One of my favorite collects in the Book of Common Prayer is found in the ordination rite, the Solemn Liturgy for Good Friday, and also in the Great Vigil of Easter: “O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” In particular, my skin tingles at the hope that “things which had grown old are being made new.” This is what we celebrate with the season of Advent.
Of course, the ultimate time of newness in the Christian year is at Easter, but Advent begins a new Church/liturgical year. We might make New Year’s resolutions on January 1, but as Christians, perhaps the First Sunday of Advent is the time for us to make such resolutions.
We signal this newness in various ways within the liturgy as Advent begins. We move into a new cycle of Sunday lectionary readings (this year, journeying through the Gospel according to Mark on most Sundays). We also begin a new cycle of lectionary readings for the Daily Office (Morning and Evening Prayer). We hear the prophets’ call to repentance and renewal of life. The liturgical color shifts to violet, and the Gloria in excelsis is omitted at Sunday Masses. During Advent at Good Shepherd, we will move to Eucharistic Prayer B for the canon of the Mass. This prayer incorporates more incarnational imagery, allowing for a broader understanding of salvation encompassing the cross and the saving deeds of Jesus’s earthly ministry.
As we celebrate the newness of a new liturgical year, at Sung Mass this Sunday, we will also welcome nine new members to Good Shepherd, using a brief rite found in the Book of Occasional Services (2022). These nine members have recently transferred their membership to Good Shepherd, either by letter of transfer from another parish or by indicating that they would like their baptism recorded in our parish register. While we have many active members at Good Shepherd who might not be officially listed in our parish register (and for whom we are so grateful!), for canonical requirements and annual parochial report purposes, active baptized members are defined as follows by the Episcopal Church canons.
“All persons who have received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism with water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in this Church or in another Christian Church, and whose Baptisms have been duly recorded in this Church,” are members thereof. (Canon I.17.1)
Note: A person’s baptism, when duly recorded in the Register of Church Membership and Rites (also known as the Parish Register or Church Register) of the recording congregation, is his/her record of membership in the Episcopal Church.
Many of you are already active baptized members, so consider yourself welcomed! But from henceforward, I would like us to regularly welcome new active baptized members in the context of the Sunday Mass, and this Sunday, we will welcome those who have transferred in during 2023. If you are interested in either baptism or transferring your membership to Good Shepherd, please speak to me.
Part of celebrating the beginning of a new liturgical year involves taking on certain practices to enter into the Advent spirit of preparation, repentance, and waiting with joyful expectation for Christ’s coming at Christmas, daily coming into our lives, and Second Coming at the end of time. I invite you to consider attending our annual Service of Advent Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 10 at 3 p.m. to explore Advent themes through music and Scripture. A reception will follow in the retreat house. And on Saturday, December 16, we are offering an Advent Quiet Day of Prayer and Reflection featuring the poetry of George Herbert (1593 - 1633), led by parishioner Donald McCown, with viol music by world-renowned gambist Sarah Cunningham from Main Line Early Music. Register here.
The season of Advent is always an appropriate time to engage in self-examination through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You may schedule a private confession with me at any time. Just email me or call the parish office. This sacrament is about receiving God’s gift of forgiveness with joy, which opens up space in our hearts for Christ’s daily entrance into our lives. I encourage all of you to consider making a confession during Advent, not as a punitive measure but as a means of healing grace. I recommend Martin Smith’s excellent book, Reconciliation, for anyone who has not made a confession in the Anglican tradition before. I am always delighted to talk more about the Reconciliation of a Penitent with anyone who is interested.
I will look forward to seeing you on Sunday, as we greet both new members to our parish and the newness of another Church year!
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle