Saturday, February 29, 2020

Help and defend us

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth your right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Friday, February 28, 2020

Helpful Advice from the Diocese of Los Angeles about staying healthy while viruses are prevalent

My siblings in Christ:

Lenten blessings.

As you may know, I recently returned from nearly two weeks in South Korea and Taiwan. Bishop Taylor asked me to share with colleagues and the whole diocese my experience of how churches close to the epicenter are handling the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. These are guidelines for us all to follow – at church, at home, and at work -- as concern grows about the possibility of further outbreaks in the United States:

1. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. All the time. All day long. Many of you may know that before I celebrate Holy Eucharist, I always find a sink and wash my hands with soap and water. Especially now, this is a good precaution for the celebrant so people can know the church is taking this situation seriously.

2. Alcohol-based liquid hand sanitizer should be used by anyone distributing communion bread and wine.

3. In both Korea and Taiwan, intinction was preferred to drinking from the common cup. Many received the bread and acknowledged the cup with a bow as it came by. This is a good moment to remember a core principle of our Eucharistic theology: That the sacrament is complete when administered in just one kind (in this case, the consecrated bread).

4. At the peace, people bowed to one another or waved and said “Peace be with you” to their neighbors. No handshakes or hugging.

5. At all times, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth – the places germs enter the body.

6. When you cough, cough into your bent elbow, not into your hand. If you have to blow your nose, dispose of the tissue as soon as possible in a waste container with a lid that closes and either wash your hands immediately or use an alcohol-based liquid to sanitize your hands.

7. Keep your distance. We don’t have to be in each other’s faces to talk. This is particularly important if someone is coughing or sneezing.

8. Try to avoid large crowds, especially where you will be cramped or pushed together. I know this is hard for people who commute on buses or trains.

9. Whenever possible, use Zoom, GoToMeeting, or Skype for meetings.

10. If you’re sick, stay home! Encourage others to stay home if they’re sick. Don’t hesitate to go to the doctor and to urge others to do so.

11. Create systems for wellness checks in the congregation, especially older people whom you haven’t seen for a while.

12. If your congregation has a food ministry, follow the World Health Organization’s recommendations regarding food safety.

Up-to-date information is a good antidote for anxiety. Visit the website of the World Health Organization for frequent updates. Go to the page below and click “Protect Yourself” to find downloadable materials in Chinese, English, Spanish, and other languages as well as information about how to deal with anxiety over the disease: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

The biggest lessons from my Asia visit are to use common sense, don’t be anxious, get plenty of rest, and eat as healthily as you can.

Holy and gracious God , give us the strength to meet the health crisis looming around us. Enlighten researchers that they may discover the right vaccine against this disease. Guide the doctors, nurses and all medical technicians working with those who are infected to take correct actions for their care. Protect all medical staff and family or friends caring for those who are ill. Bring together the governments and governmental agencies around the world to work together to eradicate this health threat. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce
Bishop Suffragan
Diocese of Los Angeles

Step out of doors



Whoever you are: step out of doors tonight,
Out of the room that lets you feel secure.
Infinity is open to your sight.
Whoever you are.
With eyes that have forgotten how to see
From viewing things already too well-known,
Lift up into the dark a huge, black tree
And put it in the heavens; tall, alone.
And you have made the world and all you see.
It ripens like the words still in your mouth.
And when at last you comprehend its truth,
Then close your eyes and gently set it free.
–Rainer Maria Rilke

Support us, O Lord

Support us, O Lord, with your gracious favor through the fast we have begun; that as we observe it by bodily self-denial, so we may fulfill it with inner sincerity of heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

The Bright Field, by R.S. Thomas



… Life is not hurrying
on to a receding future, nor hankering after
an imagined past. It is the turning
aside like Moses to the miracle
of the lit bush, to a brightness
that seemed as transitory as your youth
once, but is the eternity that awaits you.

–R.S. Thomas, excerpt from “The Bright Field

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Ash Wednesday Humor




February 26th Lent Begins ~ Ash Wednesday




February 26th Lent Begins ~ Ash Wednesday



12 noon - Ash Wednesday Service and Distribution of Ashes

4 pm - Distribution of Ashes at Bishop White Lodge

6:30 pm - Ash Wednesday Service and Distribution of Ashes


Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent with a special liturgy that invites the congregation into a season of reflective self-examination in preparation for Easter. The emphasis on mortality is not intended to be morbid, but rather to focus our attention on the context in which we and all creation encounter the power of resurrection. 

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Shrove Tuesday




Shrove Tuesday

The tradition of marking the start of Lent has been documented for centuries. Ælfric of Eynsham's "Ecclesiastical Institutes" from around 1000 AD states: "In the week immediately before Lent everyone shall go to his confessor and confess his deeds and the confessor shall so shrive him as he then may hear by his deeds what he is to do [in the way of penance]".By the time of the late Middle Ages, the celebration of Shrovetide lasted until the start of Lent. It was traditional in many societies to eat pancakes or other foods made with the butter, eggs and fat that would be given up during the Lenten season. Similar foods are fasnachts and pączkis. The specific custom of British Christians eating pancakes on Shrove Tuesday dates to the 16th century. Along with its emphasis on feasting, another theme of Shrove Tuesday involves Christians repenting of their sins in preparation to begin the season of Lent in the Christian calendar. In many Christian parish churches, both Protestant and Roman Catholic, a popular Shrove Tuesday tradition is the ringing of the church bells (on this day, the toll is known as the Shriving Bell) "to call the faithful to confession before the solemn season of Lent" and for people to "begin frying their pancakes"

Tuesday (also known in Commonwealth countries and Ireland as Pancake Tuesday or Pancake Day) is the day in February or March immediately preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), which is celebrated in some Christian countries by consuming pancakes. In others, especially those where it is called Mardi Gras or some translation thereof, this is a carnival day, and also the last day of "fat eating" or "gorging" before the fasting period of Lent.

Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and Roman Catholics, who "make a special point of self-examination, of considering what wrongs they need to repent, and what amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with." This moveable feast is determined by Easter. The expression "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the word shrive, meaning "absolve".

As this is the last day of the Christian liturgical season historically known as Shrovetide, before the penitential season of Lent, related popular practices, such as indulging in food that one might give up as their Lenten sacrifice for the upcoming forty days, are associated with Shrove Tuesday celebrations. The term Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins on Ash Wednesday. Many Christian congregations thus observe the day through the holding of pancake breakfasts, as well as the ringing of church bells to remind people to remember to repent of their sins before the start of Lent

Sunday, February 23, 2020

Some Lenten Resources





The St John's the Evangelist Society has some wonderful resources to check out online to enhance your Lenten Practice

https://www.signsoflife.org/


You can find information on "Lent Madness" at this site:

https://www.lentmadness.org/


Thursday, February 20, 2020

Lenten Resources from Episcopal Relief and Development

Subscribe to Lenten Meditations Daily Emails
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This year, Episcopal Relief & Development's Lenten Meditations focus on children in support of our new campaign, ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE.

“As we save children, we save ourselves, we save our world,” said the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. “This Lent, I invite supporters to join Episcopal Relief & Development in focusing on the spiritual lessons we can learn from the children in our lives and around the world.”

Globally, 155 million children under the age of six are not able to reach their full potential because of inadequate nutrition, health care and other critical essentials. The first three years of life are critical to form a foundation for future learning, good health and well-being. Episcopal Relief & Development partners with communities around the world to ensure children have access to nutritious food, clean water and quality health care.

Support Episcopal Relief & Development's ONE THOUSAND DAYS OF LOVE CAMPAIGN and these efforts by subscribing to our Lenten Meditations emails and podcasts today.

Emails are delivered to your inbox daily in both English and Spanish.

As this is ouf first year producing Lenten Meditations podcasts, the podcasts will only be available in English but can be subscribed to on Apple PodcastsSpotify and will be posted daily at episcopalrelief.org/lent.
Subscribe to Lenten Meditations Daily Emails
Google Play podcast coming soon.
Visit episcopalrelief.org/lent for updated podcast information.