Liturgy Letter (6th Sunday of Eastertide 2016)

The Liturgy Letter – 6th Sunday of Eastertide 2016

As we follow the early Christians’ example, such as that of Lydia (Acts 16:9-15), we praise God and ask for His blessings (Psalm 67), the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:23-29) and his healing from our sickness of sin (John 5:1-9). We anticipate living in the light of His presence forever (Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5). Let everyone praise Him and wait in the light of His resurrection.

 –Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional

It’s Holy Week in the Eastern Calendar!

It’s Holy Week in the Eastern Calendar! The drama of this week culminates in the Great Saturday Vigil (April 30) and Holy Pascha (May 1). The services that accompany these days are among the most enriching and dramatic Christian celebrations in all of Christendom. Let the Paschal Troparion reverberate throughout the earth!
Christ is risen!

Read about the dating of Orthodox Easter here.
Read the Easter sermon of St. John Chrysostom here.

Basic Prayer Resources from “The Great Tradition”

Anglican:

The Book of Common Prayer 1979

Texts for Common Prayer (ACNA)

Common Worship Prayer (Church of England)

Book of Alternative Services (Canada)

The Collects of the Church Year: BCP

Prayers from the BCP (1549)

Presbyterian:

Book of Common Worship 

The Valley of Vision (Puritan)

Lutheran:

A Simple Way to Pray – by Martin Luther

Lutheran Book of Prayer (5th Edition)

Anabaptist:

Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book Volume One

Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book Volume Two

Catholic:

Magnificat: Daily Prayer

The Liturgy of the Hours

Shorter Christian Prayer: Liturgy of the Hours with Morning and Evening Prayer

Orthodox:

Common Prayers for Orthodox Christians

My Orthodox Prayer Book

The Divine Liturgy (St. John Chrysostom)

Book of Common Prayer (Western Rite – Catholic and Orthodox)

General:

The Divine Hours: Pocket Edition (Compiled by Phyllis Tickle)

Prayer Book of the Early Christians (Pre-Reformation Compilation)

Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals

Praying with the Church by Scott McKnight

Liturgy Letter (Fifth Sunday of Easter 2016)

The Liturgy Letter – 5th Sunday of Eastertide 2016

The good news is this: Jesus Christ died for our sins and was resurrected so that no one should perish, but all should have eternal life (Acts 11:1-18). We should then love one another, as Christ loved us (John 13:31-35), even as we look forward to eternity with him (Revelation 21:1-6). Let all the earth and heavens praise the Lord (Psalm 148)!

 –Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional

Liturgy Letter (Fourth Sunday of Easter 2016)

The Liturgy Letter – 4th Sunday of Eastertide 2016

Through Christ, we are able to do more than we could in our own strength, just as Peter worked a miracle in Joppa (Acts 9:36-43). The Lord is our shepherd (Revelation 7:9-17); he takes care of all our needs (Psalm 23) and offers us eternal life if we listen to his voice and follow him (John 10:22-30).

–Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional

Liturgy Letter (Third Sunday of Easter 2016)

The Liturgy Letter – 3nd Sunday of Easter 2016

Just as Saul heard the voice of the Lord in the road to Damascus, was blinded and then regained his sight (Acts 9: 1-6), so we who turn from our sins and follow the Lord find joy and healing (Psalm 30). Because we love and trust God’s Son, who became man and dwelled among us (John 21:1-19), we offer him all praises and glory (Revelation 5:11-14).

–Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional