Posted by Webwright July 21, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
Mary of Magdala near Capernaum was one of several women who followed Jesus and ministered to Him in Galilee. The Gospel according to Luke records that Jesus “went on through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out…” (Luke 8: 1-2). The Gospels tell us that Mary was healed by Jesus, followed Him and was one of those who stood near the cross at Calvary.
It is clear that Mary Magdalene’s life was redically changed by Jesus’ healing. Her ministry of service and steadfast companionship, even as a witness to the Crucifixion, has through the centuries been an example of the faithful ministry of women to Christ. All four Gospels name Mary as one of the women who went to the tomb to mourn and to care for Jesus’ body. Her weeping for the loss of her Lord strikes a common chord with the grief of all others over the death of loved ones. Jesus’ tender response to her grief – meeting her in the garden, revealing himself to her by calling her name – makes her the first witness to the Risen Lord. She is given the command, “Go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17). As the first messenger of the Resurrection, she tells the disciples, ” I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18).
In the tradition of the Eastern Church, Mary is regarded as the equal of an apostle, and she is held in veneration as the patron saint of the great cluster of monasteries on Mount Athos.
- from Lesser Feasts and Fasts, p. 266
Posted by Webwright April 5, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
Palm Sunday, April 5th:
- 9 AM: Said Service of Holy Communion
- 11 AM: Solemn Procession and Sung Service of Holy Communion
- 6 PM: Stations and Benediction
Wednesday, April 8th: 10:30 AM: Said Service of Holy Communion
Maundy Thursday, April 9th: 7:30 PM: Sung Service of Holy Communion, Stripping of the Altar and All-Night Vigil before the Blessed Sacrament
Good Friday, April 10th:
- 2:30 PM: Stations of the Cross
- 7:30 PM Good Friday Liturgy and Mass of the Pre-sanctified
Holy Saturday, April 11th: 7:30 PM: The Great Vigil of Easter, Holy Baptism and the First Mass of Easter
Easter Sunday, April 12th:
- 9 AM: Said Service of Holy Communion
- 11 AM: Solemn Procession and Sung Service of Holy Communion
Posted by Webwright April 1, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
From Maundy Thursday evening through Good Friday morning, we keep watch before the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose. The commemorates for us the disciples being asked to watch and pray with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemine the night before He was crucified. And Jesus said to Peter, “So you could not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Mt. 26: 40-41. So that we can make certain there are at least two people keeping watch for each hour of the Vigil, please print your name on the poster by the main door in the narthex. This way we can be certain that there is always someone before the Blessed Sacrament, and we can ensure people’s safety.
Posted by Webwright March 3, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
The devotions of The Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will be added to the services of the Church each Sunday in Lent at 6 PM. Please join us to meditate and pray on the events leading up to and including Our Lord’s Crucifixion and remain with us as we adore and are blessed by Our Lord as He is present in the Sacrament of the Altar. This devotion will be offered each Sunday (March 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th, and April 5th).
Posted by Webwright February 22, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
The solemn season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 25th. To make a right beginning of Lent, we should all attend one of the Ash Wednesday Services:
- 7:30 AM: Said Service
- 10:30 AM: Said Service
- 7:30 PM: Sung Service
All three services will have the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion.
Posted by Webwright February 2, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
This feast is also called The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It commemorates for us the time in the life of Jesus when Joseph and Mary, in accordance with Jewish law, “present” Jesus in the Temple and offer the appropriate thank-offering for their first-born male child. When Jesus is “presented” and placed in the arms of Simeon, He is recognized as the Saviour.
Posted by Webwright January 25, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
Paul, or Saul as he was known until he became a Christian, was a Roman citizen born at Tarsus, in present-day Turkey. A few years after the death of Jesus, Saul came in contact with the new Christian movement and became one of the most fanatical of those who were determined to stamp out the “dangerous heresy”. Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen. He was on the way to Damascus to lead the further persecution of the Christians when his dramatic conversion took place. From that day, Paul devoted his life totally to Christ and especially to the conversion of the Gentiles. The Acts of the Apostles describes the courage and determination with which he planted Christian congregations over a large area of the land bordering the eastern Mediterranean. Paul is believed to have been martyred at Rome in the year 64 under Nero.
Posted by Webwright January 11, 2009 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
The First Sunday after Epiphany is also called “The Baptism of Our Lord”. The name “Epiphany” is derived from a Greek word meaning “manifestation” or “appearing”. Anglican Prayer Books interpret the word with an alternative title, “The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles”. The last phrase is a reference to the story of the Wise Men from the East. A Christian observance on January 6th is found as early as the end of the second century in Egypt. The feast combined commemorations of the Visit of the Magi who were led by the Star of Bethlehem, the Baptism of Jesus in the waters of the River Jordan, and Jesus’ first recorded miracle, the changing of water into wine at the marriage of Cana in Galille – all thought of as manifestations of the Incarnate Lord (Lesser Feasts and Fasts, p. 106).
Posted by Webwright December 15, 2008 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
Wednesday, December 24:
- 5:30 PM: Sung Service of Holy Communion with a Christmas Pageant
- 10:30 PM: Christmas Music
- 11 PM: Sung Service of Holy Communion with Solemn Procession and Blessing of the Creche
Thursday, December 25: 9 AM Said Service of Holy Communion
Friday, December 26: 12 Noon Holy Communion for the Feast of St. Stephen
Saturday, December 27: 12 Noon Holy Communion for the Feast of St. John the Evangelist
Sunday, December 28:
- 9 AM: Said Service of Holy Communion
- 11 AM: Sung Service of Holy Communion
Monday, December 29: 12 Noon Holy Communion for the Feast of the Holy Innocents
Wednesday, December 31: 10:30 AM Said Service of Holy Communion
Sunday, January 4:
- 9 AM: Said Service of Holy Communion
- 11 AM: Sung Service of Holy Communion
Tuesday, January 6: 12 Noon Holy Communion for the Feast of the Epiphany
Posted by Webwright November 24, 2008 under Church News, Worship and Prayer
This year we will celebrate Thanksgiving with a service at Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church on Six Forks Road on Tuesday, November 25th at 7 PM, and The Reverend Michael Frye from Grace Lutheran Church will be preaching. We will join Grace Lutheran Church, Trinity Baptist Church, St. Mark’s Methodist Church and Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church. Please come and join other members of these churches and their choirs as we thank God for all that He has given us.
