The Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ

The Transfiguration

"Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen" (Luke 9:28-36).

"O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen (The 1979 Book of Common Prayer; Collect for the Feast of the Transfiguration)"
Lord, show us Your Glory

In Christ we see the image (icon) of God, the exact representation of his glory.

May the Lord Jesus Christ reveal his glory to us as he did to his holy apostles. As followers of Christ, we desire for the glory of Christ to be revealed to us in ever greater ways. On this day, August 6, the church commemorates the event in which the apostles who were closest to Christ were given the revelation of his glory. Let us cling to Christ, that we may be close to his heart; that he may lead us up the mountain; that he may reveal his glory to us; that we may be joined to the holy witnesses surrounding Christ and giving witness to his glory and his preeminence; that we may hear the voice of the Father clearly.

Lord, show us your glory...Lord, let us manifest your glory to the world

The glory of God is revealed fully in Christ, the glory of Christ is to be revealed in us...

The Glory of God in Christ

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 14:9
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Hebrews 1:3
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Colossians 1:15-18
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

2 Corinthians 4:4
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

The Glory of Christ in Us

Romans 8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

2 Corinthians 3:18
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Colossians 1:27
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Confirmation

Last night (07/07/09), I was officially confirmed in the Anglican Church. This was the result of a two-year journey, searching for the early church; that church which was planted throughout the world by the Apostles of Christ. How appropriate then, that my search for the apostolic faith would bring me to a confirmation service at a church called "Apostles Anglican." I have never been more blessed that to have my bishop, one who stands in the office instituted by the apostles themselves, lay hands on me and pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to overflow in my life.

In all my preaching and teaching, in all the services I have been a part of, I have never been a part of anything that I felt glorified God more than this service; nor have I ever felt such fullness of the power of God in myself, or such a presence of the Holy Spirit amidst a congregation.

I am posting here the Outline of the Service (Liturgy) - this is mainly for the benefit of those who are offended by my conversion to the Anglican Church and critical of my confirmation. I pray that you will read and reflect on this service and its significance prayerfully.
Understand that the outline of this service comes from the second century and reflects the ancient form of Christian initiation practice - the rejection of Satan; the affirmation of belief in God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the laying on of hands and prayer for the Holy Spirit.
Pay close attention to the amount of Scripture that is read, to the scriptural references in the prayers, the scriptural quotes and allusions in the blessing, and the scriptural citations in the promises made by those being confirmed.

The Lord be with you...

In Christ,
Jon Back

Confirmation Service

Apostles Anglican Church - 07/07/09 (Abridged for Blog Posting)

The people standing, the Bishop says

Blessed by God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

People And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.

The Bishop then continues :

There is one Body and one Spirit;

People There is one hope in God's call to us;

Bishop One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;

People One God and Father of all.

Bishop The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Bishop Let us pray.

The Collect of the Day

Grant, Almighty God, that we, who have been redeemed from the old life of sin by our baptism into the death andresurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, may be renewed inyour Holy Spirit, and live in righteousness and true holiness;through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with youand the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

People Amen.

The Lessons

Old Testament Lesson - Isaiah 61:1-9
The Psalm - Psalm 139:1-9
New Testament Lesson - Galatians 5:16-25

The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God.

The Gospel

Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying:

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke.

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Luke 4:16-22

After the Gospel, the Reader says:

The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 - The Parable of the Sower

Presentation and Examination of the Candidates

The Bishop says:

The Candidate(s) will now be presented.

Presenters I present these persons for Confirmation.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Have you been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit?

Candidate I have.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Are you ready with your own mouth and from your own heart to affirm your faith in Jesus Christ?

Candidate I am.

After all have been presented, the Bishop addresses the congregation, saying:

People of God, will you welcome these candidates and uphold them in their life in Christ?

People With the help of God, we will.

The Bishop addresses all the candidates:

In baptism, God calls us out of darkness into his marvelous light. To follow Christ means dying to sin and rising to new life with him. Therefore I ask:

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God?

Candidate I reject them.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil?

Candidate I renounce them.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbor?

Candidate I repent of them.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Do you turn to Christ as Savior?

Candidate I turn to Christ.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Do you submit to Christ as Lord?

Candidate I submit to Christ.

The Bishop asks the candidates:

Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth, and the life?

Candidate I come to Christ.

The Bishop addresses all the candidates:

May God, who has given you the desire to follow Christ, give you the strength to continue in the Way. Amen.

The Baptismal Covenant (Profession of Faith)

The Bishop then addresses the congregation:

Brothers and sisters, I ask you to profess together with these candidates the faith of the Church:

Bishop Do you believe in God the Father?

People I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Bishop Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ?

People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Bishop Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit?

People I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Confirmation

The Bishop stands before those who are to be confirmed and says:

Bishop Our help is in the name of the Lord

People who has made heaven and earth
Bishop Blessed be the name of the Lord

People now and for ever. Amen.

The Bishop extends his hands towards those to be confirmed and says:

Almighty and ever-living God, you have given these your servants new birth in baptism by water and the Spirit, and have forgiven them all their sins. Let your Holy Spirit rest upon them: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding; the Spirit of counsel and inward strength; the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness; and let their delight be in the fear of the Lord. Amen.

The Bishop addresses by name and lays hands upon the head of each one and says:

N., God has called you by name and made you his own
Confirm, O Lord, your servant N. with your Holy Spirit.

People Amen.

The Bishop invites the congregation to pray for all those on whom hands have been laid:

Defend, O Lord, these your servants with your heavenly grace, that they may continue yours for ever, and daily increase your Holy Spirit more and more until they come to your everlasting kingdom. Amen.

Commission

Bishop Those who are baptized are called to worship and serve God. Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

People With the help of God, I will.

Bishop Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

People With the help of God, I will.

Bishop Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

People With the help of God, I will.

Bishop Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?

People With the help of God, I will.

Bishop Will you acknowledge Christ's authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice?

People With the help of God, I will.

Bishop May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, that you may be rooted and grounded in love and bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.

The Blessing of Peace

Bishop The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you.

The Trinitarian Blessing

The Bishop gives the blessing:

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keepyour hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing ofGod Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.

The Dismissal

Deacon Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

“A PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER”

Liturgical Rites & the Christian Tradition

“…it is important that the individual rites have a relation to the places where Christianity originated and the apostles preached: they are anchored in the time and place of divine revelation. Here again ‘once for all’ and ‘always’ belong together. The Christian faith can never be separated from the soil of sacred events…‘Always’ can only come from ‘once for all’…Rites are not, therefore, just the products of inculturation, however much they may have incorporated elements from different cultures. They are forms of the apostolic Tradition and of its unfolding in the great places of the Tradition.”
“…What is important is that the great forms of rite embrace many cultures. They…create communion among different cultures and languages. They elude control by any individual, local community, or regional Church. Unspontaneity is of their essence. In these rites I discover that something is approaching me here that I did not produce myself, that I am entering into something greater than myself, which ultimately derives from divine revelation.”
- Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
The Spirit of the Liturgy (pp. 163-165) [Ignatius Press, 2000]

Trinity Sunday

This Sunday (June 7th 2009) is Trinity Sunday. It is the day on which the Church determines to celebrate the glory and the mystery of the Trinity. The Christian faith is, and must be, expressed in Trinitarian form. We worship a triune God. His glory and being surpasses anything else in the universe. We are baptized into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We offer praise and worship to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We confess the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In light of Trinity Sunday, let us affirm an orthodox understanding of the Holy Trinity by affirming The Athanasian Creed:

The Athanasian Creed
1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith.

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

3. But this is the catholic faith: That we worship one God in trinity, and trinity in unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons; nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father: another of the Son: another of the Holy Spirit.

6. But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one: the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father is uncreated: the Son is uncreated: the Holy Spirit is uncreated.

9. The Father is immeasurable: the Son is immeasurable: the Holy Spirit is immeasurable.

10. The Father is eternal: the Son eternal: the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet there are not three eternals; but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated: nor three immeasurable: but one uncreated, and one immeasurable.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty: the Son almighty: and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet there are not three almighties: but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God: the Son is God: and the Holy Spirit is God.

16. And yet there are not three Gods; but one God.

17. So the Father is Lord: the Son Lord: and the Holy Spirit Lord.

18. And yet not three Lords; but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord:

20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say, there are three Gods, or three Lords.

21. The Father is made of none; neither created; nor begotten.

22. The Son is of the Father alone: not made; nor created; but begotten.

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and the Son: not made; neither created; nor begotten; but proceeding.

24. Thus there is one father, not three Fathers: one Son, not three Sons: one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

25. And in this Trinity none is before or after another: none is greater or less than another.

26. But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together, and co-equal.

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.

28. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.

29. Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation, that we believe also rightly in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. Now the right faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man.

31. God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds: and Man, of the substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God: perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead: inferior to the Father as touching His Manhood.

34. And although He be God and Man; yet He is not two, but one Christ.

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh; but by assumption of the Manhood into God.

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance; but by unity of person.

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man; so God and Man is one Christ.

38. Who suffered for our salvation: descended into Hades: rose again the third day from the dead.

39. He ascended into heaven. He sits on the right hand of God, the Father almighty:

40. From whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

41. At whose coming all men must rise again with their bodies;

42. And shall give account for their own works.

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting; but they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.

44. This is the catholic faith; which except a man believe truly and firmly, he cannot be saved.

Anglican Liturgy

This blog will serve to provide information on Christian Worship. Liturgical Worship is a part of the fabric of the Christian Faith, and has been expressed in the catholic church since the time of the apostles. This site will mainly focus on the Anglican expression of the worship of the universal Christian church; however, there are links provided to various expressions of that same worship (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, etc.).