Tag Archives: holiday

Imagery in Zechariah 14

Posted on 4 October 2019 by Fr. Brench

Zechariah is not an easy book for a lot of people to read;  It is one of the most apocalyptic texts in the Old Testament (after Daniel), which really just takes the challenges of prophetic literature and dials them up … Continue reading →

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Love like you’re married to Christ

Posted on 22 July 2019 by Fr. Brench

Originally posted on The Saint Aelfric Customary:
We’ve got a daily hymnody plan available, an order for using the Occasional Prayers, and some insight on how to sing Simplified Anglican Chant.  Let’s put it all together and see what Evening Prayer can be…

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From the Altar to the Foot Basin

Posted on 18 April 2019 by Fr. Brench

A Maundy Thursday homily, on Luke 22:14-30 One of the classic challenges of having four Gospel books is the fact that they don’t always have their chronology lined up with each other.  How did Jesus identify his traitor during the Last … Continue reading →

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Lest We Forget (Remembrance Day)

Posted on 11 November 2018 by Fr. Brench

INTRODUCTION Veterans Day, known in several other countries as Remembrance Day, previously named Armistice Day: as we have heard, this was originally a day set aside to celebrate the end of the War to End All Wars.  As further wars … Continue reading →

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Overwhelmed on All Saints’ Sunday

Posted on 4 November 2018 by Fr. Brench

Sermon on Ephesians 1 on All Saints’ Sunday Overwhelming. Is that a negative word to you, “overwhelming”?  Do you associate that with the feeling you get when facing a large project or task, or a very full schedule?  We can … 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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Mary Thrice-Blessed

Posted on 31 May 2018 by Fr. Brench

The feast of the Visitation may seem like an odd holiday at first glance.  It commemorates Mary’s visit to her relative, Elizabeth, recorded in Luke 1:39-56.  That passage is also the Gospel reading for the Communion service that day.  What … Continue reading →

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O come let us adore him

Posted on 31 December 2017 by Fr. Brench

O Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethelehem; Come and adore him, born the King of angels. For weeks we have repeated the Bible’s final prayer: “Even so, come Lord Jesus.”  We … Continue reading →

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Learning from the Liturgy: Advent & Christmas

Posted on 24 December 2017 by Fr. Brench

Advent is one of those seasons of the Christian calendar that most non-liturgical Christians have heard of, but usually don’t quite understand.  Through the popularity of Advent devotionals and Advent Calendars, many come to assume that Advent begins on December … Continue reading →

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Psalm 56 on Veterans Day

Posted on 11 November 2017 by Fr. Brench

In the standard cycle of Psalms for every morning and evening of the month, the 11th day’s morning begins with Psalm 56.  Although this cycle of Psalm-praying was established centuries before the Great War, let alone the institution of Remembrance … Continue reading →

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