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Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect -
O Sovereign God, who raised up (King) Kamehameha
(IV) and (Queen) Emma to be rulers in Hawaii, and inspired and enabled
them to be diligent in good works for the welfare of their people and
the good of your Church: Receive our thanks for their witness to the
Gospel; and grant that we, with them, may attain to the crown of glory
that never fades away; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer,
who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen.
Click here to learn more about Kamehameha and Emma, King and Queen of Hawaii, 1864, 1885.
The Collect -
Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks
for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those
who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great
bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who
are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
The Collect -
O loving God, by your grace your servant
James Huntington gathered a community dedicated to love and discipline
and devotion to the holy Cross of our Savior Jesus Christ: Send your
blessing on all who proclaim Christ crucified, and move the hearts of
many to look upon him and be saved; who with you and the Holy Spirit
lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
The Gospel -Matthew 25:31-46
Homily by the Rev. Dr. David Smith
This is the last day of the Christian year. Next Sunday marks the beginning of Advent. Our annual journey through the liturgical calendar begins anew. Like any new year, it is time to reflect and plan. To assess who we are, where we have been and where we want to go.
Paramount on everyone’s mind of course is the economy, and as we begin to plan for our next year as a parish family, the economy will be part of the planning. One of the dangers of terrible economic times is that we have a tendency to become insular; to protect our assets, to hold tightly to what we have for fear of losing everything. But during days of economic crisis, the church needs to do just the opposite.
Continue reading "Homily for the Last Sunday after Pentecost - God's Economy" »
The Collect -
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peculiar Life of Sundays by Stephen Miller
A WSJ book review by Jay Tolson
Who, raised in or around the Christian tradition, has not experienced the ambivalent dolors of a Sunday? That is only one question -- but a central and recurrent one -- raised by "The Peculiar Life of Sundays," Stephen Miller's lively history of a day that has exercised a peculiar hold on countless human beings for the past 2,000 years.
One might think that, for the devout, this hold would be especially firm. For them, after all, the day is unquestionably holy, unquestionably the Lord's: an Easter in miniature marking their savior's resurrection. But even the faithful can feel uneasy, as Mr. Miller shows by depicting the spiritual struggles of many of his exemplary figures.
The Collect -
O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty,
we give you thanks for Clive Staples Lewis, whose sanctified
imagination lights fires of faith in young and old alike. Surprise us
also with your joy and draw us into that new and abundant life which is
ours in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect -
O God of ineffable mercy, you gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his people by nobly dying for your Name: Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Click here to learn more about Edmund, King of East Anglia, Martyr, 870.
The Collect -
Almighty God, by your grace your servant
Elizabeth of Hungary recognized and honored Jesus in the poor of this
world: Grant that we, following her example, may with love and gladness
serve those in any need or trouble, in the name and for the sake of
Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen
Click here to learn more about Elizabeth, Princess of Hungary, 1231.
The Collect -
O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household, and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give us the grace to recognize and accept the varied gifts you bestow on men and women, that our common life may be enriched and your gracious will be done; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect -
O holy God, you endowed your servant and bishop Hugh of Lincoln with wise and cheerful boldness, and taught him to commend the discipline of holy life to kings and princes: Grant that we also, rejoicing in the Good News of your mercy, and fearing nothing but the loss of you, may be bold to speak the truth in love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Click Here to learn more about Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, 1200.
The Collect
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
On Friday evening, November 14, before a full St. Mary's Chapel at Chatham Hall, the Rt. Rev. John Buchanan, Interim Bishop of Southern Virginia, ordained the Rev. Dr. David Smith to the Sacred Order of Deacons in the
Episcopal Church.
Dr. Smith has served as Pastoral Vicar of Emmanuel since January 2008. Ordination to the transitional diaconate is a necessary interim step to Dr. Smith’s ordination as Priest in the Episcopal Church, expected in May 2009.
The Collect -
We give you thanks, O Lord our God, for your
goodness in bestowing upon this Church the gift of the episcopate,
which we celebrate in this remembrance of the consecration of Samuel
Seabury; and we pray that, joined together in unity with our bishops,
and nourished by your holy Sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of
redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
Click Here to learn more about Samuel Seabury, First American Bishop, 1784.
Spring of 2009 will see the beginnings of a new cultural
event in our town. The Chatham Concert
Series, directed by new Chatham Hall choirmaster Kevin Zakresky in
collaboration with Emmanuel Episcopal Church, will bring professional musicians
to the area for four entertaining recitals of classical music.
Intended mainly as a new venue for art music in Pittsylvania County, the Chatham Concert Series will also serve as a stage for the young emerging artists of our town. Each concert will include “opening act” performances by young people from Chatham, followed by a “headlining act” professional musician from out of town.
The concerts will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Main Street in Chatham, with the finale concert being staged in St. Mary’s Chapel at Chatham Hall. Admission is by donation.
Performance details and musicians scheduled to appear are as follows:
High Strung - Friday, January 16 , 7 pm at Emmanuel
Kevin
Matheson, violin
Bryan
Matheson, viola
There’s always room for Cello - Sunday, February 22, 8 pm at Emmanuel
Ben Wyatt,
cello
The Magic Flute - Friday, March 27 , 7 pm at Emmanuel
Janet
Phillips, flute
The 1 Tenor - Saturday, May 9, 7 pm at St. Mary’s Chapel, Chatham Hall
Kevin
Zakresky, tenor
Katherine Dowling, piano
The Collect -
O loving God, we know that all things are
ordered by your unerring wisdom and unbounded love: Grant us in all
things to see your hand; that, following the example and teaching of
your servant Charles Simeon, we may walk with Christ in all simplicity,
and serve you with a quiet and contented mind; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for
ever and ever. Amen
Click Here to learn more about Charles Simeon, Priest, 1836.
The Collect -
Lord God of hosts, you clothed your servant
Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a
bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us
grace to follow in his holy steps, that at the last we may be found
clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen
Click here to learn more about Martin, Bishop of Tours, 397.
The Collect -
O Lord our God, grant that your Church,
following the teaching of your servant Leo of Rome, may hold fast the
great mystery of our redemption, and adore the one Christ, true God and
true Man, neither divided from our human nature nor separate from your
divine Being; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Click Here to learn more about Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461.
Emmanuel's Annual Congregational Meeting and Luncheon will
be held on Sunday, December 14th, in the Parish Hall immediately following the
11 am service of Holy Eucharist.
The agenda for the meeting will include the
delivery of Annual Reports by the Vestry and Dr. Smith, as well as the Election
of two new Vestry members for a three-year term beginning in 2009.
All members of Emmanuel are invited and encouraged to attend. Fried chicken and beverages will be provided. Please bring a dish to pass.
The Collect
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect -
O Lord our God, you
call whom you will and send them where you choose: We thank you for
sending your servant Willibrord to be an apostle to the Low Countries,
to turn them from the worship of idols to serve you, the living God;
and we entreat you to preserve us from the temptation to exchange the
perfect freedom of your service for servitude to false gods and to
idols of our own devising; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Click Here to learn more about Willibrord,
Archbishop of Utrecht,
Missionary to Frisia, 739.
The Collect
O God of light and love, you illumined your
Church through the witness of your servant William Temple: Inspire us,
we pray, by his teaching and example, that we may rejoice with courage,
confidence, and faith in the Word made flesh, and may be led to
establish that city which has justice for its foundation and love for
its law; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect -
O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Click here to learn more about Richard Hooker, Priest, 1600.
The Collect -
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect -
Almighty God, you have knit together your
elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all
virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one
God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Click here to learn more about All Saints' Day.
