Bishop’s Note: The Lord's Prayer

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well this fourth week of Eastertide! This week we continue our discussion of the Burial Rite in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. As we did last week, today we will continue to look at the Committal, this time focusing on the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer is unique in that it is the one prayer in scripture that Jesus himself instructs his disciples to pray. Of course, we do get examples of prayer elsewhere in scripture, primarily in the Book of Psalms, in the writings of Paul and the other apostles, and the beautiful “high priestly prayer” of Jesus in John chapter 17. However, because Jesus directly instructed his disciples to pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray it frequently and it’s seen as a sort of model or ideal for what prayer should look like. It’s fascinating because the church prays it in so many different situations and circumstances, and it’s the perfect prayer in each of those circumstances because it casts them in the light of Christ. When we pray this prayer at a funeral the first thing that should strike us is that it’s OUR prayer, not each of us as individuals, but ours as one church. It’s us together joining our prayers to the Father with Christ as our mediator. It’s a reminder that even though our loved one has died they are still part of that Church, the body of Christ. We then transition to asking God to spread his kingdom in the world. It’s a reminder for us as Christians that one day all of the dead will be raised and God will once again join heaven and earth and the righteous will dwell with him in the New Jerusalem. This should highlight the hope each of us have as Christians. Lastly, we get the section asking about our own personal needs, for sustenance, forgiveness, and guidance. This reminds us that in the struggles we may face as a result of this death we can turn to God with confidence that he will provide for us. I pray you all have a blessed fifth Sunday of Easter!

Officiant  The Lord be with you. People      And with your spirit. Officiant  Let us pray.

Officiant and People 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.

Easter 4B 2021 St. James Anglican Church

Easter 4B 2021

Celebrant Fr. Carlos Raines

Preacher Fr. Anthony Velez

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

Bishop’s Note: The Casting of Earth

Bishop Eric Menees Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well this third week of Eastertide! This week we continue our discussion of the Burial Rite in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. As we did last week, today we will continue to look at the Committal, this time focusing on the casting of earth on the coffin. This is one of the parts of the service that is so simple, the casting of earth, but can be so meaningful. One funeral in particular I did at the start of my ministry involved this, and I still hear from the family how meaningful that part was to them. This act and prayer present a fascinating juxtaposition of our identities as human beings. It begins with the casting and those words, “we commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.” We are part of creation. Adam was literally created from the earth, and it’s in death that we return to it. It should give us pause and make us reflect on our need for humility. We’re creatures of earth and nothing compared to God. We can never hope to earn a place near him. But that’s immediately followed up by the beautiful blessing given by God to Moses for his brother Aaron who is the father of the priestly line known as the Levites from Numbers 6, “The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace.” We are created from the earth and we should be humble, but we’re created and called to something far greater than ourselves or what we could do on our own, intimacy with God. The same thing is echoed in the other prayer, “through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our perishable body, that it may be like his own glorious body.” Even in the midst of sorrow we as Christians have something glorious to hope for. I hope you all have a blessed Fourth Sunday of Easter!

Then, while earth is cast upon the coffin, the Officiant says these words In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to Almighty God our brother N., and we commit his body to the ground [or the deep or its resting place]; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust. The Lord bless him and keep him, the Lord make his face to shine upon him and be gracious unto him, the Lord lift up his countenance upon him and give him peace. Amen. Or this Forasmuch as it has pleased Almighty God of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear brother [or this beloved child], here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground [or the deep or its resting place]; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our perishable body, that it may be like his own glorious body, according to the mighty working of his Spirit, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself. Amen.

Easter 3 2021 St. James Anglican Church Service

Easter 3 2021

Fr. Anthony Velez Celebrant

Fr. Carlos Raines Preacher

Dcn. Anna Hearn

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

Bishop’s Note: Blessing of the Grave

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well this second week of Eastertide! This week we continue our discussion of the Burial Rite in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. As we did last week, today we will continue to look at the Committal, this time focusing on the blessing of the grave. Many people have false understandings of what a blessing is, with some in the world thinking blessed objects have some sort of holiness in and of themselves. A blessing like we have here doesn’t make the grave into an object of superstition, it sets apart the grave to be used by God. In this way, it’s similar to the way a bishop consecrates a church to set it apart as a space dedicated to the worship of God. In this case a grave is set apart as a place to await the resurrection. That’s something that we should reflect on this Eastertide. Rather than seeing gravesites as morbid, we should see them as signs of hope. The people resting in those graves have died with a faith and hope in the same resurrection we’re celebrating this season.  I hope you all have a blessed rest of Easter Week and a wonderful Second Sunday of Easter!

The grave may be blessed. The Priest may use the following prayer here, or before the liturgy of Committal, or at some other convenient time. O God, whose blessed Son was laid in a tomb in the garden: Bless, we pray, this grave, set apart for the repose of your servant N., that he whose body is buried here may rest from his labors in peace and quietness, until the resurrection on the last day, when the New Jerusalem comes down, the dead are raised, and the righteous are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Easter 2 2021 St. James Anglican Church Service

Easter 2 2021

Fr. Anthony Velez Celebrant

Fr. Carlos Raines Preacher

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

Bishop’s Note: Committal Anthems

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters,  I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well this Easter Week! This Easter Week we continue our discussion of the Burial Rite in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. As we did last week, today we will continue to look at the Committal. The Committal starts off with an optional set of anthems, or short sentences from scripture and other sources grouped together in a manner similar to the comfortable words of the Eucharist. Two sets of anthems are offered. The first section has had its language modernized, but otherwise the same sentences can be found going back to the original BCP in 1549. The second set was added at a later date for people who wanted only scripture to be read. What people focus on in the anthems dramatically changes their meaning. Many in the world hear the anthems as challenging their perceived place in life. Rather than just focusing on the here and now we’re told we have “but a short time to live,” that life is “full of misery,” that “in the midst of life we are in death” and that we face “the pains of eternal death.” It’s terrifying. As Christians having acknowledged all of that, this directs us to someone greater than ourselves. “Whom may we seek for help, but you, O Lord.” “O holy and most merciful Savior.” “Shut not your ears to our prayer,” “spare us,” “do not let us… fall away from you.” The anthems aren’t made to terrify us or make us wallow in despair, they’re made to make us wonder at how great and beautiful God’s mercy truly is. I hope you all have a blessed rest of Easter Week and a wonderful Second Sunday of Easter! The following anthems may be said Man born of woman has but a short time to live, and is full of misery. He springs up, and is cut down like a flower; he flees like a shadow, and never continues the same. In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek for help, but you, O Lord, who for our sins are justly displeased? Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Savior, deliver us not into the pains of eternal death. You know, O Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not your ears to our prayer; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty, O holy and merciful Savior, most worthy Judge eternal; do not let us, in our final hour, through the pains of death, fall away from you. or this All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. John 6:37 He who raised Jesus Christ from the dead will also give new life to our mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells within us. Romans 8:11t Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices. My flesh also shall rest in hope. Psalm 16:10 You shall show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy, and at your right hand there is pleasure for evermore. Psalm 16:12

Easter Day 2021 St. James Anglican Church

Easter Day 2021

Fr. Anthony Velez Celebrant

Fr. Carlos Raines Preacher

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

Parts 1 and 2

Easter Vigil 2021 St. James Anglican Church

Easter Vigil (Two Parts)

Fr. Carlos Raines Preacher and Celebrant

Fr. Anthony Velez

Deacon Anna Hearn

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

Good Friday 2021 St. James Anglican Church

Good Friday 2021

Fr. Carlos Raines Celebrant

Fr. Anthony Velez Preacher

Deacon Anna Hearn

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

Maundy Thursday Service 2021 St. James Anglican Church

Maundy Thursday Service

Fr. Carlos Raines Celebrant

Deacon Anna Hearns

Beth Kunkel Preacher

Fr. Anthony Velez Prayers of the people

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

Bishop’s Note: The Committal

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters,  ​ I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well this Maundy Thursday! How appropriate it is on this, the eve of our Lord’s passion, to continue our discussion of the Burial Rite in the 2019 Book of Common Prayer. Last week, as we examined this rite we looked at the Commendation, today we look at the Committal. Before we get into discussing the actual words of the Committal I wanted to talk about this section as a whole. At the end of the last section, the Commendation, there’s a rubric that says, “As the body is borne from the church, a hymn, or one or more of these anthems, may be sung or said.” The Committal is thus the close of the Christian burial that takes place outside of the main worship space. Historically this happened in a cemetery but today it could also be at another location like a columbarium. Traditionally, Christians were buried. It’s only been in the last century that cremation has become a more common practice among Christians. It’s important to note that no matter what happens to a person’s body, it won’t prevent their resurrection. Burial was the norm for two reasons. First, burial was the practice of the Jews, and it’s what was done for Jesus when he died. Second, burial expresses the hope we have as Christians. In a way it’s setting a person’s body aside in anticipation of the resurrection. That’s why so many gravestones were marked with “rest in peace.” As mentioned last week, they’re resting in anticipation of the resurrection. Cremation is perfectly acceptable if it’s done with the same understanding. Many churches have columbariums for ashes with the knowledge that God can resurrect people from ashes and those ashes are set aside in anticipation of the resurrection. What’s problematic is when ashes are spread with the intention of returning the person to nature. It’s not that the person can’t be resurrected, but the message it conveys is something other than our Christian hope. Committal as a service is about setting aside that resting place for the remains of the dead, whatever form they take. This evening we will be invited to be with Jesus as he assures us of his sacrifice and impending resurrection, remembering even as we wait in the garden the promise and conviction we proclaim in the mystery of faith – Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.  I pray you all have a blessed Holy Week and Easter!!!