The blessing of the Easter Basket has been a cherished Christian ritual for centuries among families. The tradition of food blessing at Easter has early medieval roots in Christian society and is said to date from the 7th century in its basic form, the more modern form are said to date from the 12th century. The Christian significance of Easter is symbolized in the foods used for the Holiday feast. Baskets containing a sampling of Easter foods are brought to church to be blessed. The Christian significance of Easter is symbolized in the foods used for the Holiday feast. Baskets are lined with a white cloth and decorated with ribbons and greenery to symbolize spring, renewal, and the Resurrection. Traditionally, the baskets would include: decorated hardboiled eggs (representing Christ’s Resurrection), lamb-shaped butter or sugar (representing Christ as the “Lamb of God“), bread (symbolic of Jesus as the “Bread of Life“), ham (symbolic of great joy and abundance), sausage (symbolic of God’s favor and generosity), smoked bacon (symbolic of the overabundance of God’s mercy), some prefer lamb (representing Christ as the “Lamb of God”), salt (symbolic of prosperity and justice and to remind us “You are the salt of the earth”), cheese (symbolizes the moderation Christians should have at all times), horseradish & pepper (symbolic of the Passion of Christ and the bitter herbs of the Passover). A white candle is often inserted into the basket to represent Christ as the “Light of the World.” Lastly, the basket is cover with linen symbolizing the covering of Christ’s shroud.
Holy Week 2018
The Christian life has often been compared to a pilgrimage, a dedicated journey to a place of encounter with God. The Church, through her liturgy, overshadowed by the power of God the Holy Spirit, seeks to open a door for the people of God to enter the Divine Presence.
The ancient liturgies of Holy Week are themselves the result of 4th and 5th century pilgrimages to the Holy Land. These traditional liturgies are the most unusual and vivid of the Christian year, and for the great majority of the world’s Christians mark a period of intense spiritual awareness and devotion.
We enter this time “not only with our hearts and minds, but with our feet as we make procession along with Jesus and his other disciples from Bethany to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, from the Upper Room to the Mount of Olives on Maundy Thursday, from the Judgment Hall to the hill of Calvary on Good Friday, to the tomb in the garden on Holy Saturday and finally to that moment in the heart and silence of God the Father when the Resurrection of his only begotten Son became a reality in time and place”. (G. Furry)
I extend a warm and fervent invitation to everyone as we come together as a parish family to celebrate the mystery of Jesus’ death and resurrection, not as spectators, or as those remembering something that happened “long ago in a land far, far, away…”, but as participants
“Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast! (1 Cor. 5, 7)
Yours in faith and love,
Palm Sunday – March 25, 2018
St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Rev’d Canon Claude Schroeder
We began our service this morning with the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem where the crowds, we are told, waved palm branches in the air.
But today isn’t really about the Palms. It’s about the Cross, which explains the our Palm Crosses. Although Good Friday marks the actual day Jesus was crucified, starting today and throughout this Holy Week, it is the Cross, and everything that led up to it, which is the subject of the Church’s worship, meditation and devotion.
What is the Cross? Continue reading “Palm Sunday – March 25, 2018”
March 25, 2018 – Palm Sunday
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Isaiah 50: 4-9a; Psalm 31: 9-16; Philippians 2:1-5; Matthew 27
This week’s sermon
March 18th, 2018 – Fifth Sunday in Lent (Passion Sunday)
WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people: that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hebrews 9: 11-15; Matthew 20:20-28
February 11th, 2018 – Quinquagesima
O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth: Send thy Holy Spirit, and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
Isaiah 35:3-7; Psalm 31:22-26; 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; Luke 18: 31-43
February 4th, 2018 – Sexagesima
O Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in anything that we do: Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amos 8:11-12; Psalm 17:1-12; 2 Corinthians 11:21-31; Luke 8:4-15
Lenten Mission: Refreshing Christian faith for the Wary and the Weary with guest missioner, Steve Bell at St. Luke’s Anglican Church (3233 Argyle Ave), February 23/24. Steve writes,
I have put together four sessions that explore the fertile tradition and spirituality of a Trinitarian faith, navigating a pattern of corporate worship based on Isaiah 6:19 in tandem with the Christian calendar year, the Hebrew psalms, and the ancient prayers of the church. Join me for a time of story, song and teaching. It will be light-hearted, fun, and thoughtfully nourishing.
Please speak to Claude or Yvonne in the office for the coupon code, then register online at www.stevebell.com/journey-retreat.
Septuagesima – January 28, 2018
St. Mary’s Anglican Church
Septuagesima – January 28, 2018
Canon Claude Schroeder
1 Corinthians 9:24; Matthew 20:1-16
Today we are shifting gears at St. Mary’s. Today marks the beginning of the season of pre-Lent in our liturgical calendar. We have the three Sundays of Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima. What fun these exotic sounding Latin names! Septuagesima, which stand for 70, Sexagesima which stands for 60, and Quinquagesima which stands for 50. We are symbolically counting down the days to the Great Fast and the 40 days of Lent leading up to Easter. If we are honest, the thought of Lent is probably the last thing on any of our minds, and our hearts are not in it. That’s OK. We have the next three weeks to ready our minds, and prepare our hearts. Continue reading “Septuagesima – January 28, 2018”
January 28, 2018 – Septuagesima
O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.
Jeremiah 9:23-24; Psalm 97; 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27; Matthew 20: 1-16