"insider" Episcopalian stuff - Rector's Rambling for November 18, 2018

Today we have an interesting mix.  Although we are still in Trinitytide, the Sundays after Trinity, we are doing the readings today for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany.  Why?

Remember that we have a church calendar based on a lunar cycle, just as the ancient Hebrews did as well.  Although Feasts like Christmas are on a set date (December 25), the Feast of the Resurrection, better known as Easter, is set by a formula based on the lunar calendar.  The section of the Prayer Book about the calendar says this:

EASTER DAY, on which the rest depend, is always the First Sunday after the Full Moon, which happens upon or next after the Twenty-first Day of March; and if the Full Moon happen upon a Sunday, Easter Day is the Sunday after.

But Note, That the Full Moon, for the purposes of these Rules and Tables, is the Fourteenth Day of a Lunar Month, reckoned according to an ancient Ecclesiastical computation, and not the real or Astronomical Full Moon. (p. l)

And if you find that confusing, try reading on page lii how to find the date of Easter using the Golden Number, a confusing 4 paragraphs which is now basically superseded by asking Siri, “What date is Easter next year?” or typing it into Google.

Because Easter was relatively early this year, we have run out of readings appointed for Sundays in Trinitytide.  There are only 25 and the last one is always the Sunday next before Advent.  But because Easter was early, it means the –gesima (Pre-Lenten) Sundays started early, and therefore we had lessons not used back in February.  Ta Dah!  That is why the lessons appointed for today are from the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany.  In fact, it says so on page 224 in the Prayer Book:

If in any year there be twenty-six Sundays after Trinity, the service for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany shall be used on the Twenty-fifth Sunday.

I am grateful for the worship set forth in the Book of Common Prayer.