Tag Archives: calendar

Thoughts & Deeds

Posted on 5 May 2024 by Fr. Brench

ROGATION SUNDAY: Thoughts & Deedsa homily by the Rev. Matthew Brench for Grace Anglican Church on 5 May 2024 The Rogation Days are the flip-side of Thanksgiving: these are the days we pray for God’s provision. O LORD, from whom … Continue reading →

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The Bible’s own “Blue Christmas”

Posted on 28 December 2023 by Fr. Brench

I must admit that I’ve long been skeptical of the concept of Blue Christmas. For those of you who haven’t heart of it before, it’s a practice that’s grown in popularity over perhaps 20 years now, especially in quasi-liturgical church settings, … Continue reading →

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Deep Liturgical Roots in Exodus 24

Posted on 18 March 2022 by Fr. Brench

Exodus 24 is perhaps something of a “quiet” chapter in the course of the book. The first fifteen chapters tell the story of Moses, Pharaoh, the Passover, and the Exodus itself. A few quiet chapters follow, but then it ramps … Continue reading →

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What Jesus passed to the Apostles

Posted on 17 May 2021 by Fr. Brench

Yesterday’s lessons & sermon, for the Sunday after the Ascension, have been recorded. The order in the recording is: Collect for Ascension Sunday Acts 1:15-26 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in … Continue reading →

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Believing and Confessing

Posted on 30 November 2020 by Fr. Brench

Happy Saint Andrew’s Day! November 30th is basically the first saint’s day of the Church Year, and appropriately it is Andrew, because he was the first of the disciples called to follow Jesus, according to John 1. When we get … Continue reading →

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The Gospel of All Saints’ Day

Posted on 1 November 2019 by Fr. Brench

All Saints’ Day is one of the seven principle feasts of the church year, according to our prayer book’s interpretation of the liturgical calendar.  Those seven principle feasts are, in calendar order, Christmas, the Epiphany, Easter, the Ascension, the Day … Continue reading →

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When and how do we celebrate St. Mary?

Posted on 15 August 2018 by Fr. Brench

In traditional Christian lists of Saints, even lists of categories of Saints, the first person on the list is always the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord. This is because she was the closest person to Jesus in … Continue reading →

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Learning from the Liturgy: the Pre-Lent Sundays

Posted on 4 February 2018 by Fr. Brench

The three Sundays before Ash Wednesday are sometimes known as “the -gesima Sundays.”  -gesima is a Latin partial word, from Septuagesima and Sexagesima and Quinquagesima and Quadragesima.  These mean 70 days, 60 days, 50 days, and 40 days, respectively, and … Continue reading →

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My Top 3 Reasons to Ditch the RCL

Posted on 7 November 2017 by Fr. Brench

The Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) is probably the most-used family of Bible-reading plans in the world right now.  The Roman Catholic Church uses a version of it, the Episcopal Church uses a version of it, various Anglican churches use versions … Continue reading →

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Learning from the Liturgy: Alleluia

Posted on 21 March 2017 by Fr. Brench

Seasoned Anglicans, Episcopalians, Catholics, Orthodox, and other liturgical Christians are familiar with the practice of suppressing the word “alleluia” during the season of Lent, but oftentimes we forget just why we do this. Halleluia is a Hebrew composite word: “hallelu” … Continue reading →

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