From the Vicar...
A "tongues in cheek" word from a Pennsylvania colleague
I enjoy reading columns and articles from colleagues - especially people I've been acquainted with down through the years. Looking for some "inspiration" for this column earlier in the week, I happened upon the following from a Pennsylvania priest. Great fun!
Fr. Chip
Speaking in tongues: It's not something Episcopalians do. Or do we?
We're not generally thought of as the Pentecostal type - raising our hands in praise (which, actually, is not the Biblical image - raising hands in offering prayer is the Biblical image.) Episcopalians aren't slain nor swoon in the Spirit. We're just too reserved and proper for all that silliness. And speaking in tongues? The only tongue we speak is the King's English!
And yet we have our own secret language. Verger. Sexton. Vicar. Quire??? So that you can help spread the truth to all the nations, here is a little dictionary of Anglicanism.
- Aspergillum - the Holy Water sprinkler; "asperges" is Latin for 'purge' (Psalm 51:9).
- Chapel - in Episcopal churches, a side altar, usually dedicated to Blessed Mary.
- Clerk (if you're really English, be sure it's pronounced, "clark") - the secretary of Vestry.
- Coffee Hour - the Eighth Sacrament.
- Curate - an assistant priest in charge of a "daughter" parish, having the "cure" of certain people's souls.
- Evensong - the quintessential Anglican worship - Evening Prayer on Sunday with vested Choir and incense.
- Matins - Morning Prayer with music; the standard of Sunday worship in many parts of the country until the 1970s.
- Mission - a small congregation, usually during its formative years; but occasionally in its declining ones!
- Nave - shaped like an upside down boat (look at the ceiling) where the "people" sit. (Get it, as in "navy"?)
- Quire (sometimes called by Protestants the "Chancel") - where those who sing sit solemnly facing each other. They're called the "Choir," because that's where they sit.
- Parson - a more Protestant Anglican term for Minister, not used in recent centuries, except in churches that are trying really hard to be English!
- Parish - in former times, a geographic area in which a priest presided. Think of Louisana's parishes.
- Quicunque vult - Creed of St. Athanasius which lost out to the Nicene Creed, but we keep it anyway. Makes great "fine print" reading in the back of the Prayer Book when the Rector's sermon is running too long.
- Rector - the "king of all he perceives," that is, the priest in charge of a certain geography (parish)
- Sanctuary - the "holy of holies" - where the Altar sits behind the Altar rail.
- Sexton - fancy name for a janitor - but more so - with full responsibilities for the building.
- Verger - carries the "verge" (like the mace in academic processions). Keeps order in the processions lest they get out of hand!
- Vicar - "representative" - of Christ, the King, the Bishop??? A priest in charge of a mission (in a parish, the term is "rector").
- Warden - given the care/stewardship/protection of something: a prison, a parish church.
And finally, "People of the Book" - obviously the Book of Common Prayer, not the Bible. We have our priorities, after all!
If you hear any other foreign words in Church ask me, and I'll be glad to give you the secret hand-shake.
The Rev. Edward K. Erb
Let's wear red this Sunday for Pentecost!
On the Day of Pentecost, Sunday, May 15, we will continue our custom of wearing red as a small sign that the Holy Spirit lives within each of us. Our services in both churches that day will feature some powerful Pentecost hymns - including some from more contemporary sources - and, at Christ Church, we'll even have a Baptism: Patrick Tremblay is being baptized that day.
So come join us for a festive day! I'll be adorned in bright red vestments, the altar will be decked in red as well - why don't we all wear red to make the scene a "sea" of Pentecost color!
Fr. Chip
Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer
Each week, in both of our churches, we pray for one ministry we share and one or two households in each church. About once every six weeks, we will instead using the Shared Ministry Collect we prayed throughout the opening months of our Shared Ministry.
In our prayers the next two weeks, we give God thanks for...
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May 15
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Worship Committee at Trinity Church; Paula Kidder; Hope Murray & Tommy; Anne Newell
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May 22
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Worship Committee at Christ Church; Betty Lane; Dan & Barbara Nicholson
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Stamp Out Hunger food drive is this Saturday, May 14
This Saturday, May 14, 2016, letter carriers across the country will be collecting food for families in need. Our own pantry at Hobbs House is among the agencies that will be receiving this food for distribution. It's easy to help:
1. Collect and bag non-perishable* food items
2. Place by mailbox for letter carrier to deliver to a local food bank or pantry
Want to help the Trinity pantry but don't live in a town in its service area? Bring food to church with you Sunday, May 15 and we'll add it to what the postal workers bring in.
*Donate items like canned meats, fish, soup, juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal, peanut butter and rice. Please do not include items that have expired or are in glass containers.
Healing ministry
Each month, both of our churches offer the Laying on of Hands with Anointing for Healing. At Christ Church, this occurs at the conclusion of the Eucharist on the first Sunday of the month. At Trinity Church, it is an integral part of the Saturday evening liturgy the weekend of the third Sunday of the month. As this is one of those odd months when the third Sunday is the day after the second Saturday...we'll be offering prayers for healing this Saturday, May 14. We will hold the next healing liturgy at Christ Church on Sunday, June 5th.
