It seems like we live in a really different world spiritually from what is was when I first became a practicing Christian 12 years ago and certainly when I was a little kid. (To give some context here, the current Book of Common Prayer is 1 year older than me <g>)

While reading something about the emergent/emerging church movement lately, I found a couple of subtle references to the fact that the author felt traditional liturgies were “boring”, “dead”, or “irrelevant”. With contemporary-style worship being a focal point in Christianity today, I think we liturgists are going to have to do a lot of explaining about why we do things a certain way.

How would you explain liturgical worship’s relevance to someone unfamiliar with it?

A beautiful prayer for families

http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=199

I’ve gotten into the habit of praying the Litany on Fridays. Here’s a sung version from St. Barnabas, Falmouth

Sorry I haven’t been posting, I’ve had a VERY manic last few months. I’ll be adding a new video category, so please stay tuned

I believe in God the Father, Maker of heaven and earth, whose name is to be hallowed and praised.
And in Jesus Christ our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell, and the third day He arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, from where he will judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, in His power, in His ability to illuminate and direct the Christian Church and individuals here on earth. I believe in His ability to distribute the gifts of the Spirit for the Church’s edification and mission as He wills.
I believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the Communion of the saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the Body, and of life everlasting through the grace and finished work of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Written by Pastor Peter Olson

While not intended to be a substitute for regular church attendance, I hope this service will be helpful for this unable to attend services or looking to enrich their personal devotions.

Opening Hymn: Praise Him, Praise Him! (Music)

All collects, the Psalms, and the intercessory prayers are from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, unless otherwise noted. Bible readings are from the World English Bible. Hymns are public domain. While not intended to be a substitute for regular church attendance, I hope this service will be helpful for this unable to attend services or looking to enrich their personal devotions.

Opening Hymn: Jesus Christ is Risen Today (Music)

A Reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians:

15:1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, cb(15,2); 15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. cb(15,3); 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, cb(15,4); 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, cb(15,5); 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. cb(15,6); 15:6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. cb(15,7); 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, cb(15,8); 15:8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also. cb(15,9); 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God. cb(15,10); 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. cb(15,11); 15:11 Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

The Day of Resurrection (Music)

The day of resurrection! Earth, tell it out abroad;
The Passover of gladness, the Passover of God.
From death to life eternal, from earth unto the sky,
Our Christ hath brought us over, with hymns of victory.

Our hearts be pure from evil, that we may see aright
The Lord in rays eternal of resurrection light;
And listening to His accents, may hear, so calm and plain,
His own “All hail!” and, hearing, may raise the victor strain.

Now let the heavens be joyful! Let earth the song begin!
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes in gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our joy that hath no end.

A Reading from the Gospel of John:

20:1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. cb(20,2); 20:2 Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”cb(20,3);

20:3 Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. cb(20,4); 20:4 They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. cb(20,5); 20:5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in. cb(20,6); 20:6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, cb(20,7); 20:7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. cb(20,8); 20:8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. cb(20,9); 20:9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. cb(20,10); 20:10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.cb(20,11);

20:11 But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, cb(20,12); 20:12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. cb(20,13); 20:13 They told her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” cb(20,14);

20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.cb(20,15);

20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

cb(20,16);

20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”She turned and said to him, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”

cb(20,17);

20:17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”cb(20,18);

20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.

Now the Green Blade Rises (Music)

A great blog post on why Good Friday isn’t really supposed to be funeral-like, in spite of its solemnity

Read it here

Note: This is a service especially designed for those unable to worship in a Christian community this week who would like to pray online with others. Of course, all are welcome! It’s not intended to be a substitute for regular attendance in a Christian congregation. If you’re currently seeking a church home, please feel free to add a comment and I’ll be glad to assist you in your search. Please feel free to share comments as appropriate.

Opening Hymn: “All Glory, Laud and Honor” (Music)

Refrain

All glory, laud and honor,
To Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring.

Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.

Refrain

The company of angels
Are praising Thee on High,
And mortal men and all things
Created make reply.

Refrain

The people of the Hebrews
With palms before Thee went;
Our prayer and praise and anthems
Before Thee we present.

Refrain

To Thee, before Thy passion,
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise.

Refrain

Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

Refrain

+Let us bless the Holy Name of Jesus, who was proclaimed King of Kings, and was willing to suffer death for our salvation.

Hosanna to the Son of God!+

Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have Mercy On Us (Ancient Christian prayer, said 3X)

Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer 1979)

A Reading from Isaiah

54:4-9 50:4 The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary: he wakens morning by morning, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. cb(50,5); 50:5 The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away backward. cb(50,6); 50:6 I gave my back to the strikers, and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair; I didn’t hide my face from shame and spitting. cb(50,7); 50:7 For the Lord Yahweh will help me; therefore I have not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be disappointed. cb(50,8); 50:8 He is near who justifies me; who will bring charges against me? Let us stand up together: who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. cb(50,9); 50:9 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will help me; who is he who shall condemn me? Behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, the moth shall eat them up. (World English Bible)

Psalm 31:9-16

9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.

10

For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.

11

I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my
neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.

12

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.

13

For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.

14

But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
I have said, “You are my God.

15

My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.

16

Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.” (Book of Common Prayer, 1979)

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians

Philippians 2:5-11

2:5 Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus, cb(2,6); 2:6 who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, cb(2,7); 2:7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men. cb(2,8); 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross. cb(2,9); 2:9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name; cb(2,10); 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, cb(2,11); 2:11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (World English Bible)

Go to Dark Gethsemane (Music)

Go to dark Gethsemane, ye that feel the tempter’s power;
Your Redeemer’s conflict see, watch with Him one bitter hour,
Turn not from His griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.

See Him at the judgment hall, beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned;
O the wormwood and the gall! O the pangs His soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; learn of Christ to bear the cross.

Calvary’s mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at His feet,
Mark that miracle of time, God’s own sacrifice complete.
“It is finished!” hear Him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.

Early hasten to the tomb where they laid His breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken Him away?
Christ is risen! He meets our eyes; Savior, teach us so to rise.

The Passion Gospel According to Mark

15:1 Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate. cb(15,2); 15:2 Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”He answered, “So you say.”

cb(15,3);

15:3 The chief priests accused him of many things. cb(15,4); 15:4 Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they testify against you!”cb(15,5);

15:5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate marveled.cb(15,6);

15:6 Now at the feast he used to release to them one prisoner, whom they asked of him. cb(15,7); 15:7 There was one called Barabbas, bound with those who had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder. cb(15,8); 15:8 The multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do as he always did for them. cb(15,9); 15:9 Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” cb(15,10); 15:10 For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up. cb(15,11); 15:11 But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should release Barabbas to them instead. cb(15,12); 15:12 Pilate again asked them, “What then should I do to him whom you call the King of the Jews?”cb(15,13);

15:13 They cried out again, “Crucify him!”cb(15,14);

15:14 Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?”But they cried out exceedingly, “Crucify him!”

cb(15,15);

15:15 Pilate, wishing to please the multitude, released Barabbas to them, and handed over Jesus, when he had flogged him, to be crucified. cb(15,16); 15:16 The soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they called together the whole cohort. cb(15,17); 15:17 They clothed him with purple, and weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on him. cb(15,18); 15:18 They began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” cb(15,19); 15:19 They struck his head with a reed, and spat on him, and bowing their knees, did homage to him. cb(15,20); 15:20 When they had mocked him, they took the purple off of him, and put his own garments on him. They led him out to crucify him.

15:21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross. cb(15,22); 15:22 They brought him to the place called Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, “The place of a skull.” cb(15,23); 15:23 They offered him wine mixed with myrrh to drink, but he didn’t take it.cb(15,24);

15:24 Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take. cb(15,25); 15:25 It was the third hour, and they crucified him. cb(15,26); 15:26 The superscription of his accusation was written over him, “THE KING OF THE JEWS.” cb(15,27); 15:27 With him they crucified two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left. cb(15,28); 15:28 The Scripture was fulfilled, which says, “He was numbered with transgressors.”cb(15,29);

15:29 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, cb(15,30); 15:30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!”cb(15,31);

15:31 Likewise, also the chief priests mocking among themselves with the scribes said, “He saved others. He can’t save himself. cb(15,32); 15:32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe him.” Those who were crucified with him insulted him.cb(15,33);

15:33 When the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. cb(15,34); 15:34 At the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is, being interpreted, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^*cb(15,35);

15:35 Some of those who stood by, when they heard it, said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.”cb(15,36);

15:36 One ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let him be. Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down.”cb(15,37);

15:37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. cb(15,38); 15:38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. cb(15,39); 15:39 When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (World English Bible)
Ah, Holy Jesus (Music)

The Old Rugged Cross (Music)

1. Namaan served under the King of Aram. Where was Aram located?

2. What does Psalm 30 say about weeping and joy?

3. In his letter to the Corinthians, what two sports does Paul allude to in describing the Christian life?

4. True or False: When Jesus healed a leper, he never commanded anyone to involve the priests in it

5. Which Biblical prophet was teaching at the time of Namaan’s healing?

The readings these questions are drawn from may be found here: http://www.io.com/~kellywp/YearB_RCL/Epiphany/BEpi6_RCL.html