From Deacon Ron Reno:
God willing, Father Andrews and Anneliese will be here for Palm Sunday. We need to pray for traveling mercies for Father, Anneliese and the Roberts family.
We were blessed to have Josh and his family at services last week. It is always wonderful have Michelle, Mikhaeli, Aubrey, and baby Will amongst us. Mario Vargas brought his brother Willy, who also has a real interest in us. Caedmon brought his girlfriend Isabelle. Caed is training to be a fireman and Isabelle is a police officer. We need to always pray to keep all our first responders safe. It is amazing to me how God has made our church family larger.
We have asked the College of Saint Mary for permission to have a Good Friday service in the chapel along with our Easter service. I hope to have a response by today. Pray for that to happen. It would be a real blessing for this mission church.
Our choir always surprise us with beautiful anthems. This week for the offertory anthem they sing ”Sabat Mater Dolorosa” parts 1 and 2 by Rheinberger. They also had a choral postlude ”Virgo Virginum” by Rheinberger also. May God continue to bless this choir.
We beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our lord, Amen… Collect of Passion Sunday. God bless Deacon
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.
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.
