Narthex Icons and Scripture Quotations Complete
We recently completed our project to enhance the spiritual impression left on first time visitors into the Narthex (a fancy Anglican word for the Foyer or front entrance hall). In addition to our Welcome signs and Special Events calendar, we have installed framed quotations of the Magnificat, the Nicene Creed, Psalms 1, 24 and the Benedic, anima mea from Ps. 103; the Anima Christi prayer, and two icons, Christ the Good Shepherd (O Poimen, O Kalos) and the Blessed Virgin and Holy Child.

The small Altar holds memorial candles, flowers, and a selection of Holy Cards, and copies of the most recent edition of Glad Tidings, the quarter news magazine with all the news of the parishes and people of the United Episcopal Church of North America.  The 12-page Glad Tidings magazine is edited here in Richmond by Fr. Ron Shibley and distributed nationally on the UECNA Web Site.  Visit the site, Return here using the Back arrow.

Psalter Commentary Project Nearing Publication
Fr. Ron has written and edited a new book, The Prayer Book Psalter: History, Text and Commentary.   This new commentary on the Psalter provides a brief history of both the Psalms and the Psalter text which is at the back of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, followed by a complete text of all 150 Psalms, formatted with the responsive portion in bold type. 

For each Psalm is a Commentary which draws together interpretations of each Psalm drawn from a variety of sources, including Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant interpretations.   Where it adds to understanding, alternate translations are provided from the King James, New King James and Septuagint translations. There is also a guide to where each Psalm is used in the daily Lectionary for every day of the year.

A Glossary provides an explanation and, where appropriate, a Scriptural source or cross-reference, for all names and places referred to in the Psalter text.

This project is a study of the Psalms primarily from the Christological persective, or, the reading of the Psalms in light of the coming of Jesus Christ our Saviour, rather than seeing it as just an historical document or a work of art or literature. 

Revised Service Schedule for 2008
Effective on Palm Sunday, our worship and study schedule was been revised.  Sunday worship begins with a monastic form of Morning Prayer at9:30 A.M.  The monastic form of the office of Morning Prayer includes no hymns or homily.  

At 10:00 A.M. Fr. Shibley holds Vicar's Open House until 10:30 A.M. This is a time set aside both for visitors and for pastoral meetings with parishioners.

At 11:00 A.M. every Sunday we celebrate Holy Eucharist. 

Tuesday night worship and study will begin with Bible Study at 7:00 P.M. At 7:45 we say and sing the ancient monastic office of Compline, the last office of the day before bedtime.  Those in attendance will be split into two groups, each saying or singing in unison either the Verse or the Response.   The office is led by Fr. Ron Shibley.  Read the full text.

Above is Christ the Good Shepherd.  The icon is displayed in Father Ron's office on the 2nd floor of the Bell Tower.  It is one of 12 icons purchased with donated funds.   The Greek words to the left and right (o poimen and p kalos) mean  O Good Shepherd.  The letters in the circles IC and XC mean, respectively, Jesus Christ and Son of God.  The letters inside the halo or disc are the Greek equivalents of the Hebrew words from Exodus, meaning I AM that I AM.

Below is the oldest known icon of Christ, from the dome at St. Sophia Cathedral, or Hagia Sophia, meaning Holy Wisdom, in Istanbul (formerly Constantinople).  The Hagia Sophia, the oldest extant Christian Church, was built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and is now a museum after having been converted into a mosque.