The Collect O GOD, whole blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread; Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold thee in all thy works; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal Feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We now enter the week that changed the history of the world and the fate of all human beings. Our Prayer Book has some of the most beautiful Collects for each day of Holy Week as well as the appropriate Scripture readings.
I found some exceptional videos that amplify these Holy Days and have included them here.
~Fr. Rick
25 March, Monday before Easter
(Book of Common Prayer, pages 138–144)
The Collect ALMIGHTY God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified; Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect O LORD God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame; Grant us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect ASSIST us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation; that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Collect ALMIGHTY Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood; Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him, who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal; the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
The Collects ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
O MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor desirest* the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, infidels, and heretics; and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
The Collect GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him; and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Tomorrow is Passion Sunday. The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ has always been controversial. It separates Christianity from other major world religions because it is God-Incarnate who suffers this torture on behalf of all humanity.
St. Paul calls it a stumbling-block to those who cannot understand or accept this truth. Yet, it is reality that Jesus Christ has suffered, died and risen from the grave, washing us from sin and granting us life eternal.
Count on it!
Faithfully yours, Fr. Rick Gregory
[Photo: Statue of Jesus Christ bearing the Cross, The Grotto (National Sanctuary of our Sorrowful Mother), Portland, Oregon, U.S.]
The Stations of the Cross will be said on Good Friday at 7:30pm. All are welcome at this solemn service of prayer, meditation and Scripture.
Since ancient times Christians have relived the sufferings of Our Lord by following the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem, remembering the events leading up to the Crucifixion and beyond. In churches this tradition has been continued by depictions of the Stations of the Cross, with prayers, meditations and scripture readings popularized by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. This video features the depictions of the traditional stations, with scripture readings (KJV) associated with each station, read by Alexander Scourby.
Fr. McGrath, military chaplain, celebrates Holy Communion “in the field.”
The Shepherd’s Staff, the provincial newsletter, is filled with news and photos from APCK parishes around the country. St. Bartholomew’s is well-represented in this issue. Here are a few of this month’s articles:
Delegates (Clergy and Laity) gather annually for the Diocesan Synod.
On January 6th (The Feast of the Epiphany), the Rev. Donald M. Ashman made the formal call for the thirty-third Synod of the Diocese of the Western States.
The Diocesan Synod will be held from April 16-20, 2024 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Walnut Creek (CA). The parishes of Saint Joseph of Arimathea in Berkeley and Saint Martin of Tours in Concord will support the planning and work of the Synod.
Fr. Rick’s weekly parish email and the Shepherd’s Staff provincial newsletter will report additional information as it becomes available. To subscribe to either publication, contact Fr. Rick at info@st-bartholomews.org.)
Twelfth Night is a Christian festival that falls on January 5th, the last day of the 12 days of Christmas. In our Anglican liturgical calendar, Twelfth Night is also Epiphany Eve. Many of the customs surrounding Twelfth Night focus on the coming of the Three Kings and the transition from Christmastide to the Epiphany season.
Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, (illuminated manuscript), c. 1410
The twelve days of Christmas, or Christmastide, begin at sunset on Christmas Eve and end on the Eve of The Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, on January 5th.
What about the Christmas Carol of the same name?
As the legend goes, religious wars in sixteenth century England made it dangerous to be a Catholic. Many people practiced their faith in secret. Catholic families developed unique ways to secretly pass the faith onto their children, like “The 12 Days of Christmas.” The well-known song was used to teach children about the Church.
The First Day of Christmas: A Partridge in a Pear Tree A partridge in a pear tree symbolizes Jesus Christ, with the partridge representing Christ’s willingness to sacrifice himself and the pear tree symbolizing the cross.
The Second Day of Christmas: Two Turtle Doves Two turtle doves represents the first and second testaments of the Bible.
The Third Day of Christmas: Three French Hens Three French hens are the gifts of Faith, Hope, and Charity that define this day
The Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Calling Birds The original song lyrics were “four colly birds.” Colly meant black. So, it could be thought of as four blackbirds or ravens. When a raven caws, you hear it, just as the Gospel calls out for each of us to hear it.
The Fifth Day of Christmas: Five Gold Rings The five golden rings are the most valuable of gifts in the original song. This is also where the song lyrics take a dramatic pause. On a religious level, the rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, or the Pentateuch. These books are the history and law given by God to Moses.
The Sixth Day of Christmas: Six Geese A-Laying The geese laying represents creating a new life as God created all things.
The Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Swans A-Swimming Swans are graceful water creatures. The number seven represents the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord.
The Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Maids A-Milking A milking cow is working. But the rewards of this work are sweet. Look to the beatitudes here as this is how God wants us to treat others.
The Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine Ladies Dancing Nine ladies dancing represent the nine fruits of the spirit: love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. When your life displays the fruits of the spirit, you become a wonderful expression of action and grace to others.
The Tenth Day of Christmas: Ten Lords A-Leaping These Lords refer to the English Parliament’s House of Lords. They were lawmakers so this loosely symbolizes the Ten Commandments. As for why the Lords are leaping, one interpretation suggests that maybe a higher law given by God could make them leap?!
The Ten Commandments
I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt have none other gods but me.
Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them.
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.
Honour thy father and thy mother.
Thou shalt do no murder.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness.
Thou shalt not covet.
The Eleventh Day of Christmas: January 04 Eleven Pipers Piping Pipers were known for music that relaxed people. They also led people in marches during the Middle Ages. These 11 pipers represent the apostles of Jesus (minus Judas) who led the way for Jesus’ teaching around the world.
The Twelfth Day of Christmas: January 05 Twelve Drummers Drumming Drummers keep people in line and stepping in unison, all with the same rhythm. The Apostles’ Creed acts as a rhythmic reminder of beliefs. With 12 main points in the creed, it is a powerful statement of faith.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary:
Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, and buried: He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
“May her soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon them.”
Memorial Service for Linda Dowrey Saturday, January 6th at noon
A Memorial Service and for longtime parishioner, Linda Dowrey, will be held at the church on Saturday, January 6, 2024 beginning at noon. A catered luncheon reception will follow. Please RSVP to jenniferpempeit@gmail.com if you plan to attend the luncheon.
Linda Caroline (McNutt) Dowrey, passed away peacefully on November 17, 2023, at the age of 85 with her loving family by her side. She was born in Beaver County Pennsylvania on May 31st, 1938, and was the daughter of the late Genevieve Maxine (Turney) McNutt and Robert McNutt. She graduated from Aliquippa High School in 1956, studied at Macmurry college for women in Jacksonville, Illinois in 1957 and 1958. She then attended the University of Houston and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 1961. She moved to New York City in 1962 to work for Eastern Airlines as a reservation agent, which was a job she loved. She later transferred to Houston Texas, and then finally to Seattle Washington. She was a free spirit with an appetite for adventure and she loved to travel both nationally and internationally. On January 5th, 1974 she married Carl G. Dowrey and moved to Snohomish, Washington. She also spent time working for Boeing and later, became a legal assistant to her husband. She was an avid reader and poetry lover, she loved watching birds and wildlife. She was fun to be with, and known for her big smile, sunny personality, and solid work ethic.
She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, aunt and grandmother.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by many friends and loved ones, including her sister Vivian Jimenez, her cousin Leslie Swasta, and her husband Gordon Dowrey. She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Pempeit, son, Ian Dowrey, Son, James Dowrey; her four stepchildren who all loved her dearly: Gordon Dowrey, Richard Dowrey, Heather Rizzo, and Robin Dowrey; her nieces Julie Jimenez and Linda McInerney; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she loved and adored.
A Memorial Service will be held in her honor at St. Bartholemew’s Anglican Church in Woodinville, Washington, where she and her husband were members for many years. The service will start at noon on January 6, 2024. Lunch reception to follow from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Condolences and personal memories/ stories may be sent to the family at jenniferpempeit@gmail.com.
