Author Archives: johnaroop

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO we celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Lord Jesus in Bethlehem: stable and manger, shepherds and angels, carols and candles. … Continue reading →

Alleluia, to us a child is born: O come, let us adore him. Alleluia. A FEW YEARS AGO, I decided to re-read The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, a classic trilogy that I had read several … Continue reading →

Collect Almighty God, who gave to Lucy the grace of complete devotion in body, mind, and spirit and the courage to proclaim her faith in the day of persecution: Grant to us, your servants, that same resolute holiness and unshakable … Continue reading →

The Eve of Thanksgiving (Deut 8 / Ps 65:1-8 / James 1:17-27 / Matt 6:25-33) Collect for Thanksgiving Day Most merciful Father, we humbly thank you for all your gifts so freely bestowed upon us: for life and health and … Continue reading →

TODAY WE BEGIN reading the Acts of the Apostles in Morning Prayer. I hope these few reflections on today’s reading will provide a context for the readings to follow. Luke 1:1–4 (ESV): 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a … Continue reading →

Holy Michael and All Angels (Rev 12:7-12 / Pss 75, 76 / Matt 20:17-end) Collect Everlasting God, you have ordained and constituted in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals: Mercifully grant that, as your holy angels always … Continue reading →

THE EPISTLE AND GOSPEL TEXTS appointed for this day are both quite challenging. Hebrews 6:4–6 (ESV): 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in … Continue reading →

Let us pray. O Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow after us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy … Continue reading →

Apostles Anglican Church Wednesday, 18 Aug, Week of the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (2 Samuel 6, Psalm 119:1-24, Philippians 1:1-11) Keep your Church, O Lord, by your perpetual mercy; and because without you the frailty of our nature causes us … Continue reading →

We have a choice to make, each of us. It’s not a one-and-done choice; we make it every day — sometimes hour by hour, sometime minute by minute. The choice is this: will we live as materialists, deists, or Christians? … Continue reading →