The 8th century collect says that God exercises omnipotence chiefly in showing mercy. Today's readings from Exodus and Psalms show examples of divine mercy, when God provided for the wandering Israelites despite their grumbling; the epistle shows the ultimate example of divine mercy, when Christ relinquished his omnipotence to suffer with the human race.

Last Sunday's Exodus reading was about God's providing quails and manna in the wilderness. Today's is a parallel instance during their trip through the Sinai desert, where he supplies water at Meribah, quarreling and Massah, testing. Those sites became proverbial for putting God to the proof, as in Psalm 95:8, "harden not your hearts, as in the provocation and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness, when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works." Later, to rabbinic commentators the waters symbolized wisdom and the Torah which God gave Israel. Rabbi Paul claimed that the Rock from which waters came to save the Israelites was Christ. (I Cor. 10).

Psalm 78 is one of several psalms which recite the history of Israel, likely written to be used at temple festivals marking those historic events. The opening four verses are characteristic of the wisdom schools stress on ancient lessons as guides for living. That preface is followed in today's excerpt by verses 12-16, which rehearse the mighty works which God had performed for Israel at the Exodus and during their journey through Sinai. The psalm will go on to reproach Israel's repeated faithlessness.

Embedded in today's passage exhorting the Philippians to be humble is a hymn to the pre-existent Christ which Paul may have written or may have quoted: Christ humbled himself to servanthood and death, for which God exalted his name above all. Whereas Christ was eternally equal with God, humanity's making ourselves equal with God (as in humanity's Fall), would constitute idolatry, robbing God of his due: "For that robbery of theirs was the Son of God robbed ... and quite spoiled of his glory. For their puffing up, he was made empty; for their lifting up, was He brought thus low," wrote the great preacher Lancelot Andrewes of this passage. (Bishop Andrewes' feast was September 26th.) This epistle about divine self-humbling was read earlier this month on Holy Cross Day, as well as on the feast of the Holy Name and Palm Sunday.

Early in the week before his arrest, during a debate with Jerusalem's religious authorities, while he is defending his right to have expelled temple money changers, Jesus uses a tale of two contrasting farm­sons (common Biblical figures), to criticize those reputable Jews who did not repent, unlike disreputable people who did repent at the warnings of John the Baptist.

The Oxford Movement, or Anglo-Catholic movement within the Church of England, began in the 1840's under the leadership of two of the church's finest leaders, John Keble and Edward Bouverie Pusey. We remember E. B. Pusey on September 18 for his work in revitalizing the historic catholic aspect of Anglicanism. He helped remind the English church of its great tradition of sacraments and ceremony when English Christianity had fallen into evangelical doldrums and helped restore the beauty of Christian worship to an English church that had become little more than a vestige of the once glorious medieval English Church.

Today, September 14th, is Holy Cross Day, one of the principle feasts of the church on which special devotion is given to the Cross of Our Lord. The days following Holy Cross Day are also part of the traditional ember days during which special prayers are offered for the clergy and their ministry. During the four embertides of the year, those who are in the process of ordination are asked by their bishops to communicate with them regarding their spiritual life and their journey toward the diaconate and the priesthood. Let us be mindful of the Cross upon which Our Lord gave His life for the salvation of mankind.

For the past couple of Sundays, I have been calling our attention to the rubrics in the Prayer Book and this Sunday is no different. I would like to call your attention to the italicized parts of the Eucharist, the directions, as it were, so that you may better understand the flow of the liturgy. As I have previously mentioned, there are some parts of the service which "may" or "may not" be used; much of this depends on whether the Eucharist is being celebrated on Sunday or on a weekday. Also notice that there are parts of the service where it states that the people may join the celebrant in saying part of the service and there are directions which state that the people may stand or kneel; either is appropriate.

I would like to draw your attention to the rubrics of the Prayer Book, from the Latin term for the color red, ruber; for at one time they were actually printed in red so that they would stand out and be more easily seen. The rubrics are the directions for the use of certain parts of the liturgy which may be optional, or obligatory; sitting or standing, singing or saying. For instance, you will see that certain parts of the liturgy state that a particular part "may" be used as opposed to "is" said or sung. Hymns, anthems, and such are usually optional, as is the use of the Nicene Creed on weekdays. Also, the confession "may" be omitted on occasion. It will greatly help us in our worship if we become familiar with the rubrics and how they are used; there are also further directions for the celebration of the Eucharist beginning on page 406. I encourage each one of us to get to know our Prayer Book better and to use it faithfully and regularly.

It has been our custom to sing the Nunc Dimittis after the 10:30 Eucharist on Sunday mornings, but we need to be reminded that the Nunc Dimittis is actually an evening canticle to be sung, or said, at either Evening Prayer or Compline. It is not part of the liturgy of the Eucharist, but rather of the evening Daily Office. In order to emphasize the fact that it is not a part of the liturgy of the Eucharist, we will sing the Nunc Dimittis after the dismissal on Sunday mornings, which will help to emphasize the extra-liturgical nature of its use on Sunday morning.

In as much as Father Hanks and family was on vacation this week, the Rector's Comer is on vacation as well. It will return in next week's bulletin. We hope you had a great vacation and got plenty of rest Padre & Linda!

This past Wednesday, August 6th, was the feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, a major feast of the Church. The Transfiguration marks the beginning of the final period of Our Lord's earthly ministry, and following this momentous event his steps now turn toward Jerusalem and the final acts of His earthly ministry. Let us not forget the words which came from heaven at the Transfiguration; "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him."

An interesting aspect of North Carolina history is just now coming to light and it has to do with the earliest European settlements in the New World. Since the founding of the American colonies, it was accepted historical fact that English colonists were the first to establish settlements in what was to become North Carolina. However, there has been newly found evidence at a site recently discovered near Morganton which shows that a Spanish settlement established by the explorer Juan Pardo was inhabited there in the 1560's. Pieces of clay jars which held wine for Holy Communion, a type made only in Spain for that very purpose, have been found in the archaeological site along with other Spanish artifacts; thus, the first Christian worship in our area was most likely Roman Catholic!

This past Friday was the feast of St. James the Apostle. He, along with his brother John and St. Peter, formed a special triumvirate among the twelve disciples who were present at many of the more notable events in the ministry of Our Lord. St. James was the first of the Apostles to be martyred, probably around the year AD 47 or 48. Medieval legends told of his bones being carried to Spain and enshrined in the little chapel which later became a famous shrine to which pilgrimages were made beginning around the mid-9th century; a shrine which still exists today known as Santiago de Compostela, or the Shrine of St. James of Compostela.

This past Saturday was the feast day of St. Macrina, AD 327-80, sister of two of the early church's most famous theologians, Gregory of Nyssa and Basil the Great. She was in every way on the same level with them in her abilities as a theologian and acted as both mentor and confidant to each of them. She established one of the first monastic communities for women in the mid 300's on their family estate in Pontus. Macrina and her followers cared for orphans, the elderly, and the poor, providing a model for later monastic communities who would establish the foundations of what became the earliest hospitals. Her efforts in education also provided the impetus for schools which became a major part of monasticism in the later middle ages.

The word "grace" in its theological context is a term we often hear used in the churches, but do we really understand what it truly means? It is derived from the Latin term "gratias" which means essentially favor. In the Christian context it is God's free gift of love and acceptance of us. God's favor is something we cannot earn; it is not based upon our personal moral or ethical "goodness", but rather it is God's free gift to us even though we are sinful mortals. The free gift of God's grace has been made manifest to us in Our Lord Jesus for it is in Him and through Him that we have access to God. This is the basis upon which Christianity and its theology rests.

The word "grace" in its theological context is a term we often hear used in the churches, but do we really understand what it truly means? It is derived from the Latin term "gratias" which means essentially favor. In the Christian context it is God's free gift of love and acceptance of us. God's favor is something we cannot earn; it is not based upon our personal moral or ethical "goodness", but rather it is God's free gift to us even though we are sinful mortals. The free gift of God's grace has been made manifest to us in Our Lord Jesus for it is in Him and through Him that we have access to God. This is the basis upon which Christianity and its theology rests.

As many of you know, this past Saturday, June 21st was the eighth anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It has both been a blessing and a pleasure to serve as your priest, and moreover, I look forward to many more years of shared ministry with each of you. Again, my thanks to you for all your love and support over these past eight years.

This past Monday, the Anglican Church commemorated the ministry of Joseph Butler, Bishop of Durham. Bishop Butler was a voice which spoke strongly for the traditions of anglicanism during the mid-1700's when so much of Anglicanism was being assaulted by pietism and its adherents, those who felt that only emotional forms of religion were valid. Bishop Butler argued forcefully for the sacramental life of the Church and is considered one of the greatest proponents of the "catholic" aspect of our Anglican heritage.

This past Monday, the Church commemorated one of our Celtic saints, Columba, abbot of the monastery at lona, a small, rocky island off the coast of Scotland. Christianity in the British Isles had been robust and thriving until the invasion of the Germanic tribes in the early 5th century. As a result, Christianity receded to the far western reaches of Britain, chiefly in Ireland and Wales. Through the work of the Celtic saints, such as Columba and Patrick, Christianity did not die out, but endured until the coming of the Roman mission led by Augustine of Canterbury in 597 where the Celtic Church and the Roman Church joined together in 664 at the Council of Whitby.

On June 1st, the Church commemorated the Feast of St. Justin Martyr, one of the first apologists for Christianity. Justin was born to pagan parents in the area which is now Syria around the year AD 100. He was converted to Christianity when he was about 30 years old, spending the remainder of his life explaining Christianity to the pagan world. In his defense of the Christian Faith, he used philosophical arguments to explain Christianity. In one of his apologies he gives one of the earliest descriptions of the Christian Eucharistic worship which he states takes place on the first day of the week, i.e. Sunday. He was martyred around the year AD 167.

This past Monday was the commemoration of St. Augustine of Canterbury who, in AD 597, began the Roman Catholic mission to the British Isles. Christianity had been introduced into the British Isles as early as around the year AD 125, but during the upheavals of the Germanic invasions of Britain in the 400's AD, the Celtic form of Christianity had been forced to the extreme western parts of Britain. Augustine was sent to Britain by Pope Gregory the Great to re-establish Christianity in the British Isles. Thus, the second phase of Christianity in Britain began under Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, which lasted until the reign of King Henry VIII. During this period, the Church in England was part of the Roman Catholic form of Christianity.

This past Thursday, the Church celebrated the feast of Corpus Christi, the feast in which special devotion is given to the Body and Blood of Christ in the great Sacrament of the altar. Since the early middle ages, Christians have bowed in reference to the mystical presence of our Lord in the Sacrament which is reserved in the tabernacle of the altar. Thanks be to God for his gift of the Body and Blood of his Son, our Lord Jesus.

This past Monday, the Episcopal Church commemorated the I st Book of Common Prayer, one of the lesser feasts ofthe Church calendar. Although it is considered a "lesser" feast, it is nonetheless a very important commemoration in the life of Anglicanism as a whole because the Book of Common Prayer, and especially the first volume, has been the most important unifying feature of Anglican worship since 1549. Written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer during the reign of King Edward the VI, the Book of Common Prayer drew upon prayers, daily office, and Eucharistic worship source material which spanned over a thousand years of Christian worship. It is one of the great monuments of the English language, along with the English versions of the Bible, which helped not only to enhance the worship of the English speaking people, but also to bring the English language to the forefront of the language and literature of the world. It is one of the great treasures of the English speaking people.

Today is the birthday of the Church! Pentecost is the 50th day after Easter Sunday, which was originally known as the Feast of Weeks in the Jewish tradition. The Feast of Weeks was a spring harvest festival which celebrated the ingathering of the first crops 50 days after the festival of Passover. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and others who were with them at the time. The coming of the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of the age of the Church, which is the beginning of the continuation of Christ's work in the world by His followers. This day is also known as Whitsunday (White Sunday) because of the white baptismal garments worn by those who were baptized on this day. Pentecost is one of the major feasts of the Church at which time baptism is especially appropriate. If there are no baptisms on this day it is also appropriate for all baptized persons to renew their baptismal vows, as we shall do today. Happy Birthday!

We are now in that period of the liturgical year which is the 'twixt and 'tween time; the time between Ascension Day and Pentecost. Our Lord's earthly ministry has been completed and we are now waiting for the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. This is what many in the Church refer to as "little Advent" in that we are expectantly awaiting the arrival of the Comforter, the one who will guide the Church as it continues the work of Christ in the world. Our task is to clearly discern what it is God calls us to do in order that Christ's work may continue. The discernment process consists of three basic aspects, prayer, corporate worship, and faithful study of Holy Scripture. These are also the fundamental aspects of the Christian life; may we become more and more faithful in our observance of each of them.

Today is Rogation Sunday, which comes from the Latin term "rogare" to ask, a feast of the Church which falls on the Sunday prior to Ascension Day. Rogation Days were originally an ancient pagan festival (pagan originally meant a country dweller, i.e. a farmer), the Robigalia, in which the people would process through their grain fields asking the gods to deliver their crops from blight and mildew. Christianity took over these observances and recast them into a period of prayer for the good yield and increase of all the crops and farm produce associated with the Spring planting season. These were days of prayer and fasting; we today should observe Rogationtide as a time when we pray for the needs of all mankind, but especially for food for people throughout the world.

In today's reading from the Acts of the Apostles we hear the story of the stoning of St. Stephen, the first Christian Martyr. Stephen, whose name means "crown" in Greek, was most likely a Greek convert to Judaism who in turn became a follower of the Jesus movement. He is said to have been the first of the deacons, those 7 men chosen to look out for the needs of the widows and orphans of the community. Stephen's "crime" was that he preached the truth concerning Jesus, the Christ. He also reminded the Jewish nation that God does not need a Temple for his earthly dwelling place. The Jews considered this to be blasphemy. St. Stephens' day is commemorated on December 26th.

On Wednesday of this past week, the western Church commemorated the feast of one of the modem martyrs of Christendom, Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister in Germany during the Nazi era was imprisoned for his opposition to Hitler and his Nazi party, and was implicated in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Bonhoeffer was executed just before the end of World War II but fortunately for the Christian Church, we have many of his writings, of which I highly recommend "The Cost of Discipleship". Bonhoeffer's life and writings remain a source of inspiration for all Christians.

In today's Gospel periscope, we have, as New Testament scholars tell us, the essential elements of the Eucharist. The four-fold action of taking, blessing, breaking, and giving constitute the necessary actions for the consecration of the elements in the celebration of the Mass. Although the blessing of the cup is not depicted in today's reading the action is, in essence, the same basic scheme of taking, blessing, and giving. We are told that the eyes of the disciples were opened as they broke bread with the Risen Lord. May our eyes also be opened as we share His Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist.

It is now the season of the Church known as the "Great 50 Days" of Eastertide, the 50 days from Easter to Pentecost. During this time the use of the shout of praise "Alleluia" is not only permitted but encouraged. The word as we use it is a Latinized version of the Hebrew "halleluyah", an ancient acclamation which simply means "praise ye Yahweh". It is therefore most appropriate that we praise God for the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, Our Lord, the great Sacrament of God, whose very name, Yeshua, means "Yahweh is Salvation".

The Book of Common Prayer states that the Confession may be omitted at times. Why would we want to omit the Confession and when would that be appropriate? There is actually a very good reason which comes from the Council of Nicea in the year AD 325. The Council of Nice a forbade kneeling during the "Great 50 Days'" i.e. the fifty day period from Easter to Pentecost, and since confession is always done while kneeling, it is during the "Great 50 Days' that it is most appropriate to omit the Confession. The focus of Lent was on self-examination and confession, but the emphasis of the "Great 50 Days" should be on the joy of Christ's resurrection, thus during this period from Easter to Pentecost many churches of the catholic tradition do in fact omit the Confession to emphasize the joy of Easter.

Today begins the most somber period of the Christian liturgical year, Holy Week. We are reminded of the fickle nature of the human heart as we hear the cries of the throngs of those who welcomed Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday turn to cries of "crucify him" within a matter of only a few days. But let us not forget the constant love of God for His people in the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the supreme sacrament of love, which we will celebrate on Maunday Thursday this week. God loves us, not because we merit or deserve His love for the things we do, but rather because in His infinite mercy and compassion He loves us as the sinners we are. Therefore the Holy Eucharist is not only an outward and visible sign of God's love for us, it is the outward and visible sign of the bond of love He requires us to have for one another. Have a blessed Holy Week.

One might wonder what connection there is between the Old Testament reading and the Gospel for today, the vision of the "dry bones" and the raising of Lazarus. But if we think about it the obvious theme in each reading is the dead being restored to life. Ezekiel's vision is a metaphor for the restoration of the people of Israel, their captivity being like death in a sense, the "dry bones" being reconnected and covered with sinew, muscle, and skin symbolizing the rescue and restoration of the people of Israel from their captivity under the Babylonian empire. Likewise, Jesus' raising of Lazarus from the dead demonstrates the mighty power of God, restoring the dead to new life, the life which all who believe in Him share as members of His Body.

Today is Rose Sunday, known traditionally in western Catholicism as "Iaetare" Sunday, from the opening words of the introit for the Mass today "Rejoice ye with Jerusalem". Although this is no longer used in the Anglican churches we still observe this mid-Lent Sunday as a time for "lightening up" from the somber tone of the first three Snnday's of Lent. In England this Sunday was known as "mothering Sunday" from the custom of visiting one's mother on this day or perhaps visiting the "mother" or cathedral church of the diocese. May we also recognize and affirm this Sunday the gracious gift of "Holy Mother Church" given to us for our comfort by God through His son, Jesus Christ Our Lord.

In today's epistle, St. Paul tells us that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." How often we Christians forget this great truth, that Christ died for sinful humanity and that His church exists for sinners. The Christian church is not a club for a moral elite, those who do no wrong according to the value system of "religious" rules and regulations. In fact, there are many non-Christian religions which are very moral and ethical, but the church which Christ founded exists specifically for the healing, reconciliation, and restoration of those who know they are sinful and in need of God's salvation. Salvation which is offered freely to all in Christ, our God and our brother. May this Lent be a time of renewal and hope.

In the reading from St. John's gospel for today we hear Our Lord telling a leader of the Jewish people, Nicodemus, that he must experience spiritual rebirth. This happens in two way, first he must be born "from above" in order to "see" the Kingdom of God; secondly he must be born "of water and spirit" if he wants to "enter" God's Kingdom. These two spiritual necessities are the "way" we enter and participate in the life of Christ, through conversion, being born from above, and re-generation, baptism into the Body of Christ, which is our "way" to God's Kingdom.

The word Lent comes from the Old English word "lencten" which means "to lengthen", referring to the days getting longer in Spring. Lent then, is the 40 day period which precedes the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord, the Christian Church's pascha, our Passover. The crucifixion of our Lord took place during the Jewish feast of the Passover, the feast which celebrated and reminded the Jewish people of their deliverance from their bondage in Egypt. That is why we, as Christians, remember the crucifixion and CELEBRATE the Resurrection of Our Lord, the one who is our deliverance from the bondage of sin. He is our Paschal Lamb, the one who was sacrificed for our sins, our Passover. Have a blessed Lent.

Shrove Tuesday, with its pancake supper, has been a tradition within western Christianity for many centuries, dating back at least into the Middle Ages. But a forgotten, and mostly overlooked, aspect of the pre-Lenten season is the 3 day period just before Ash Wednesday known as Shrovetide, Shrove Tuesday and the 2 days prior to it. The word Shrove comes from an Old English term "shrive" which means to make one's confession, accept the assigned penance, and to receive absolution. Thus the 3 days of Shrovetide were the time for Christians to be "shriven", that is to make one's preparation for a Holy Lent by means of contrition which involved, as earlier stated, confessing one's sins, accepting the penance, and receiving the assurance of God's forgiveness through absolution. As you will hear in the words of the Exhortation at Evening Prayer on Shrove Tuesday the Church still offers these benefits of spiritual discipline to its members. As the Book of Common Prayer states on page 446, confessions may be heard "anytime and anywhere". The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available to any and all for the benefit of their spiritual health.

This past Friday, January 25th, was the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Saul of Tarsus was a vehement persecutor of the followers of Christ, believing himself to be championing the truth of God by stamping out what he believed to be a great heresy within the Jewish faith. At his conversion, Saul came to realize that his zeal for what he thought was the will of God for him was actually the very opposite of that which God wanted him to do. Saul, now known as Pul, came to realize just how truly misguided he was in persecuting the people of Christ and went on to spend the rest of his life working to build up the Body of Christ. May we also come to realize our own misguided attitudes and also work to build up the Body of Christ.

January 18th, the feast of the Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle, is one of the more important Lesser Feasts and Fasts of the Christian Year. This feast commemorates the spiritual insight given to Saint Peter which enabled him to recognize Our Lord as the Messiah, the Holy One of God, and to confess and profess this truth to the world. Let us also join with Saint Peter and confess and profess Jesus as God's Holy One and let us strive to walk daily in His most blessed steps.

This Sunday, the Sunday after the Epiphany, is the Sunday which commemorates the baptism of Our Lord. It is a special time when we are also reminded of our own baptismal vows. But this date, January 13th, is also the commemoration of St. Hilary of Poitiers, who championed orthodoxy in the western parts of Christendom during the "arian" controversy of the mid-4th century. We give thanks for St. Hilary and all the saints of the Church who have preserved the Christian Faith throughout the ages.