Epiphany 4B 2021 St. James Anglican Church Service

Epiphany 4B 2021

Celebrant Fr. Carlos Raines

Preacher Beth Conkle

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html 

Bishop's Note: Reception of the Body

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, 

I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! Last week we examined the section titled, “Regarding Christian Death and Burial” that gives background for the whole service. Today we get the very beginning of the service, Reception of the Body.

This section is optional, but its presence really speaks to the hope behind Christian burial. For many in the world, a funeral as a service is entirely for the people in attendance. There are often slide shows or videos of the deceased’s life, people share memories in eulogies, much of the service is about comforting the bereaved. When people talk about the person who’s died, there’s an understanding that they’re in heaven now, and the body doesn’t matter. It plays into a modern understanding that people are “brains on a stick” as James KA Smith says.

That’s a modern understanding, but it’s not a Christian understanding. When God created Adam and Eve, he created them body and soul. Christ didn’t come to the world as some disembodied spirit, he came in the flesh. In the same way that Christ died and was resurrected, we too will be resurrected on the last day. As Paul says in Romans 6:5, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” There are two theories in Anglicanism as to what happens after death. One is that the soul sleeps in anticipation of the resurrection. My view is that as Jesus told the repentant sinner on the cross, if we are baptized, believing, and repentant Christians we will be with him in paradise. The moment we take our last breath on Earth we take our first in Heaven. Both of those theories agree though that that state isn’t the end. Our bodies and souls will be reunited, brought back to life in the resurrection, and after the final judgement those believing Christians will stand body and soul in the presence of God.

Because of that the body isn’t just something leftover, the body is the part of the person still on earth that’s awaiting the resurrection. The funeral pall mentioned at the end of this service is a similar reminder. National flags aren’t allowed to drape coffins or urns for the church service, only the pall. It’s white as a reminder of the Christian’s baptism into Christ’s death, Christ’s victory over death, and the hope and joy we have in the resurrection.

I pray you all have a blessed Fourth Sunday of Epiphany!

RECEPTION OF THE BODY

The following form may be used at whatever time the body is brought to the church.

The Officiant meets the body at the door of the church and says

With faith in Jesus Christ, we receive the body of our brother N. for burial. Let us pray with confidence to God, the Giver of life, that he will raise him to perfection in the company of the saints. 

Silence may be kept; after which the Officiant says

O Sovereign Lord Christ, deliver your servant, N., from all evil, and set him free from every bond; that he may rest with all your saints in the eternal habitations; where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Let us also pray for all who mourn, that they may cast their care on God, and know the consolation of his love.

Silence may be kept; after which the Officiant says

Almighty God, look with pity upon the sorrows of your servants for whom we pray. Remember them, Lord, in mercy; nourish them with patience; comfort them with a sense of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epiphany 3B 2021 St. James Anglican Church Service

Epiphany 3B 2021

Fr. Carlos Raines Celebrant

Fr. Anthony Velez Preacher

Deacon Anna Hearn

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html

Bishop's Note: Christian Burial

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, 

I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! This week, tragically, we have passed 400,000 deaths in the United States due to COVID-19 and attending complications. How appropriate then that we continue our examination of the Pastoral Rites section of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. Last week we examined the Prayers for the Vigil and now we begin the section covering Christian burial. The first thing we come to is the section titled, “Regarding Christian Death and Burial.” This is a section that many people often gloss over, because it’s not in the liturgy itself, but it’s good to read through because it frames the entire service.

First, this gives a Christian understanding of what death is. The world today wants to ignore death. Rather than a funeral or memorial many people are opting for celebrations of life or something similar. Rather than acknowledging the death that took place, these usually focus on the life they had. It’s good to give thanks to God for that life, but it shouldn’t be done in order to ignore the death.

Many people ignore death because death without Christ is scary. Jesus Christ changes everything. It’s solely because of him and his victory over death on the cross that death is now a foe doing the work of a friend. Death is never a good thing, and we as Christians need to stand up for life, but because of Jesus it now has a good effect for Christians. This section beautifully describes that by saying that “The burial of a Christian is an occasion of both sorrow and joy—our sorrow in the face of death, and our joy in Jesus’ promise of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.”

Second, this section explains how we as Christians should act in regards to death. As is mentioned at the beginning, a burial is a time for both sorrow and joy, but this also has implications throughout our lives. We need to be mindful of our mortality and act accordingly. We shouldn’t live in ignorance or fear of death, we need to face it as Christians. This means not only living a Christian life, but preparing for our own death. Each of us as Christians should prepare wills and have funeral plans for when we do die. This is especially important for parents. For them it means making preparations for the security and care of their children.

I pray you all have a blessed Third Sunday of Epiphany!

REGARDING CHRISTIAN DEATH AND BURIAL

The burial of a Christian is an occasion of both sorrow and joy—our sorrow in the face of death, and our joy in Jesus’ promise of the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. As the burial liturgy proclaims, “life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body lies in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens.” The Christian burial liturgy looks forward to eternal life rather than backward to past events. It does not primarily focus on the achievements or failures of the deceased; rather, it calls us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus and his triumph over death, even as we celebrate the life and witness of the deceased. The readings should always be drawn from the Bible, and the prayers and music from the Christian tradition. A wake preceding the service and a reception following the service are appropriate places for personal remembrances. Where possible, the burial liturgy is conducted in a church, and it is often celebrated within the context of the Eucharist. The Book of Common Prayer has always admonished Christians to be mindful of their mortality. It is therefore the duty of all Christians, as faithful stewards, to draw up a Last Will and Testament, making provision for the well-being of their families and not neglecting to leave bequests for the mission of the Church. In addition, it is important while in health to provide direction for one’s own funeral arrangements, place of burial, and the Scripture readings and hymns of the burial liturgy, and to make them known to the Priest.

Epiphany 2B 2021 St. James Anglican Church Service

Epiphany 2B 2021

Celebrant Fr. Anthony Velez

Preacher Fr. Carlos Raines

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html 

Bishop's Note: Prayers for a Vigil

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you had a blessed First Sunday after Epiphany! Today we will continue our examination of the Pastoral Rites section of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. We’ve been going through the section on Ministry to the Dying, and today we look at the core of that section, Prayers for a Vigil.

Prayers for a Vigil first appeared in the 1979 BCP. This beautiful service allows a smaller group of family and friends time to gather before the funeral for more personal prayer in addition to the larger more formal service the next day. 

In the 1979 BCP this service had the same opening address, but relied on readings from the funeral and only had a litany. The 2019 BCP has significantly changed not only the parts of the service but also its emphasis. Rather than just being a smaller version of the funeral, the vigil’s readings and prayers are more focused on the loved ones gathered together and remembering the hope that they and their departed loved one have as Christians. 

The Minister says

Dear Friends: It was our Lord Jesus himself who said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Let us pray, then, for our brother N., that he may rest from his labors, and enter into God’s eternal Sabbath rest.

A psalm may be prayed. Psalms 23 and 121 are particularly appropriate. One or more of the following Lessons is read.

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.             1 Thessalonians 4:13-15

That emphasis can especially be seen in the first option for readings. The passage from 1 Thessalonians 4 is Paul speaking directly to that hope we have as Christians in the resurrection. It’s not just a hope for us, but for all the faithful. 

The following and other additional prayers may be said. The Litany at the Time of Death (pages 237-239) may also be used.

O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant N., being raised with Christ, may know the strength of his presence and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding: deal graciously with those who mourn [especially _________]. Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence in your goodness, and strength to meet the days to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

After the reading we get a more flexible time of prayer. This section is for additional prayers and a few options like the Litany at the Time of Death are provided. This is a great time for the family to put their thoughts and feelings to prayer. Rather than a eulogy where a life is praised, this is a time where thanksgiving can be given to God for that life, and those dealing with any concerns or struggles can turn to God for comfort. 

The Minister says

And now as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray

Minister and People say together

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those

who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

The Minister says

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.                Romans 15:13

The Minister may say

May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

People And may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.

Lastly we get this closing, with the Lord’s Prayer being the dominant part of it. This isn’t an individual prayer to “my Father” in heaven, this is addressed to Our Father. It’s such a beautiful prayer that’s never said as an individual, but as the church, the body of Christ. This is a powerful reminder that in times like this we’re not alone, we’re part of something bigger. We have countless brothers and sisters in the church, Christ as our mediator, the Holy Spirit as our comforter, and a Father who loves us more than we could ever know.

I pray you all have a blessed Second Sunday of Epiphany!

Epiphany 1B 2021 Service St. James Anglican Church

Epiphany 1B 2021

Celebrant Fr. Anthony Velez

Preacher Fr. Carlos Raines

https://www.stjas.org/sermons.html

Commendation at the Time of Death

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you had a merry and blessed Christmas season! Today we will continue our examination of the Pastoral Rites section of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. We’ve been going through the section on Ministry to the Dying, and today we look at the core of that section, Commendation at the Time of Death. Before the commendation, this section is about preparing the person dying and their family for that coming death, and everything after this is reflecting on that death. With the commendation we’re looking at ministry to someone at the moment of their death. Here a Priest may anoint the dying person with oil. The Priest says Depart, O Christian soul, out of this world; In the Name of God the Father Almighty who created you; In the Name of Jesus Christ who redeemed you; In the Name of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies you. May your rest be this day in peace, and your dwelling place in the Paradise of God. This service begins by addressing the person dying and putting them and this situation in the proper context. They’re not dying as an individual just in and of themselves, they’re a person created, redeemed, and sanctified by God. It’s not that they’re becoming one with nature or anything like that, as it says they will be resting in the Paradise of God.  Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant N. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech you, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, a sinner of your own redeeming. Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. Amen. Having begun by putting this service in the right context, we get to the main point of the service, the actual commendation. It’s important to look at the language being used here. One of the things the English Reformation pushed back against was the common understanding of prayers for the dead at the time. Many people thought that through their prayers they could save their loved ones from hell. That’s essentially saying that someone could be saved through the efforts of someone other than Jesus. Despite pushing back against that understanding of prayers for the dead, the first Anglican BCP in 1549 still had prayers for the dead, in the sense of a commendation. A commendation isn’t earning or meriting heaven for someone else, it’s acknowledging the hope we have in Jesus Christ as Christians and lifting up our loved ones to God in prayer with that hope and an understanding of God’s mercy. Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, * according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, * which you have prepared before the face of all people; To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of your people Israel. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; * as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Luke 2:29-32 The Officiant prays May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Christmas 2B 2021 St. James Anglican Church Service

Christmas 2B 2021

Celebrant Fr. Carlos Rains

Preacher Fr. Dale Matson

https://www.facebook.com/watch/stjas.org/

Christmas 2B 2021 Sermon

 Fr. Dale Matson

The Call to Obedience and the Voice of God 

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." (Hosea 11:1) Here Matthew is quoting Hosea where God was calling the nation of Israel out of Egypt in the time of Moses but Matthew applies it to Jesus also.  Just as Israel as an infant nation went down into Egypt, so the child went there. And as Israel was led out of Egypt by God, so also was Jesus.

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean." For in the place where we read and translate, "There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots," Although most commentaries say that Matthew was not quoting the prophets,  that he was quoting oral tradition we have St. Jerome, the “Doctor of the Church” (b. 331 d. 420) stating that Matthew was quoting Isaiah 11:1 in the Hebrew idiom it is written thus, "There shall come forth a rod out of the root of Jesse and a Nazarene shall grow from his root." “(Jerome, Letter 47:7)

I would now like to call your attention to three separate occasions where God speaks to Joseph within our Gospel lesson.  1. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream.  2. An angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph.  3. And after being warned in a dream…

Think about this for a moment.  Given that Mary is referred to as “Mother of God and is venerated as the most important woman in Holy Scripture, why is God speaking to Joseph not Mary.  It is because Joseph has been called by God to be the earthly father of Jesus the Christ.  Joseph may be only the stepfather of Jesus but God has appointed him as the head of the house.  He is the chief priest of the family.  Let us never forget that this is the Holy Family not just a Holy Son and Holy Mother.

It is obvious that God is communicating with Joseph by way of Joseph’s dreams.  God communicated with the Old Testament Patriarchs and Prophets through dreams and in the New Testament with Peter to mention only one example.  

“The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 in it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” (Acts 10:9-13) Here God has shown Peter that he should not call impure what God has created clean.  This would be quite a revelation to you and me but even more of a revelation to a keeper of the ritual cleanliness laws like Peter.  

My friend, the late Morton Kelsey a Jungian Analyst and an Episcopal Priest, authored over thirty books.  Among them he wrote an excellent and scholarly book called “God, Dreams and Revelations”.  He stated, “Neglecting the dream can separate us from one of the most significant ways that God reaches out to human beings” (p.10) “When we find that our dreams bring us solutions to problems that our best intelligence could not solve, we often begin to take revelation and the Devine more seriously.” (p.11).  As someone who takes dreams very seriously, I would just ask that you too consider dreams as a way that God may communicate with you.

As Peter, quoting the Prophet Joel said in Acts,  

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,

That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;

Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

Your young men shall see visions,

Your old men shall dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17)

I guess this officially makes me an old man. 

What are you dreaming about? Who is leading you forward? Are you looking for more security in 2021? Who are you listening to? Does it bother you that abortion clinics, marijuana shops and liquor stores are considered essential, yet church is not considered essential. Christians are put in the difficult place where we are told that if you don’t care about your own life, you should care about the person you could infect by going to church. Do we think about that when we go to Costco? I don’t think about it.

I’ve been reflecting on the Californian lockdown since it was first imposed as a temporary measure to “flatten the curve” on March 20th 2020. It has now been in effect to a lesser or greater degree for almost a year now. I believe epidemiologists, politicians and model makers fail to see the big picture.  Do they fully appreciate the economic, psychological and spiritual harm the lockdowns are doing? Those accusing me of failing to be compassionate are using the Gospel as a club. When it is used in this fashion, it is no longer the Gospel. Many are motivated by fear…by fear of death. Covid has become the newest boogeyman. What are people willing to give up to lessen their chances of contracting Covid? People are afraid and confused. Unbelievers are especially vulnerable. They are desperate to find security and they are giving up their freedoms. Where is the church in this? Where is that same courage we see in calling out abortions. Are we to just roll over and obey our leaders who don’t even obey their own rules? Is justice being trampled underfoot? Our Declaration of Independence has a lot to say about despotic leadership. It is well worth a re-read. Not only is our faith under attack, our hope is being crushed also. How many live alone with little or no human contact? How many die alone in hospitals? How many have not had the benefit of routine medical care that would help prevent or treat a disease? Is the price of the means to defend against Covid still less than the cost?

Cardinal Raymond Burke had the following to say on December 16. “Then there is the mysterious Wuhan virus about whose nature and prevention the mass media daily give us conflicting information. What is clear, however, is that it has been used by certain forces, inimical [harming] to families and to the freedom of nations, to advance their evil agenda. These forces tell us that we are now the subjects of the so-called ‘Great Reset,’ the ‘new normal,’ which is dictated to us by their manipulation of citizens and nations through ignorance and fear. Now, we are supposed to find in a disease and its prevention the way to understand and direct our lives, rather than in God and in His plan for our salvation.” https://www.vanthuanobservatory.org/eng/cdl-burke-covid-is-being-used-for-great-reset-to-attack-freedom-and-families/

I quoted Cardinal Robert Sarah in my previous sermon. Here is another quote from his most recent book, The Day Is Now Far Spent (2019) “I must no longer remain silent. Christians are disoriented. Every day from all sides, I receive calls for help from those who no longer know what to believe. Every day I meet in Rome with priests who are discouraged and wounded. The Church is experiencing the dark night of the soul. The mystery of iniquity is enveloping and blinding her.” (page 8, Kindle Version)

Archbishop Vigano also had this to say mid-December, “The Lord will give us the victory only when we bow down to Him as our King. And if we cannot yet proclaim Him as King of our Nations because of the impiety of those who govern us, we can nevertheless consecrate ourselves, our families, and our communities to Him. And to those who dare to challenge Heaven in the name of “Nothing will be the same again,” we respond by invoking God with renewed fervor: “As it was in beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.”

The Roman Catholic Church has its share of problems but there are still some very courageous and vocal prophets speaking truth for the their church today.

In a November 2020 Washington Post article, the following is stated, “Since the coronavirus arrived, depression and anxiety in America have become rampant. Federal surveys show that 40 percent of Americans are now grappling with at least one mental health or drug-related problem. But young adults have been hit harder than any other age group, with 75 percent struggling.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/11/23/covid-pandemic-rise-suicides/

But the church is not cited as even one answer in the article.

In the Epistle lesson for today we read Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, we are God’s children with Christ as our head.  We need to keep this in mind when we make decisions in our life.  Where is God calling us to go?  What is He calling us to do?  We seek His guidance through circumstances, through being in God’s Word, through conversations with our spouse and friends and even through our dreams. Yes, even our dreams 

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a) Lord, I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:25)

Amen