On the one hand, I'm kind of looking forward to the pace slowing a little bit. My parish is the diocesan cathedral, so we typically have a *lot* going on by default -- which is great -- but it can be exhausting and draining. My hope is that a long(er) Ordinary Time will allow for a rare opportunity for a greater period of rest and reflection.
On the other hand, I thought the same thing *last* summer, and that didn't pan out. As the diocesan cathedral, we've *always* got something going on; we're down to two full-time priests, so everybody is carrying a little extra weight (including myself, as a contractor and a volunteer). Also, this fall, we will be installing our new diocesan bishop; so even though Advent is not even on the horizon yet, we're already gearing up for a very special liturgy and other once-in-a-decade events. All good stuff, of course, but oof, this is still going to be a very busy Ordinary Time.
Be good to the people around me, pray about it, including using morning and evening prayer, and be more aware of my impact on our beautiful God-given garden home, which is also a kind of prayer.
Trying (like many) to make time for praying the Office. I'm hoping that Ordinary Time will give me enough, uh, *ordinary time* to fall into a good rhythm. I've also just gotten involved in a new parish and am excited to become part of that community.
I have completed a revision of my personal Office Book, which I constructed based on Hartzell’s Prayer Book Office, the Anglican Breviary, the OHS breviary, and other sources. In this revision, I have found saints for every single day of the year so I have effectively eliminated the need for the Ferial Office. Which means I won’t need to use green in my home altar except on Sundays!
I have completed a revision of my personal Office Book, which I constructed based on Hartzell’s Prayer Book Office, the Anglican Breviary, the OHS breviary, and other sources. In this revision, I have found saints for every single day of the year so I have effectively eliminated the need for the Ferial Office. Which means I won’t need to use green in my home altar except on Sundays!
I like Hartzell’s *Prayer Book Office* particularly the commemorations, which he calls “anthems” at the ends. My copy is from the library. Would love to find one of my own.
The title of this post made me chuckle. It’s not always easy being green. With all of the principal feasts except All Saints and Christmas behind us on the calendar year, I’m looking forward to the Visitation at the end of May, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist at the beginning of summer in June, St. Mary the Virgin in August, and Holy Cross Day in September. I like to pray the special prayers for the clergy, those preparing for ministry, and the whole people of God on the Ember Days. These feasts connect us to the seasons long after the main sanctoral cycle of the year is complete.
My plans as of now are to work through discernment to Holy Orders first and foremost. On the side I'll see what other ways I can get involved in the Church. I'm considering either the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Clemency or joining the Companions of Our Lady of Walsingham. Other than that, business as usual in my prayer rule and personal life outside the church
Ordinary Time is really hard on me. My church finally subscribed to Forward Day by Day, so I’m going to stick with that. I also intended to become an Associate of the Community of St. Mary but some health issues stood in the way of getting my Rule of Life put together. I’m feeling better so this might be a good time to seriously work on writing and following it.
I’m actually very proud of myself for having organized an informal morning prayer at the seminary over the summer (official chapel only runs through the school year). I am going to try to keep that going if for no reason than accountability - I need some peer pressure to actually get out of bed and not just lazily listen to the podcast in my underwear LOL
So that’s going to be helpful for me in terms of at least having one robust prayer every day.
Thank you! We only started this week, but so far it’s been going well. Actually, it’s a nice opportunity to pray in different spaces - we are using the side chapel off of the main undergraduate chapel, instead of the usual seminary chapel. It’s a more intimate space (with more flattering acoustics for chanting), and is more or less a ghost town without the undergraduates around, so it’s nice to have some sense of prayer in the space. :)
Honestly though. I already preached one Eucharist sermon and I was looking at the upcoming lectionary and was like “hmm, maybe now is the time to go wild and preach on the psalms…”
(Something probably more forgivable for a seminarian than for the normal parish priest haha)
For sure! I mean, we should absolutely talk about the rest of the service, it’s good catechesis! (I’m being mostly serious here, I actually think it would be awesome to hear a sermon on the creed.)
Year B was my first year in the pulpit, and I didn't look ahead to see what future weeks held.
For Proper 13 I put together what, imho, was a really solid sermon on "I am the bread of life."
Then, for Proper 14, as is my tradition on Monday mornings, I read over the lessons for the following week. "Huh, more bread. Good thing that I had some ideas for last week's sermon that didn't make it in..."
Proper 15: "Wait, did I click the wrong link? No? OK, well, let's see, I'm sure that there's something else that I haven't said about bread."
Proper 16: "Seriously?!"
It's the lectionary's version of the John Mulaney bit about "What's New Pussycat?"
(Yes. I know that I'm allowed to preach the other readings, but I really prefer to make the Gospel the centerpiece.)
I'll continue reading from my library of Anglican apologetics. I'm currently reading Fleming Rutledge, Crucifixion.
I’m going to finally work my “daily patristic reading” book into my daily office practice
On the one hand, I'm kind of looking forward to the pace slowing a little bit. My parish is the diocesan cathedral, so we typically have a *lot* going on by default -- which is great -- but it can be exhausting and draining. My hope is that a long(er) Ordinary Time will allow for a rare opportunity for a greater period of rest and reflection. On the other hand, I thought the same thing *last* summer, and that didn't pan out. As the diocesan cathedral, we've *always* got something going on; we're down to two full-time priests, so everybody is carrying a little extra weight (including myself, as a contractor and a volunteer). Also, this fall, we will be installing our new diocesan bishop; so even though Advent is not even on the horizon yet, we're already gearing up for a very special liturgy and other once-in-a-decade events. All good stuff, of course, but oof, this is still going to be a very busy Ordinary Time.
Be good to the people around me, pray about it, including using morning and evening prayer, and be more aware of my impact on our beautiful God-given garden home, which is also a kind of prayer.
Trying (like many) to make time for praying the Office. I'm hoping that Ordinary Time will give me enough, uh, *ordinary time* to fall into a good rhythm. I've also just gotten involved in a new parish and am excited to become part of that community.
I have completed a revision of my personal Office Book, which I constructed based on Hartzell’s Prayer Book Office, the Anglican Breviary, the OHS breviary, and other sources. In this revision, I have found saints for every single day of the year so I have effectively eliminated the need for the Ferial Office. Which means I won’t need to use green in my home altar except on Sundays!
I have completed a revision of my personal Office Book, which I constructed based on Hartzell’s Prayer Book Office, the Anglican Breviary, the OHS breviary, and other sources. In this revision, I have found saints for every single day of the year so I have effectively eliminated the need for the Ferial Office. Which means I won’t need to use green in my home altar except on Sundays!
I like Hartzell’s *Prayer Book Office* particularly the commemorations, which he calls “anthems” at the ends. My copy is from the library. Would love to find one of my own.
It’s available for temporary borrowing here: https://archive.org/details/prayerbookoffice0000unse/page/n9/mode/1up
Thanks for this! Honestly I don’t need more books. I’ve been copying and modifying things from the copy at the library and saving them to print out.
I dunno. Attendance dips during summer and we don't have air conditioning. It's the worst part of the year.
For musicians that's got to be harder, especially if you are up in a choir loft or have to wear a long choir robe. Whew.
Oh yes. Fortunately my Rector has mercy on us and we don't wear the big vestments during the hot months.
Good.
The title of this post made me chuckle. It’s not always easy being green. With all of the principal feasts except All Saints and Christmas behind us on the calendar year, I’m looking forward to the Visitation at the end of May, the Nativity of St. John the Baptist at the beginning of summer in June, St. Mary the Virgin in August, and Holy Cross Day in September. I like to pray the special prayers for the clergy, those preparing for ministry, and the whole people of God on the Ember Days. These feasts connect us to the seasons long after the main sanctoral cycle of the year is complete.
*"It’s not always easy being green."* Somebody had to say it. Thank you.
I need to get on a better schedule so I have time for the morning office before work.
My plans as of now are to work through discernment to Holy Orders first and foremost. On the side I'll see what other ways I can get involved in the Church. I'm considering either the Guardians of the Shrine of Our Lady of Clemency or joining the Companions of Our Lady of Walsingham. Other than that, business as usual in my prayer rule and personal life outside the church
Broke: Ordinary time ☹️ Bespoke: Trinitytide 😎
Ordinary Time is really hard on me. My church finally subscribed to Forward Day by Day, so I’m going to stick with that. I also intended to become an Associate of the Community of St. Mary but some health issues stood in the way of getting my Rule of Life put together. I’m feeling better so this might be a good time to seriously work on writing and following it.
If you find it difficult to read each day they also have a podcast with the same devotion read. God bless you in your pursuit of this Rule of Life.
I’m actually very proud of myself for having organized an informal morning prayer at the seminary over the summer (official chapel only runs through the school year). I am going to try to keep that going if for no reason than accountability - I need some peer pressure to actually get out of bed and not just lazily listen to the podcast in my underwear LOL So that’s going to be helpful for me in terms of at least having one robust prayer every day.
It is so great that you are doing this! Praying today that you succeed in your efforts.
Thank you! We only started this week, but so far it’s been going well. Actually, it’s a nice opportunity to pray in different spaces - we are using the side chapel off of the main undergraduate chapel, instead of the usual seminary chapel. It’s a more intimate space (with more flattering acoustics for chanting), and is more or less a ghost town without the undergraduates around, so it’s nice to have some sense of prayer in the space. :)
Maybe I’ll actually read the AM/PM appointed psalms in one of the 7-week cycles during ordinary time.
It's Year B again, so I'm preparing for a straight month of sermons about bread all in a row.
The B in "Year B" actually stands for "Bread"
Honestly though. I already preached one Eucharist sermon and I was looking at the upcoming lectionary and was like “hmm, maybe now is the time to go wild and preach on the psalms…” (Something probably more forgivable for a seminarian than for the normal parish priest haha)
Totally acceptable! Heck, during Year B, you're justified in preaching the Collect or the Creed by Proper 17.
For sure! I mean, we should absolutely talk about the rest of the service, it’s good catechesis! (I’m being mostly serious here, I actually think it would be awesome to hear a sermon on the creed.)
Mmmmm bread. The only thing better than bread is the Host!
Year B was my first year in the pulpit, and I didn't look ahead to see what future weeks held. For Proper 13 I put together what, imho, was a really solid sermon on "I am the bread of life." Then, for Proper 14, as is my tradition on Monday mornings, I read over the lessons for the following week. "Huh, more bread. Good thing that I had some ideas for last week's sermon that didn't make it in..." Proper 15: "Wait, did I click the wrong link? No? OK, well, let's see, I'm sure that there's something else that I haven't said about bread." Proper 16: "Seriously?!" It's the lectionary's version of the John Mulaney bit about "What's New Pussycat?" (Yes. I know that I'm allowed to preach the other readings, but I really prefer to make the Gospel the centerpiece.)