Tag: special liturgies

Healing Service and Holy Eucharist August 7th at 10:30 am

My Dear Friends,

“Worship Heals” is the title of an interesting article I came across the other day. My initial reaction was, “Of course it does!” But then I remembered those times when worship has set me on edge, or made me uncomfortable in one way or another.

Often this has happened when I was in a situation with which I was unfamiliar, but it can even happen when I think I know that I am “safe” – familiar music, known participants, and so on. Of course, sometimes God reaches me in such circumstances to ask me to question what I’m doing, what I’m thinking, what I’m hoping to accomplish. In other words, challenges and discomforts can help to clarify what my relationship with God and my sisters and brothers is, and bring me to a closer understanding of what it is that would be most helpful to nourish and develop these relationships.

All of which is to say that I shouldn’t prejudge any situation, thus ruling out the possibility of growth on my part, because not only might I be prevented from discovering new ways of conversing with God and others, but I may also be inhibiting God and others from conversing with me. It may be that the healing I need will come from allowing myself to be reminded that I don’t have a corner on the best ways to do things, that what might make me feel really satisfied may not be helpful to others.

But in order to allow worship to “heal,” I – and others – have to ensure that no one is threatened by what happens. Sanctuary, a holy safe space, is what can be most conducive to a life of worship. We each have our own gifts from God and they should be allowed to flourish for the sake of all. Sometimes things can seem controlling. The article I read referred to situations where one person was seen to subjugate and overwhelm another, to “imprison” another and prevent that person from being able to function freely for the good of the individual as well as the community. The article asks how we can move beyond those actions, those words, those thoughts which can make us judgmental and adversarial. The writer offered the thought that “The act of worship casts us forward into our future before the throne of God. We become, if only for a moment, what we will one day be” – healed, wholly, by God.

“It is only in the act of worship that the ‘tongue’ of the other becomes comprehensible, because in the deepest place of worship, the language barrier is broken. We are transported, for a time, to a place where the barriers do not exist.” 1

One final thought, prompted by the article’s title: we’re blessed in The Episcopal Church by liturgies centered around healing. We have both formal and informal opportunities to intercede with God on behalf of ourselves and others. This may be done quietly by ourselves as part of our regular devotional life, or it may be done more formally when a person may be anointed with healing oil and prayers said on behalf of that person or another for whom concern is expressed. In either circumstance, we are reminded that the will of God is health and salvation, and that our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are all important to God. We should not hesitate, therefore, to bring to God our concerns about our wholeness, and the wholeness of all of creation.

On the first Friday of every month we celebrate with a healing liturgy in which we ask God’s blessing on our own lives and the lives of our families and friends and then we come to the Altar to receive blessing in the Eucharist. And after we have received Communion at the Sunday celebrations of the Eucharist we may ask for anointing and prayer for healing by remaining at or returning to the altar rail. Additionally, when you ask for a pastoral visit at your home or in the Church office, you may also ask for prayer and anointing for healing.

When we gather together to worship as a Community of Jesus’ Friends – whether the worship be formal or informal – we often discover then, and in the most surprising places and ways, that worship is a powerful means through which God seeks to heal, to renew and to revive us.

If you have any thoughts about this which you’d like to share with me, please let me know!

God’s blessings be yours, always!

Bob

1 “Worship Heals” by Meghan Larissa Good, 1st August, 2015 Worship heals – The Mennonite https://themennonite.org/opinion/worship-heals/

Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry and The Rev. Celine Burke at Ascension School at Cove
Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry and The Rev. Celine Burke at Ascension School at Cove

We Celebrate with Special Liturgies!

On Saturday 4th July we mark the more obvious beginnings of freedom in and for this nation. We call it Independence Day, and most of us break our normal routines to engage in conversation, in eating and drinking, in relaxing.

Of course, not everyone has the day off. If some were not working we would not have electricity, or gas, or propane, to light our homes, to run appliances, to fire up our grills. If there were not people staffing grocery stores we might not be able to buy the items we forgot, or didn’t have time, to get during the first part of the week. Public transportation – buses, trains, planes – runs pretty much as scheduled, guided by people who work through days and nights. And many have to work simply to make ends meet, to put food on their tables and a roof over their heads.

There’s a phrase in one of the prayers of intercession in the Office of Compline:

O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day, who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never forget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

We celebrate this first weekend of July not individualism, but the fact that, working together, we have been able to accomplish great things, and we have a great future – if we work together, together with one another and together with God.

Worship does NOT stop because of this or any other holiday. In fact, it should be imbedded at the heart of this and every day. We give thanks for all the ways in which our lives have been enriched and blessed and God assures us that we are loved and appreciated.

Yet not all feel this love and appreciation. We HAVE begun lives of independence, but we are far from completing them, and many still live lives that are not free. So we must remain alert, to respond to any situations where we see people being oppressed, abused, deprived of the liberties which are their rights as children of God, our brothers and sisters.

Independence Day calls us to be watchful for the sake of others, just as our ancestors were watchful for those who could not fight for themselves, and were inhibited from being able to speak out on their own behalf. We are not yet free until all are free.

Let us celebrate, then! We are on our way!

There will be special liturgies over the first weekend of July.

  • Saturday 4th July: Independence Day 9:30 a.m. Holy Communion according to the Book of Common Prayer of 1662 (the one in use at the time of the Revolution)
  • Sunday 5th July: 9:30 a.m. A special liturgy incorporating readings from historic writings of the United States, and the celebration of Holy Eucharist.

For the Nation (Book of Common Prayer, page 258)

Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For our Country (Book of Common Prayer, page 820)

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.