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!