Today marks one of the highest feast days of the liturgical calendar. It is the day we set aside to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas day is celebrated so widely around the world that many non-Christians celebrate the holiday in some way. Likely you have been introduced to Christmas … Continue reading Christmas Day: The Feast of the Nativity
Advent is a season of waiting and anticipation. Specifically, it is a season of waiting for the birth of the Messiah, the Christmas Child Jesus. While this year’s Christmas is coming soon, and Jesus was already born over 2,000 years ago, we still wait. Only now, we are not waiting for Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection, … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Thomas the Apostle
Today begins the addition of the O Antiphons to the liturgy of Advent. The O Antiphons, also known as the Great Advent Antiphons, are canticles (songs) used in traditional Christian worship during the last days of Advent, from December 16-23, leading up to the high feast day of Christmas. These antiphons are the basis for … Continue reading O Antiphons: Canticles of Advent
December 13 is traditionally celebrated on the Church calendar as the Feast Day of St. Lucy (Santa Lucia). Also known as Lucia of Syracuse (Italy), Lucy was a late third and early fourth century Roman Christian who was one of the first martyrs of the Diocletian persecution in 303 AD. She came from a wealthy … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Lucy
December 6th is traditionally celebrated as the feast day of St. Nicholas of Myra. If you are wondering, yes it is that St. Nicholas. Not much is known about his life, and what is known may be more legend than reality. However, there is much that we can learn from and thank God for in … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Nicholas
The season of Advent, which is comprised of the four Sundays before Christmas Day, begins today and marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year. Advent is a season of reflection and anticipation designed to focus our attention on the Incarnation of our God and Savior Jesus. There is nothing in the world worth celebrating … Continue reading Advent: A Season of New Beginnings
Today is the Feast Day of St. Andrew the Apostle, which for this year, serves as the final feast day of the liturgical calendar. Tomorrow begins the new liturgical year during Advent. More on that tomorrow. John’s gospel portrays Andrew as the first of the twelve to follow Christ. Andrew was a follower of John … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Andrew the Apostle
On this day 1963 Clive Staples Lewis breathed his last breath in this world and traveled “farther up and farther in” to the presence of the Almighty. Since the time of the Reformation the Church of England has not officially canonized saints, but if they did, Lewis would most definitely be one! Yet Lewis is difficult to … Continue reading The Commemoration Day of C. S. Lewis: Teacher of the Faith
We’ve come to end of Christian liturgical year. Today marks the final feast day of “ordinary time” (technically speaking this year the calendar ends with the Feast of St. Andrew). Next Sunday the year begins anew with the beginning of Advent. Yet before our eyes gaze forward to the wonderful celebration of Advent and Christmastide, … Continue reading The Feast Day of Christ the King
What comes to mind when you hear the word discipleship? If you’ve been a Christian for any significant length of time, you are probably thinking about a small group or class at your church. This would likely include some form of Bible study or curriculum. Most likely the group or class will revolve around some … Continue reading Why Anglicanism? (Part Three)
Today on November 1, Christians the world over celebrate the Feast of All Saints, a day for us to reflect on the life and witness of those who have departed this mortal life. The celebration is also know as All Hallows Day, which is preceded by All Hallows Eve (October 31), a day that, over … Continue reading The Feast Day of All Saints
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” — Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) For many, October 31st brings the excitement of Halloween—a night of costumes, candy, and community festivities. Growing up Baptist, Halloween was a … Continue reading Embracing the Communion of Saints: Reflecting on All Saints Day
