Anno Domini 2025 January 8

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Wednesday, 8 January, in the year of our Lord 2025. SAFETY NOTICE ~ there is a small, white sedan, parked behind the Parish, close to the building, not in a parking-space. Leaving-out the long tale, the owner is scheduled to pick it up by Friday. I only mention it so that no one will go zipping-about the building, not expecting it to be there. The scheduled services are as-follows.

• Wednesday (today): 12:10 PM, Mass, Of the Octave of the Epiphany.
• Thursday: 8:00 AM, men's monthly Morning Prayer, breakfast to follow.
  6:30 PM, Mass, Of the Octave, Supper and Study to follow.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, Of the Octave.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 10:00 AM, administration of the Blessed Sacrament, NO MASS.
  Immediately following, vestry meeting.
• Sunday: ONE MASS, 10:00 AM, Epiphany I.
  Followed immediately by the Annual Parish Meeting, in the Nave.
  Followed immediately by a potluck in the Parish Hall.

Yes, that time of year has come again ~ the Annual Parish Meeting is hard upon us. Fortunately, there are no weighty matters before us; thus, we should be able to have a blissfully short session, followed by a leisurely luncheon. As-per usual, there will be only one Mass this Sunday. The meeting and potluck will follow.

In terms of Liturgical and other forms of corporate prayer, the Anglican tradition is at-least as fine as any other in Christendom, not to mention as ancient. However, as is both my duty and my wont, I must mention, and exhort, private, or personal prayer. A life of faith cannot exist without individual prayer.

Individual prayer may well, and generally should, form a part of our services. In the Mass, along with the prescribed prayers, there is ample opportunity, intentionally provided, and in the People's Anglican Missal, urged, with instructions given, for individual petitions. We may pray for forgiveness of our sins, for a right reception of the Holy Sacrament, for the Clergy offering this Sacrifice for us, for our Parish, that others may discover our Parish, and the Salvation carried within the Sacraments ... the list is virtually endless.

There is no situation wherein we, as Christians, can 'do nothing' for those in serious or dire circumstances ... we may ALWAYS pray for them. One of the most frequently overlooked opportunities for prayer is that of thanksgiving. How often do we pray thanks for our blessings, great or small? How often do we express joy in prayer for the many, many gifts that God gives to us?

Pray for Holy Mother, the Church. Pray for your Parish, your family in God. Pray for others (a large category, from your neighbour to your nation). Lastly, pray for yourself ~ your thanksgivings, your needs, and yes, even your wants. God will hear them all.

Pray without ceasing ~ the hallmark of all great and true followers of the Christ. I remain

in His praise,

The Rt. Rev'd T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish