St. Andrew the Apostle

St. Andrew the Apostle - Iconographer: Yoan from Gabrovo

Today's his day!  Bless him; he was Peter's brother...and his name, Andrew, comes from the Greek Andreas, apparently popular in the Hellenized Middle East of the time.*  It was Andrew who recognized Jesus as Messiah, introduced Him to Peter, and with Philip, told Jesus about the Greeks seeking Him.  He is believed to have facilitated the "Feeding of the Five Thousand" by bringing to Jesus the little boy and his lunch of bread and fish (Gospel of John 6:8).

After the Pentecost, it is recorded that Andrew travelled widely, preaching the Gospel -- possibly as far as Kiev!  He is a patron saint of Ukraine, Romania and Russia.*

It is believed he was martyred by crucifixion at the city of Patras in Achaea.  Centuries later (possibly the middle 900s), he became the patron saint of Scotland, when -- according to legend -- some of his relics were brought there from Constantinople by some sort of divine intervention, to the site of what is now the city of St. Andrew's.  The flag of Scotland is St. Andrew's Cross, reflecting the nature of the cross on which he was martyred*:

St. Andrew's Cross - Scotland's Flag

Almighty God,

who gave your apostle Andrew

grace to believe in his heart

and to confess with his lips that Jesus is Lord,

touch our lips and our hearts

that faith may burn within us,

and we may share in the witness of your Church

to the whole human family;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

AMEN.

(Collect for St. Andrew's Day, Book of Alternative Services, p. 430)

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*Online resource: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_the_Apostle

Deck the Halls!

It's time to decorate the church for Advent as we prepare for Christ's Birth!  

Can you help?

There will be a Decorating Bee at the church

on 

Saturday, November 30, 2013

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

All Welcome!

Stir it Up!

Christ - painting in the Hagia Sophia

Tomorrow is the last Sunday before Advent in our liturgical calendar, known in the Anglican Church as The Reign of  Christ.  While the painting above is very old, this celebration is...not so much.  Apparently it was first celebrated by Roman Catholics under Pope Pius XI starting in 1925; they know it as "The Feast of Christ the King".  Originally, too, it was marked on the last Sunday of October -- the Sunday immediately before All Saints' Day.  In 1970 the date was moved to the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and was adopted by Anglicans, Lutherans and other Protestant liturgical denominations.

Another name for this last Sunday of the liturgical year is "Stir-up Sunday" -- a day when Anglicans in the UK or of British Ancestry make up their Christmas puddings.  It's not without it's liturgical connection, however, as the practice -- supposedly introduced by Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert -- was apparently inspired by the Collect for the Day in the Book of Common Prayer (1549):

 Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; 

that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Amen.

STIR IT UP tomorrow morning

at our Service of Holy Eucharist

from the

Book of Alternative Services

10:00 a.m.

Coffee, tea and fellowship to follow.

And who knows?  Perhaps there'll be some Christmas pud!

Come Into the Quiet

...of an Evensong Service, using the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer.

At this time of year, let candlelight, familiar words and music warm your heart and ease your way through snowy streets and into the weekend.

The next Evensong Service at St. Cyprian's (God willing) is Friday, November 22 at 4:00 p.m.

Readings:

• Psalm 107, part 2;
• Sirach (Also known as Ecclesiasticus in the Apocrypha) 22:6-22;
• Acts 20:1-16.

Do You Listen to Your Computer?

I do!

iPod Shuffle - Apple Canada

Now...I'm not referring to asking my PC for advice. Rather, I'm talking about pod-casts: broadcasts that you can listen to directly on your computer or download to a device such as an iPod and listen on-the-go.  I received my first iPod 'Shuffle' several years ago -- a gift from my children to enjoy while walking or jogging, which I do regularly for exercise.

And what a gift it's been!  I now enjoy a wide range of programs having to do with my hobbies and personal interests -- including things spiritual and theological.  In the past year I discovered Krista Tippett and her program, "On Being" -- and it's this program I commend to you for your listening pleasure.  Ms. Tippett is an articulate interviewer of a broad spectrum of people whose work, research and impact is far-reaching.

Programs I've enjoyed recently include her interviews with:

Seth Godin

Kevin Kling

Marie Howe

Sylvia Boorstein

Christian Wiman

Gordon Hempton

David Montgomery

Jean Vanier

Nadia Bolz-Weber

and

Keith Devlin

Click on the link -- any caption -- turn up your speakers, pour a cuppa, and be prepared to be transported, inspired, stretched, amused and entertained: perfect accompaniment to whatever you're doing on a snowy winter afternoon.

Lest We Forget

Sunday, November 10 - Holy Eucharist (BAS) 10:00 a.m.

Act of Remembrance

Monday, November 11 - Remembrance Day

Services at Lacombe Memorial Centre 

and 

Mirror & District Community Hall

10:45 a.m.

In the last days, 

the mountain of the LORD's temple

will be established

as chief among the mountains;

it will be raised above the hills,

and peoples will stream to it.

Many nations will come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain 

of the LORD;

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us His ways,

so that we may walk in his paths."

The law will go out from Zion,

the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

He will judge between many peoples

and will settle disputes for strong

nations far and wide.

They will beat their swords into 

ploughshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against

nation,

nor will they train for war anymore.

- Micah 4:1-3 (NIV)

Thoughts After the Storm

A friend of the writer shared a link...

Sit back, sip something, ponder and give thanks...

Alleluia, Alleluia
Give thanks to the risen Lord
Alleluia, alleluia, give praise to His name

Jesus is Lord of all the earth
He is the King of creation

Spread the good news o'er all the earth
Jesus has died and has risen

We have been crucified with Christ
Now we shall live forever
God has proclaimed the just reward
Life for all men, alleluia!

Come let us praise the living God
Joyfully sing to our Saviour

Lyrics Copyright © 1973 Songs of the Sword of the Spirit Administered by: CopyCare P.O. Box 77, Hailsham BN27 3EF UK music@copycare.com.

It's Time!

Don't Forget!

If you plan to plow through the snow to church tomorrow...remember to "fall back" with your clocks so you'll be on time!

All Saints, All Souls

 Blessings for All Saints' Day!  

Don't forget that there is a special All Saints' Day Service of Holy Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer - 4:00 p.m. this afternoon.  :-)

And tomorrow -- All Souls' Day -- more celebration with the good souls of the parish and environs at our Annual Fall Tea, Bazaar and Bake Sale.  Who knows?  You might even find some Soul Cakes...

To get you in the mood, here's a favourite recording of the folk carol (one version of many down through time) for All Souls' Day...and onward toward the turning of the year*...

Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none

Yet shall we be merry, Hey ho, nobody home.

Hey ho, nobody home, Meat nor drink nor money have I none

Yet shall we be merry, Hey ho, nobody home.

Hey Ho, nobody home. 

Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.

An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 

any good thing to make us all merry,

One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all. 

God bless the master of this house, and the mistress also

And all the little children that round your table grow.

The cattle in your stable and the dog by your front door

And all that dwell within your gates 

we wish you ten times more. 

Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.

An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 

any good thing to make us all merry,

One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all. 

Go down into the cellar and see what you can find

If the barrels are not empty we hope you will be kind

We hope you will be kind with your apple and PEAR'

For we'll come no more a 'soalin' till this time next year. 

Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.

An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 

any good thing to make us all merry,

One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all. 

The streets are very dirty, my shoes are very thin.

I have a little pocket to put a penny in.

If you haven't got a penny, aN ha' penny will do.

If you haven't got a ha' penny then God bless you. 

Soal, a soal, a soal cake, please good missus a soul cake.

An apple, a pear, a plum, a cherry, 

any good thing to make us all merry,

One for Peter, two for Paul, three for Him who made us all. 

*note the different spelling of 'soul'...