, our weekly Friday Evensong will be a celebration of Eucharist using the rite in the Book of Common Prayer.  Do join us in remembrance as we raise our voices in the old familiar hymn...

(Note: Please let the video load completely to avoid 'skips', and please forgive the short advertisement at the beginning.  The voices are the Choir of King's College, Cambridge.  Tune: Sine Nomine by Ralph Vaughan Williams.)

A Thought for the Weekend...

George MacDonald
1824-1905

Work is not always required of a [person].  There is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.

*From George MacDonald: An Anthology - 365 Readings - edited and with a preface by C.S. Lewis, Harper San Francisco, 2001 edition 

Have a great weekend!

It's That Time of Year...

Calgary Cursillo Weekends are fast approaching!  This year the Fall Men's Weekend runs from Thursday evening, October 31, through Sunday, November 3rd, and the Women's, from Thursday, November 7 through Sunday, November 10.

Though the list of participants for each weekend is small thus far, they will still need our prayers and support.  You can view the participants' list and sign up to participate in a Prayer Vigil for each weekend at these links:

• Men's Weekend - Fall 2013
• Women's Weekend - Fall 2013

Praying through for folks on these weekends blesses not only the participants, but the pray-er!

Oh -- and if you've never attended a Cursillo Weekend, there's still time to apply!!  Please let Pastor Lee know...so she can ensure you have a sponsor (or two) in the congregation.  In addition, she can help you apply to attend (including funding if needed)...or you can go online HERE to submit your application.

COOKIES! COOKIES!  COOKIES!

St. Cyprian's Annual Fall Tea, Bazaar and Bake Sale!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

2-4 p.m.

Hand-crafted Items and Baked Goods for Purchase

Tea and Goodies

AND

Our Famous Pick-and-Pack Your Own Box of Cookies!

Do You Like "Vintage" Movies?

You might check this out!

I'm thinking I might just have to go "Singin' in the Rain"....

Are You Engaged?

At Woolly Theology this afternoon we talked about 'engagement' -- engaging with God through reading Scripture and/or praying.  Pastor Lee commented that she liked the definition of 'engaged' coined by mechanical engineers:

"To interlock with: mesh; also: to cause (mechanical parts) to mesh <engage the clutch>*

*http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engage



This writer's mind immediately came up with a picture of gears, inter-locking, but in such a way as to enable motion.  If one is engaged with God in prayer or lectio divina (a practice of meditative reading, usually using Scripture), the gears of one's spirit are lubricated by the living Word, and one's life  is able to flow more smoothly and joyfully, even in the face of trials.

On the other hand, if gears are neglected and unused for a period of time, rust and corrosion can set in, such that the gears begin to stick; eventually immobility occurs.  One's spiritual gears may be engaged with each other, but if not meshed with God one's life becomes fixed, stiff and unyielding. One cannot move forward, regardless of how hard one tries.

Are your spiritual gears engaged?

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

-- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Yet Another Thought...

Sir Francis Drake in Buckland Abbey
16th century, oil on canvas
by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger

Disturb us, Lord, when

We are too well pleased with ourselves,

When our dreams have come true

Because we have dreamed too little,

When we arrived safely

Because we sailed too close to the shore.

Disturb us, Lord, when

With the abundance of things we possess

We have lost our thirst

For the waters of life;

Having fallen in love with life,

We have ceased to dream of eternity

And in our efforts to build a new earth,

We have allowed our vision

Of the new Heaven to dim.

Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,

To venture on wider seas

Where storms will show your mastery;

Where losing sight of land,

We shall find the stars.

We ask You to push back

The horizons of our hopes;

And to push into the future

In strength, courage, hope, and love.

[Attributed - Sir Francis Drake -1577]*

*And quoted on Facebook by "Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented"

Francis of Assisi

Many contemporary Anglicans remember Francis of Assisi in his connection to animals and nature.  In recent years, it has become popular for Anglican parishes to hold a special "Blessing of the Animals" service on the Sunday closest to his commemorative day, which is October 4 in our liturgical calendar.  Some parishes prefer to hold these services at other times in early October instead.


We aren't holding such a service at St. Cyprian's this year, but if you are so inclined, these parishes in the Diocese of Calgary will be doing so:

• St. Clement, Balzac - October 6, 10:00 a.m.
• St. Martin, Calgary jointly with the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer - Saturday, October 12, 11:00 a.m.

Aside from his apparent ability to relate with birds and beasts alike, Francis is remembered for his founding of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor, as well as the women's Order of St. Clare (in conjunction with Clare of Assisi, one of Francis' first followers), and for those not aspiring to Holy Orders, the Third Order of St. Francis.  There is even a Third Order of the Society of St. Francis for Anglicans and others who do not worship in the Roman Catholic tradition.  

Known also for his love of the Eucharist and as the originator of the tradition of the Christmas creche or Nativity Scene, Francis is not only the Patron Saint of Animals in the Roman Catholic tradition, but also one of only two Patron Saints of Italy (the other being Catherine of Sienna).

This writer, however, most fondly remembers him when she sings this musical adaptation of what we know as "The Prayer of St. Francis":

May you have a blessed day!

"Sa-weet!"

That's what young people often say when presented with something yummy...and it's what diners at tomorrow evening's Annual Fall Supper will say when they see the pies laid on for dessert.  Here are just a couple to whet your whistle:

Rhubarb Crumble Pie

Save room after the roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, carrots, pickle, buns 'n' butter... it's going to be a 'sa-weet' ending to a great meal!

When? Thursday, October 3, 2013

Serving starts at 5:30 p.m.

Where?  St. Cyprian's Parish Hall,

5005 C&E Trail, Lacombe

Cost: $12.50 per person

Tickets may still be available - or take your chances at the door!