Livestreaming Holy Communion for Whitsunday/Pentecost A.D. 2020 – May 31st

Whitsunday-Pentecost 2020

Please respond or say with Minister all the words in Bold
The people always say the Amen.
Page numbers are from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

The Collect for Purity Page 67

ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Decalogue  Page 68

GOD spake these words, and said:
I am the Lord thy God; Thou shalt have none other gods but me.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.  

II.  Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them;.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

III.  Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

IV.  Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

V.  Honour thy father and thy mother;
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

VI.  Thou shalt do no murder.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

VII.  Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

VIII.  Thou shalt not steal.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

IX.  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

X.  Thou shalt not covet
Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

The Kyrie  Page 70

Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Prayer of Sanctification  Page 70

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Salutation  Page 70

  The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The Collect for Pentecost/Whitsunday  Page 180

O GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the units of the same Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen.

The Old Testament Lesson Page xxiv

The Old Testament lesson is written in the 2nd Chapter of Joel, beginning at the 28th verse.

AND it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call. .

Here endeth the Old Testament lesson.

The Psalm Reading Page xxiv
The Psalm appointed for this day is Psalm 145.  Please respond with the half verse.

Psalm 145 Page 520
Exaltabo te, Deus.

I WILL magnify thee, O God, my King; * and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.
2. Every day will I give thanks unto thee: * and praise thy Name for ever and ever.
3. Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised; * there is no end of his greatness.
4. One generation shall praise thy works unto another, * and declare thy power.
5. As for me, I will be talking of thy worship, * thy glory, thy praise, and wondrous works;
6. So that men shall speak of the might of thy marvellous acts; * and I will also tell of thy greatness.
7. The memorial of thine adundant kindness shall be showed; * and men shall sing of thy righteousness.
8. The Lord is gracious and merciful; * long-suffering and of great goodness.
9. The Lord is loving unto every man; * and his mercy is over all his works.
10. All thy works praise thee, O Lord; * and thy saints give thanks unto thee.
11. They show the glory of thy kingdom, * and talk of thy power.
12. That thy power, thy glory, and mightiness of thy kingdom, * might be known unto men.
13. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, * and thy dominion endureth throughout all ages.
14. The Lord upholdeth all such as fall, * and lifteth up all those that are down.
15. The eyes of all wait upon thee, O Lord; * and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16. Thou openest thine hand, * and fillest all things living with plenteousness.
17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways, * and holy in all his works.
18. The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him; * yea, all such as call upon him faithfully.
19. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; * he also will hear their cry, and will help them.
20. The Lord preserveth all them that love him; * but scattereth abroad all the ungodly.
21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; * and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever. 

The Gloria Patri Page 9

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle Page 179

The “For the Epistle” reading is written in the 2nd Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, beginning at the 1st verse.

WHEN the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Here endeth the Epistle

The Gospel Page 181

The Holy Gospel is written in the 14th Chapter of the
Gospel of St. John, beginning at the 15th verse.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

JESUS said unto his disciples, If ye love me, keep my commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.  He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.  These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.  And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.  Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.  But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.

Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Nicene Creed  Page 70

I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father:  And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.  

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets: 

And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church:  I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins:  And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come.  Amen.

Announcements
Commentary on the Sunday Readings

The Prayer for Christ’s Church Page 74

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our [alms and] oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant that all those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.

We beseech thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and other Ministers, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.

And to all thy People give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service, and to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.  Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.  Amen.

Invitation to Holy Communion Page 75

YE who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling.

The General Confession Page 75

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things,  Judge of all men;  We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Pardon & Absolution Page 76

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Comfortable Words Page 76

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him.

COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.  St. Matt. xi. 28.
So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  St. John iii. 16.

Hear also what Saint Paul saith.
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  1 Tim. i. 15.

Hear also what Saint John saith.
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins.  1 St. John ii. 1, 2.

The Sursum Corda Page 76

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right so to do. 

The Proper Preface/Preface Completed  Pages 77

IT is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God. 

THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the Holy Ghost came down as at this time from heaven, lighting upon the disciples, to teach them, and to lead them into all truth; giving them boldness with fervent zeal constantly to preach the Gospel unto all nations; whereby we have been brought out of darkness and error into the clear light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Son Jesus Christ.

THEREFORE with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

The Sanctus Page 77

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of hosts
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory:
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.  Amen.

The Canon of the Mass Page 80

ALL glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again:  For in the night in which he was betrayed, (a) he took Bread; and when he had given thanks, (b) he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, (c) this is my Body, which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me.  Likewise, after supper, (d) he took the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for (e) this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. 

WHEREFORE, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, we, thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here before thy Divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same.

AND we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us; and, of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine; that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

AND we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion.  And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice; yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer Page 82

And now, as our Saviour Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us.  And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Prayer of Humble Access  Page 82

WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.  We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.  But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.  Amen.

The Agnus Dei Page 82

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
grant us thy peace.

Words of Administration of the Elements Page 82

THE Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.  Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

THE Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

Prayers for Those Unable to
Receive the Sacraments by Reason of
Law or Regulations

Dedication of Soul & Body to God’s Service  Page 588

SINCE it is of thy mercy, O gracious Father, that another day is added to our lives; We here dedicate both our souls and bodies to thee and thy service, in a sober, righteous, and godly life: in which resolution, do thou, O merciful God, confirm and strengthen us; that, as we grow in age, we may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Prayer for Grace to Enable Us to
Perform that Resolution  Page 588

BUT, O God, who knowest the weakness and corruption of our nature, and the manifold temptations which we daily meet with; We humbly beseech thee to have compassion on our infirmities, and to give us the constant assistance of thy Holy Spirit; that we may be effectually restrained from sin, and incited to our duty.  Imprint upon our hearts such a dread of thy judgments, and such a grateful sense of thy goodness to us, as may make us both afraid and ashamed to offend thee.  And, above all, keep in our minds a lively remembrance of that great day, in which we must give a strict account of our thoughts, words, and actions to him whom thou hast appointed the Judge of the quick and dead, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving Page 83

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most precious death and passion. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Gloria in excelsis Page 84

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee,
We glorify thee,
We give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us. 

For thou only art holy;
Thou only art the Lord;
Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
Art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

The Blessing Page 84

THE Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord:  And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Go in peace and serve the Lord.

  • Now that services have resumed — or are about to resume in many localities — this will be the last of our Sunday livestreaming programs.  It is not the mission of the AIC to be an alternative to attendance at a local parish.  We have offered these live broadcasts so  that anyone who wished to hear an actual liturgy of Holy Communion using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer during the period of lock-downs as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic could do so.   We thank you for your interest and support.  In the coming months, we will make available four new books, an Annotated & Illustrated 4-color paperback edition of the Gospels.  The volume on the Gospel of John will be first, followed by volumes on Luke, Matthew and Mark.  These will be available through local bookstores and through the Virtual Bookstore link at the bottom of the Home page at http://www.AnglicanInternetChurch.net.

Thank you and may God bless you in all that you do in His Name.  Amen!  Glory be to God for all things! Amen! 

An Ascension Day Office – Livestreaming at 12 Noon, May 21st

Ascension 2020

Ascension Day is a neglected Holy Day in the modern Church.  Since it always occurs  on the Thursday following the Fifth Day after Easter (Rogation Sunday), it is rarely read in a formal service.   I celebrated it every year in my former parish and I thought that, given the continued lockdown in many parts of the country and the world, A.D. 2020 would be a good time to revive the office.  The text was prepared based upon services in the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, combined with the Collect, For the Epistle and Gospel, Lord’s Prayer, Gloria in excelsis and Closing Blessing from the Holy Communion liturgy in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, plus two canticles based on Scripture.    The complete text, including the appropriate Hymnal page for the Venerable Bede’s Ascension Day hymn, A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing, is available in the AIC Bookstore Publication, Occasional Services for Anglican Worship, which also includes service for other neglected or rarely celebrated days or seasons.  It is available by order from commercial bookstores and through the Virtual Bookstore link at the bottom of the Home page of this site.

An Ascension Day Office
May 21st, A.D. 2020

Please respond or say with the Minister all the words in Bold
The people always say the Amen.

THE OPENING PRAYERS
[Adapted from Tenth Conference of St. John Cassian, 5th C.]
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Thy throne has been established from of old;
Thou art from everlasting. Alleluia.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

BLESSED art thou, O Lord of heaven and earth, to thee be honour, glory and praise for ever.  From the darkness of death thou hast raised thy Christ from the dead to the right hand of thy majesty on high. The pioneer of our faith, his passion accomplished, has opened for us the way to heaven and sends upon us thy promised Spirit.  May we be ready to follow the Way and so be brought to the glory of his presence where songs of triumph for ever sound.

Blessed be God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever and ever.

THAT the remainder of this day may be holy, good and peaceful, let us pray with one heart and mind.     

O GOD our heavenly Father, as our Ascension day prayers rise before thee, may thy mercy be upon us; cleanse our hearts and set us free to sing thy praise, now and for ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Psalm Page 219
Cantate Domino.

The Psalm appointed for this day is Psalm 96.
Please read responsively the words in bold type.

O SING unto the Lord a new song; * sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth.
2. Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name; * be telling of his salvation from day to day.
3. Declare his honour unto the heathen, * and his wonders unto all people.
4. For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised; * he is more to be feared than all gods.
5. As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols; * but it is the Lord that made the heavens.
6. Glory and worship are before him; * power and honour are in his sanctuary.
7. Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, * ascribe unto the Lord worship and power.
8. Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name; * bring presents, and come into his courts.
9. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; * let the whole earth stand in awe of him.
10. Tell it out among the heathen, that the Lord is King, and that it is he who hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; * and how that he shall judge the peoples righteously.
11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; * let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.
12. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it; * then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.
13. For he cometh, for the cometh to judge the earth; * and with righteousness to judge the world, and the peoples with his truth.

The Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

The First Ascension Day Canticle
 [Based on 1 Timothy 3:16]
Christ Jesus was revealed in the flesh and vindicated in the spirit.
Christ was believed in throughout the world and taken up in glory.
He was seen by angels and proclaimed among the nations.
Christ was believed in throughout the world and taken up in glory.
Believed in throughout the world, he was taken up in glory.
Christ was believed in throughout the world and taken up in glory.
This will be made manifest at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign,
Christ was believed in throughout the world and taken up in glory.
Who alone has immortality, and dwells in unapproachable light.

All saying together:  

To the King of kings and Lord of lords be honour and eternal dominion. Amen.

The Collect for Ascension Day Page 177

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

For the Epistle Page 177 

The For the Epistle  reading is from the 1st Chapter of
The Acts of the Apostles, beginning at the 1st verse:

THE former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom be had chosen: to whom also he shewed him self alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: and, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Here endeth the Epistle.

The Second Ascension Day Canticle
[Based on Psalm 145:1-4, 10-11, 21]

I WILL magnify thee, O God, my King; * and I will praise thy Name for ever and ever.
2. Every day will I give thanks unto thee; * and praise thy Name for ever and ever.
3. Great is the Lord, and marvellous worthy to be praised; * there is no end of his greatness.
4. One generation shall praise thy works unto another; * and declare thy power.
10. All thy works praise thee, O Lord; * and thy saints give thanks unto thee.
11. They show the glory of thy kingdom, * and talk of thy power.
21. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord: * and let all flesh give thanks unto his holy Name for ever and ever.

The Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.

The Gospel Page 178

The Holy Gospel is written in the 24th Chapter
of the Gospel of St. Luke, beginning at the 49th Verse.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

JESUS said, Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. 

Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Lord’s Prayer Page 82 

And now as our Saviour Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

OUR Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gloria in excelsis Page 84

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men.  We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

The Extinguishing of the Candles

Closing Music

A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing

The Venerable Bede’s Ascension Day hymn, arranged to the German tune Lasst uns erfreuen, played on the Church organ in England by Richard Irwin, used with permission.

Richard’s music is available for download at
play.hymnswithoutwords.com

The original version has seven verses, with a double Alleluia after the first stanza and 5-fold Alleluia after the final stanza.

Here is the lyric for the first verse:

A hymn of glory let us sing
New songs tho’out the world shall ring
Alleluia! Alleluia

Christ by a road before untrod,
Ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Closing Prayer and Responses 

O Christ our God, who hast opened the kingdom of heaven,
bring us to reign with thee in glory.  

Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

The Blessing Page 84 

THE Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord:  And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Go in peace and serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Thank you for joining us for this celebration of Ascension Day.  Please join us on Sunday, May 24th, for another livestreaming of a service of Holy Communion for Sunday after Ascension.

New Testament: Gospels – Episodes 32 to 35

 

Christ-Good Shepherd-Ravenna-5thC
I Am the Good Shepherd, Byzantine mosaic, 1st half, 5th C. A.D., Mausoleum of Galla Placida, Ravenna, Italy.  The Yorck Project: 10,000 Masterworks.

Keeping with the pace started last week, I’ve uploaded four more episodes in the New Testament: Gospels series.  This week’s uploads are Episode Thirty-two, Episode Thirty-three, Episode Thirty-four and Episode Thirty-five.  In these four episodes I complete my discussion and commentary on the “I Am” declarations in the Gospel of St. John, including the Bread of Life; The Living Bread; The Light of the World; I Am From above; I Am not of this world; Before Abraham Was, I Am; I Am the Door; I Am the Good Shepherd; I Am the Resurrection and the Life; I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; and, finally, I am the True Vine.

As always, selection of a featured illustration is difficult, with so many choices across four episodes.  This time I selected another example of early Byzantine art in the west at Ravenna, Italy.  The photograph was used in the Yorck Project’s DVD: 10,000 Masterworks.   The DVD is accessible online, but be prepared: there are actually more than 10,000 images, which are arranged alphabetically, some by title and some by artist.

Watch Episode Thirty-two.           Podcast version of Episode Thirty-two

Watch Episode Thirty-three.      Podcast version of Episode Thirty-three.

Watch Episode Thirty-four.       Podcast version of Episode Thirty-four.

Watch Episode Thirty-five.        Podcast version of Episode Thirty-five.

The next group of four episodes, 36 to 39, are about the Seven Signs in the Gospel of St. John, treating those six which are unique to St. John’s Gospel first, followed by the last two, which appear in the Synoptic Gospels.   These are complete and will be featured here during the week of Nov. 10th, when the featured illustration is a 15th C. fresco of the Raising of Lazarus from a church in Greece.

The next group, also of four, 40 to 43, is focused on Unique Themes, Details & Events in the Gospel of St. John, beginning with Themes; followed by Details of Content; followed by unique mentions of Places and People, including Cana and Samaria; Peter; Nathanael; Philip; Andrew; the Samaritan Woman (Photina).   These four are complete and will be featured here during the week of Nov. 17th, when the featured illustration is a mid-19th Eastern Orthodox Christ Pantokrator image in Romania.

The final two episodes are complete in script and slides but still need a voice track.  The voice track will be recorded during the week of Nov. 10th with release during the week of Nov. 24th.  They are focused on more unique details & one five unique events in the Gospel of St. John, including the Visit of Nicodemus; the Restoration of the Adulterous Woman; Foot Washing on Maundy Thursday; the institution of the Sacrament of Penance/Confession; and Jesus’ Breakfast the the Seashore with the eleven remaining Disciples; and, ending with some summary slides on all four Gospels and the series.  The featured illustration will be a splendid mosaic of Jesus washing St. Peter’s feet from the tradtion of the Eastern Church.

In other news, I have upgraded the illustrations throughout the AIC Web Site and fixed (I hope) some glitches in spacing that in previous attempts don’t want to stay fixed.  I’ll be very surprised is they stay fixed.  I think I need some help from the technical people at WordPress.com.

As always, thank you for your interest and support.  May God bless you in all that you do in His Name! Amen! Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

 

More Revised Podcast Homilies

I’ve now uploaded the first four Podcast Homilies in the revised series for Church Year 2018-2019 for Whitsunday and Trinity season.   These four, including Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday, First Sunday after Trinity and Second Sunday after Trinity, are linked from the Podcast Homilies page, with episodes listed in order according to the Church Calendar.  I anticipate recording the next four, Third Sunday after Trinity through Sixth Sunday after Trinity early next week.  The simple reason for the stretched-out schedule is that four episodes are all I can do without stress on either or both my voice and my back!   After four I begin to sound like a croaking frog – and we don’t want that!

Christ-with Father-Royal 1 D X-f98-PCA
God the Father and God the Son, illumination in colored inks and gold on parchment, perspective correction applied, Ms. Royal 1 D X, Folio 98, British Library, London, England.

In my search for images for the video series for Trinity Season I used a few Western Church images which violate the ancient early Church prohibition (still followed in the Eastern Church) against images of the God the Father.  Andrei Rublev avoided the problem by using the three figures who visited Abraham.  In later research I found something appealing from the English Church tradition, from an early 13th C. Psalter made near Oxford before 1220 A.D.   The image of God the Father and God the Son are mirror likenesses inside a capital letter “O.”

As always, thank you for your continued interest and support.  May God bless you in all that you do in His Name. Amen!  Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

 

Podcast Homilies for Easter to Ascension

Resurrection-Narthex-Greece-11thC-Detail1
Christ Resurrected (Gr: Anastasis) – Greek Orthodox narthex mosaic in the Byzantine style, 11th C.  Public Domain.   Jesus stands upon the destroyed gates of Hades, lifting Adam and Eve from the pit.

The revised edition of all seven Podcast Homilies for the period from Easter (Day) through Sunday after Ascension are now available, using links on the Podcast Homilies page.  The upload completes the updating of Podcast Homilies for all the Sundays from First Sunday in Advent through Sunday after Ascension.  The Podcast Homilies for Good Friday were updated in A.D. 2018.

In the revised versions, all the Podcast Homilies included cross reference to “Other AIC Resources” on topics covered in each homily.

The remaining Podcast Homilies for the balance of the Church Calendar (Whitsunday, Trinity Sunday and all the Sundays after Trinity, and Sunday next Before Advent) are currently in production, with recording and uploading anticipated before Whitsunday A,D. 2019.

As always, thank you for your interest and support.  Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

New Testament: Gospels – Episode Six

Peter-Fish-coin-AugustinTunger-1486-PCA
St. Peter Paying the Temple Tax, illumination in colored inks on paper, Augustin Tumbler, Facetias Latinae et Germanicae (literally, Amusing Things), Konstanz, Germany, 1486 A.D. Codex HB V 24a. Public Domain (Wikipedia Commons).  Perspective correction applied.

Episode Six, the final episode focused on the Gospel of St. Matthew, in the AIC Bible Study Video series, New Testament: Gospels, is now online in video and podcast versions.  This completes the rebuild of the St. Matthew portion of the Bible Study Videos, making them consistent with current videos in all series and also adding many examples of historic Church art from many sources.  Episode Six includes selected examples of unique content and quotations, including the long form of the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes, plus the “kingdom” parables, and, as shown in the illustration, the curious miracle of the coin in the fish at Capernaum (Matt. 17:24-29).

Watch the Video       Listen to the Podcast

In the next episode, Episode Seven, I focus on the Gospel of St. Mark with an introduction to its history, authorship, time frame, language, intended audience and style, plus the beginning of my discussion of St. Mark’s themes, starting the Jesus as Servant of the Father.

As always, thank you for your interest and support, which enables the production of these videos free-of-charge, on-demand, through links from this Web Site.

May God bless you in all that you do in his name! Amen.  Glory be to God for all things! Amen.

 

The New Testament: Gospels – Episode One

NT-Gospels-Title1-rev

After repeated delays for technical reasons, Episode One in the revised AIC Bible Study Video series, The New Testament: Gospels, is now available in both video and podcast version.   The new version is the third to be produced.  The first was a series of live videocasts from my former parish.  The second edition was introduced in A.D. 2015 after my retirement from pulpit ministry at Epiphany A.D. 2014.

Version Three includes many improvements, including a revised format more consistent with the style of the more recent AIC videos; many more examples of historic art from the 6th through the 20th C. from archives which have been digitized for wider audiences; and more direct quotations of Scripture, especially in the episodes on the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark, which were the earliest in the series presented in a different format than later episodes.   The series retains the original focus on teaching for the Laity and the informal style of presentation.

Watch the Video of Episode One                   Listen to the Podcast of Episode One

Harley  5785 f 187v
Luke Writing from Ms Harley 5785, Folio 187v, perspective correction applied, British Library, London, England.

Among the examples of historic art included in Episode One is Luke Writing His Gospel, an illumination in tempera and gold on parchment produced in the region of Constantinople in the late 11th to early 12th C.  I applied perspective correction to the original image from Ms Harley 5785, Folio 187v, British Library, London, England.   Our archive now includes nearly a thousand such images from libraries, museums, churches, and government archives in England, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Macedonia, Bulgaria and the United States.   These historic images are both beautiful and instructive on the spiritual message in the scenes depicted.  I have included works in nearly every artistic medium, including icons, frescos, mosaics, oil paintings, watercolors, etchings and engravings.  All examples which have been modified for correction of perspective and other flaws with the objective of presenting a finished work more like its original shape are so identified in the credit lines.  Examples from many libraries and other sources can only be used for non-commerical purposes.  I have removed the links to all video and podcast versions of the earlier series.

The text and slides for Episode Two through Episode Sixteen, the latter including material from the opening chapters of the Gospel of St. Luke, have been completed.  Each needs to be converted into video form, which is a multi-step and time-consuming process, but I hope to release one episode per week throughout 2019 A.D. until all 45 episodes in the series are complete.   Things that can upset the schedule include the temptation to go back into finished work to add historic art more recently discovered.

As always, thank you for your interest and support.  Glory be to God for all things! Amen!

The Twelve Days of Christmas – A.D. 2018-2019 Edition

All twelve episodes in the revised and improved AIC Seasonal Video series, The Twelve Days of Christmas, are now online in both video and podcast formats.  The finished works represent the fourth version of this series that I began at Christmas A.D. 2013.  The new versions incorporate many examples of religious art not used in previous versions, most dating from the 10th to 15th C.  The video links are shown below.  Podcast versions are linked from the Podcast Archive page.  Each episode opens with its own version of the title page below.  With the completion of this series I have completed or updated all our Seasonal Video series (listed on the Digital Library page in order of their appearance in the Church Calendar.  The title illustration is a 12th C. fresco of the Visit of the Maji from the Cappadocia region of Turkish Asia Minor.

TwelveDays-2018-Title 1-Episode 1

First Day of Christmas – Dec. 25th – LOVE
Second Day of Christmas – Dec. 26th – FORGIVENESS
Third Day of Christmas – Dec. 27th – PEACE
Fourth Day of Christmas – Dec. 28th – COMPASSION
Fifth Day of Christmas – Dec. 29th – OBEDIENCE
Sixth Day of Christmas – Dec. 30th – JOY
Seventh Day of Christmas – Dec. 31st – FAMILY
Eighth Day of Christmas – Jan. 1st – CHURCH
Ninth Day of Christmas – Jan. 2nd – ANGELS
Tenth Day of Christmas – Jan. 3rd – COMMANDMENTS
Eleventh Day of Christmas – Jan. 4th – GLORIFYING GOD
Twelfth Day of Christmas – Jan. 5th – GRACE & FAITH

Merry Christmas to all from the Anglican Internet Church.

Next year we’ll bring you revised versions of all 45 episodes in our New Testament: Gospels series and more revised versions of the Podcast Homilies  (revisions already complete through Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany).

 

Lessons & Carols for Christmas Eve

Lessons and Carols-2018-Slide3The revised version of our unique Christmas Eve video, Lessons & Carols for Christmas Eve is now available in video and podcast format.  Many of the “new” historic Church art images added to our other programs have been incorporated, as well as new voice responses for the opening words, which repeat the closing antiphons for the companion series, The Great “O” Antiphons (also now available in seven revised episodes linked from the Digital Library and Podcast Archive pages.  My thanks to Fr. Ken Mills and his congregation at Holy Cross Anglican, Midlothian, VA for providing the voice responses.

Watch the video

Listen to the Podcast

My next Blog posting is about the revised edition of The Twelve Days of Christmas, which is now available through links on the Digital Library and Podcast Archive pages.

Christmas: the Nativity of Our Lord – Episode Two

 

Add.50005, f.52v
The Holy Family Flees to Egypt, miniature in colored inks and gilt on paper, Book of Hours, c. 1430 A.D. Netherlands. MSS Additional 50005, British Library, London, England,  Perspective correction applied.

Episode Two in the AIC Seasonal Video series, Christmas: the Nativity of Our Lord is now available in both video and podcast versions.  Episode Two is focused on the Collect, Epistle and Gospel readings for First Sunday after Christmas Day and Second Sunday after Christmas Day, plus the 17 hymns or carols of Christmas in our St. Chrysostom Hymnal and which are not in the venerable 1940 Hymnal or are arranged to different tunes.

 

Watch the video.       Listen to the Podcast.

Episode Two completes the cycle of having a teaching video for every season on the Anglican Church Calendar from the start of Advent through the end of Trinity season with Sunday next before Advent.    Videos for Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Gesims (or Pre-Lent), Lent, Easter (up to Ascension), Trinity Sunday and Whitsunday plus Whitsuntide, Trinity season are now linked from the Digital Library page with Podcast versions linked from the Podcast Archive page.  All programs are displayed in calendar order, with Advent at the top and Trinity at the bottom.  The video versions include illustrations in the form of icons, frescoes, painting, murals, mosaics, paintings, etchings, photographs, illuminations, engravings and miniatures from the religious traditions of both the Western and Eastern Churches.  In each series you viewers and listeners will find cross-references to Other AIC Resources on the same topics, key words, and phrases.

In other on-going work, I’ve been updating the Podcast Homilies series, originally produced in 2015 A.D. based on 12-minutes homilies I read at my former parish.  The revised A.D. 2018 version will include additional material plus cross-referencing to Other AIC Resources on similar topics, words, or phrases, including our Seasonal, Christian Education and Bible Study videos and our AIC Bookstore Publications.   The new versions should be available well before the start of Advent season.  Also in production are revised versions of The Great “O” Antiphons for Advent; Lessons & Carols for Christmas Eve; and The Twelve Days of Christmas series.

As always, thank you for your interest and support.  Please consider clicking on the Follow Anglican Internet Church banner.  You’ll be asked to enter your email address so that our site provider can send you notice of each new posting.  Please be assured that we do not share email addresses with another other organization or jurisdiction.

May God bless you in all that you do in His Name!  Amen!  Glory be to God for all things! Amen!