A Liturgical Note For You: Nothing “Ordinary” about Green
As we journey through “Ordinary Time” (the Sundays numbered after the Day of Pentecost) together, we will see mostly green liturgical hangings and coverings unless we gather for worship on non-ferial days (such as June 24th – The Birth of St. John the Baptist) that call for a different colour. Why green? Green is the color of natural, living things. It is the color of grass and leaves, youth, flowering, hope, and eternal renovation. Ancient iconographers often painted the earth green to denote where life began – such as in scenes of the Annunciation and the Nativity. Green, therefore, is an appropriate colour to mark this time in which we hear about the teachings and activities of Jesus along with the response to them (both positive and negative). Ordinary Time (ordered time) is really anything but ordinary. It is an exciting opportunity to refresh memories and reinvigorate the passion for being God’s Church in such a way that we enhance God’s reputation in the world. I am confident that living in such a way will build positive, life-giving, healthy relationships which will, in turn, bring us closer and closer to the fulfillment of God’s purpose of the reconciliation of all things in Christ (that we spoke of last week)…God’s kingdom on earth as in heaven.
For Your Devotions:
Monday, June 22nd is the memorial of Alban, the first martyr of Britain in about 209. This is an absolutely fascinating story you must read. Alban was actually a Roman soldier who, while harbouring a Christian priest, was converted. When soldiers arrived at his door, Alban disguised himself as the priest so that the priest could escape. Alban ended up being beheaded for his new faith. Alban was the first martyr in Britain but his death resulted in the 2nd and 3rd martyrs. To find out who they were… http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bio/189.html
Wednesday, June 24th is the Holy Day of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist. This is one of the few feasts that takes precedence of a Sunday. Every Sunday is a celebration of the Paschal Mystery and are, therefore, feasts of the Lord. (This is why secular occasions such as Remembrance Day and Canada Day should be acknowledged but not dominate the Sunday worship.) Saints’ days, as a result, are not transferred to Sundays (with the exception of your church’s patron saint – and even then, not in Advent, Lent, or Easter).
John was born to prepare the way for the Saviour of the world…the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke first introduces us to John’s parents – Elizabeth and Zechariah – and draws unmistakeable parallels between them and Abraham and Sarah. Luke creates through John a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. For All the Saints says, “the birth of John the Baptist gathered up and embodied the whole truth of the Old Testament and made it ready for its own perfection in Christ Jesus.” To read more, check out p.204… https://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/ForAlltheSaints.pdf