‘Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2022 December 7

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Wednesday, 7 December, in the year of our Lord 2022. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Wednesday (today): 12:10 PM, Mass, S. Ambrose, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor.
• Thursday: 6:30 PM, sung Mass for the Conception of the BVM.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, of the Octave of the Conception of the BVM.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
• Saturday: 5:00 PM, Mass, of the Octave.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Advent III, Commemorate the Octave.

It has been a very busy season, of-late. The Spiritual Warfare retreat was interesting, eye-opening, and quite a marathon ~ two twelve-hour days, followed by a half-day of lectures and practicum. It will take time and much prayer to discern all of it.

Yesterday, on the Feast of S. Nicholas, Bishop and Confessor, the Orthodox Anglican Church held its first Consecration in ten years; more than this, two Canons were Consecrated during the liturgy. The Reverend Canon Charles Hart Nalls, Rector of Church of the Epiphany, in Amherst, Virginia, and The Reverend Canon Joshua Adam Arena-Gilliam, Rector of Church of the Resurrection, in Landis, South Carolina, are both now Bishops, heirs to the Apostles, and Princes of His Church. The growth that we've experienced over the last two years occasioned this happy event.

S. Matthew's was well-represented in the ceremony. I served as the Master of Ceremonies; Jim Elsnau served as the Cantor, and Avery Collins was the lead-Crucifer for the processions. Our Parish made substantial contributions, and helped to make the occasion a success.

We've suffered several acts of vandalism at the Parish over the last week. It is concerning, though nothing that can't be repaired. The vestry will soon meet, to address this and other items of business.

We live in perilous times. Domestically, this level of societal upset has not really been seen since the upheavals of the 1960's, or perhaps the Great Depression before that. Discomfiture for some, and true suffering for others, is all about us. What are we to do?

Remain steady. Continue to live the lives that we have lived, as good Christians. Protect ourselves and our own, love and serve others, as best we may, and pray God for insight, peace, His mercy, and His justice.

God is, or should always be, that one note of clarity, that one element of flawless constancy, that one thread of perfect peace that runs throughout our lives. We run, stumble, fall, rise, fight, run, stumble, fall, etc. He remains ever-fixed above, waiting for us to join him there. He is always there for us, as we must strive to be for others.

Suffering is a guaranteed aspect of human life. S. Paul converted this to good use, at the very least making of it a sacrifice of praise to God, and at best, honouring our Lord, Jesus, the Christ, by distantly emulating His sacrifice, His pain, His suffering, all given for us. As He did, so we must do; as He was, so must we be. These will carry us through all things. I remain

in His praise,

The Rev'd Fr. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish