While the close of October is typically known for Halloween, the last day of October was formerly a liturgical feast day known as All Hallows’ Eve. Today's tradition of costumes and candy stems from a much earlier practice of dressing up as saints and demons to act out the battle between good and evil. While All Hallow's Eve is no longer celebrated in most churches, we can still remember and prepare our hearts to remember those who have gone before us.
In the Anglican tradition, All Hallows' Eve is followed by All Saints’ Day on November 1st. Even though many saints of the church are remembered throughout the calendar year, All Saints’ Day provides a dedicated day to call to memory those saints who, through their profound faith and sacrificial acts, have led the way before us. We honor the example of their lives and deaths and rejoice in our continued communion with them through membership and participation in the body of Christ. Pope John Paul II said, "We celebrate today the solemnity of All Saints. This invites us to turn our gaze to the immense multitude of those who have already reached the blessed land, and points us on the path that will lead us to that destination." The examples of the saints and martyrs of the Church put flesh on the teachings of scripture and provide countless examples of both holy living and holy dying. All Souls’ Day is observed on November 2, the day following All Saints’ Day. While All Saints’ Day focuses on those saints whose work and witness affected the history of the larger church, All Souls’ Day is dedicated to the quiet and obscure. It is a day dedicated to remembering those everyday saints whose faithful, ordinary lives have built up our own lives and local churches. Although there is no formal service, many choose to visit or decorate the gravesites of the “ordinary saints” in their families and communities. Let's pray that we might become "ordinary saints," people who's lives are spent serving others and pointing them toward Christ. May we be remembered not for our faults which are many, nor for our possessions which are few, but for how well we loved our Savior and served him with all our hearts. This season is an excellent time to learn about a saint, to study the written prayers of saints from church history, and to specifically thank God for those who were instrumental in leading you and others into a profession of faith. Most importantly, let us witness to our eternal hope as we pray, "Therefore with Angels, and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee,O Lord most High. Amen."
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8/10/2020 1 Comment Jesus Walks on WaterOur Lord Jesus Christ demonstrates His divine mastery over creation by walking upon the very water of the sea of Galilee in the midst of a storm. The passage in Matthew seems to suggest that the event was deliberate, that the Lord intended to find them in the midst of a storm tossed about as He approached them on the water.
“O ye heavens, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him for ever. O ye angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him for ever. O all ye waters that be above the heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him for ever.” The scene takes on significance as we take in the enormity of what it implies. This event coupled with the entire witness of Scripture, demonstrates that God, creator of heaven and earth is not in those things which He created, He transcends creation and commands the elements. They obey Him, nature and its laws are His to command or suspend. “O ye sun and moon, bless ye the Lord: praise and exult him above all for ever. O ye stars of heaven, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever. O every shower and dew, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him for ever.” It is the witness of the apostle John in the first chapter of his Gospel who boldly states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made.” This testimony along with the wisdom of proverbs 8 verses 23ff state: “The Lord created me in the beginning of His ways for His works; He established me in the beginning before time, before He made the earth, and before He made the abysses, before the going forth of the fountains of the waters, before the mountains were created; And He begot me before all hills. The Lord made the fields and the uninhabited places and the inhabited heights under heaven. When He prepared heaven, I was present with Him, and when He set apart His throne upon the winds. When He made strong things above the clouds, and made sure the fountains under heaven, and made strong the foundations of the earth, I was working beside Him; I was He in whom He rejoiced; daily and continually I was gladdened by His face…” The person of Wisdom in Proverbs was established by the Father over His works; for the Father made all things through wisdom. For Wisdom is the Word and Son of the Father, He is the Begotten of God before all time. “O all ye winds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all forever. O ye fire and heat, blessed the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all forever. O ye winter and summer, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt him above all forever.” The storm and the raging of the sea also speak of fallen humanity. Psalm 2 asks, “Why do the heathen so furiously rage together?” The implication is that they are as unstable as water itself. In their emotional frenzy they are equally tempestuous and destructive as the storm. Blown upon by the winds of unholy doctrines, the Lord has mastery over them as well able to use their energies for His ultimate glory. So we take courage when the world rages! The one who made the eye, He is able to see; the one who planted the ear, He too has ears to hear. Jesus is Lord of the Heaven and Earth, He is King of the Storm, Winds and the waves obey Him, It is He who called Peter out upon the water, and when he began to sink it is He who saved him from its unruly depths. “O ye lightnings and clouds, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever. O ye seas and rivers, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever. O ye fountains, bless ye the Lord: praise and exalt Him above all for ever.” “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught Him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” Praise and exalt Him above all for ever. 7/8/2020 1 Comment Loving our Communityby Fr. Don Sackett
Rector We love Breckenridge! I believe that statement sums up how Paulette and I really feel about living here these past 10 months.What makes Breckenridge so great? Well for starters, people actually care about their neighbors. I offer my experience at our local medical clinic as an example. Everywhere we have lived, going to the doctor is the last place I ever want to be. It has historically been an impersonal experience. But here it's different. I was frustrated by the long wait to be seen until I experienced the unique level of care provided. I feel as though I know my practitioner and that she knows me. I have been asked to pray for the doctors and staff, and I feel as though my on-going care is skillful and helpful. Here's another example: I recently made an online purchase that I recognized as fraud, and needed to quickly stop my transaction to avoid a financial loss. I went to the bank branch in town. I was admittedly upset over my transaction, and very impatient as I sat waiting for someone to assist me. I could not help overhearing the phone conversation the banker was having with another client. The personal attention she gave over the phone was refreshing and disarming. She said, “…Is your mother so-n-so? She is so pretty. I always thought of her as a beautiful lady…” Who talks like that in the fast-paced world of banking and finance? Well, the banker was knowledgeable and when she finished her phone call she helped me resolve my issue. Then she spent the next hour just getting to know me and my family. These experiences, which are too numerous to mention, are part of the many reasons we feel blessed to be in Breckenridge. Little interactions like these add up to give an overall sense of peace, personal value and belonging. Breckenridge is an enclave of neighborly care and protection in an otherwise insensitive world of rioting and political manipulation. As I have spoken to members of our parish and met new friends in the community, I have a growing sense of hope for Breckenridge. This hope has been echoed by our new BISD Athletic Director, our new School Superintendent, the High School Principal, and several other mid-career professionals I've met who are moving in or returning to our community. I've found we all came to Breckenridge filled with faith and hope that this little town we now call home would be a place where our families could thrive and where the town was destined for renewal. There are an increasing number of talented, hard-working believers in Breckenridge who are working and praying for God to move mightily in our community. I know God has brought my family here for a reason, and I believe you're here for a reason, too. Will you join us in praying for spiritual, social and financial renewal in Breckenridge? 4/19/2020 0 Comments Do Not be Shaken
The message of the Church on the Second Sunday of Easter is DO NOT BE SHAKEN. How appropriate for this remarkable time, when our entire nation is shaken by the impact of COVID-19. Scripture tells us these things must come to pass, and that we do not need to fear. Why? Watch to learn more.
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St. Andrew'sThis blog is about living out our Christian faith in the Anglican tradition. It includes homilies, Sunday services, and commentaries from our leadership. Archives
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