Worship Calendar

Generally, one Saturday per month is set aside to commemorate the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Collect:

O Almighty God, who didst endue with singular grace the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord: Vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to hallow our bodies in purity, and our souls in humility and love; through the same our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Laetare means "rejoice," and on this Sunday we take a break from the austerity of Lent and add some color: rose vestments on the clergy and flowers on the altar.

At the morning services today, we have the story of the man born blind, given sight by Jesus.

In a 2002 sermon, the Rector points out two important developments in this story: "First, there is the blind beggar who is given sight, and who then progressively sees ever more clearly in every way that it is possible to see, including insight. Second, there are Jesus’ adversaries, who have physical eyesight but who, in their determined opposition to Jesus, become increasingly blind. The story contrasts the progress of faith with the progress of unbelief."

See: Faith with Open Eyes (2002) by Fr Mead

Collect:

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which giveth life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

At the morning services this year for the Fifth Sunday in Lent, we have the account of Christ's raising Lazarus from the dead, a resuscitation more than a resurrection, insofar as Lazarus would live only to die again. Still, it is here that Christ makes it clear to Martha that he is "the resurrection and the life."

The irony is that this life-giving event led directly to the crucifixion of Christ; his enemies were now more than ever determined to kill him. Yet, it is by the way of the cross that Christ defeated death, once and for all. So, the raising of Lazarus is very much a sign of what it to come, made complete in Christ. Lazarus' death led to more life before death; but Christ's death led to the death of death, to life beyond death. Death no more.

See:

The Strange World of the Resurrection by Fr Austin (2010)
Jesus is Life by Fr Mead (2005)
Come Forth, to Life! by Fr Mead (2002)

Collect:

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

There are many sermons in the sermon archive which can help you meditate on Christ's journey toward the cross. Among them are these, all by the Rector:

Let Us Not Fear the Cross (2009)
The Cross: God's Glorious Necessity (2007)
Christ's Cross: God's Misssion (2003)

Collect:

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As you dwell on today's Gospel from Saint John, you might find these sermons helpful:

Divine Thunder by Fr Mead (2009)
Lift High the Cross by Fr Mead (2008)
The Hour Has Come by Fr Austin (2007)
The Law of Life through Death by Fr Mead (2006)

Collect:

O God, who by the passion of thy blessed Son didst make an instrument of shameful death to be unto us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As you contemplate Christ's suffering, and perhaps your own, these sermons might help:

Passing Through Trials (2007) by Fr Mead
The Lord's Prayer, Part V (2003) by Fr Mead
My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? (2001) by Fr Stafford

Collect:

O Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame: Grant us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

As you think about the approach to climax, on many levels, that Maundy Thursday represents, these sermons from previous Maundy Thursdays might be helpful: 

To Love One Another (2011) by Fr Austin
The Offerings (2010) by Fr Fletcher
Christ's Humiliation and Love (2009) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for Maundy Thursday (2007) by Fr Mead
A Sermon for Maundy Thursday (2006) by Fr Stafford

Collect:

Almighty Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood: Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal, the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Over the years, we've had many guest preachers meditate on the seven last words of Christ at the Three Hours Devotion. Among them:

Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ (2011) by Canon Andrew Diestche
Meditation on the Seven Last Words of Christ (2010) by The Very Reverend Joseph Britton
Seven Addresses on the Last Words of Our Lord from the Cross (2007) by Fr Andrew 

Among some of the sermons preached at the 5:30pm Good Friday Liturgy are these:

Father, Into Thy Hands I Commend My Rubbish (2011) by Fr Spurlock
I Thirst (2010) by Fr Austin
A Sermon for Good Firday (2009) by Fr Stafford
A Sermon for Good Friday (2008) by Fr Mead

Collect:

Almighty God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for which our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

O God, Creator of heaven and earth: Grant that, as the crucified body of thy dear Son was laid in the tomb and rested on this holy Sabbath, so we may await with him the coming of the third day, and rise with him to newness of life; who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by thy life-giving Spirit; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

Collect:

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Collect:

Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect:

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for that thou hast delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and hast brought us into the kingdom of thy Son; and we pray thee that, as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.