Around Christmas time there’s always the old saw that Christmas is essentially a pagan celebration. It’s usually said by a Christmas Grinch, or a Jehovah’s Witness, or someone with a particular agenda. The truth, possibly surprisingly, may be the other way around. The Puritan-dominated Parliament of England in 1644 banned all Christmas activities as being
Pagan Origin of Christmas? Read More »
We can once again this year make use of the ancient tradition of announcing the date of Easter on the Feast of the Epiphany. In the past, when calendars were not common, it clearly had functional value to give the date and feasts dependant on the date of Easter Day. It still has value as
Proclamation of Easter on Epiphany 2016 Read More »
Available now online is New Zealand’s Lectionary Te Maramataka 2016 PDF (1.54 MB – click link to download). [Note – page numbers of the printed booklet may differ from the online version referred to here.] This is just a splash of comments from a quick first glance. There is much in a publication such as
New Zealand Lectionary 2016 Read More »
This is one of those blogposts (it’s go-slow, summer-holiday time here down under) that is written specially for those who think that the primary focus of those interested in liturgy is when to use “of”, or “in”, or “after”; how to hold your fingers and hands at particular points; and whether to light Advent wreath
Lectionary Defies General Synod Wish Read More »
Let us pray (in silence) [that we may manifest God’s love for all] Pause God, [or God of mystery] by the leading of a star, on this day you revealed your only begotten one to the gentiles, lead us, who have already come to know you by faith, all the way to the
We can use the ancient tradition of announcing the date of Easter on the Feast of the Epiphany. In the past, when calendars were not common, it clearly had functional value to give the date and feasts dependant on the date of Easter Day. It still has value as a proclamation of the centrality of
Proclamation of Easter on Epiphany 2015 Read More »
A bill was passed at General Synod Te Hinota Whanui 2014 (GSTHW14) that we only refer to Sundays ‘of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and Easter’ and ‘in Lent and Ordinary Time’. There was “detailed consideration” of the Bill at GSTHW14. Having now passed this first hurdle, this Bill now goes for further careful debate and voting
We can follow the ancient tradition and announce the date of Easter on the Feast of the Epiphany. This proclamation highlights the centrality of the resurrection of Christ in the liturgical year and the importance of the great mysteries of faith which are celebrated each year. The proclamation may occur after the Gospel, homily, or after
Proclamation of Easter on Epiphany 2014 Read More »
