Sanctity of Life...

...Sunday is coming on January 22nd.  This is a wonderful video to share with your congregation.

For more information, please visit Anglicans for Life

The Twelve Days of Christmas

 Source

It's still Christmas at our house!

In our tradition, the liturgical calendar marks the twelve days of Christmas beginning on December 25th and ending on January 5th.  Christmas is a season for us -- beginning the day we celebrate our Lord's birth and ending when the three kings arrive at His birthplace when we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany. 

The "deeper meaning" of the song The Twelve Days of Christmas is a myth which has been propagated since the mid 1980s.  There is no evidence that its origins were from the  16th century split by the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.  For a time, it was a crime to be Roman Catholic in England.  During that interval, it was thought that this song was used as a way to teach young Roman Catholic children the catechism.  Truth be told, there is no scholarly evidence to support this myth as fact.

Anyway, here are what the 12 gifts were thought to symbolize:

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments

Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
 
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.

The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit - Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.

The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.

The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.

The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

A meaningful story perhaps but nothing factual to back it up but I still like it!

I'm linking to The Nativity Carnival hosted by Kerry, A Ten O'Clock Scholar

Advent and The Sanctity of Life

As we prepare our hearts for the coming of the newborn King in the season of Advent, let us consider the Christ child growing in Mary's womb and what a precious gift He is to us.  He came, born of woman, to bring salvation to all who believe.  

Powerful.

His message is one of love, not of destruction.  His message is life-giving, not killing.  His message is one of redemption and eternal life, not slavery to sin and damnation.

God creates us in love, for love.

Love doesn't kill unborn babies. 


All life is precious.

Anglicans For Life is asking for our commitment to pray during Advent for the sanctity of life:

Lord God, thank you for creating human life in your image. 

Thank you for my life and the lives of those I love. 

Thank you for teaching us through Scripture the value you place on life. 

Help me to uphold the sanctity of life in my church and community. 

Give me the strength to stand up to those forces that seek to destroy the lives of those most vulnerable, the unborn, the infirm and the elderly. 

Today I commit myself never to be silent, never to be passive, never to be forgetful of respecting life. I commit myself to protecting and defending the sacredness of life according to Your will, through Christ our Lord.

AMEN.

Anglicans for Life is an organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia, protecting embryos from research abuse, and promoting abstinence and adoption.  You can follow them on facebook and twitter or go to their website to sign up for e-mail updates and/or print newsletter.

As an avid supporter of sanctity of life issues, I was shocked to learn in the July issue of the Anglicans for Life newsletter the following facts:

3% of abortions are "for the health of the mother"  I'm not sure how health of the mother is defined since it really is a nebulous term.  It can be somewhat subjective and/or prejudiced by the situation...and perhaps the medical professional giving advice as most maternal health situations allow a baby to mature to viability.

1% of abortions are due to rape/incest. 

3% of abortions are due to "health of the child" after genetic testing reveals a genetic abnormality -- and we know that 90 plus percent of children with Down syndrome are terminated...

93% of abortions are those of convenience - also known as elective.  74% of those are pressured by others to seek abortion.

What a tragedy.  I'm sure God weeps as He watches His children murder innocents...

.

Repentance - Anglican Perspective

Lent & Beyond

I've been thinking this week about the very gifted Anglican bloggers that I have become acquainted with around the blogosphere. I am very grateful for their talents and their ability to share how they bring our faith into the home and live the church year - every day, not just Sundays, Holy Days, feasts and commemorations.

When I served on our diocesan youth council, all the buzz at leadership conferences spoke to moving the church's teachings from Sunday school to the home - teaching families how to bring the faith home and live it. I've not seen the trickle-down yet from those conferences but I have found it all right here in the blogging community!

One of my favorite places to visit is a prayer blog called Lent & Beyond. If there is a resource out there Lent & Beyond will probably have it. If you need an answer to a question, it's probably there. Lent & Beyond is all about prayer and living the faith. It is my go to resource!

Karen has put together a Lenten round-up that includes most of my blogging friends and some I don't know but will get to know through their writing. Thanks to all of you who give so much!

Don't forget to visit Jessica's blog, Homemaking Through the Church Year, for some fabulous looking meatless recipes for the Lenten fast.

Looking to Lent

"Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return." p. 265 BCP

These words frightened me as a child. Then, I just wasn’t capable of understanding the big picture that comes with Christ's sacrifice for our redemption. Yes, I am dust – really nothing except for who I am in Jesus Christ. Jesus, who came to earth to die for me and you so that we may know eternal life in Him.

Now, these words bring me joy, a subdued joy, but joy nonetheless. As I mature and can better understand just how much His life, suffering and death mean for humanity, I am awed at just how much God loves us. We don’t deserve salvation as wicked, sinful creatures but it is ours! How grateful I am for the Holy Eucharist that follows the Imposition of Ashes on Ash Wednesday!

I intend to keep Lent as the penitential season we know it to be with more solitude, prayer, self-examination and fasting – all that is intended to draw me closer to Him. I look forward to it with excitement even - for what will be revealed to me will be precious. I am going to keep a Lenten journal this year to record what I’ve learned and things I should meditate on.

Do you have a little quiet corner for solitude, prayer and study?



This is my little space.



Here, I will be spending time learning more about the Desert Fathers.

The Wisdom of the Desert by Thomas Merton

The Desert: An Anthology for Lent by John Moses

Bridges to Contemplative Living by Thomas Merton

I would also like to begin Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross.


Yes, I am dust but I hope to someday rise in glory with all those who have gone before me as a child of God.

Third Annual Advent Carnival ...

is up!



Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, is hosting The Third Annual Advent Carnival. Please go take a look at some very talented bloggers post about family Advent traditions and insightful essays about the Advent season.

Enjoy!

Escaping into Advent

Has anybody else noticed that Christmas merchandise has been on display since before Halloween? The stores and streets are decorated for Christmas and we haven’t experienced Advent yet!

Those of us in liturgical denominations are governed by the liturgical calendar. This calendar marks for us the seasons in the church year, days of feasts and fasts, vigils and commemorations, giving us a rhythm to our days and our lives. Those of us who center our lives on the liturgical calendar understand the richness and beauty offered in the depths of observing planned and purposeful seasons of the church year.

Advent marks the beginning of our liturgical year – a period of expectant waiting for the arrival of our Savior. In Advent which begins this Sunday, we wait as the Hebrews waited for the birth of the Messiah while waiting for the second coming of Jesus the Christ.

As we experience Advent in our preparations for the coming of Jesus in the places we offer ourselves to the Lord by saying the Daily Office, participating in the Liturgy, perhaps even going to confession - or experiencing the rich traditions of Advent by lighting the candles on the Advent wreath, opening the little windows on our Advent calendar or decorating the Jesse tree our anticipation builds as we await His coming.

All these things set the season of Advent apart from Christmas. For me, Christmas is trivialized and marginalized without Advent. It seems that Christmas has evolved to something that no longer belongs to God but to a fallen world.

So, I’ll not be participating in the secular extravagance of the holiday that has been hijacked by the commercial sector and much of today's society. Oh, I will have the work of Christmas done but I’m escaping into Advent. You won’t find me at the mall or grand Christmas celebrations this Advent. I hope instead to be sitting quietly with my Advent reading and focusing on His coming, knowing the great joy about to come while so many are waiting in long lines or spending too much time money on things that are only transiently meaningful.

I’ll be spending my time reliving with awe in His Word the powerful unfolding of God’s plan for His creation. Because Jesus came - fully human and fully divine - to redeem us and offer us eternal salvation...and promises to come again, I know hope. Because He came I want to live my life differently. I want my life to reflect Him and I can only do that by knowing Him more intimately so I’ll be better prepared when He comes again.

And I’ll be praying about how to make some more changes in what I can do to make my Advent experience deeper and more profound. Do you feel a need to make some changes this year? Take a look at Christmas Change "to reject a culture of consumerism and self indulgence, that yes, has even permeated the Christian community. To incarnate Christ in the everyday. To love lavishly the unlovable, in heart first, then in word and deed."

My Advent reading this year

Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas, Waiting in Joyful Hope 2009-2010 by Robert Morneau

Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas published by Plough Publishing House

Christmastide: Prayers for Advent through Epiphany from The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle

Thank you Kerry, at A Ten O'Clock Scholar for hosting The Carnival of Anglican Advent Traditions - a part of Carnivals of the Church Year hosted by Homemaking Through the Church Year and A Ten O'Clock Scholar

The Coming of the Lord is Near - Advent Devotion

From Christine Sine of Godspace



Because our hope in not in our earthly circumstances but in the One who came to save us...

Third Annual Anglican Advent Carnival

On Saturday, November 28th, Kerry at A Ten O'Clock Scholar, will host the Third Annual Anglican Advent Traditions Carnival. It will feature posts from Anglican and other liturgical-minded bloggers with ideas, links, resources, thoughts, and more for Advent.

See Kerry's blog, A Ten O'Clock Scholar, for more information on submissions!

The Starbridge Series

By Susan Howatch is among my favorite modern historical fiction. Howatch is a masterful writer and created a series that revolves around politics of the Church of England from the 1930s through the 1960s.

As a person fairly new to the Anglican Communion, the Starbridge series brings to life the societal, theological and political issues that brought us to where we are today - schism. The schism we experience today has roots reaching far back in time and this series defined for me just how we got here and why.

The Starbridge series unraveled the complexities of the impact of the post-modern culture on the Church within the differing angles of the three main variations of Anglicanism – Anglo-Catholics, Evangelicals and those with Charismatic traits/beliefs.

Each protagonist (ordained clergy) has a false goal, reflected in a false self, as described in the title of each of the six books. This leads to destructive choices made by living for themselves and not for God. Through spiritual direction, they become aware of what they need to do to be redeemed.

I find it interesting that the presence of evil and spiritual warfare is dealt with in this series. So many people would like to believe that evil is not something we need to guard against. Living in a diocese undergoing massive spiritual warfare, I can tell you evil is always lurking.

I love that each chapter begins with a quote from 20th century theologians which lead to plot development and influence the protagonist’s thoughts and actions.

Has anyone else read this series? I am working on the St. Benet’s trilogy next!

Touchstone, A Journal of Mere Christianity

Over the years, we have received many religious publications by mail. I must say Touchstone, A Journal of Mere Christianity is the best religious journal I have encountered. It comes as a graduation gift from hubby's seminary. The content is meaty, insightful and thought-provoking - from an orthodox viewpoint.

From the inside cover:

"Touchstone is a Christian journal, conservative in doctrine and eclectic in content, with editors and readers from each of the three great divisions of Christendom — Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox. The mission of the journal and its publisher, The Fellowship of St. James, is to provide a place where Christians of various backgrounds can speak with one another on the basis of shared belief in the fundamental doctrines of the faith as revealed in Holy Scripture and summarized in the ancient creeds of the Church."

This month Touchstone had two articles written by homeschooling fathers. Education Normal by Mark T. Mitchell on "the oddity of giving children a moral imagination."

The other article, Except the Lord Build by Anthony Esolen, is the commencement address given by Dr. Esolen to the Rhode Island Christian Home Educators in 2007. As I am looking all to soon send my homeschool graduate off to college, Dr. Esolen's words offer comfort to me.

"For through your labor, and perfecting your labor, the Lord has built the home. Maybe sometimes your T-square had a ding in it, or your level had a bump, or you troweled the mortar on too thin. I am sure that your daughters can think of many incidents to prove that their teachers were indeed human. But I am sure also that on this night they are filled with gratitude, and will not recall those times. Yet those times, too, have been redeemed. If your hand was shaking as it settled in place the next stone of wisdom and understanding, still it was the Lord who guided your hand, and his was the work."

Touchstone also has a blog for those who might be interested - Mere Comments

Check it out - this is one gift subscription we will be renewing!

Ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests

I really did not know what to expect while awaiting hubby's ordination to the priesthood. I had attended many ordinations - all quite moving but to see one's husband ordained was a totally different experience.

As I entered the church to find hubby with others gathered around him in prayer:














It was quite apparent to me that the Holy Spirit was powerfully present. I was so moved that I really didn't think I could remain functional for the next 2 hours. But, of course, I did with God's help.


















Smells and bells abound.













Fully priested.


It was a glorious day surrounded by the Holy Spirit, family and friends. Now on to do God's work for His Holy Church!

What a Busy Summer...

Now that our guests have all gone home after hubby's ordination, I hope to catch up with my blogging. The summer is flying by and it has been packed with once in a life time events.

I've hardly seen Kiera this summer. Between social activities, babysitting (her summer job), Happening, Church Camp, St. Michael's Conference, and the ACNA Asssembly I only get bits and pieces of time with her. She has made lots of memories this summer!

Here are a few pictures of Kiera with some old and new friends at the ACNA Assembly:














She's been invited to Kenya to visit Archbishop and Mrs. Nzimbi.














Here she is with Archbishop Robert Duncan of the ACNA.















And with an old, dear friend, Bishop Ackerman, retired Bishop of Quincy.

Her days were filled with duties as the youth delegate from our diocese. Evenings were filled with worship and fun with the youth attending the Assembly.

These are very exciting times - filled with hope for our young orthodox Anglicans. I hope and pray for my children (and future grandchildren) a place to worship, safe from the rampant heresy and secular humanism found in the post-modern culture that exists today. Kiera has had the opportunity to be a part of history in the making as the Anglican Church in North America seeks its place in the world-wide Anglican Communion. What a bright future awaits her and all those young people she met at the Assembly...young people who are on fire for the Lord and seek to bring others to Christ!

Guess Who is Going...

To the Anglican Church in North America Assembly?







My oldest, K, will be the youth delegate for our diocese! She will be flying to the Dallas/Ft. Worth area (without me!) later this month to make history as the new province is launched.








The Anglican Church in North America unites some 100,000 Anglicans in 700 parishes in the U.S. and Canada into a single church after decades of error in The Episcopal Church caused the church to split.

The new church is primarily made up of two populations - Evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics. Here you find commentary from a representative of each group:

An Anglo-Catholic View

An Evangelical View

K is very excited and pouring over the Constitutions and Canons. I know she will work hard and represent us well!

Carnivals of the Church Year - Pentecost

The Pentecost Carnival is up!

Please go visit Jessica at Homemaking Through the Church Year to read all the great contributions!

Pentecost - Prayer to the Holy Spirit

Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Saint Augustine of Hippo

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.


Photo Credit

Carnivals of the Church Year - Pentecost

Pentecost is approaching rapidly and my thoughts drift to the power of the Holy Spirit as displayed in my life. Those of us who worship in liturgical churches celebrate Pentecost, the birth of the early Church at the descent of the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Jesus. What follows Pentecost is known as Ordinary Time or the Pentecost Season. Ordinary Time is my favorite season of the church year. Some might think it is boring with no major feasts like Christmas and Easter but I love the stability of Ordinary Time. I love the focus on the work of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

The Holy Spirit is known by many names: Author of Scripture, Comforter, Convicter of Sin, Guide, Indweller of Believers, Intercessor, Revealer/Spirit of Truth, Spirit of God, Spirit of Life, Teacher, Witness etc. All are made known in Holy Scripture and related to His function or His ministry on earth. His breadth and depth are for us to discover and inwardly know -- and respond to -- as we move through our lives. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own. It is our duty to respond the Holy Spirit working in our lives and make Him known to all!

The Holy Spirit in Times of Deep Personal Crisis
When I look back at the most difficult time in my life, I find the time I truly discovered the depth of the power of the Holy Spirit. During this time I found a strength that did not come from me - it could only come from an almighty triune God through the Holy Spirit. As a mother anticipating the impending death of her beloved child, I was filled with a deep, searing pain beyond description. As I watched and supported my daughter, Michelle, as she suffered a slow, excruciating death and I knew deeply and profoundly that the Lord was always near and that the power of the Holy Spirit would fill me with the strength I needed to support her through her suffering and passing -- and never leave me as I grieved her loss.

Today, I live in awe – total, absolute amazement and wonder of God’s work on earth through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am humbled by the knowledge that He dwells in me - a lowly sinner who struggles and stumbles when I don't turn to God first. I am grateful for that God infused strength I know to get me through the hardest thing any parent can do - witness the suffering and death of a child...and then learn to live without the child. The strength I had during that time was truly miraculous because all I really wanted to do was selfishly lie down and die with her. I understood though, that this life wasn't really mine, but His and to be lived to glorify Him with the gifts He bestowed on me. It is my hope that I glorified Him during the deepest crisis of my life.

The Holy Spirit in More Ordinary Times

My life, for the last few years, has been chaotic to say the least. It has not been easy dividing my time between seminary and home, homeschooling my children, and giving my time and talents to the Church in a difficult political climate. I could go on and on about what has filled my hours but ultimately what it comes down to is weariness. I’ve been in survival mode for quite a long time. This is definitely not the hardest period of time in my life but it has been difficult. I freely confess my knowledge that I did not do this alone. I did it with help, for my weariness runs deep. It is only by the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit we not only did this but did it well! Despite the weariness, I know joy and peace because of our obedience - conforming our lives to what God has willed for us. I know a new sense of trust – trust that God has a plan and I must wait for His timing. I will know it on His time, not mine. I can rest and not worry about the details, for the details are not mine to worry about.

Every day I wake up with a grateful heart knowing God has a plan for me whether it be in my own home supporting my husband, raising and educating our children and/or out in the community. I take comfort in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me, to give me the words I need to deal with two adolescent daughters – one with significant special needs, to deal with my extended family’s ongoing crisis state, to laugh and cry with my friends as we all make our way through this earthly life. I know in a profound sense that I am never alone and He will give me what I need to sustain me and give my best, through His grace and strength, to those who travel with me on this earthly journey.

Please visit Jessica at Homemaking Through the Church Year for Carnivals of the Church Year - Pentecost.

Pentecost Blog Carnival

Coming soon as a part of Carnivals of the Church Year is looking for submissions.



This carnival is hosted this year by Jessica of Homemaking Through the Church Year and next year by Kerry of A Ten O'Clock Scholar

I'm so far behind in real life that I doubt I will participate though I have many lovely ideas but try to send in your submissions by Friday!

Prayer of Commitment to the Sanctity of Life

by Georgette Forney of Anglicans for Life

Lord God, thank you for creating human life in your image.
Thank you for my life and the lives of those I love.
Thank you for teaching us through the Scripture the value you place on life.
Help me uphold the sanctity of life in my church and community.
Give me the strength to stand up to those forces that seek to destroy the lives of those most vulnerable, the unborn, the infirm and the elderly.
Today, I commit myself to never be silent, to never be forgetful of respecting life; I commit myself to protecting and defending the sacredness of life, according to your will.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

H/T Stand Firm