‘Weekly Post. Anno Domini 2022 September 6

Beloved of the Lord:

To-day is Tuesday, 6 September, in the year of our Lord 2022. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Tuesday (today): 5:30 PM, Mass, Feria of Trinity XII.
  6:30 PM, Holy Rosary, Sung Evensong.
• Wednesday: 12:10 PM, Mass, S. Evurtius, Bishop & Confessor.
• Thursday: SERVICES CANCELLED.
• Friday: 9:00 AM, Sung Matins.
• Saturday: SERVICES CANCELLED.
• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Trinity XIII, Commemorate SS. Protus & Hyacinth, Martyrs.

We are now in a busy period, which will take us to the end of this calendar year. In two-day's time, Avery Collins and I will depart for Black Mountain, South Carolina, to attend the Fall Clericus of the OAC. The theme of the Clericus is Meet Your Mother, Mary. September having no-fewer than four Marian Feasts, this is a most timely topic.

As a result of the Clericus, there will be no services on either Thursday (including the monthly men's Morning Prayer and breakfast) or Saturday of this week. The time will remain the same for the Friday service, though the service itself will be changed, of-course. The Sunday schedule, as-always, will remain intact.

Archbishop Gordon will make his official visit to Saint Matthew's in less-than two-week's time. He and his wife, Jan, will be here not this Sunday, but the next, 18 September. On that day, we will celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthew, transferred from its proper date to a Sunday, as-is our custom. There will be one service, at 10:00 AM. He will bless and dedicate our new steeple, and will Confirm Giada McReynolds. After the service, there will be a pot-luck luncheon, in the Parish Hall.

We are also just-over sixty days from the General Convention. In-light of both The Archbishop's visit, and the 'Convention, we are making a number of improvements to our building and grounds. The interior renovations are largely complete. Those on the exterior should be completed before his visit. We will also be cleaning carpets, and de-cluttering, in the mean-time.

A state of homogeneity within a Parish can be both boon and bane. To the good, unity of spirituality, outlook and expression can create an island of calm in our lives, which is ~ in-part ~ what Holy Church had always ought to be. On the bad, we can feel ourselves too free to comment on the socio-political events and trends of the day, which can be off-putting to new members and visitors. Generally-speaking, these things do not concern us, here. Our salvation, and all that it entails, is what we come here to be about, and we must be wary of straying too far outside these bounds.

I've personally witnessed visitors to our Parish, upon hearing someone making strident social commentary during the coffee hour, leave our midst, never to return, even-though they'd visited several times. Some issues, which directly contravene God's law and ways, are appropriate to be discussed. However, whilst in our Church, the best and most fit conversation is our faith, and how we may employ it to love and bring EVERYONE with us, to God's grace, and His Heaven. I remain

in His praise,

The Rev'd Fr. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew's Parish

Weekly Post Anno Domini 2022 August 27

Beloved of the Lord:

Today is Saturday, 27 August, in the year of our Lord 2022. The scheduled services are as-follows:

• Saturday (today): 5:00 PM, Mass, S. Joseph of Calasanza, Confessor.

• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Trinity XI, Commemorate S. Augustine of Hippo, Bishop, Confessor, Doctor.
  

• MONDAY through SATURDAY, ALL SERVICES CANCELLED.
  

• Sunday: 8:30 & 10:00 AM, Mass, Trinity XII.

We are continuing to execute our list of projects, in and about the Parish, in-preparation for the Archbishop’s official visit to us on Sunday, 18 September. Thus, those tasks requiring the attention of a contractor will be completed during this-coming week. As-such, THE PARISH WILL BE CLOSED from Monday, 29 August, to Saturday, 3 September. No services will be conducted on those day. The regular schedule of Services will resume on Sunday, 4 September. No Sundays will be cancelled.

Our Thursday-evening Soup and Study session will, of-course, be cancelled, this-coming week. It will also be cancelled in the following week, on Thursday, 8 September. A Clericus, or meeting of the Clergy of the Church, has been scheduled for the end of that week, and Avery Collins and I will be at that meeting. Avery is studying for Holy Orders, and the Archbishop requires all students to attend these clerical meetings, to introduce them to our life-in-Christ.

Our Senior Warden, Jim Theuer, has resigned his position. The Vestry will decide their course on this matter at the next meeting; likely, they will elect someone to replace Jim, as there is more-than a year remaining in his term. Our prayers are with Jim and Eleise.

Planning ~ and work ~ continues apace for the General Convention of the OAC, which we will host here, at S. Matthew’s, from the Tenth through the Twelfth of November. Accommodations are arranged, and delegates have already begun reserving their rooms. We will need volunteers to help with Registration, and with the serving of lunch on Friday and Saturday.

ALL SERVERS, SINGERS, MUSICIANS, CANTORS AND CLERGY PAY HEED! On Friday, 11 November, S. Matthew’s will be solely responsible for the opening Mass of the Convention. This will be our show, so-to-speak, putting-forward our best talents, and efforts. This is an ALL HANDS ON-DECK call. Please set your schedules now, that you may be present at the Mass. In this, we will show the greater Church what is possible in the Liturgy of God’s one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church!

I will be absent from the Parish during this-coming week. The plan is to travel-about Virginia, seeing friends and sights along the way. If a pastoral emergency should arise, please contact Fr. Warren at 804-642-6597. If he cannot be reached, you may call me on my cell phone. I request your prayers for safety and mercy as I travel-about the Commonwealth. I remain in His praise,

The Rev’d Fr. T. L. Crowder

Pastor, Saint Matthew’s Parish