Author Archives: Christ Church
Our Weekly Service Sheet – June 14, 2020
This is your weekly source for the components of the Episcopal Rite One Traditional Mass each week at Christ Church. These service sheets provide notices and announcements of interest to parishioners and the general public.
PLEASE NOTE: Services and activities listed in the announcements section of this sheet are subject to whether the current health and safety restrictions on public gatherings are lifted by the dates mentioned.
Special Food Collection This Week
|
|
|
|
Our Acolytes Need Your Help
We’re disappointed to report that our Annual Acolyte Strawberry Festival, scheduled for June 12th, is cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. This festival is a significant funding source for the mission trip we take each November to support the families living in the hard-hit coal mining community of Dante, within the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. The acolytes designate the funds they would normally raise to purchase sleepwear, underwear, socks and warm blankets, especially for the children.
Please consider donating towards this worthy cause by sending a check to the parish office at Christ Church, 62 Delaware Street, Woodbury, NJ 08096, or donate now, safely and conveniently, by clicking the donate link below.. We thank you for your support!
Rob Johnson & Steve Lewis, Acolyte Masters
Trinity Sunday at Christ Church
The First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday
Morning Prayer – 8:00 AM
Holy Eucharist – 10:00 AM
Evening Prayer – 5:00 PM
The Sunday Service Sheet is found HERE
There are often times that I am compelled to start writing a sermon without too clear of an indication where it is that sermon will end up. Today, as I prepare for Trinity Sunday, is one of those times. Now of course, I just exposed a huge stumbling block that those who ascend pulpits on this day unintentionally erect. How dare we think it is up to us to prepare for anything. The Holy Trinity of God is about perfect relationship; and because it is, it is about entering in. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less. Each of us have been entrusted with a very small part of that divine relationship that comes into human recognition when it is the Church gathers for Holy Eucharist. That is why unhappy division, divorce and disunity are such terrible things. Each distorts if not frustrates the perfect Unity that is God’s alone to give and ours to enjoy as well as emulate.
Trinity Sunday is not about understanding but about our celebrating. Today we celebrate the mystery of God, revealed to us as three-yet-one. There is no way to understand it, only to stand in awe of it. Thousands of gallons of ink have been spilled over the centuries trying to “explain” the Doctrine of Holy Trinity. We’ll leave that particular calisthenic to the theologians who exist behind seminary walls. Our privilege has and soon will be again to enter into the relationship of Holy Eucharist. That alone is the relationship that defines us as more than creatures because it defines our God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit as one God, one Lord, in Trinity of Persons and in Unity of substance; and we celebrate the one and equal glory of Him.
The point is and always will be worship. Holy Trinity defines our relationship one to another and to His Unity of three persons. Within this relationship, as defined by our Old Testament lesson from the Book of Genesis, we stand above created order within an existence that is crowned with glory and honor. We are made a little lower than the angels. (Hebrews 2:7). The priorities of our lives, even our quite chaotic and disordered lives of today, are God’s and not ours alone. For that reason we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto God (BCP pg. 341).
How difficult that is to accomplish to the glory of God when it appears that all we know, count on and cherish as foundational to our favored existence is coming apart at the seams. To the people of God Holy Eucharist is essential. Please be assured that we are doing all we can to ensure that the expression of our altar once again pours into your lives, into your hands, and into the world that God created, Christ redeems, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies. One God, in Unity of Substance, and in Trinity of persons.
“Oh, but we can worship God anywhere.” Yes, but not as we are expected by our Lord to be who called us into Himself through the great Mystery of Holy Eucharist. Sacraments are intended to be effected before an altar. It is not only the bread and wine that is being transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ, we are being transformed as well. By entering in, we, too, are being made into a sacrament that is intended to go forth into the world to “do all such good works as (our heavenly Father) has prepared for us to walk in” (BCP pg. 339).
As an example, I had need to explain our entering into this relationship of Holy Trinity just this past week. My desire was to hold up how our very existence is defined by a great deal more than a doctrine, a creed, or an ecclesiastical structure. All of those are important, especially when articulated well, but thanks be to God, there is much more in which we are entrusted. We are entrusted with the very same relationship that exists between Holy Trinity.
I shared with a childhood friend this past week how when we were growing up in Southwest Florida the houses once had very large and quite useful front porches (verandas). Those walking down the street along the side-walk were addressed respectfully, reverently, and honorably for the position they held in our lives (doctrine). A few were invited to join the family within the protective shade of the sweeping front porch in interest of lingering; they may even have been offered a glass of iced-tea (creeds). Even fewer were invited by the family to enter the house and make their way to the living room, family room, or kitchen. Among those who were, only a handful may have been invited to share a meal (ecclesiastical structure).
However, there is one room that is too sacred and too holy (set apart for God’s particular use) that only the most immediate of family; defined by husband, wife and children, may enter; a room that must remain hidden from the view of the casual observer. That room of sanctity within those homes is the bedroom (Holy Eucharist). So, yes, you can worship God anywhere, but why would you? Why would you settle for the sidewalk when you can be celebrating the life we have been given so fully by all that exists between our Father and Holy Mother Church?
As we are a people of Holy Eucharist, your parish Vestry is working hard to satisfy all the requirements that have been set before those churches who desire to open their doors to public worship once the Governor of New Jersey lifts his executive order. Having already made plans when it comes to defining appropriate social distancing within our sacred space during times of sacred liturgy as well as best practices, we are awaiting approval of those plans by our Diocesan. Once we have that approval, and the Governor lifts his order, Christ Church’s Invitation to Public Worship will be forwarded to all our parish families. It is a detailed account on how we may safely remain on exodus together as we bring glory to God as heirs of His eternal kingdom. Because unbeknownst to others who inhabit this time and place, this is exactly where it is we are suppose to end up today – Trinity Sunday in 2020.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Our Weekly Service Sheet – June 7, 2020
This is your weekly source for the components of the Episcopal Rite One Traditional Mass each week at Christ Church. These service sheets provide notices and announcements of interest to parishioners and the general public.
PLEASE NOTE: Services and activities listed in the announcements section of this sheet are subject to whether the current health and safety restrictions on public gatherings are lifted by the dates mentioned.
The Day of Pentecost
The Day of Pentecost
Sunday, May 31st
Morning Prayer – 8:00 AM
Holy Eucharist – 10:00 AM
Evening Prayer – 5:00 PM
The Sunday service sheet may be found HERE
You are invited and encouraged to join us at 10:00 AM in an Act of Spiritual Communion
Dear People of God:
As we enter into the Day of Pentecost, I give thanks to God for your lives, your ministries and your patience when it comes to engaging the ongoing sacramental life of the Church. As your wardens and I have shared from the very beginning of this mandated pandemic quarantine, we will follow State and Diocesan directives “without exception.” That is because we are a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey and the worldwide Anglican Communion. To those relationships, as is with all valued relationships, belong expectations as well as benefits. We are often found to be in the position of needing to set an example to those around us. This time of global public health uncertainty is no different. In fact, our example may be required of us now more than ever.
I want to begin by thanking you for your patience, your reverence and your faithfulness. The epic Bible stories detailing the progression of salvation history are replete with accounts of God’s chosen exhibiting such faithfulness in the face of great uncertainty. I have said before, and I will say again, the Lord God Almighty does not willingly afflict nor grieve the children of men (Lamentations 3:33 and BCP pg. 831). However, He most certainly has our full attention now. Regardless of when and how this pandemic ends, God’s Holy Name will be glorified and praised for the manner in which He delivers His people.
On the Day of Pentecost, we are invited to see the intended correlation between the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the gathered and expectant disciples and the presence of the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night when the Israelites were crossing the Sinai desert. In both cases, the people were delivered, they were sent out on journey, and they were being led by God’s mysterious but very real presence. In the latter, the priorities of Egypt and the priorities of the old Jerusalem were being left behind in favor of being driven forward into a new expression of God with us. Yes, the Holy Spirit is power from on high. It also leads its Church. And because it does, we may compare what comes upon us to the leading of the people of God in days of old. The teaching and leading of the Holy Spirit is the sure and certain way to all that has been promised to those who live in Christ our Lord because it is of God and is God. At times treacherous and quite burdensome, but the sure and certain way nonetheless.
As recently as a Zoom conference this past Thursday, Bishop Stokes directed all churches of the Diocese of New Jersey to follow the reentry priorities of a task force that he has established in interest of sharing guidelines and providing a questionnaire for local use. This has been articulated as necessary when discerning our own plan for reentering our sacred space. I can assure you that this parish is 95% of the way to that definition already. Under the dedicated leadership of your Vestry, an “Invitation to Public Worship” brochure has been prepared and formatted for mailing to our parish. It includes applicable best practices as defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the State of New Jersey Department of Public Health. We now await the work of the Diocesan Task Force to ensure that their concerns are being met.
We cannot move any faster. Nor should we. Our own interests do not trump our being in communion with others. Our strength and agility does not dictate the pace of the entire exodus. One interesting feature of the Exodus through the wilderness was how the people of God kept stopping. They stopped over and over again to erect altars and they stopped to ensure that everyone remained together. Yes, the Day of Pentecost invites our awareness of how it is we are led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, but at times that presence rests above the camp and does not go forth until it is time.
With what we know at this time:
- We will not meet for public worship within our sacred space on Trinity Sunday (June 7th), even under strict reopening guidelines and in an extremely limited capacity.
- The annual parish picnic hosted by our Brothers Andrew at Red Bank Battlefield scheduled for Sunday, June 7th is cancelled.
- We will await the findings/directives of the Diocesan task force on reopening.
- The work that your Vestry has already accomplished will be updated with any missing elements and immediately submitted for review and approval. Once we have that approval, the guidelines will be mailed to everyone as the means of inviting you back and articulating how we will move forward in faith rather than fear.
- Our new organist and choirmaster will be with us on July 1st and bring us through the summer months reverently and joyfully once we are given permission to open our doors.
- The manner in which we reinstate non liturgical use of our buildings will be articulated shortly after we concern ourselves with an Invitation to Public Worship.
- The manner in which we conduct home Communions will be rearticulated under taskforce guidelines.
- Scheduled Baptisms will have to wait.
- An anticipated wedding will have to wait.
- Confirmations are postponed until 2021.
- Our First Holy Communion Class has been postponed until September of 2020.
I respectfully request that if you have any questions or concerns, that you bring them directly to either myself or one of our wardens. We will be glad to share in detail the expectations under which we all live. I was identified by another priest as having my entire vocational identity in need of being before an altar. Absolutely! What that priest did not understand was how that was an extreme compliment to me. Priests most certainly do define their identity by being before an altar. That is why the expectation has long been that priests are ordained to an altar. Deacons are ordained anywhere. Priests are ordained to an assigned altar as it is and should remain the very center of their vocation. It matters not if the chancel and nave has one or 1000 people present when the Mass is being offered. The vocation of a priest is to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, repeatedly, when it is convenient and when it is not, for the great benefits that Christ pours out of Himself into the world He came to redeem. That once and for all sacrifice is being offered continually before the altar of Christ Church.
We pride ourselves on planning, preparing, visioning, communicating and dreaming. Those priorities will never dissipate as long as I am your rector. I would rather have to cancel programs and activities because we are not ready to move forward in that particular way than leave anyone behind. I speak for your Vestry when I say we don’t ever want to be a parish that cannot see into promise and realize that it awaits our arrival as the people of God. Being the Church is at once joyful, expectant, and inviting. Christ Church Woodbury is a parish that leans far into the conversation being had between heaven and earth.
When the Day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly . . .
(The Acts of the Apostles 2:1)
The Holy Spirit is poured out upon the Church in fulfillment of God’s promise. I pray that we are preparing ourselves and this parish for the moment of “suddenly.” May it not be said of us that the doors were open, and the lights came on and the redeemed of Christ were called forth by the power of the Holy Spirit and we did not know what to do next. If you want to bring your family more deeply into today, talk tonight how it is we are led by a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. This, too, is of God. This, too, is God.
We will be back, we will be before our altar, we will offer our voice of common prayer and we most certainly will again taste and see how gracious the Lord is. (Psalm 34:8) It may not be now, but it will most certainly be recognized as being suddenly.
In the peace of God, which passeth all understanding;
Fr. Burgess
Our Weekly Service Sheet – May 31, 2020
This is your weekly source for the components of the Episcopal Rite One Traditional Mass each week at Christ Church. These service sheets provide notices and announcements of interest to parishioners and the general public.
PLEASE NOTE: Services and activities listed in the announcements section of this sheet are subject to whether the current health and safety restrictions on public gatherings are lifted by the dates mentioned.
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
|
|
|
Memorial Day – Honoring the Fallen
Memorial Day
Monday, May 25th
Morning Prayer – 7:30 AM
Evening Prayer – 5:00 PM
Dear People of God:
On this Memorial Day, I invite you to offer the following prayers during your family meal or at 10:00 PM when the tower bell rings out De profundis (Psalm 130) reminding the Church to pray for the dead.
O Judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all the people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept its disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(The Book of Common Prayer – pg. 839)
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in whose hands are the living and the dead: We give thee thanks for all thy servants who have laid down their lives in the service of our country. Grant to them thy mercy and the light of thy presence; and give us such a lively sense of thy righteous will, that the work which thou hast begun in them may be perfected; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord. Amen.
(The Book of Common Prayer – pg. 488)
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord:
And let light perpetual shine upon them.
May their soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
The following link is to a very interesting blog post to Navy Life entitled Honoring our Shipmates: The Heritage of the Military Funeral and Burial at Sea. The March 23, 2015 post was written by Annalisa Underwood of the Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division. I share this with you and your families on Memorial Day in interest of remembering, giving thanks for, and honoring our fallen heroes. Parents may want to consider introducing it to our students who are being homeschooled as a reading assignment on this hallowed day. As my liturgics professor would constantly remind us, liturgy is for the living as it teaches theological truths.
Burial at Sea: Honoring Our Fallen may be viewed here
May the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant: Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight; through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Father Brian K. Burgess, Rector
Our Weekly Service Sheet – May 24, 2020
This is your weekly source for the components of the Episcopal Rite One Traditional Mass each week at Christ Church. These service sheets provide notices and announcements of interest to parishioners and the general public.
PLEASE NOTE: Services and activities listed in the announcements section of this sheet are subject to whether the current health and safety restrictions on public gatherings are lifted by the dates mentioned.
