From Deacon Ron Reno:
Father Andrews and Anneliese will be here for Palm Sunday instead of Passion Sunday. We had planned to take everyone out for breakfast after Mass this Saturday but, God willing, that will be moved to next Saturday. Pray for traveling mercies for Father and Anneliese this Friday and his continuing travel to Minnesota.
Rose Sunday was very special with its sung Morning Prayer. Before our homily, our choir did an ancient Anthem from the late 1700’s. “Turn Thy Face from my Sins” by Thomas Atwood. It had all the Godly “wow power” of any sung anthem I have heard in recent years. We are so blessed!
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Collect for the 4th Sunday in Lent.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hates nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. This Collect is said every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday. God bless, Deacon …………. Two pieces of student art also attached.
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Please take time to personally thank him and Anneliese for the love they have our small group. They travel all the way from Fort Collins Colorado to share their love of God with us. We should never take that for granted. It truly takes all of us to make this mission church functional. Please thank Deb for doing the business end of this church. Thank Nick and the choir for how hard they work and practice for every MP and Deacon’s Liturgy, that is done in the chapel. Thank David Sopscak for maintaining our web page. That presence has led many new people to check us out. We have new members because of that presence……… God’s children doing His work.
O LORD, we beseech thee favorably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offenses, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen. Collect for Septuagesima Sunday
Lent. It is really an ancient pre-lenten tradition Septuagesima is the beginning of our shortest liturgical season. It helps ease us from the joy of Christmas to the seriousness of Lent. It takes a more somber tone without being as strict as the Lenten fast. The season is seventeen days long and it includes the three Sundays before Ash Wednesday. The length never changes but the start date is dependent the movable date of Easter.
Presentation in the Temple and Mary’s purification closes out our Christmastide and another 40 days to the glory of God. While we do celebrate our Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany this next week, we continue our love of being our part of the body of Christ. Our discipleship never ends and we are looking forward to our Gesima Season (pre-Lent) and prepare for our Lenten season. The pre-lent season became part of our first Book of Common Prayer and came to us by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer in 1549. We will discuss our ancient “Sarum Missal” prayers and readings more in our upcoming emails.
O GOD, who knowest us to be in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany collect.
We are closing in on the Third Sunday after the Epiphany with some upbeat warmer weather coming this weekend. God willing we are hopeful for mid 30’s. The windchill in Omaha on Tuesday was -28 degrees below O and it was brutal early.
rise up to the challenge as Jesus did from His comfortable life in Nazareth, to be the savior of mankind and our chance to know God.
Josh, his children and Nick’s Godchildren join us. Mom and Dad were there too. Our coffee hour has some very interesting conversations going on and the sound of children make it special.
“Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel.” Joseph listened to the angel of the Lord in his dream while still in Egypt. Our homily goes on to speak of Joseph on how little we know of him. Take time to read this homily from Father Ponec written in 2016 and learn what we do know of him.
Christmastide. The twelve days of Christmas really starts on December 25; the secular world would object. The Church gave us the Twelve Days of Christmas to celebrate between Christmas and Epiphany to deepen our love of God and the real meaning of Christmas. The twelve days is much more serious than the “12 Days of Christmas” children’s song. Each day celebrates the birth of Christ, honors a saint or references to a feast to be honored. This is a wonderful time to deepen our sense of holiness and learn about Saint Stephen, the Apostle John, Thomas Becket and maybe we should study about Saint Basil the Great. Remember the season of Christmastide is an older tradition and must not be allowed to fade, in this more secular world.
Christmas gifts for the children of the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota in South Dakota. Our church and others have helped with this project. If you can help, contact our Nick Behrens about possible donations. According to Nick this reservation is one of the poorest so even bedding, toilet paper, paper towels etc would be welcome. Jesus wants us to help the poor, so please do what you can to help for this project.
Our service last weekend included the Litany. This was the first officially sanctioned liturgy into English in the English Church during the time of Henry VIII. It came about with the English Reformation following the break from Rome. This work was done by Archbishop Cranmer and is mostly from the Latin Sarum Rite. Influences for this litany came from Cranmer himself, influences from Martin Luther and from early church father John Chrysostom. We at Saint John’s sing the Litany at the first service in any calendar month for its historical, ancient penitential and intercessory nature.