The Arrow's Path

Let us get this right...it's my day off, it's raining, and the SciFi channel is running a Battlestar Galactica mini-marathon. Life is good. Ummm...Yeah.

The Curate's Corner “The Bishop is Coming! The Bishop is Coming!” The old nursery rhyme says, “April showers bring May flowers.” According to the weatherman as of this writing (in Mid-March), apparently that will ring true here in Nebraska. As weather predictions go, only time will tell. Regardless of whether it rains or not, April is also bringing another goodie our way, the annual visitation of the Bishop. This always begs the questions of what a bishop “does” and why he always dressed so peculiarly. The answer to the first part of that question can be found in the catechism in the back of the Book of Common Prayer (page 855) under the question pertaining to the ministry of a bishop: “The ministry of a bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ’s name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up ...

God willing The Right Reverend Joe Goodwin Burnett X Bishop of Nebraska will ordain Ryan Ashley Hall to the sacred order of priests in Christ’s one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church on Thursday the 1st of May 2008 on the Feast of the Ascension of our Lord at St Mark's on-the-Campus Episcopal Church in Lincoln, Nebraska at 7 o’clock in the evening. Your prayers and presence are requested.

All things considered, if I had Holy Week to do over again, I probably would have opted for live blogging instead of re-running my Stations of the Cross. It occurred to me today (now that the hustle and bustle is over) that this was in fact my first Holy Week as an ordained person. I suppose next year I will live blog Holy Week as my first Holy Week as a priest. It is sort of hard to believe that this was my first Holy Week as an ordained person. For three years in seminary and then a year before that as an intern in a church, I have always had liturgical roles during Holy Week. In some ways, Holy Week this year was less work than last year because I only had one Holy Week to worry about. When I was in seminary, I basically had two full Holy Weeks crammed into one because we had an entire series of Holy Week liturgies at Seabury and I was also a visiting seminarian at a local parish in Chicago, so I basically had to participate in their Holy Week services as well. On top of that, I had...

1. Jesus Christ Is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! 2. Hymns of praise, then, let us sing Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia! 3. But the pains which He endured Alleluia! Our salvation have procured. Alleluia! Now above the sky He's King, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia! 4. Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as His love: Alleluia! Praise Him, all ye heavenly host, Alleluia! Father, Son. and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb. V. You will not abandon me to the grave: R. Nor let your holy One see corruption. Let us pray: O God, your blessed Son was laid in a tomb in a garden, and rested on the Sabbath day: Grant that we who have been buried with him in the waters of baptism may find our perfect rest in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 72.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. All you who pass by, behold and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow. My eyes are spent with weeping; my soul is in tumult; my heart is poured out in grief because of the downfall of my people. “Do not call me Naomi (which means Pleasant), call me Mara (which means Bitter); for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. V. Her tears run down her cheeks: R. And she has none to comfort her. Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, by your death you took away the sting of death: Grant to us your servants so to follow in faith where you have led the way, that we may at length fall asleep peacefully in you and wake up in your likeness; for your tender mercies’ sake. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 71. You may need to click on the image to enlarge it.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” And when Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” And he bowed his head, and handed over his spirit. V. Christ for us became obedient unto death: R. Even death on a cross. Let us pray: O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 70.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world . When they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him; and with him they crucified two criminals, one on the right, the other on the left, and Jesus between them. And the scripture was fulfilled which says, “He was numbered with the transgressors.” V. They pierce my hands and my feet: R. They stare and gloat over me. Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us . --Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 69.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. When they came to a place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull), they offered him wine to drink, mingled with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And they divided his garments among them by casting lots. This was to ful fill the scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them; they cast lots for my clothing.” V. They gave me gall to eat: R. And when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink. Let us pray: Lord God, whose blessed Son our Savior gave his body to be whipped and his face to be spit upon: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 68.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light. He has besieged me and enveloped me with bitterness and tribulation; he has made me dwell in darkness like the dead of long ago. Though I call and cry for help, he shuts out my prayer. He has made my teeth grind on gravel, and made me cower in ashes. “Remember, O Lord, my affliction and bitterness, the wormwood and the gall!” V. He was like a lamb to the slaughter: R. And like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Let us pray. O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life: Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ, that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have merc...

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world. There followed after Jesus a great multitude of the people, and among them there were women who bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning to them said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” V. Those who sowed with tears: R. Will reap with songs of joy. Let us pray: Teach your Church, O Lord, to mourn the sins of which it is guilty, and to repent and forsake them; that, by your pardoning grace, the results of our iniquities may not be visited upon our children and our children’s children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 66.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth. For the transgression of my people was he stricken. V. But as for me, I am a worm and no man: R. Scorned by all and despised by the people. Let us pray: Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 65.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. We have seen him without beauty or majesty, with no looks to attract our eyes. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of men. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. V. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts. R. Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved. Let us pray: O God, who before the passion of your only begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Ch...

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. As they led Jesus away, they came upon a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." V. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me: R. Cannot be my disciple. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional...

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. To what can I liken you, to what can I compare you, O daughter of Jerusalem? What likeness can I use to comfort you, O virgin daughter of Zion? For cast as the sea is your ruin. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Let us pray: O God, who willed that in the passion of your Son a sword of grief should pierce the soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary his mother: Mercifully grant that your Church, having shared with her in his passion, may be made worthy to share in the joys of his resurrection; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services, pg. 62.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped; but emptied himself, taking on the form of a servant, and was born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has exalTed him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name. Come, let us bow down and bend the knew, and kneel before the Lord our Maker, for he is the Lord our God. V. Surely he has borne our griefs. R. And carried our sorrows. Let us pray: O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal On...

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Jesus went out, bearing his own cross, to the pace called the place of the skull, which in Hebrew, Golgotha. Although e was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. Like a lamb he was led to the slaughter; and like a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he opened not his mouth. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all; For the transgression of my people was he stricken. Let us pray: Almighty God, whose believed Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Give us courage to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of Occasional Services , pg. 60.

We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you: Because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate. And they all condemned him and said, “He deserves to die.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out of sat down on the judgment seat at a place called the Pavement, bit in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. Then he handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. God did not spare his own Son: But delivered him up for us all. Let us pray: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen. Holy God, Holy and Mighty, Holy Immortal One, Have mercy upon us. -Text from the Book of O...

And so the marathon begins. Today is Palm Sunday and that kicks off the annual Abuse your clergy week Liturgy a paloosa week Holy Week. I imagine I will be busy this week, so I doubt I will have time to post too much. I have had a request to rerun my Stations of the Cross that I drew last year as my Lenten spiritual discipline. I did not have the time or energy to undertake something of that magnitude again; maybe next year if the inspiration hits, I may come up with something again. If you want to read the preface for my Stations that I wrote before posting them last year, you can read that here . Again, in honor of Holy Week, I will suspend normal blogging commentary until Easter Day and only post my Stations at the rate of about 3 a day or so.

I am tired of doing church bulletins. That is all. -The Archer

Canyon Defense Build an ideal defense system and save the inhabitants. Play this free game now!!

HOLY WEEK LITURGIES Mar 16 - PALM SUNDAY 08:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Mar 17 - Mon. of Holy Week 12:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist Mar 18 - Tue. of Holy Week 12:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist 04:30 p.m. Evening Prayer Mar 19 - Wed. of Holy Week 12:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist 04:30 p.m. Evening Prayer Mar 20 - Maundy Thursday 04:30 p.m. Evening Prayer 07:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist with Stripping of the Altar Overnight Watch Follows Mar 21 - Good Friday 08:00 a.m. Prayers Closing the Watch 12:00 p.m. Stations of the Cross 07:00 p.m. Solemn Good Friday Liturgy Mar 22 - Holy Saturday 09:00 a.m. Holy Saturday Liturgy 11:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter (Yours Truly chants the Exultet) Mar 23 - EASTER SUNDAY 08:30 a.m. No Holy Eucharist 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist

I have good reason to believe that all my paperwork and applications and such for ordination to the priesthood are completely filed with the right people in the right places in the Diocese. Can it actually be that I might get ordained on time? Wowzers!

Garfield, the cartoon cat, always had a mantra about hating Mondays. I never hated Mondays. I especially like them now because Mondays are my day off, which is very nice today because I had a 12 hour workday yesterday. (Shout outs to 3 hour vestry meetings and special Sunday evening programs.) Luckily, I don't have long Sundays like that too often. But even when I was working full time in a secular job or going to school full time, I never really hated Mondays. Once I finally get up and moving on Monday and have my cup of coffee, I think Mondays seems to clip right along. It has always been the Tuesday that I dreaded. Tuesdays just drag along like nobody's business. It seems like you have worked all morning, and you are getting ready for lunch. You look at the clock: 10:12. Dadgummit! And you still have over half the work week coming at you! Maybe the cause revolves around the fact that if a Monday goes awry, you can blame it on the day."Well, its Monday." People usua...

I have come to firmly believe that Lent has become an even more busy season of the year that even Advent/Christmas. I have no idea how this is possible, but it is true nontheless. The Church is so weird sometimes ;)

For those of us who are Charlie Chaplin fans (which, of my blog readers is probably only me since I own all his films on DVD), on this day in history, Charlie Chaplin was knighted . I will have to go home and watch a few Charlie Chaplin comedies to celebrate.

Your score on this personality test was 61% Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out. Personality Quiz Take More Quizzes

I have been informed that Seabury was re-announced that current students can possibly finish their degrees if they are already enrolled in the program, although the exact wording of that announcement on the Seabury website is ambiguous at best and misleading at worst. This is exactly why I never trusted Seabury for anything and always got everything regarding transcripts, promises, etc., in writing. Many a time I was looked right in the eye by an administrator, professor, or other official and was flat out lied to. This is probably why I have never nor will I ever donate money to this alma mater...more like an alma (to)mater. I do hope for the best. There are good folks at Seabury, and I hate to think what's going to happen to them. But seriously, they really should have hired a professionl public relations consultant before they launched headlong into this PR disaster. The damage is done. Call in the Methodists from across the street; maybe they can salvage the hymnals.