"Avoiding the Question"...

 

Rev. Robert has shared his sermon for Sunday, September 27, 2020 -- 

from the outdoor service at the Parish of St. John, Olds.  May it bless your day!  😊

Service Suggestions for Sunday, September 27, 2020: Worshipping "In Place"

Today, Rev. Robert is at St. John's Parish, Olds, AB, for another outdoor service. He says there may be a recording...later. Meanwhile, you may find these options bless your day:

1. A selection of services from the Cathedral in Canterbury, UK: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL4_2pO--uILxV6LSRfjOpw;
2. St. Leonard's on the Hill, Red Deer - Morning Prayer: https://youtu.be/6ZNH-V0dQhI
3. Holy Trinity EDMONTON - Facebook Live Stream at 10:30 a.m.: https://www.facebook.com/holytrinityanglican

Readings for Sunday, September 27, 2020

Ezekiel 18: 1-4, 25-32

Psalm 25: 1-9

Philippians 2: 1-13

Matthew 21: 23-32

NOTE: Readings may differ in the above videos, as there are two lectionary sources available in the Anglican Communion.  The above selections are from the Lectionary being used by Rev. Dr. Robert Sears, for the Parishes of St. Cyprian's, Lacombe, AB and St. John, Olds, AB.

Service for Sunday, September 20, 2020: Worshipping "In Place"

 

This week's service is provided by the Parish of St. Cyprian's, Lacombe, Alberta.

Readings for September 20. 2020

Jonah 3: 10 - 4: 11

Psalm 145

Philippians 1: 21-30

The Gospel of Matthew 20: 1-6

Following the service, there is a tribute 

to our friend and fellow-parishioner, Glen Grover

who passed away on September 8, 2020.

Those who wish to pay tribute to Glen,

and to send wishes to his family,

Wilson's Funeral Home in Lacombe has provided THIS INFORMATION.

***** ***** ***** ***** *****

For this Sunday's sermon only:

Thank you to Rev. Dr. Robert Sears

and the members of the Parish of St. Cyprian's

for preparing this week's service.

Reflection in Ordinary Time: Hildegard von Bingen

 

Line engraving by W. Marshall
Source:  This file comes from Wellcome Images, a website operated by Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation based in the United Kingdom.

St. Hildegard von (of) Bingen died on this day in 1179, at the age of 81.  She was a Benedictine Abbess at Bingen, a city on the Rhine in Germany -- but she is best remembered as a writer, a mystic, a philosopher and especially as a musician, composer and lyricist.  She authored books on the subjects of theology, botany, medicinal use of plants, as well as poetry and songs, originally sung by the nuns at the Abbey.  In recent years, her music has been sung, recorded and enjoyed as a gentle background to prayer and contemplation.  Though beatified by the Roman Catholic Church centuries ago, it was in just May of 2012 that she was officially canonized, and in October of that year, named as a "Doctor of the Church" for her holy life, and for her teaching.

For those of you who enjoy Medieval music, as well as for those who have yet to hear it, the video below is a taste of St. Hildegard's work, performed by Ensemble Vocatrix in December of 2017 at the Zipper Concert Hall at the Colburn School. The performance is just over 20 minutes long; may it bless your quiet time today.

O God, by whose grace your servant Hildegard, kindled with the Fire of your love, became a burning and shining light in your Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and walk before you as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

AMEN.*

*Source: Holy Women, Holy Men, Church Publishing, Episcopal Church of the United States.

Remembering St. Cyprian...

Icon - St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage
Source: Wikipedia Commons

The calendar in my copy of the Book of Alternative Services for our Canadian church marks a "Mem" (Memorial Day) for St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, on September 13...but today his ministry and martyrdom were remembered in reflection and prayer at the Morning Prayer Service from the Canterbury Cathedral.   Wikipedia has his date of death -- as a martyr -- as September 14, coincident with Holy Cross Day.  Whatever the date, it is important to take a few moments to remember St. Cyprian, for whom our parish is named.

May this bless your day.

The Feast of the Cross -- Holy Cross Day

September 14 marks the Feast of the Cross,

 called Holy Cross Day in the Anglican Communion.

There are three reasons for this celebration on this day:

1. The finding of the 'true cross' -- what she believed was the cross of Christ -- by St. Helena, mother of Constantine, who had upon his conversion to Christianity, declared it to be the faith of his empire;
2. The dedication of the two churches erected by Constantine: the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the church on Mount Calvary; and
3. The restoration of the True Cross to Jerusalem by Byzantine Emperor Heraclius in 629 A.D. (C.E.), following his defeat of the Persians who had removed it fifteen years earlier.

Today we recall Jesus' sacrifice for all the world, in his death on the cross, and in that, acknowledge the unity of all who follow him, and whose ministry is to spread the Good News of the salvific love and grace of God found in Christ and his teachings.

The Collect for Holy Cross Day

Almighty God,

whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ

was lifted high upon the cross

that he might draw the whole world to himself,

may we who rejoice in the mystery of our redemption,

have grace to take up our cross and follow him,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

AMEN.

Jesus is Given His Cross - a Poem from Malcolm Guite

He gives himself again with all his gifts

And now we give him something in return.

He gave the earth that bears, the air that lifts,

Water to cleanse and cool, fire to burn,

And from these elements he forged the iron,

From strands of life he wove the growing wood,

He made the stones that pave the roads of Zion

He saw it all and saw that it is good.

We took his iron to edge an axe’s blade,

We took the axe and laid it to the tree,

We made a cross of all that he has made,

And laid it on the one who made us free.

Now he receives again and lifts on high

The gifts he gave and we have turned awry.

-- Malcolm Guite, Sounding the Seasons, Canterbury Press, 2012

To hear the poet read this and three addtional sonnets on The Cross, click HERE.

 

And finally, a hymn to mark the day...from the choir and congregation of the First Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, recorded in March 2017. The lyrics were written by   Rev. G.W. Kitchin (1827 - 1912) and modified later by Shirley Erena Murray of New Zealand (b. 1931).  It is sung to the tune, Crucifer, composed by Sidney H. Nicholson (1875 - 1947).

May this bless your day

and the week ahead.

Service Suggestions for Sunday, September 13: Worshipping "In Place"

The service today is planned for outdoors at the Parish of St. John's, Olds, so there will be no recording.

Here are some links to services you might find to bless your day:

1. Holy Eucharist - Canterbury Cathedral, UK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRbFLFaJdcg
2. Morning Prayer - St. Leonard's on the Hill, Red Deer - https://youtu.be/6qosDkQen2o
3. Holy Trinity Calgary - Live Stream here on Facebook - 10:30 a.m. - http://www.htacc.org/events/sunday-service-live-stream-2020-09-13/
4. St. James Calgary - Online podcasts - https://www.stjamescalgary.com/podcasts/service

For 9/11: A Tribute at Morning Prayer

 

From Canterbury Cathedral

A Dear Friend Has Left Us...

 

Men's Breakfast will never be quite the same. This dear man, Glen Grover, sat in the pew behind me, with this wife Joan -- when she wasn't at the organ. He was always there to lend a hand, unfailingly cheerful, with an open face, smiling eyes. He will be missed by all whose lives were touched by him -- even a wee bit. RIP, Glen.

I need to inform you that a much-loved and long-time member of St. Cyprian's, Glen Grover, died suddenly yesterday afternoon [September 8].

Please keep Joan in your prayers.

God of grace and glory, we thank your for Glen, who was so near and dear to us. We thank you for the friendship he gave and for the strength of witness he showed. We pray that nothing good in his life will be lost, but will be upheld by those who knew him to the benefit of others.

Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great goodness, and in the joyful expectation of resurrected life with those they love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

The Rev. Robert Sears, Incumbent

Service for Sunday, September 6, 2020: Worshipping "In Place"

 

Today's service comes to us from the Parish of St. Cyprian's, Lacombe, Alberta

Readings for this Sunday:

Ezekiel 33.7-11 Psalm 119.33-40 Romans 13.8-1 The Gospel of Matthew 18.15-20

For those who wish to view the sermon only:

Many thanks to Rev. Dr. Sears
and the parishioners
of
the Parish of St. Cyprian's, Lacombe.

May this bless your day.