‘Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2022 December 10

Beloved of the Lord:

To-day is Saturday, 10 December, in the year of our Lord 2022. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Saturday (today): 5:00 PM, Mass, Of the Octave of the BVM.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Gaudete (Rose) Sunday, commemorate the Octave.
• Monday: 10:00 AM, Mass, of the Octave.
• Tuesday: 5:30 PM, Mass, S. Lucy, Virgin & Martyr.
  6:30 PM, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, Evensong.
• Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Mass, Ember Wednesday in Adventide.
• Thursday: 8:00 AM, men's Morning Prayer & Breakfast. 6:30 PM, Mass, Octave Day of the Conception of the BVM, followed by Soup & Study.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, S. Eusebius, Bishop & Martyr.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 5:00 PM, Mass, Ember Saturday.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Advent IV.

It is a great relief to be back home, and once more, with all y'all, back in our usual schedule of Services. Much good and important work was accomplished in Myrtle Beach ~ perhaps the pinnacle of life in Holy Church, the creation of a new Bishop, and more than this, we had two Consecrations! Now, we will shift our focus to the Season; where we are in our walk with our Lord, both literally in our lives, and figuratively in our annual tracing of His steps through our adherence to the Kalendar of the Church.

This year, the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord (Christ Mass) falls on a Sunday. Thus, the First Mass of Christ Mass will be on Saturday evening, 24 December. This is our usual Midnight Mass, which will commence at 11:00 PM. The following morning, as-opposed to our usual Sunday rota of 8:30 & 10:00, there will likely only be one Mass, at 10:00 AM. Please make note of these times.

Be certain to invite EVERYONE that you can to join us. This a time of great joy and celebration, which we are called to share with all whom we may. Our faith, and His love, should be particularly on-display, during this Season in the life of His Church.

As the Season of Death (Winter) descends slowly upon us, we'd ought to take-advantage of the gathering silence to think, reflect, and feel ... about Life. This most astounding gift from our Father is, in many ways, truly fleeting. In the midst of the rushing years, we are free, by His design, to do as we may. Other forces may impinge-upon us, other people may approve or attack us, and yet, even in these moments, what happens, the manner of our interaction or response, remains the result of choice.

Likely, everyone who is reading these words has made the greatest choice, that of Jesus, the Christ, as their Saviour. However, this is only the beginning. Our Lord followed His choice to sacrifice all for us all to ~ and through ~ the grave. We must be willing, at the very least, to sacrifice for others ~ doing whatever is necessary ~, to bring them to the foot of His Cross; to His Church, to His Sacraments.

In this Season of Death, essential to the Season of Rebirth, let each and every one of us assist others in the establishment, reawakening, the very birthing of their faith in our King, Jesus, the Christ. Now is the time, this is the place, for the in-gathering to commence. Bring all to Him, that He may save all. I remain

in His praise,

The Rev'd Fr. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish