Columba of Iona

Columba of Iona, Monastic, 597

The Collect:

O God, who by the preaching of your servant Columba caused the light of the Gospel to shine in Scotland: Grant, we pray, that, remembering his life and labors, we may show our thankfulness to you by following the example of his zeal and patience; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In the troubled and violent Dark Ages in Northern Europe, monasteries served as inns, orphanages, centers of learning, and even as fortresses. The light of civilization flickered dimly and might have gone out altogether if it had not been for these convent-shelters. Columba, a stern and strong monk from Ireland, founded three such establishments. He founded the monasteries of Derry and Durrow in his native Ireland, and the island monastery of Iona on the coast of Scotland. Iona was the center of operations for the conversion of the Scots and Picts, and became the most famous religious house in Scotland. There Columba baptized Brude, King of the Picts, and later a King of the Scots came to this Abbot of the "Holy Isle" for baptism. The historian Bede tells us that Columba led many to Christianity by his "preaching and example."*

 *The Lectionary, http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Columba.htm

Melania the Elder

Melania the Elder, Monastic, 410

Most High and Merciful God, who called your servant Melania to forsake earthly comforts in order to devote herself to studying the scriptures and to welcoming the poor: Instruct us in the ways of poverty and the grace of hospitality, that we might comfort those who have no place to rest and teach the way of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Melania the Elder, (born in Spain, ca. 350–died in Jerusalem before 410 or in c. 417) was a Desert Mother who was an influential figure in the Christian ascetic movement (the Desert Fathers and Mothers) that sprang up in the generation after the Emperor Constantine made Christianity a legal religion of the Roman Empire.*

 *The Lectionary, http://satucket.com/lectionary/Melania_elder.html

The Bible Project

In our Wednesday and Thursday Night (in Spanish) Christian Education Classes following our evening prayers, we’ve been making our way through some of the videos of the Bible Project See https://bibleproject.com/. For those of you who’ve never joined us, we would like to introduce you to this amazing resource. It is completely free and is paid for by crowd sourcing.  

The videos include info on How to Read the Bible, Themes, Word Studies, Book Overviews, and Book Collections. You can also enroll by email for Podcasts (for iTunes , Google Podcasts , or Spotify) , Reading Plans and Reflections. Check out the Bible Project website, videos, blog, and info graphics. Much of the content is shared via YouTube, or is available to download for free. Lastly, check out the ever expanding versions in other languages – currently 41, with around 3.5 million worldwide subscribers.

 Here’s an example.

You can download the infographic here - https://bibleproject.com/view-resource/311

The Long Green Season Begins

Join us for “at church” or “virtually” for worship this Sunday, June 6, 2021, The Second Sunday after Pentecost, at St. Alban’s, St. Thomas’, St. Patrick’s, and Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas.
 
Holy Eucharist, Rite Two
St. Alban’s – 8:30 a.m. or at 10:30 a.m.*
St. Thomas' - 10:00 a.m.*
St. Patrick’s – 1:30 p.m.*
 
* These liturgies will be Live-Streamed on Facebook for those who choose to remain at home.
Download a pdf of the leaflet to print or to use on your phone or tablet at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i5VUQ4XnuKEaEYQwkELSeY6mU1dYKqMW/view?usp=sharing
 
La Santa Eucaristía: Rito Dos
Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas – Domingo - 5:00 p.m.
y vía transmisión en vivo en nuestra página de Facebook.
 
Zoom Compline
Sunday -  8:00 p.m.
 
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83861688528?pwd=WFdBcndxV3hzbUpETDNTSFFzc3Z0QT09
Meeting ID: 838 6168 8528
Passcode: 800
Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 or +1 346 248 7799
 
We hope to “see” you all on Sunday as you are most comfortable!
 
Dawnell+, Whit+, Deacon Rita, and Deacon Rob
 
Art from Clip Art, Steve Erspamer, Liturgy Training Publications – ltp.org

Boniface

Boniface, Bishop and Missionary, 754

The Collect:

Pour out your Holy Spirit, O God, upon your church in every land, that like your servant Boniface we might proclaim the Gospel to all nations, that your kingdom might be enlarged and that your holy Name might be glorified in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Wynfrith, nicknamed Boniface ("good deeds"), was born around 680 near Crediton in Devonshire, England. When he was five, he listened to some monks who were staying at his father's house. They had returned from a mission to the pagans on the continent, and Boniface was so impressed by them that he resolved to follow their example. Although his father had intended him for a secular career, he gave way to his son's entreaties and sent him at the age of seven to a monastery school. He eventually became director of the school at Nursling, in Winchester, where he wrote the first Latin grammar in England, and gave lectures that were widely copied and circulated. The historian Christopher Dawson estimates that he has had a greater influence on the history of Europe than any other Englishman.” ¹

¹ The Lectionary, by James Kiefer, http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Boniface.htm 

John XXIII

John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli), Bishop, 1963

The Collect:

God of all truth and peace, who raised up your bishop John to be servant of the servants of God and bestowed on him wisdom to call for the work of renewing your church: Grant that, following his example, we may reach out to other Christians in the love of your Son, and labor throughout the nations of the world to kindle a desire for justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today, the Church remembers Pope John XXIII. Why does the Episcopal Church remember a Roman Catholic Pope?

 “Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli (25 November 1881 – 3 June 1963),” [was one of thirteen children born to a family of sharecroppers, and] ² was elected as the 261st Pope of the Roman Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City on 28 October 1958. He called the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) but did not live to see it to completion, dying on 3 June 1963, two months after the completion of his final encyclical, Pacem in Terris. Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli, then Archbishop of Venice, was elected Pope, to his great surprise. After the long pontificate of Pope Pius XII, the cardinals chose a man who, it was presumed because of his advanced age, would be a short-term or "stop-gap" pope. Upon his election, Cardinal Roncalli chose John as his regnal name. This was the first time in over 500 years that this name had been chosen. John XXIII's personal warmth, good humor and kindness captured the world's affections in a way his predecessor, for all his learning, had failed to do. Far from being a mere "stop gap" Pope, to great excitement John called an ecumenical council fewer than ninety years after the Vatican Council. From the Second Vatican Council came changes that reshaped the face of Catholicism: a comprehensively revised liturgy, a stronger emphasis on ecumenism, and a new approach to the world.” ¹ “John XXIII today is affectionately known as the "Good Pope" and in Italian, "il Papa buono." ²

¹ From The Lectionary - http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/john_xxiii.htm

² Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII

Martyrs of Uganda

Martyrs of Uganda, 1886

The Collect:

O God, by whose providence the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church: Grant that we who remember before you the blessed martyrs of Uganda, may, like them, be steadfast in our faith in Jesus Christ, to whom they gave obedience even to death, and by their sacrifice brought forth a plentiful harvest; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

On 3 June 1886, thirty-two young men, pages of the court of King Mwanga of Buganda, were burned to death at Namugongo for their refusal to renounce Christianity. In the following months many other Christians throughout the country died by spear or fire for their faith. These martyrdoms totally changed the dynamic of Christian growth in Uganda.