Emmanuel Episcopal Church

Service Bulletin for Palm Sunday

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Feast of Charles Henry Brent

The Collect -

Heavenly Father, whose Son prayed that we all might be one: Deliver us from arrogance and prejudice, and give us wisdom and forbearance, that, following your servant Charles Henry Brent, we may be united in one family with all who confess the Name of your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more aboutCharles Henry Brent, Bishop of the Phillipines, and of Western New York, 1929

Feast of Oscar Romero

The Collect -

Almighty God, you called your servant Oscar Romero to be a voice for the voiceless poor, and to give his life as a seed of freedom and a sign of hope: Grant that, inspired by his sacrifice and the example of the martyrs of El Salvador, we may without fear or favor witness to your Word who abides, your Word who is Life, even Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be praise and glory now and for ever. Amen.

Click here to learn more about Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, 1980, and the Martyrs of El Salvador.

Feast of Gregory the Illuminator

The Collect -

Almighty God, whose will it is to be glorified in your saints, and who raised up your servant Gregory the Illuminator to be a light in the world, and to preach the Gospel to the people of Armenia: Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth your praise, who called us out of darkness into your marvelous light; 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 Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop and Missionary of Armenia, c.332.

Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Lent - Sir, we would see Jesus

Fifth Sunday in Lent, Year B

Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-13 or Psalm 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33

Homily by Fr R Christopher Heying

Some of you no doubt have seen the movie, Life of Pi. 

I confess that I have not seen it, but I have read Yann Martel’s book on which it is based, the story about a sixteen-year-old Indian boy named Piscine, better known as simply Pi. 

Pi, together with his zookeeper father, mother, and brother, are emigrating from India to Canada, together with a goodly number of those animals that weren’t sold when they closed down the zoo, when out on the Pacific Ocean, their cargo ship goes down, leaving Pi to survive 227 days on a lifeboat together with—most improbably to the say the least—a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. 

For those who have neither seen the movie nor read the book, you need not fear a spoiler from me.

I think what fascinated me most was the beginning of Pi’s story, back in India, where as the pious son of the religiously indifferent parents, Pi has an insatiable thirst for religion. 

He describes how as a Hindu boy of 14 how a kindly priest, Fr. Martin, tells him the story of Jesus.   In first person narrative, Pi explains:

Service Bulletin for the Fifth Sunday in Lent

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Feast of Thomas Ken

The Collect -

Almighty God, you gave your servant Thomas Ken grace and courage to bear witness to the truth before rulers and kings: Give us strength also that, following his example, we may constantly defend what is right, boldly reprove what is evil, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; 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 Thomas Ken, Bishop of Bath and Wells, 1711

Feast of Cuthbert

The collect -

Almighty God, you called Cuthbert from following the flock to be a shepherd of your people: Mercifully grant that, as he sought in dangerous and remote places those who had erred and strayed from your ways, so we may seek the indifferent and the lost, and lead them back to you; 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 Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, 687.

Feast of James Theodore Holly

The Collect -

Most gracious God, by the calling of your servant James Theodore Holly, you gave us our first bishop of African-American heritage. In his quest for life and freedom, he led your people from bondage into a new land and established the Church in Haiti. Grant that, inspired by his testimony, we may overcome our prejudice and honor those whom you call from every family, language, people, and nation; 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 James Theodore Holly, Bishop of Haiti and Dominican Republic, 1911.

Chatham Concert Series Season Finale - March 15 at 3:00 p.m.

Service Bulletin for the Second Sunday in Lent

Download 03012015 Lent 2 B