Piety Hill Musings

The ramblings of the Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church of Detroit. Piety Hill refers to the old name for our neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed a great deal in the over 160 years we have been on this corner (but not our traditional biblical theology) and it is now known for the neighboring theatres, the professional baseball and football stadiums and new hockey/basketball arena.

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Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States

Wednesday, July 07, 2010

Rector's Rambling - June 13, 2010

Today we are back into our ‘green’ season. Not green meaning ecologically friendly, but rather green because it is the color of the vestments and hangings.
Each Church season has a color assigned to it. White (or gold) is the festive colors for Christmas and Eastertide. Purple is the penitential color for Advent and Lent. Other special Sundays like Pentecost and for Apostles and Martyrs are commemorated in red.
Now we are in Trinity-tide, or the ordinary season. The Sundays are numbered from Trinity Sunday two weeks ago (the new prayer book orders it from Pentecost Sunday). It is also called “ordinary time” because the Sundays are ordered and the theme is a systematic study of the teachings and miracles of Jesus, as well as the Epistle writings.
This is the longest liturgical season of the year, lasting until just before Thanksgiving. We will be wearing the green vestments until then, with a few notable exceptions: St. James the Apostle on July 25th, St. Mary the Virgin on August 15, St. Michael and All Angels (observed) on October 3rd, and All Saints Sunday on November 7th. All these Sundays, except the red for St. James, will see a re-appearance of the white vestments.
Why the changes? Like many other aspects of our worship, things have meanings to help us to grow in our understanding of the different aspect of the faith. If you see me come out in purple, then you know it is a penitential day. If I have red on it is Pentecost (like the tongues of fire) or a Martyr’s day (gave their life for Jesus and symbolizing blood). If I come out in white it is a special holy day or season. The color is a physical clue as to the tone and theme of the worship that morning.
Finally, let me remind everyone that although summer is school vacation time, we do not take a vacation from our obligation to worship Jesus every Sunday in His Church, and to receive the sacrament of His Body and Blood. Be sure to make attending Church on Sunday a priority in your life….thankfully Jesus made you a priority in His by dying for you!

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