Elections: Time for pols to
 take God out of the closet

God has been on so many people’s lips in recent months—on TV, on the radio, in newspapers, and periodicals, and even in the public square—that visitors from outer space might be forgiven for imagining the whole nation is caught up in the fervour of a full-scale religious revival.

There’s no fear of that, however. . . . → Read More: Elections: Time for pols to
 take God out of the closet

The English Church and people: 
Portrait of a unique relationship

Anglo-Saxon king with his witan

The title of the Venerable Bede’s History of the English Church and People is best understood as a compound noun of the type often encountered in German. Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän (trans. Danube Steamship Company Captain) is a classic example of the form. This is not simply an eccentric literary conceit. Bede and his 7th Century contemporaries regarded . . . → Read More: The English Church and people: 
Portrait of a unique relationship

The Sermon for Sunday February 14th – Lent I

Fr Kerouac

Here is the sermon for Sunday February 14th: Lent 1, 2016

The First Sunday in Lent 

Lenten altar

O Lord, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights: Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the . . . → Read More: The First Sunday in Lent 

This Week’s Newsletter

new church tower with weathercock-bw

Here is this week’s newsletter: St Stephens News XXVII No 5

Saint Valentine

Saint Valentine baptizing saint Lucilla

St Valentine baptizing Saint Lucilla by Jacopo Bassano (Jacopo da Ponte) (1510—1592). Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

Almighty God, by whose grace and power thy holy Martyr Valentine triumphed over suffering and despised death: Grant, we beseech the, that enduring hardness and waxing valiant in fight, we may with . . . → Read More: Saint Valentine

Saint Scholastica

Kleinmariazell Altar Scholastica

Saint Scholastica Altar in the Kleinmariazell, Wienerwald, Austria

Blessed be thou, O Heavenly Father, for thy holy Virgin Saint Scholastica, who sought in this life to walk before thee with a perfect heart and now with all the redeemed rejoiceth eternally; through the merits and grace of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, . . . → Read More: Saint Scholastica

Saint Teilo

Celtic Cross

Almighty and most merciful Lord, who didst encourage the Church by the example of thy holy Bishop and Confessor Saint Teilo: Grant unto us thy servants that, remembering the victory of his faith, we too may learn to overcome the world and to glorify thy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

. . . → Read More: Saint Teilo

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Postponed until Sunday

Due to the impending snow storm, the Pancake Supper scheduled for Tuesday, February 9th, has been postponed until Sunday, February 14th, following the 9:15 AM service (meaning it will begin around 10:15 AM or so). You can forgo the sausages if you’re giving up meat for Lent (that was the old rule; the lazy . . . → Read More: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Postponed until Sunday

Schedule changes

Red Cross Logo

First, the Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper is at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, February 9th, not at 5:00 PM as announced elsewhere.

Second, there is no 5:00 Evening Prayer service on Ash Wednesday, February 10th. Instead, You are invited to attend the 7:00 PM Choral Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes.

Finally, the Red Cross Blood . . . → Read More: Schedule changes