Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2023 February 11
Today is Saturday, 11 February, in the year of our Lord 2023. The scheduled services are as-follows:
- Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Sexagesima.
- Monday: 10:00 AM, Mass, S. Kentigern, Bishop & Confessor.
- Tuesday: NO SERVICES.
- Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Mass, The Martyrs of Japan.
- Thursday: 6:30 PM, Mass, Feria, followed by Soup & Study.
- Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, S. Theodore the Tyro, Martyr, with the Gregorian Canon.
10:00 AM, sung Stations of the Cross.
Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.- Saturday: 5:00 PM, Mass, Feria.
- Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Quinquagesima.
From this point forward, our schedule will only add labours upon labours, 'til we reach the ultimate expression of Christianity, and of His love for us, The Feast of the Resurrection, commonly called Easter Day. However, this-coming Tuesday will provide a brief respite, as services on that day are cancelled. It being the Feast of S. Valentine, and the modern custom being to have dinner with one's special other, the Church will clear the way for love and romance on this evening, by setting no obligations for attendance.
We have, after an unknown period, but likely over a year!, finished our study of The Practice of Religion, by The Rev'd Fr. Archibald Campbell Knowles, late, long-time (fifty-four years!) Rector of The Church of S. Alban the Martyr, Olney (North Philadelphia). This-coming Thursday will be an open-question session. Please join us for Mass and supper, and bring any question on any aspect of Holy Church! This will be a fun evening for all; the following week we will begin a study of the Gospel according to Saint Luke.
As you no-doubt have noted in the schedule above, we have added the Stations of the Cross to our Friday morning round of services. In two-week's time, on Friday, 24 February, we will add a 5:00 PM opportunity to walk the Via Dolorosa (the way of pain) with our Lord, on His way to death, thence to eternal life, for us all. These will last until Friday, 31 March.
Before we reach this change, there are special dates approaching. In just-under two weeks, on 21 February, we will celebrate Shrove Tuesday. A pancake supper will be cooked and served by the men of the Parish. Food will be served from 5:30 ~ 7:00 PM. For a modest donation, you can eat all that you can eat! The funds raised will benefit the Altar Guild. It is well-known that the ladies of Saint Matthew's have a difficult time coming to Church without bringing food, but on this one night, the men have things well in-hand. Please don't bring anything but your appetites, and enjoy the opportunity to dine without cooking or cleaning!
The following day, of-course, is Ash Wednesday. We will make this observance twice; the first at 12:30 PM, and again at 6:30 PM. The order of service will be the same for both ~ the Great Litany; A Penitential Order for Ash Wednesday; the Imposition of Ashes; and the Mass of the day. This is the official commencement of Great Lent, though we will have been under lesser Lenten Discipline, if you will, for several weeks by then, throughout the -gesima Sundays.
PLEASE HELP! Everyone must immediately begin bringing-in ALL blessed palm-Crosses and fronds from your homes. Your Clergy will burn these, in-order to make the ashes necessary for Ash Wednesday. Between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday, there should be NO palms in your homes. This is fitting, if you contemplate the Season. I remain
in His praise,
The Rev'd Fr. T. L. Crowder,
Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish