Reflection at Christmas-tide During a Pandemic...

Just a thought...

(shared via Facebook)

Service for Sunday, December 27, 2020: Christmas Carols - Worshipping "In Place"

This week, a special service of Christmas Carols.

Programme:

126 - Away in a Manger, 3 verses

Little Drummer Boy*

145 - Good King Wenceslas - all 5 verses

135 - Shepherd in the Field Abiding  - v 1,4

138 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - v 1,3

120 - O Little Town of Bethlehem - v 1,4

748 - (old hymn book) We Three Kings - all 5 verses

139 - The First Noel - v 1, 2, 3, 4, 6

137 - What Child is This - v 1, 3

118 - O Come, All Ye Faithful - v 1, +1,3 (+latin)

140 - It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - v 1, 2

143 - Angels, from the Realms of Glory - v 1, 5

119 - Stille Nacht (Silent Night)   - 3 verses

*Little Drummer Boy is sung by Maya Solovéy and used under license (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US)). Her music can be found at: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/MayaSolovey

Thanks to Pat, Marlene and Tracie for their renditions of these Christmas favourites.  

May it bless your day.

NOTE: Rev. Robert is on holiday from Dec. 28 through January 4.  The next local service will be presented by St. Cyprian's parish on January 10.

Reflection for Christmas Day...

 

"Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you.  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  -- Luke 2:11-12

Christmastide

2: on the edge

Christmas sets the centre on the edge;
The edge of town, the outhouse of the inn,
The fringe of empire, far from privilege
And power, on the edge and outer spin
Of  turning worlds, a margin of small stars
That edge a galaxy itself light years
From some unguessed at cosmic origin.
Christmas sets the centre at the edge.

And from this day our  world is re-aligned
A tiny seed unfolding in the womb
Becomes the source from which we all unfold
And flower into being. We are healed,
The end begins, the tomb becomes a womb,
For now in him all things are re-aligned.

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

*To hear this poem read aloud CLICK HERE.

Christmas Eve 2020: A Collaborative Service of Lessons & Carols - Worshipping "In Place"

 

This Christmas Eve Service of Lessons & Carols

is a collaboration 

presented by the Anglican parishes of 

St. Cyprian's, Lacombe, and St. John's, Olds, Alberta

under the guidance of Rev. Dr. Robert Sears.**

**Tips from Rev. Robert for good quality YouTube video viewing: 

a) Be sure to click into the "settings" cog / flower pedal icon on the bottom right of the video, then click "quality." Select and click "1080." This forces the YouTube player to play the highest resolution of the video, which is 1080p. If you leave it on "auto," then it automatically down-selects to a lower resolution.

b) As usual, the following sections are selectable when you are viewing the video on YouTube. Just run your mouse along the video progress bar of the video and these sections will be indicated and the section title will pop up. You can then jump to and fro to the desired sections.

Order of Service:

• Greeting (Rev Robert)
• Bidding Prayer (Rev Robert)    
• The Lord's Prayer (Linda Saad, Olds)
• 123 - Once in Royal David's City (verse 1) (Pat Cluderay, Lacombe)
• 119 – Silent Night (Maya Solovéy) [ShareAlike]
• First Lesson: Genesis 3.8–19 (Burt Hunt, Olds)
• 139 - The First Noel - piano
• Second Lesson: Genesis 22.15–18    (Pat Cluderay)
• Of the Father's Love Begotten (Marlene Skeet, Tracie Skeet-Brook, Olds)
• Third Lesson: Isaiah 9.2; 6–7 (The Rev Inez Hannett, Olds)
• 89 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Joan Grover, Lacombe) organ
• Fourth Lesson: Luke 1.26–35; 38 (Joan Ainsworth, Olds)
• 120 - O Little Town of Bethlehem - piano
• Fifth Lesson: Luke 2.1; 3–7 (Brenda Hamming, Olds)
• 122 - In the Bleak Midwinter (Margaret Blank, Lacombe)
• Sixth Lesson: Luke 2.8–16 (Sheila Chapman, Lacombe)
• 136 - While Shepherds Watched (Marlene Skeet, Tracie Skeet-Brook)
• Seventh Lesson: Matthew 2.1–12 (Darlene Henry, Olds)
• 138 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Joan Grover) organ
• Eighth Lesson: John 1.1–14 (Brian Chapman, Lacombe)
• 118 - O Come All Ye Faithful (Anne Burchill, Olds) flute
• Ninth Lesson: Matthew 28.16-20 (Vince Seymour, Olds)
• 153 – Good Christians All Rejoice (Marlene Skeet, Tracie Skeet-Brook)
• Collect (Rev Robert)
• Blessing (Rev Robert)
• 154 - Joy to the World (Marlene Skeet, Tracie Skeet-Brook)

Thanks to Rev. Robert and all the parish volunteers who were involved

in presenting this special Service.

May it bless you this Christmas!

***   ***   ***   

Also of Note:

Christmas Eve Service with the Archbishop and his Family – Live Stream

Also today (Thursday, December 24, 2020) from 9:00 - 11:00 pm the Archbishop will be live streaming a service from home. The web site says that a Facebook Live Link will be put up on Web Site at (or around?) 9 p.m.  The following are the links for this event:

• https://www.calgary.anglican.ca/
• Click here for the Order of Service

For Christmas Day, 

check this link for Services being held across the diocese: 

https://www.calgary.anglican.ca/events/christmas-service-online/2020-12-25

May you have a blessed Christmas-tide, wherever you find yourself this year.

This day in the City of David a Saviour [is being] born to you;

he is Christ the Lord....

Glory to God in the highest 

and on earth Peace...

and Goodwill to all people.

-- Gospel of Luke 1: 11a, 14 (paraphrased)

Service for Sunday, December 20, 2020: The Fourth of Advent - "Worshipping "In Place"

 

Today's service is presented by

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears

and members of St. John's Parish,

Olds, Alberta.

Sermon: "The Art of Life"

Readings for Sunday, December 20, 2020

2 Samuel 7: 8-16

Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-24

Romans 16: 25-27

The Gospel of Luke 1: 26-38

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this week's service.

May it bless your day.

Editor's Note: For a poetic reflection on the Annunciation and how, perhaps, Mary experienced it, you might listen to and read this work from Marie Howe, "Annunciation", from her book The Kingdom of Ordinary Time.  May it, too, bless your day.

Upcoming Events - Advent: Fasting, Prayer and Praise!

 We may be worshipping "in place" but we're in good company!

Coming Friday, December 18, 2020 -- Two Events

From the Diocese of Calgary Newsletter...this invitation:

Every one of us is undergoing some form of stress or anxiety, whether Covid-related or just worries about family and/or friends.  There are health issues, job issues, feeling isolated, feeling fear, feeling sad or lonely, just to name a few.  And we know our clergy and lay leaders are dealing with a great deal, as they are overwhelmed in this busy season trying to maintain the traditions of the Advent season yet protecting the vulnerable.

What if...we were to spend a day or part of a day, in prayer, in honest, heartfelt communication with our Lord, in looking into His word, in meditating upon Him and slowing down to listen to Him.

We ask that on Friday, December 18, the people of the Diocese of Calgary take time to fast and pray – an hour or many hours; alone, with a spouse or family, via Zoom or whatever means that inspires you.

We pray: for protection from this Virus; for healing of those affected; for hope and provision for those impacted; for comfort for those mourning; for the safe and effective delivery of the vaccine; for the health services and leaders.  We pray for the mission of our Church in these strange times.  And we pray for each other.

Archbishop Greg has set up a Zoom link for prayer from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm and will have AFP members standing by to pray in breakoff rooms for those who wish to pray with someone.  Please request the link here.

Plan ahead, clear your calendar, and give one day, or a portion thereof, to the Lord, together, to raise our supplications and to let Him nurture and heal us.

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

And from the National Church:

The Anglican Church of Canada is presenting a nation-wide Advent Service of Lessons and Carols Friday, December 18 at 8 p.m. EST (6 p.m. MST).  Viewers will be able to enjoy it on Facebook, YouTube or at www.anglican.ca/lessonsandcarols.

Service for Sunday, December 13, 2020: The Third of Advent - Worshipping "In Place"

 

Today's Service is presented by

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears

and members of St. Cyprian's Parish,

Lacombe, AB

Readings for Sunday, December 13

Advent III

Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11

Canticle 18 - The Song of Mary

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24

The Gospel of John 1: 6-8, 19-28

Moonless darkness stands between

-- Gerard Manley Hopkins

Moonless darkness stands between.

Past, the Past, no more be seen!

But the Bethlehem-star may lead me

To the sight of Him Who freed me

From the self that I have been.

Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;

Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;

Now beginning, and alway:

Now begin, on Christmas day.

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this week's service.

May it bless your day.

Being the Church in a Pandemic: A Conversation

 

For those of you who missed it, 

or would like to view it again,

below is the conversation between

Shawn Branch of the Diocese of Fredericton, N.B.

and 

our Primate, Archbishop Linda Nicholls,

recorded yesterday evening.

May it bless your day.  😊

Service for Sunday, December 6, 2020: The Second of Advent - Worshipping "In Place"

 

Today's service is presented by

Rev. Dr. Robert Sears

and members of St. John's Parish,

Olds, Alberta.

Readings for Sunday, December 6, 2020

Advent II

Isaiah 40: 1-11

Psalm 85: 8-13

2 Peter 3: 8-15a

The Gospel of Mark 1: 1-8

 Sermon: "Wilderness Honeymoon"

 Hosea 2: 14-19

John the Baptist, Preaching in the Wilderness
Artist: Anton Raphael Mengs
Source: Wikimedia Commons

Thanks to Rev. Robert and volunteers for this week's service.

May it bless your day.