Second Sunday after the Epiphany Homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

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.

Our liturgical period has been revealing the divinity of Jesus and lasts until the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple on February 2nd. We have been enjoying our Epiphanytide collects (special prayers) this season and it gives us a chance to reflect on those collects. This Manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles allows us Christians to know our faith, His presence has given to the Gentiles (Christians) our chance for Salvation. Please read Father Andrew’s homily and how we must 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.

O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles; Mercifully grant we, who know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the first Sunday.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the second Sunday.

Continue to pray for the Californians and their children who have lost their homes, schools and businesses by these devastating wildfires.

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First Sunday after the Epiphany homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

As we celebrate Epiphany, our choir always does things over and above. Nick, Lynda and Julia sang a French Christmas carol “Ou ’S’en vont Ces gais Bergers.” I didn’t understand a word but it was beautiful. The choir also sang the Kyrie- “Missa de Minuet a Noel” and the Gloria. This (God’s) Mission church is small but mighty and a great deal of that goes to the choir doing God’s work. Thank you Nick, Julia and Lynda.

After our service, we gather together for coffee and treats. This week the Robert’s family brought a special egg dish and scones. We are blessed to have this family who have a great love of God, be part of our family. It was also very special to have 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.

Please keep in mind and have prayers for all of the families who have lost their homes and schools in California. Some areas in Los Angeles look like war torn Europe after World War II. I was almost in tears when I saw the destruction as it was occurring: I have spent time in California and know how beautiful a place it is .The fires are still burning and those families need all the prayers we can muster. God bless, Deacon

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Second Sunday after Christmas homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

“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.

Obedience to God’s will is what we must do ourselves during these secular times. Joseph listened to God’s will during his time and we must do the same during our time.

ALMIGHTY God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word; Grant that thine same light enkindled in our hearts may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Please pray for California and our first responders doing the best they can. Deacon

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Fourth Sunday in Advent homily and more

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.

Almighty God, who hast given us thy only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a virgin; Grant that we being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy Spirit; through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. Collect for Christmas Day. God bless, Deacon

 

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Second Sunday in Advent homily from last year and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

We were blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for the Second Sunday in Advent. It is always wonderful to have them here amongst us. We have lit two candles for the season while our choir sang Advent Antiphons. It is such a blessing to have a choir for this mission church and it is especially nice when we have a priest present. Thank you Father and Anneliese for these journeys you make for us. We always pray for traveling mercies for you.


The Collect for the Second Week in Advent is one of my favorites. Holy scripture containeth all things necessary for our salvation and this collect adheres to that promise. We realize knowledge is power and our responsibility as Christians, is to learn as much about the bible, God, as our brains can handle. It will make us much better prepared for that salvation in this more secular world.

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

Continue praying for all who are traveling, pray for those in crisis and pray for your families this Advent Season. God bless Deacon

Last years homily is another must read. It is very intellectual and thoughtful.

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Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

Pine Ridge Christmas Project. For several years Saint John’s has collected 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.

O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offenses; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed. Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen. Collect for the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.

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.

Father Andrews homily is attached and is really two homilies in one. This is a must read, as it addresses our last election and takes a wonderful Godly historical spin that honors our veterans, world history and how faith enters into this history. Thirteen pages, so brew up some tea to read. God bless, Deacon

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All Saints homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

We celebrated Saturday with Sung Morning Prayer and Communion of the Presanctified Gifts, with an emphasis on All Saint’s Day in our music and our homily. Who doesn’t love to sing music we know such as “For All the Saints” and “I Sing a Song of the Saints.” The choral postlude “The Souls of the Righteous” was especially moving. We are so blessed to have a joyous group and sing music honoring God and His Saints. Our homily gets into the reason why we celebrated this day. Our observance goes back to the early centuries of the Christian Church when we celebrated the many martyrs on the anniversaries of their death. In the fourth century the Church established a common day to honor all martyrs. Both All Saints and All Souls Day have special prayers. We Anglicans believe in the power of prayer and sometimes ask for these Saints to have a spiritual connection to us and pray for those who have passed. By the way those martyrs have eternal life with Jesus. Our purpose on this earth is to do our best to have eternal life with Jesus too.

We were also blessed with three more new visitors that were friends of Caedmon.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for All Saints Day. God bless, Deacon

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Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

What a blessing it is to hear the noise of children in our midst. We have new people with children. God loves it when His children make joyful noise. That definitely includes all of us with our choir, Nick, Lynda, Julia and the rest of us singing out of the 1940 Hymnal. We are all God’s children. We use the 1940 with its supplements because it is simply one of the best hymnals ever printed. Our hymnal is a nice worship resource and can be used at home as well at the church. Our hymnal, along with the 1928 BCP, is very orthodox in its following of scripture, the seasons of the church, Saints days and it follows our one year lectionary. Some of our hymns are ancient and go back to the late 1500’s. I especially appreciate that its text is dark, easy to read and feels like a history book companion to me.

LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity. God bless, Deacon

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Twenty -first Sunday after Trinity homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed of all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Collect for the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity. Jesus is always teaching us. He is telling us to be strong in the Lord, trust Him and you will find pardon and peace.  We read collects at every service because their importance to lead us in a short prayer and a petition to God. That request, an invocation and doxology (praise to God) that ends with Amen is a wonderful Anglican practice. Collects are good spiritual food for you to intellectually digest.

We had three adults with three children visit us last Saturday. It was a blessing to have them and the children to be amongst us. One visitor, Josh, was there the previous week and brought friends and family this week. God willing they will be back with us this week.

From “The Imitation of Christ” by Thomas Kempis (15th Century)
With the deepest devotion and fervent love, with all affection and fervor of heart, I long to receive Thee, O Lord, even as many Saints and devout persons have desired Thee in communicating, who were altogether well pleasing to Thee by their sanctity of life, and dwelt in all ardent devotion. O my God, Eternal Love, my whole Good, Happiness without measure, I long to receive Thee with the most vehement desire and being reverence, which any Saint ever had or could have.

We are having an amazing Fall; please get outdoors and see the seasonal change. It would be a good time to praise God and thank Him for all the good things in your life.                God bless, Deacon

 

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Twentieth Sunday after Trinity homily and more

From Deacon Ron Reno:

Fall is finally here in Nebraska. I love this time of year, for the cooler weather, the changes of color of the season and a great time to be outside. Please get outside as much as you can and embrace the beauty that God has given us. Stand under one of our golden trees; see the light filter itself through the leaves and take time to thank God for His beauty. In class we discussed looking for the Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas looking to the southwest after dusk, the beauty of Fall and discussed the Aurora that was visible in Nebraska last week. One of the main purposes of these discussions is to get these students to look up and see the beauty that surrounds them. It is important for all of us to take time to see God’s beauty and get away from the digital world that tries to impose itself upon us.

O ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things which thou commandest; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

During Morning Prayer, our choir sang a beautiful anthem “Like as the Hart ” by Vincent Novello (early 1800’s). Our choir is always doing God’s work. We are so blessed to have Lynda, Julia and Nick. Blessings, Deacon

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