Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2023 February 18

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Saturday, 18 February, in the year of our Lord 2023. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Saturday (today): 5:00 PM, Mass, Feria.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Quinquagesima.
• Monday: 10:00 AM, Mass, Feria.
• Tuesday: 5:30 - 7:00 PM, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper! (No services today).
• Wednesday: 12:30 & 6:30 PM, ASH WEDNESDAY; Great Litany in Procession, A Penitential Office, Imposition of Ashes & Mass.
• Thursday: 6:30 PM, Mass, Vigil of S. Matthias, Soup & Study.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Mass, Feast of S. Matthias, Apostle & Martyr, with the Gregorian Canon.
  10:00 AM, Stations of the Cross.
  Immediately following, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
  5:00 PM, Stations of the Cross.
• Saturday: 5:00 PM, Mass, Lenten Feria.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Lent I.

BRING YOUR PALM CROSSES AND FRONDS TO THE PARISH, ASAP!

PLEASE NOTE the changes to this week's schedule, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday, being Shrove Tuesday, will be a fun gathering, filled ~in good, Saint Matthew's tradition ~with food. Five dollars per-person (children under twelve eat for free) will gain you entrance. The funds raised will benefit the Altar Guild; fitting that the men raise money for the women's ministry. Do remember that the men are fully responsible for the meal, ladies, so do not bring extra foods, or feel compelled to help with the cleaning, etc. The supplies are already laid-in, and only await the griddle, and everyone's appetite!

Ash Wednesday will begin all of the further customs and observances for Great Lent, not already commenced on Septuagesima. Abstinence, fasting, attending more than your usual round of services, and more besides, must now draw our attention, away from the world, unto Christ. 'More on this below.

Next year will mark thirty years since I began studying for Holy Orders. In that time, I've been in many places serving the Church, and have seen much. Throughout all of this space, I've never seen such flux in Anglican Churches in the United States, omitting, of-course, the Episcopal Church. Realignment and instability, failures in leadership, leadership uncertain as to which way to lead their flock, and on it goes.

We are blessed to have leadership that strikes no uncertain note. Our Lord is Jesus; our mission is service to Him, through extending salvation to all whom we may. We bow before Him, surrendering all that we have and are, rejoicing in the opportunity to do so, and teaching others the to do same. Pray for our Bishops and Clergy, that they may never lose this Way!

Shrove Tuesday is our last joyful gathering for some time to come, Ash Wednesday following hard upon it, the very next day. Come Wednesday, when our sins are physically laid-upon us in the character of Ashes, we will begin the Lenten process. Our obligation is to tear-away ~rip, shred, cut, peel, scrape, burn and purge ~all of the delusions and illusions with which we cover ourselves, or that others place-upon us. All of the niceties, all of the falsehoods, all of the vanities that infect us must be done-away, dropped and left-behind on the ground, like so much discarded skin, as we walk, stumble, and crawl, over the rough and rocky path, completely exposed, naked to His eyes, towards His Cross.

BRING YOUR PALM CROSSES AND FRONDS TO THE PARISH, ASAP!

I remain in His praise,

The Rev'd Fr. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, S. Matthew's Parish