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Rector's Study
Ordinary Faith
In Advent, Christmas, and the Epiphany we celebrate the
great liturgical cycle of the Incarnation. “The Word
was made flesh and dwelt among us.” Because Jesus came
to us, comes to us, and will come again, our Christian
faith is ageless. It looks to the past and believes
what God has revealed. It looks to the present to
diligently work for the spread of Christ’s kingdom. It
also looks to the future, because the promise of
eternity lies before us.
But while our faith is eternal, as
one of the three great gifts that “abide, faith, hope,
and love,” the living of our mortal life is grounded in
the temporal. “So teach us to number our days that we
may apply our hearts to wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12). Thus,
after exalted seasonal celebration, the liturgical year
brings us back through ordinary time before we enter
into Lent.
For many years, I have believed
that a parish is meant to grow as a community most
especially during the ordinary times after the Epiphany
and after Pentecost. It is when things are not so
spectacular as in the festive occasions that we can
attend to what is essential in living our daily
Christian life.
My prayer for us as we begin
another year of service to the Lord is that we will
simply keep the faith. The truth is that doing so will
transform us, so that we live not according to our own
individual wills but according to the Divine Will of him
who loved us and gave himself for us.
“Do everything in the name of the
Lord Jesus.” (Colossians 3:17).
Yours in Christ's love,
Fr. Timothy P. Perkins  , SSC
V th Rector
Previous Issues:
Advent 2008
Summer 2008
Pentecost
2008
Easter 2008
Lent 2008
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
Summer 2006
June 2006
Lent 2006
Advent 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
Summer 2004
Easter 2004
Lent 2004
February 2004
Epiphany 2004
Advent 2003
Easter 2003
Lent 2003
February 2003
Epiphany 2003
October 2002
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