Propers, livestream link, and Announcements for Trinity Sunday, 2023

Contents:

  • Propers – Collect and Lessons for Trinity Sunday
  • YouTube link to our livestream of the 10:30 Sunday service
  • Announcements for the week of Sunday, June 4th, 2023
  • Rector’s Ramblings: Not Pride, but Fidelity

 

The Collect and Lessons for Trinity Sunday.
The Book of Common Prayer 1928. 

 

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of the Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee that thou wouldest keep us stedfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

For the Epistle. Rev. iv. 1.

AFTER this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I beard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be here after. And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature like a calf, and the third living creature had a face as a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. And the four living creatures had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

The Gospel. St. John iii. 1.

THERE was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whoso ever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

 

Link to the YouTube Live-stream of our Sunday service – 10:30 a.m.:

https://youtube.com/live/F-_KZP3MZcw

Click here to access our YouTube channel where you can always view past live-streams or check for any scheduled upcoming live-streams.

For information and tips on getting the best sound and picture from the live-stream, click here.

If you have any questions or issues, please contact our media team at video.christchurchanglican@gmail.com.

 

Announcements for Sunday, June 4th, 2023

If you are visiting us – Welcome to Christ Church Anglican, Southern Pines! Thank you for being with us. We are very pleased to have you, and we hope that your worship here is a blessing to you. Please sign the guest book on the table in the narthex, and provide appropriate contact information. Include your email address in order to be placed on our parish email list: you won’t be bombarded with mail, but it’s a good way to keep in touch. And may God bless you!

Adult Christian Education – We have completed our last week of adult Sunday School for this program year! On June 11th we will begin our summer hiatus, and pick back up again in September with a book study: most likely Live Not By Lies, by Rod Dreher. Many thanks to those who came out at 9 o’clock for our Spring session – we had some excellent discussions, as we went over the material on “Being an Anglican.” May God continue to bless us in the Summer season, as we take a bit of a break before starting our new study in the Fall!

Trinitytide Changes to Sunday Service – I’m afraid I “jerked my trigger” a bit by announcing this last Sunday. The matter is still under discussion, and I will provide updates if or as necessary. But until further notice, we will “hold what we’ve got,” and continue with the service as it has been!

Annual Kiwanis Blueberry Sale – A reminder that the pick-up is at Aberdeen Lake Park: Friday, June 9th, 10:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.; and Saturday, June 10th, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. George is in England, so those who ordered blueberries are on their own when it comes to retrieving them!

Holy Days for the Week of June 4th:

Monday, June 5th – St. Boniface, Archbishop, Missionary, and Martyr: †745
Tuesday, June 6th – The Martyrs of Lyon (transferred): †177
Friday, June 9th – St. Columba, Abbot: †597
Saturday, June 10th – First Book of Common Prayer: 1549   

 

 

Rector’s Ramblings – Not Pride, but Fidelity

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
– Proverbs 16:18

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

– 1 Corinthians 4:2

 

From Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals & Institutions, Princeton University – a more excellent, certainly a more wholesome, alternative to what society tells us this month is about:

“June is just around the corner: Fidelity Month. Everyone is welcome to join our fellow citizens of all faiths in rededicating ourselves to fidelity to God, to our spouses and families, and to our country and communities. Celebrate fidelity!

“If you are a secular person for whom religion is not part of the picture, but you believe in the importance of faithful marriages, true patriotism, and service to our local communities, you too are welcome – more than welcome! – to join in celebrating Fidelity Month.

“What can you do for Fidelity Month? Lots of things! Spread the word to family and friends. Use the logo on your social media accounts. Create flags T-shirts and on other items featuring it. Encourage churches, schools, and organizations of other types to observe Fidelity Month.

“I cannot emphasize strongly enough that Fidelity Month proposes a positive vision: we stand for fidelity to God, to spouses and families, and to our country and communities. Our aim is to renew our own commitment, and encourage our fellow citizens to renew their commitment, to the values that have historically been among our society’s main sources of strength and unity, despite our many differences.

“In America, we are not all of the same race, or ethnicity, or religion, or cultural heritage. Yet, we have historically found fellowship with each other in our shared commitments not only to our nation’s constitutional principles, but also in our shared fidelity to God (our nation’s motto is ‘In God We Trust’…); in our belief in the importance of faithful marriages and dedication to our children and their futures; and in our patriotic spirit and belief in the importance of serving our communities.

“When I speak of Fidelity Month’s positive vision, I mean that we are not in the business of cursing the darkness. Rather, we are committed to lighting a candle – indeed thousands of candles. We don’t just talk about what is wrong; we are about the business of renewing our commitment, and encouraging our neighbors to renew their commitment, to the most important values.

“Another thing we are not about is reacting to other people’s ideas and advocacy. We act. We don’t react. We understand, of course, that there are people who don’t share our beliefs and values. Some promote beliefs and values that we don’t agree with. It’s a free country, and in a free country people have every right to disagree and to state their disagreement. We are believers in – and practitioners of – freedom of speech. We believe in the robust competition of ideas. But, again, ours is a positive vision – one that we vow to promote by both precept and example.

“If our values – fidelity to God, to spouses and families, to our country and community – are your values, then we want you to join us. Welcome aboard!”

As an emblem for this movement, Dr. George recommends this logo, which features a myrtle wreath, signifying fidelity:

‘The circular shape of the wreath is representative of God and His eternal nature, while the openness at the top of the wreath is suggestive of a divine embrace,’ said George.

“‘The branches and leaves that compose the wreath signify a family that is dependent upon and in union with God. The star and stripe at the center bottom of the wreath symbolize our common union as Americans — “one Nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”’

“As for the color scheme, gold reportedly symbolizes both generosity and compassion, while blue symbolizes ‘truth, loyalty, responsibility, and peace.’

This sounds like a type of “virtue signaling” (in this case, literal: signaling ones support for the authentic virtue of fidelity – see, inter alia, Understanding Fidelity” and The Virtue of Fidelity”) I can actually get behind!

Faithfully,*

Fr. Tom

* Note: Latin fides, translated “faith,” is the root of our English word “fidelity.” I have ancestors, the Fidlers, whose name comes from this root!

Contact Info

Email: rector.ccanc@gmail.com
Phone: (910) 246-0955

#ccanglicansp

Address

750 Fairway Drive, Southern Pines
At the intersection of Aiken Road and Fairway Drive.

Mail

Christ Church Anglican
750 Fairway Dr,
Southern Pines, NC 28387