Category: Liturgy
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The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
The Christmas Proclamation as it is sometimes called comes from the Roman Martyrology. It is usually read on Christmas Eve before the Midnight Mass. The proclamation sets the birth of Jesus in relationship to events of the Old Testament as well as the Greek and Roman worlds. It is a way of dating Jesus’ birth Read more
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Prayers for Turkey and the World
O Lord of life, the God of our salvation, who bears our burdens: Our world has once again been shaken by violence, gunfire, and explosions; this time at the Istanbul airport. We are weary because of our groaning. Every night we flood our bed with tears and drench our couch with weeping. Our eyes waste Read more
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Praying for Orlando – A Service of Evening Prayer
The world is mourning the brutal murder of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters in Orlando. How should we respond to such breathtaking violence? Read more
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Epiphany House Blessing with Chalk
The Church has a custom of blessing homes (as well as proclaiming the date of Easter) on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6) and the week following. Family and friends gather to ask God’s blessing on their homes and those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to Read more
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Epiphany Proclamation of Easter 2016
The Church has a couple of important and meaningful traditions related to The Feast of the Epiphany. First, it is a common practice to bless homes on the Feast of Epiphany and during the following week. One way of doing this is with chalk that has been blessed during the Epiphany Eucharist. Second, the ancient Read more
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The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ
Most years our Christmas liturgy at St. Philip’s begins with the processional hymn, O Come All Ye Faithful. Along the way the procession stops at the creche to place Jesus in the manger and offer prayers. This year we will first hear The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ and then begin the processional hymn. The Read more
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Blessing Candles on the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas)
Forty days after Christmas the infant Jesus was presented in the temple of Jerusalem and placed in the arms of the old man Simeon (Luke 2:22-40) who declared: Lord, you now have set your servant free to go in peace as you have promised; For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, whom you Read more
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A Blessing Specific to the Feast of the Presentation
The Book of Occasional Services, one of the liturgical books in the Episcopal Church, offers several blessings specific to seasons and feast days. It does not, however, offer a blessing specific to the Feast of the Presentation, a major feast in the liturgical year. The following blessing has been prepared based upon the collects and Read more
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Blessing of a Labyrinth
Last evening, May 1, our parish celebrated its feast day, the Feast of St. Philip. The evening included Holy Eucharist and a dedication and blessing of the newly completed labyrinth and prayer garden using the liturgy below. + + + Through the ages, Almighty God has moved his people to set apart holy places for Read more
Interrupting the Silence 