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Bishop David A. E. Horsman, Pastor
Monsignor Laurence Horsman, Asst. Pastor
Christ Has Risen!
Meditation for Whitsuntide
Tune :Gott Sei Dank, J. Freylinghausen 1704
Copyright (C) David Horsman 2004
Praises be to God on high; Jesus promise gave in love :
Not to leave us orphans here, but to send the Holy Dove.
On the day of Pentecost, Holy Spirit did descend;.
Came with mighty rushing wind, came weak spirits firm to mend.
Holy Spirit Blessed Dove, come to lead us, come to show,
As with Noah, after flood, how to home, we safety go.
Blessed Father thee we pray, cloud of fire bestow today,
That as Israel followed thee, so may we see clear thy Way.
Dearest Jesu let thy feet, pierced for sin, be to us lore:
Mark the path that takes us home, whither thou hast gone before.
Blessed Spirit, Fire of God, Christ did promise thou wouldst show,
Truth by which illumined, we, here thy presence still might know.
Father, yet we hear thy voice, come from heaven to declare:
This is my beloved Son: in his life do ye now share.
Truth Divine, O Jesu Christ, from thy riven side still flows
Blood and Water, feast prepared, in the midst of all our foes.
Blesséd Jesu let us feel nail prints in those holy hands:
Know the suffering thou didst bear, breaking us from sin’s dread bands.
Holy Father send thy fire, let it melt us ‘til we show
Jesus always imaged true in thy blesséd holy glow.
Holy Spirit. Breath of life, hear our long and labored moans:
Broken, scattered, parched and dry; breathe new life into dry bones
Glory to th’ eternal God: earth be joined with heavenly host,
Praising while all ages run; Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Read -- THE HUMAN CONDITIONRead -- THE LITURGICAL CALENDARThe Liturgical Calendar -- Part 1 (Advent to Pascha) Liturgical Calender -- Part 2 (Post Pascha to Advent) Liturgical Calendar -- Part 3 (Rogation Days to Corpus Christi)
All Hallows' Hall -- Part 1 (to read on this site) All Hallows' Hall -- Part 2 (to read on this site) Approved Votive Masses for All Hallows' Hall
BREAKING BREAD FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE St. Paul tells us, "The Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks, he brake it and said: ‘take eat this is my body, which is given up for you: this do in remembrance of me.EIn like manner also, the cup, after he had supped, saying: ‘This cup is the New Testament in my blood. This do ye, as oft as ye drink, in remembrance of me.E" The Disciples did not fully understand what these blessed words really meant, until the following day, when they saw the Lord nailed upon cruel cross to die for them and for us. The Apostle Paul makes the point, " As often as ye eat the bread and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come." ( I Cor 11:23-36 ) And, again, he exclaims: "The Cup of blessing which you bless, is it not the communion of the Blood of Christ? The Bread which we break, is it not the communion of the Body of Christ? For we being many are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." ( I Cor 10:16-17 ) Three days after being crucified, the Lord rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples and "was known of them in breaking of bread.," ( Luke 24:35 ) After abiding with them forty days, Jesus ascended before the eyes of these disciples, returning to his Father. But, before he left, he commanded the disciples to wait in Jerusalem, for the descent of the Holy Spirit. On the feast of Pentecost, the Blessed Spirit came upon them and St. Peter preached on the Cross and Resurrection of Christ to the Jews assembled in the Holy City, for this feast. The Jews were "pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the Apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?" Peter replied: "Repent and be baptized." ( Acts 2: 1-38 ) As a result, "they that gladly received his word were baptized; and the same day, there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfast in the Apostle’s doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and prayers. . . . and they continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house"(Acts 2: 41-47) Eventually the Temple was destroyed, but the Christians, as they came to be called, continued "breaking bread from house to house," as the Lord had commanded, "in remembrance of me. Shewing "the Lord’s death," made one body by partaking of that one Body. The "breaking of bread," was, it seems, the first name for this re-presentation of the sacrifice of our Lord. From this re-presentation, it was also called "the Holy Sacrifice," "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" ( I Cor 5:7) Latin Sacrificium = victim, that which is given up; "My body which is given for you," the Lord had said, (Luke 22:19 ). Later many other names were used: "Holy Eucharist," (Greek eucharistia = thanksgiving), "Divine Liturgy,"( Greek leitourgia = public service or duty ). The two most common names in the West are actually pars pro toto "Holy Communion," from the reception of the Holy Body and Blood, which is indeed a communion ( Latin, communio = sharing, mutual participation ) with the Lord, "Holy Mass," from the Latin dismissal, Ita missa est. which might be translated, "go it is sent." cf. English "missile", "missionary" and "missive." In the context of this holy service, Christians read the Holy Scriptures, heard sermons by their leaders, sang songs of praise, offered prayers of intercession, petition and thanksgiving. The most important celebrations were on the "Lord’s Day" or Sunday, for this day commemorated the Resurrection of the Lord. Later the Liturgy was celebrated in cemeteries, over the tombs of Christian martyrs and, after recognition by the Roman Emperor and the end of persecution, in elaborate Church buildings, including some pagan temples consecrated now to the worship of the new religion. Most celebrations are today held in public buildings called ‘churches." Still, the House-Church continued long to have an important place in the life of the Church. At the end of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, St Paul, says: " Aquilla and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord with the CHURCH THAT IS IN THEIR HOUSE." At the end of First Thessalonians he writes: "Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea and Nymphas and the church WHICH IS IN HIS HOUSE." As part of our return to the earliest roots of our faith, our jurisdiction has inaugurated a renewal of House Church Worship. Each House Church consists of a family and a few friends and neighbors, meeting and worshiping together as a Christian family. Did not our Lord say, " for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20). And, remember the Two disciples whom our Lord met, after his Resurrection, on the road to Emmaus, and whose hearts burnt within them as he opened the Scriptures to them, and who "knew him," in the "breaking of bread." in their home. (Luke 24:30-32). If you live in Florida, Georgia or Alabama and would like to be part of this restoration of Apostolic faith and order, with a "Church in (your) house," please contact us via email.
If you are seeking God and need assistance then contact Bishop David Horsman and Monsignor Laurence Horsman via email with your genuine enquiry:
Please visit "All Hallows' Hall" Approved Votive Masses for All Hallows' Hall Saints Cyril and methodius Church Homepage Copyright Notice
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