St. Athanasius Anglican Church

06/03/2026

Love Is the True Test: Wisdom from those who came before us on the First Sunday after Trinity
https://the39barnacles.beehiiv.com/p/love-is-the-true-test
"In the rhythm of the ancient Church year, the season after Trinity Sunday marks an important shift. The great celebrations of Christ’s incarnation, resurrection, ascension, and the coming of the Holy Spirit give way to a quieter but deeply practical focus: how we live out our faith every day."

05/30/2026

Celebrating the Mystery of the Trinity:
What Saint Athanasius Can Teach Us Today!

https://the39barnacles.beehiiv.com/p/celebrating-the-mystery-of-the-trinity
"...Only God can bridge the gap between God and humanity. In the Incarnation, the eternal Word became flesh so that we might be restored to fellowship with God. A famous line from Athanasius sums this up beautifully: “He [Christ] was made man that we might be made God” — meaning, we might share in God’s life and immortality by grace..."

05/24/2026

How the Fathers Saw Speaking in Tongues.
Real Foreign Languages (Xenolalia): The Apostles spoke actual languages (Persian, Latin, Arabic, etc.) they had never learned. This enabled the rapid spread of the Gospel across cultures.
Not Babble: The Fathers explicitly rejected the idea of chaotic or meaningless sounds. The miracle was orderly, purposeful, and missional.
“And as in the time of building the tower the one tongue was divided into many; so then the many tongues frequently met in one man, and the same person used to discourse both in the Persian, and the Roman, and the Indian, and many other tongues, the Spirit sounding within him.” - St. John Chrysostom

READ MORE HERE:

https://the39barnacles.beehiiv.com/p/the-patristic-understanding-of-speaking-in-tongues-at-pentecost

05/20/2026

"If you’re exploring traditional Christianity, Pentecost (also called Whitsunday) is one of the great feasts that brings the story of salvation into sharp focus. It’s not a later Christian invention—it is the dramatic fulfillment of God’s ancient promises to His people Israel, now poured out on the Church. The name itself comes from the Greek for “fiftieth day,” marking fifty days after Passover/Easter.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites celebrated Pentecost (the Feast of Weeks) as a harvest festival and, more deeply, to remember the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. Fifty days after the first Passover and..."

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If you’re exploring traditional Christianity, Pentecost (also called Whitsunday) is one of the great feasts that brings the story of salvation into sharp focus. It’s not a later Christian invention—it is the dramatic fulfillment of God’s ancient promises to His people Israel, now poured out ...

05/17/2026

The Sunday After Ascension.

Ascension Day (traditionally observed 40 days after Easter, often on a Thursday) commemorates the risen Jesus Christ ascending into heaven in the presence of his disciples, as described in Acts 1:1-11 and Mark 16:14-20. 
It marks the completion of Christ’s earthly ministry, his enthronement at the right hand of the Father, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. The traditional collect prays: “Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that … we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell.” 
Lectionary Central gathers rich patristic (e.g., Augustine, Leo the Great), Reformation, and later commentaries emphasizing how the Ascension elevates our humanity, strengthens faith, and directs our hope heavenward while commissioning believers as witnesses. 
The Sunday after Ascension (sometimes called Ascension 1 or the Seventh Sunday of Easter) bridges Ascension and Pentecost. It focuses on waiting in hope for the Holy Spirit, living faithfully amid trials, and Jesus’ promise of the Comforter (John 15:26 ff.). 
The collect asks God, the King of glory, not to leave us comfortless but to send the Holy Spirit and exalt us to where Christ has gone.  Readings include 1 Peter 4:7-11 (on charity, hospitality, and stewardship as the end draws near) and portions of John 15-16 (on persecution, witness, and the Spirit’s testimony). 
Lectionary Central provides sermons and notes highlighting readiness for the Spirit, endurance in faith, and the Church’s mission in the time between Christ’s departure and return. 
If you’re unfamiliar with these days, they offer a beautiful opportunity to observe the Easter season’s arc more fully—celebrating Christ’s victory and reign while preparing hearts for the Spirit’s coming at Pentecost. Many churches hold services on Ascension Thursday (or transfer it to Sunday), and the following Sunday naturally turns attention toward expectant prayer and Christian living. Consider joining a local traditional liturgical church (even ours), reading the appointed scriptures, or using the collects in personal devotion; resources like Lectionary Central can deepen your engagement with the Church’s historic reflections. These observances invite believers to lift their eyes and lives toward the ascended Lord.

05/16/2026

We worship in a house- just as the early Church. A mix of people. It’s small, not large or luxurious. It’s not performative, or emotive. In fact it is counter-culture. We fully retain the 5 elements of ancient worship: Scripture, Sermon, Prayer, Eucharist, Giving. We have a “president” (and a Bishop) who exhorts us to repentance, the imitation of Christ, and to live the scripture by putting on the new man.

3.8K likes, 1.8K comments. "What Church Was Like in 150 AD (Justin Martyr Reveals)"

05/13/2026

"Ascension Day, observed 40 days after Easter, commemorates Jesus Christ’s bodily return to heaven after His resurrection appearances. For those unfamiliar with its place in the Christian calendar, it holds profound significance for understanding Christ’s full deity and the completion of His redemptive work..."

Ascension Day, observed 40 days after Easter, commemorates Jesus Christ’s bodily return to heaven after His resurrection appearances. For those unfamiliar with its place in the Christian calendar, it holds profound significance for understanding Christ’s full deity and the completion of His rede...