19 September: St. Theodore of Tarsus, Rosh HaShanna

Today we celebrate St. Theodore of Tarsus and Rosh Hoshanna.

Rosh Hoshanna is Jewish New Year. It is celebrated by dipping bread and apples in honey and eating them asking God to give us a sweet year. This day in the synagogue, the shofar (Ram's horn) is blown to trumpet God in as king of the universe. At point we will go to a river or stream and throw bread crumbs in and watch them being carried away to remember that God will remove our sins from us as far as the east from the west when we accept Jesus as Saviour.

What Does the Shofar Say

Listen to the sound of the Shofar, this Rosh Hashanah day,
What is it, what does the Shofar say?
Awake, sleepers arise!
Don’t be like sheep, so sound asleep,
Letting the wolf in the door, to destroy, corrupt and more.
He’s in the music, promoting drugs,
He’s on TV promoting sex and rebellion,
He’s in the school teaching one to be a hellion.
Parents, do you love your children,
Then teach them, teach them.
At their rising, at their sitting,
Going out, coming in, at their eating,
Jesus Christ is Lord, He died for you, and many more,
And expects to be your Lord.

Listen to the sound of the Shofar, this Rosh Hashanah day,
What is it, what does the Shofar say?
Awake, sleepers arise!
Don’t be like sheep, so sound asleep,
False shepherds abound misleading the sheep,
Saying science, psychology is King.
If it feels good do it, if it hurts no-one, ‘tis not a sin, or so they sing.
Jesus is not Lord, he’s just one way, of which there are many more.
Stand up O sheep, flee from such shepherds, For at that last day, they shall flee, or
Be astounded, upon finding resurrection is true,
But alas they are blue,
For never having known Jesus, they have condemned themselves,
And those who followed them to a future so bleak,
That to think upon makes me weak

Listen to the sound of the Shofar, this Rosh Hashanah day,
What is it, what does the Shofar say?
Ti ra! Ti ra! Arise, charge, ‘tis time to fight the good fight,
‘tis time to show the adversary our might.
Put on the Gospel Armour, refrain from retreating,
It is time to gain souls, it is time to gain kings,
It is time to show the world our Lord and King.
We have been asleep, allowing Satan his will
And we have had to pay the bill.
The time is over, Satin take cover,
For the church is called to be on the move.
Blow the shofar, blow the trumpet, Good Christians, ATTACK!
You are the mighty hosts of the Lord, armed with his Spirit and Word,
The battle is yours, the war is the Lord’s.

St. Theodore of Tarsus



http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Theodore.htm

St. Theodore of Tarsus was sent by Pope Vitalian of Rome to take the place of the Anglo Saxon candidate for Bishop, Wighard died in Rome. Theodore, already 65, a monk, but not yet presbyter turned out to be an excellent man for the job. He worked out differences between Roman and Celtic traditions, filled vacant Bishoprics and organized the very first council of the Church of England. He was, according to Bede the first Archibishop whom all the English obeyed. He organized dioceses, set boundaries and basically organized the English church. One of his organizational details is still used by our church. Twenty five percent of the offering to the poor, twenty five percent to maintaining the church, twenty five per cent to the clergy for maintenance of the altar and clergy and twenty five per cent to the bishop for his expenses and misson.

He also founded a school which was attended by Celts and English, helping to unify the traditions, and which taught Greek, Latin, poetry, astronomy and calendar calculation.

When Theodore arrived, things were a mess. When he died twenty three years later at the age of 88 on 19 September, 690, the church was organized and ready for mission.

Collect: Heavenly Father, you sent Theodore to organize and put right the church of England and to reconcile the church of the English with the Church of the Celts. Raise up among us, clergy and laity, who will help organise the church today so that it would be an effective means of evangelising the world in which we live. This we ask in the name of Yeshua, who lives and reigns with you and Ruach ha Kodesh, one God in Glory everlasting. Amen. (white)

Collect for Rosh Hoshanna:Father as on this day we commemorate the creation of human kind, help us to repent in truth from our many sins, and to learn to truly walk and talk with you as did Adam and Hava. Let the shofar truly call us to be with you, and may you grant us a sweet year to come. This we ask through Yeshua haMoshiach who lives and reins with you and Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. (white)

Lesson for Rosh Hoshanna: Numbers 29:1-26, Psalm 81

St. Ninian, Bishop of Galloway:16 September 2009

St. Ninian, Bishop of Galloway



http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Ninian.htm

Ninian was a Celt, born about 360. It is said that he studied in Rome and was a friend and imitator of St. Martin of Tours, his good friend with whom he spent much time. Ninian was the first known preacher who reached out north of Hadrian’s wall, and preached as far South as the English Lake District and as far north as the Firth of Moray. He was important as were Patrick and Columba in preserving the Roman-British Church and definitely had effect on Celtic Christianity. He preached principally to the Picts, and principally in Southern Scotland many churches are dedicated to him and said to have been founded by him. He named his base at Galloway Candida Casa (White House or Whitethorn) which name is believed to have been used by St. Martin of Tours for his monastic settlement.

Most of what is known about Ninian comes from the Venerable Bede.

Collect: Father, as you raised up Ninian as Bishop of Galloway and to preach the Gospel to the Picts. Raise us in this and every land evangelists who are willing to suffer for the faith by preaching no matter what the circumstances. We ask this through the same Yeshuah who gives us joy in all circumstances. Amen. (white)

St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage.15 September 2009

Sr. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage


http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Cyprian.htm

St. Cyprian was a well educated and well known orator in Carthage. He was baptised between 245 and 248,and after being baptised gave away some of his wealth. He was ordained deacon fairly quickly after this, and presbyter, and elected Bishop between 248 and 249, though opposed by the presbyters.

Shortly after consecration as Bishop, the Decian Persecution began. Cyprian fled secretly from Carthage, but managed to run and guide the church from a distance. E was condemned for this action, but was justified in the fact that he was able to help his people form a distance. After the persecution arose a controversy over whether or not to readmit to the church those who had sacrificed to the emperor. Many were rapidly readmitted to the communion without demonstrating clear signs of repentance. Cyprian insisted on clear repentance, and many were not readmitted until they were on the death bed, although this was often mitigated. . Presbyters were deposed for such sacrifices.

Another battle was to follow over baptism performed by non-Christians. Cyprian ran against the view of most of the church holding that such baptisms were not valid. In the year 256 began the Valerian persecution, and Cyprian prepared his diocese for this, in example this time, being arrested for being Christian and being put to death for refusing to sacrifice to the emperor. When judged that he must die, he responded thanks be to God, and was beheaded by sword on 14 September 256.

Collect: Father, you raised up Cyprian to be bishop of Carthage, and gave him gifts to administer and guide his church during time of great persecution. Grant that we may like him encourage others to follow the true faith, and like him be prepared to give up our lives for you. This we ask through our Lord and Saviour Yeshua haMoshiach, who lives and reins with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. Amen. (red)

(note this feast day was transferred from Sunday)

The Holy cross: 14 September

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19016362@N00/203269055/

It is said that St. Helena, the mother of Constantine discovered a portion of the true cross in 326. (St. Helena discovered the true sites of many events, guided by dream, a fiend of mine calls her the patron St. of Travel Agents), and while there might be questions about some of the sites, there is a certain amount of archeological evidence showing that the location of the church of Holy Sepulcher is accurate. The church was dedicated on the 13th of September 335. The following day, the cross was taken out to the hill top believed to be Calvary and venerated.

This day, for us a day of fasting, we remember the cross as the instrument of our salvation. Red vestments are worn.

Dear Lord, as the church to venerate the true cross was dedicated this say, so may we dedicate our lives to you that we would be willing to take up our cross and follow, no matter where you lead. This we ask through our Lord and Saviour Yeshua haMoshiach, who lives and reins with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. Amen. (red)

Martyrs of Papua New Guines

Go to: http://www.dioceseofsaintandrew.org/2009/09/02/martyrs-of-new-guinea/

St. Lawrence, Deacon: August 10, 2009

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Lawrence

St. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons of Rome during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian. Lawrence in particular was charged with caring for the poor, and when asked by the persecutors to bring in the church's wealth, he spend the next three days distributing as much as he could to the poor to keep the authorities from getting the money. On the third day, he presented the poor to the authorities, and this is the probable immediate cause of his martyrdom. As St. Lawrence was being roasted alive, it is said that he said, I'm done on this side turn me over now (or this sides done, turn me over and have another bite), which has caused him to be the patron saint of comedians.

Seriously, his dedication to serving the church through serving the poor, and his strong witness in the midst of torture, makes him a model deacon and saint for all time.

Father, you raised up your deacon Laurence to serve you through acts of love, and fearsome martyrdom. Help us that we would always remember that the true treasures of the church are those who need to hear the word of God, this we ask through Yeshuah haMoshiach, who lives and reins with you and Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting, Amen. (red)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19016362@N00/1023753594/

Transfiguration

On this feast day we remember an event mentioned in three of the Gospels. Yeshua took Kephas, Yakob, and Yohanes to the mountain to pray (they are lying on the ground in fear. Suddenly the appearance of Yeshua was transformed, and they see Moshe and Eliyahu talking with Yeshua. Kephas (Peter) shouts out, we should build three tabernacles (tents) one for each of you. Yeshua is hidden by a cloud, and they hear a voice, "This is my Son, listen to him.

Let us remember this is a very special event. Yeshua is on his way to Yerushalayim to be crucified. Kephas, Yakob and Yohanes (Peter, James and John) are the three disciples of the inner circle, who alone were present with Yeshua for certain miracles. Moshe (Moses) represents the Law, and Eliyahu (Elijah) represents the prophet. They are there as witnesses that Yeshua completed the law and the prophets. Yeshua glows with the uncreated divine light demonstrating that he is God. The apostles naturally are terrified, which is the reaction of all who come face to face with the living God and his power, as we are convicted of our sins. Naturally also, they want to keep this mountain top experience, hence Kephas wanting to build shelters for the three.

OF course the problem with the mountain top, is it is the mountain top. It is not something we can hang on to. God grants visions, signs and wonders not to those who are strong, but to those who are weak and need building up in faith. Once we have been built up in faith, we need to go to the valleys to do our work, in the case of Yeshua, to Yerushalayim to be crucified, in the case of the Apostles to go from Spain (possibley Britain) to India to proclaim the faith and die for it.

Lastly, God tells the Apostles to listen to Yeshua. Those of you who are parents, what do you usually mean when you tell your kids to listen to you? Is it not a request for obedience. Le us then ask God to fill us with the power of the Ruach haKodesh so that we may be tranfigured by Yeshua, that others may see him in us, and that he would strengthen us to proclaim the Gospel.

Dear Lord, as you transfigured Yeshua upon the mountain that his disciples could see his Shekina Glory, so fill us with the power of the Ruach haKodesh that the light of Yeshua would shine out from us in all that we do and say. This we ask in the name of Yeshua haMoshiach, who lives and reins with you and the Ruach haKodesh, one God in glory everlasting. Amen. (gold)