March 2022
Spirit of the Eagle
St. John the Evangelist ACC
Spiritual Tidbits & Rector’s Reflections for
March 2022 from Father Tim
Ash Wednesday (2nd) arrives almost immediately with March, the Lenten Sundays and Ember Days. A couple other holy days in March to call out are the Feast of Saint Patrick (17th), and also the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (25th). And then finally an Anglican ‘worthy’ Blessed John Keble, Confessor (29th). Keble was Professor of Poetry at Oxford from 1831 to 1841, and from 1836 until his death thirty years later he was priest of a small parish in the village of Hursley near Winchester. On July 14th, 1833, he preached the Assize Sermon at Oxford. (This sermon marks the opening of a term of the civil and criminal courts, and is officially addressed to the judges and officers, exhorting them to deal justly.) His sermon was called “National Apostasy,” and denounced the Nation for turning away from God, and for regarding the Church as a mere institution of society, rather than as the prophetic voice of God, commissioned by Him to warn and instruct the people. The sermon was a nationwide sensation, and was the beginning of the religious revival known as the Tractarian Movement (so called because of a series of 90 Tracts, or pamphlets addressed to the public, which largely influenced the course of the movement) or as the Oxford Movement. Because the Tractarians emphasized the importance of the ministry and of the sacraments as God-given ordinances, they were suspected by their opponents of Roman Catholic tendencies, and the suspicion was reinforced when some of their leaders (John Henry Newman being the most conspicuous) did in fact become Roman Catholics. But the Oxford Movement survived, and has profoundly influenced the religious thinking, practice, and worship of large portions of Christendom (most especially the Anglican Catholic Church). Their insistence, for example, that it was the normal practice for all Christians to receive Holy Communion every Sunday has influenced many Christians who would never call themselves Anglicans, let alone Tractarians. Keble translated the works of Irenaeus of Lyons (2nd century). and produced an edition of the works of Richard Hooker, a distinguished Anglican theologian who died in 1600. He also wrote more books of poems, and numerous hymn lyrics. Three years after his death, his friends and admirers established Keble College at Oxford. I pray your March is a religious revival! ~ Father Tim
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Is there someone you know who is in need of a religious revival? Are they in need of God-given ordinances? March is the perfect month, along with the Lent, to hear the prophetic voice of God. Please invite someone into the Holy Church to experience the coming Lenten Season, the Kingdom of God, and His church family. ~ Father Tim
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Blessed John Keble published in 1827 a book of poems called The Christian Year, containing poems for the Sundays and Feast Days of the Church Year. The book sold over a hundred thousand copies in the first years of its printing, and was highly effective in spreading Keble’s devotional and theological views. I have a very old and beautiful copy if you would like to see one! ~ Father Tim
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Did you know?
Did you know that Saint John’s recently made a charitable gift to the Northern KY Salvation Army in February? Did you know that Heritage Window Solutions completed restoration and repair for nine of our stained glass windows in February? And they are even more beautiful than they were previously! All glory be to God!
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St. John March Ordo Kalendar
Wed., the 2nd of March at 12:00 PM, Ash Wednesday Mass and Imposition of Ashes
Wednesday, the 2nd of March at 6:00 PM, Evening Prayer and Imposition of Ashes
Sunday, the 6th of March at 10:30 AM, Lent I
Wednesday, the 9th of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer and Ember Wednesday
Sunday, the 13th of March at 10:30 AM, Lent II
Wednesday, the 16th of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 20th of March at 10:30 AM, Lent III, Vestry Meeting
Wednesday, the 23rd of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
Sunday, the 27th of March at 10:30 AM, Lent IV, Laetare or Mothering Sunday
Wednesday, the 30th of March at 6:30 PM, Evening Prayer
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Once you make up your mind never to stand waiting and hesitating when your conscience tells you what you ought to do, you have got the key to every blessing that a sinner can reasonably hope for. ~ Blessed John Keble
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Fasting days and Emberings be
Lent, Whitsun, Holyrood, and Lucie.
~ Old English Rhyme
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March Birthdays & Anniversaries
Joanna Barnett – Birthday – March 16
Cora Adams – Birthday – March 17
Judy Hulsey – Birthday – March 28
Kay Matthews – Birthday – March 31
Kevin Matthews – Birthday – March 31
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If the Church of England were to fail, it would be found in my parish! ~ Blessed John Keble
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Dedication-The Christian Year-by John Keble
When in my silent solitary walk,
I sought a strain not all unworthy Thee,
My heart, still ringing with wild worldly talk,
Gave forth no note of holier minstrelsy.
Prayer is the secret, to myself I said,
Strong supplication must call down the charm,
And thus with untuned heart I feebly prayed,
Knocking at Heaven’s gate with earth-palsied arm.
Fountain of Harmony! Thou Spirit blest,
By whom the troubled waves of earthly sound
Are gathered into order, such as best
Some high-souled bard in his enchanted round
May compass, Power divine! Oh, spread Thy wing,
Thy dovelike wing that makes confusion fly,
Over my dark, void spirit, summoning
New worlds of music, strains that may not die.
Oh, happiest who before thine altar wait,
With pure hands ever holding up on high
The guiding Star of all who seek Thy gate,
The undying lamp of heavenly Poesy.
Too weak, too wavering, for such holy task
Is my frail arm, O Lord; but I would fain
Track to its source the brightness, I would bask
In the clear ray that makes Thy pathway plain.
I dare not hope with David’s harp to chase
The evil spirit from the troubled breast;
Enough for me if I can find such grace
To listen to the strain, and be at rest.
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Peace is the first thing the angels sang. ~ Blessed John Keble, 1792 – 1866, Anglican Priest & Poet
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The seeking of Jesus Christ, and the quest for chivalry combined, lead directly to one place only: Anglican-Catholicism. Courage, honor, courtesy, justice, and a readiness to help and defend the weak and the poor. Welcome to the Anglican Catholic Church. ~ Father Timothy Butler