From Deacon Ron Reno (2024-06-26):
God willing, Father Andrews and Anneliese will be here for our services Saturday. Pray for traveling mercies for them; our weather in Nebraska has been strange all spring and now even into the summer solstice. We are always blessed to have the full Eucharist when Father comes. It is called the Eucharist because it is an offer of thanksgiving to God. We believe that the presence of Christ is real, true and important for our souls in our relationship with God. When Father comes in celebration, the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Ghost. Father is the instrument of that action. We are fortunate to have Father to come celebrate and set us up with the Pre-Sanctifed Gifts so that this Deacon can fulfill his assignment to serve this mission church. Father is a very humble man and I strive every day to be more like him and Father Ponec, RIP. Please come and celebrate with us this weekend.
We had a lovely sung morning prayer and Communion of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts this past weekend. Thank you Nick for leading us in MP. Your voice is a gift from heaven and our small choir is testimony of God working through you. Robert did a wonderful job reading the first lesson. It is a blessing for us to chant our canticles, the Venite, Te Deum and the Benedictus. Learning to chant properly is a work in progress for me.
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, 
nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that thou being our ruler and guide, we may pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, O Heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ALMIGHTY God, by whose providence thy servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour by preaching repentance; Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Attached is Father’s homily and a couple of pictures from our vacation to 14000 feet above sea level in the Rocky Mountains. It is quite an experience to do MP at that elevation. It was windy, cold but very spiritual. His vastness, His artists palette of this earth is never ending. God bless, Deacon
Transubstantiation. Father’s homily was based on our Holy Day of Corpus Christi on May 30th. The homily was given on how Corpus Christi was actually instituted to the honor of the Sacrament of the Eucharist itself. Please read this historical narrative and homily by Father Andrews. What I would like to add to this conversation is on transubstantiation and how we believe the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. We believe the Real Presence is there. Jesus Christ our Saviour being incarnate by God’s word took flesh and blood for our salvation. We also believe that bread and wine consecrated by the priest’s words, prayers and spirit is changed to Christ’s body and blood. It is all by the power of God’s Spirit and Word, and it is meant to transform us, who are imperfect people, to have a more personal relationship with Jesus. Deacon Reno cannot do this and that is the important reason we are fortunate to have a priest for this mission church. Thank you Father Andrews for praying for the Spirit (epiklesis) and standing in the place of Christ for this mission. “This is my Body. This is my Blood.” can only come from a man with priestly orders. What a blessing it is to receive the Lord’s body into our physical body. Hallelujah!!!
prelude from the “Organ Mass for the Convents” was a great intro to the Litany and to the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. We are so lucky to have such God filled music in our midst.
We were blessed! Father Andrews and Anneliese made it for the Ascension service. After all our tornado activity recently; it was wonderful to see them here safely. Earlier in the week Father suggested we do the Ascension of our Lord service. Father aspersed everyone while the choir sang the Vidi Aquam for that Rite. It was pretty dramatic that Pascal candle was extinguished during the reading of the Gospel as “He departed them.” Father also called all the mothers attending to the front to give them a blessing. That was another special moment. Thank you Father for all you do for this mission church. After Mass our mission group along with Father and Anneliese went to lunch at the LaCasa Restaurant. Thank you Vestry!
chapel. We will sing Evensong to celebrate Whitsunday/Pentecost. Our worship will be held this Sunday, May19 at 4PM. Please take note of this change. There will be no Anglican service at the Chapel this Saturday.
all of Eastertide. It is a chant that dates back to the 13th Century of praise and veneration of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus. From antiquity, Mary has been called “Theotokos” or God bearer (Mother of God) and deserves our gratitude through this Eastertide. The word “Theotokos” has been in use since the early third century. We have had a magnificent festal season this year that has focused on the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without Jesus we are nothing and of all things to do, we need to cling our souls to the Risen Lord. Chanting the Regina Coeli honors her and shows our love of God. Because through her, He became incarnate in the flesh. Thank you God.
Father Andrews did not make his journey here last week because of bad weather. We seem to have had many tornadoes dancing all around the eastern part of the state. Many houses have been destroyed and families displaced. We need to pray for them and perhaps we should donate to the Red Cross. The Red Cross here does an admirable job. God willing Father and Anneliese plan to journey here May 11, for the Sunday after Ascension service. We need to pray for traveling mercies for them.
We were blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for our Palm Sunday Service. Without Father we would not be able to feed God’s children with the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Father always makes sure we have both elements in our tabernacle for use of the Presanctifed Gifts which I am allowed by our Bishops to do. Baptism, Confirmation and Communion brings us to the fullness of our life in Christ. Receiving Holy Communion brings us grace that affects us both spiritually and physically. Spiritually it helps our souls to be united with Christ and physically it leads us closer to sanctification of our own bodies. God bless you Father for all you do for this mission church.
blessing and distribution of the Palms. Thank you choir! The vocal postlude “Behold and SEE” from Handel was exceptional. We actually succeeded doing the Passion of Mathew as a church group; it was a true blessing.
We will be blessed to have Father Andrews and Anneliese for Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. David and Julie will be here also for another two weeks before they travel back to Michigan. Father will have two acolytes and a Deacon serving this week. God will be pleased that all of His children are doing His work. God willing, our little group will do Mathew 27: The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. It will be a challenge but we can do it for the glory of God.
for the Third Sunday in Lent. It is always great for them to be with us. It is a blessing for us that he drives 8 hours to feed God’s children. We always pray for traveling mercies for them.
Nick, Lynda, Julia and Julie had beautiful Godly music for this Mass. They sang an offertory anthem “Virgo virginium preclaire from Sabet Mater” by Rheinberger in Latin. They always surprise me with their God given talents. Please click on the attached bulletin to see what music was offered for Father Andrews. Father had some input on choices of the music.
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 mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. This collect is be said all through the Lenten season from Ash Wednesday until Palm Sunday.
O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all the virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ sake. Amen “Collect for Quinquagesima’
We had a lovely External Solemnity of Candlemas along with the collect for Sexigesima. Candlemas is important to us because its ancient origins go back to the early church about 354AD. For the prelude, the choir did the Antiphons from the Candlemas rite. We chanted the Litany and the offertory anthem of “When Mary to the Temple Went” by Johannes Eccard was especially appropriate. A MUST read is Father Andrew’s attached homily. Father put a wonderful historical narrative to this ancient custom. Thank you Father!