Blandina and Her Companions

 Blandina and Her Companions, the Martyrs of Lyons, 177

The Collect:

Almighty God, who gave such courage and endurance to Blandina and her companions that by their deaths many hearts were turned to you; Grant that we, in accordance with their example, may also gladly endure all that is required of us as we witness to you in our own day; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In the text of Apologeticus attributed to Tertullian - a work that defends Christianity, and that demands legal toleration and that Christians be treated as all other sects of the Roman Empire -  is this sentence "Plures efficimur, quitiens metimur a vobis: semen est sanguis Christianorum." which has been liberally and apocryphally translated as "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church." Alexander Souter translated this phrase as "We spring up in greater numbers the more we are mown down by you: the blood of the Christians is the seed of a new life," but even this takes liberties with the original text. "We multiply when you reap us. The blood of Christians is seed," is perhaps a more faithful, if less poetic, rendering.¹

At Lyons and Vienne, in Gaul, there were missionary centers which had drawn many Christians from Asia and Greece. Persecution began in 177. At first, Christians were excluded from the public baths, the market place, and from social and public life. They were subject to attack when they appeared in public, and many Christian homes were vandalized. At this point the government became involved, and began to take Christians into custody for questioning. Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to obtain confessions, and were induced to say that Christians practiced cannibalism and incest. These charges were used to arouse the whole city against the Christians, particularly against Pothinus, the aged bishop of Lyons; Sanctus, a deacon; Attalus; Maturus, a recent convert; and Blandina, a slave. Pothinus was beaten and then released, to die of his wounds a few days later. Sanctus was tormented with red-hot irons. Blandina, tortured all day long, would say nothing except, "I am a Christian, and nothing vile is done among us." Finally, the survivors were put to death in the public arena.²

Join us tonight for Evening Prayer and our Bible Project Class to find out more about Blandina and Her Companions, and to learn something new about the Bible.

 
Zoom Evening Prayer & Bible Project
Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.
 
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¹ Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apologeticus
² The Lectionary, http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Lyons.htm, James Kiefer

Justin

Justin, Philosopher, Apologist, and Martyr, 167

The Collect:

O God, who has given your church wisdom and revealed to it deep and secret things: Grant that we, like your servant Justin and in union with his prayers, may find your Word an abiding refuge all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

 

More about Justin can be found at “The Lectionary,” by James Kiefer, at http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Justin_Martyr.htm

Memorial Day

A Boy Scout salutes at the foot of a grave after volunteers placed flags in preparation for Memorial Day at the Los Angeles National Cemetery on May 28, 2016. Richard Vogel—AP

On this Memorial Day, we pray the collect For Heroic Service, page 839 in The Book of Common Prayer.

O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today is an Ember Day

An Ymber Day Tart, cooked by following a medieval English recipe.

Ember days have their origin in the Latin Quatuor Tempora (four times).
 
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of this week are Ember Days. So, we are in an Ember season. The Book of Common Prayer describes these quarterly remembrances on the Church’s calendar. The Ember Days, traditionally observed on the Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays after the First Sunday in Lent, the Day of Pentecost, Holy Cross Day, and December 13.
 
Further, the prayerbook contains the following prayers for Ember Days, which are set aside especially to pray for people in any sort of ministry:
 
For the Ministry (Ember Days) - For use on the traditional days or at other times.
BCP, pages 256, 257
 
I. For those to be ordained
 
Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, in your divine providence you have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
II. For the choice of fit persons for the ministry
 
O God, you led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word
and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
III. For all Christians in their vocation
 
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with
you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
As you can see, there is a prayer here for ALL of us. That is because we ALL have a vocation – a calling. Please take a moment to prayer one or all of these!

Update: For those interested in trying here is the recipe for the Ymber Tart!

The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday

 
Join us for “at church” or “virtually” for worship this Sunday, May 30, 2021, The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday, at St. Alban’s, St. Thomas’, St. Patrick’s, and Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas. Per the May 14, 2021 COVID Update From Bishop Owensby, we will no longer require social distancing or masks for anyone fully vaccinated. All those who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks, and social distance for their own safety and the safety of others.
 
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. A pdf of the leaflet that can be used on your phone or tablet is available at this link – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bysh6E2kHn1e85JEoEQLtJaXUMglljm9/view?usp=sharing
Please contact the clergy if you wish to receive a home communion visit.
 
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!
 
Whit+, Dawnell+, Deacon Rita, and Deacon Rob
 
Art from Clip Art, Steve Erspamer, Liturgy Training Publications – ltp.org

Mechthild of Madgeburg

 Mechthild of Madgeburg, Mystic, c.1282

The Collect:

Draw the souls of your people into your love, O God, that like your servant Mechthild, we may yearn to be fully yours, for you know us better than we can know ourselves; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. Amen.

Mechthild of Magdeburg (c. 1207 – c. 1282/1294), a Beguine, was a Christian medieval mystic, whose book Das fließende Licht der Gottheit (The Flowing Light of Divinity) described her visions of God, and was composed between 1250 and 1280. What is unusual about her writings is that she composed her work in middle low German at a time when most wisdom literature was composed in Latin. Thus she is remembered as an early proponent and popularizer of German as a language worthy of the divine and holy. Mechthild’s writing is exuberant and emotional: her descriptions of her visions are filled with passion. While her work was translated into Latin during her lifetime, her work was largely forgotten by the 15th century, but was rediscovered in the late 19th century. Her work has been increasingly studied, both for its academic interest and as a work of devotional literature.

The First Book of Common Prayer

The First Book of Common Prayer – 1549
Observed on a weekday following the Day of Pentecost

The Collect

Almighty and everliving God, who through the Book of Common Prayer restored the language of the people in the prayers of your church: Make us always thankful for this heritage; and help us so to pray in the Spirit and with understanding, that we may worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In 1549, under the reign of Edward VI, successor to Henry VIII, the primary language of public worship in England and other areas ruled by Edward was changed from Latin to English, and the first Book of Common Prayer came into use. It was first used on Pentecost Sunday, 9 June 1549, and the occasion is now commemorated "on the first convenient day following Pentecost." The Book was the work of a commission of scholars, but primarily of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. More information on The Book of Common Prayer – 1549, including a facsimile copy in pdf can be found here - http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1549/BCP_1549.htm