Bryan Sherwood

Collect for the 4th Sunday of Advent

Can you believe it?  Advent is almost over.  It seems like the days have flown by.  Tomorrow is the 4th Sunday of Advent which means Christmas is just around the corner.  Here's this week's collect.

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Lectio Divina: Advent 3 - Monday

Revelation 3:11-12 (NLT)

I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.

Today was a pretty rough day. It was one of those days you wouldn't want to have too often. So, how interesting, that tonight I turn to Revelation 3 and read this passage. That's the way Lectio often works. I needed some good news and there it is, right there in Revelation 3.

What good news? How about that Jesus is coming soon? Thank goodness! I feel a lot like Paul a lot of days when departing to be with the Lord sounds pretty darn good. Today was surely one of those. It's encouraging to know that there is more to life than paychecks, jobs, bills and stress. In the midst of our world, the Kingdom IS coming, even when we can't always see it.

So, it's Advent and Advent is a season of waiting. We await the coming of the King. Just as He came from heaven to earth, He will one day return. He is coming soon. Praise God!

Collect - Advent 3

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.  Amen.

What a beautiful prayer! 

Lectio: Advent 1 - Tuesday

 
Today's readings are listed here.

2 Peter 1:13-14

I think it is right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.

I couldn't help but think about Peter's statement here. There seems to be two certainties that Peter talks about in this passage. Peter was quite aware of his own impending death. And we know that like Peter, there is the certainty of our own death when we too will put off this tent, our body. In the Rule of Saint Benedict, Benedict writes "Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die." This kind of remembering helps us to have a sense of urgency about our own salvation as well as the salvation of the world.

The other certainty that Peter writes about is the certainty of the Lord's Second Coming.

2 Peter 1:16

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

If we had to face death without the hope of Christ's Second Coming and our own resurrection, life would be full of darkness and despair. Yet, Advent reminds us that His return is certain as is our resurrection.

Lectio: Advent 1 - Monday

A few thoughts on today's appointed readings from our church's Advent blog.

Archbishop Rowan Williams on Advent

I may have shared this once before but this is a nice reflection as we begin Advent.  Enjoy!

A Collect for Thanksgiving Day

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

I pray that on Thanksgiving Day we can all be mindful of those who lack the daily necessities of life (food, shelter, clean water, etc.).  How easy it is for us who have plenty to forget those who are in need.  This prayer sums it up well:  "Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need . . . "  Join me in praying that prayer this Thursday.

Pax.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom is a beautiful prayer.  It's taken from the Eastern liturgy of St. Chrysostom and was translated into English for use in the Prayer Book by Thomas Cranmer.  In other words, this prayer has been around for a while.  It's been prayed by the church down through the centuries.  Today, it comes at the end of both Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer.

I particularly like the last sentence of the prayer:  "Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting.  Amen." (emphasis mine)  I'm quite happy to pray those words.  Many times our desires and petitions may not be the best thing for us.  We may not recognize that now but it's often true.  And so, as the divine office begins to come to a close, those words are very fitting.  

I'm glad this prayer remains with us.  It's beautifully written and is full of good stuff.  

Consecration of William Thompson

AnglicanTV was present for the consecration of William Thompson.  From the Western Anglican website:

On Saturday, October 31, 2009, on the Eve of All Saints’ Day, bishops, clergy and laity from around the United States, Canada and Uganda gathered in Newport Beach for the ordination and consecration of William Avery Thompson as first Bishop of the Diocese of Western Anglicans. The service was held at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church.

Because I'm kind of a liturgy nerd, I love watching moments like these.  The cantor isn't half bad either!

The Future of Anglicanism: Reasons to be Hopeful

 
 As you probably know, there's been quite a bit of news generated around Pope Benedict's recent announcement.  I've read quite a few articles and blog posts about this news.  Some predict Anglicanism is basically finished.  I don't follow that line of thinking . . . 

There is no doubt that the Anglican Communion has its own set of challenges to deal with.  I get that.  I don't know how things will eventually turn out but I remain hopeful about the future of Anglicanism.

I remain hopeful because I see Anglicans planting churches and spreading the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ.  My parish, Saint Patrick's Anglican Church, is a six year old church plant.  I look around and I see other Anglican churches being planted around Kentucky and Ohio.  I read about the mission of the AMiA and I am encouraged by its desire to reach the 150 million people who have yet to respond to the Gospel of our Lord in the US and Canada.  Say what you will but there is a LOT of church planting going on.  I believe this has to be good for the Kingdom and for the future of Anglicanism.

I'm hopeful because I see new Anglican Christians growing in the faith and taking seriously the call to holiness.  Our parish is full of people who are interested in ancient spiritual practices like praying the office or lectio divina.  Spiritual practices have proved immensely helpful to me so I'm really happy to see a parish that regularly teaches its people about how to live as Christians.  Anglicanism isn't afraid to tap into ancient spiritual practices. 

I'm hopeful because I believe Anglicanism is uniquely positioned to reach many Protestants who are looking for something that connects them to the ancient church.  Worship in an Anglican Church looks quite different than what many Protestants have experienced.  There are priests in vestments, incense (if you're fortunate!), lengthy Scripture readings, the Eucharist, and lots of written prayers and responses.  None of that is by accident.  I like how Mark Galli describes it in his wonderful book called Beyond Smells and Bells:

In an individualistic culture, the liturgy  helps us live a communal life.  In a culture that values spontaneity, the liturgy grounds us in something enduring.  In a culture that assumes that truth is a product of the mind, the liturgy helps us experience truth in both mind and body.  In a world demanding instant relevance, the liturgy gives us the patience to live into a relevance that the world does not know.  Its counter-intuitive nature makes the liturgy appear culturally strange at first, but in fact it's more like an intriguing story, full of mystery, that not only attracts but shapes our perceptions and our lives. (p. 11).

I've grown to love and cherish Anglicanism.  God has used it to change my life.  For that, I'm grateful.  I don't believe one has to be Anglican to be Christian but I do believe that Anglicanism is a wonderful way to live out one's Christianity. May God bless its future.

Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Catholic Church.  Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace.  Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it.  Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ thy Son our Savior.  Amen.