St Luke Anglican Church

08/15/2026

We will will celebrate this feast tomorrow at both Morning Prayer and Mass.

The more traditional name for the feast is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Dormition of the Theotokos.

THE FEAST DAY OF SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN
August 15

O God, you have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary, mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your eternal kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(Image is enhanced and is hanging in Canterbury Cathedral).

08/10/2026

“The sick, the aged, the poor, the widows, the orphans: these are the treasures of the Church.” - Laurence (225-258), Deacon & Martyr at Rome

Laurence was a deacon in the Roman church, responsible for distributing alms to the poor. During the persecution of Emperor Valerian, Laurence was arrested and ordered to surrender all of the riches of the church to the Roman Empire. Laurence asked for three days to gather the wealth. He quickly distributed the remaining alms to the needy. The poor then bravely joined Laurence when he returned to the Roman court. When the Roman prefect ordered the wealth surrendered, Laurence brought forward the poor and said, “The sick, the aged, the poor, the widows, the orphans: these are the treasures of the Church.” The prefect was enraged, bound Laurence, and executed him on a hot gridiron. Today, he is one of the most widely honored martyrs and one of the most famous deacons from the early church.

Almighty God, you gave your servant Laurence boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Art & history by Ben Lansing

This post is the DEBUT of this artwork of St. Laurence. 🎈

NEW - PREORDER the book 📕 www.ourchurchspeaks.com

08/06/2026

THE TRANSFIGURATION
August 6

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 and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Do not be afraid.” - Jesus at the Transfiguration

After Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah, Jesus took his disciples Peter, James, and John to a sacred mountain. There, Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his clothes became radiantly white. Mysteriously, the Old Testament prophet Elijah and the Law-giver Moses appeared on the mountain and began speaking with Jesus. A cloud overshadowed them and a voice spoke from the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” The disciples cowered in terror at the incredible sight. Struggling for words, Peter stammered about setting up tents for Jesus and the prophets. Jesus placed a hand on the overwhelmed disciples. “Get up,” he said. Do not be afraid.” Looking up, the disciples saw no one but Jesus. Many decades later, Peter reflected on this moment. “We were eyewitnesses of [Jesus’] majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father… We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” On the mount of Transfiguration, the disciples witnessed human nature glorified in Jesus, a foretaste of the triumphant and resurrected Christ. This glorious moment took place just before Jesus’ steady descent to the humiliation of the cross. For this reason, the Transfiguration is remembered twice in the liturgical calendar. First, it is observed on the final Sunday before Lent, marking a final, monumental Epiphany moment of Christ before the 40-day Lenten fast. 40 days before Holy Cross Day (Sep 14), Transfiguration is observed again on Aug 6. a reminder of the relationship between Christ’s suffering and his eternal Glory.

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 and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Art & history by Ben Lansing - ourchurchspeaks.com

Our Church Speaks book printed by Intervarsity Press available wherever books are sold.

08/06/2026

The first Bishop of our Diocese is now with the Lord. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

08/01/2026

We will commemorate St. Joseph of Arimathea at Morning Prayer this Sunday.

“Grant me the body of Jesus.” - Joseph of Arimathea (BC 40 -AD 45)

Ancient church traditions often tied their founding origin story to a disciple of Jesus. For Anglicanism, it is Joseph of Arimathea. The Gospels tell us that Joseph of Arimathea was a respected, wealthy, and righteous man who served on the Jewish High Council (the Sanhedrin). He was a disciple of Jesus, but kept his devotion secret, out of fear of his colleagues. The Sanhedrin condemned Jesus without Joseph’s consent, and delivered Jesus to the Roman authorities for trial and ex*****on. Joseph risked his life and reputation and asked Pontius Pilate for Jesus’ body, to be wrapped in a linen cloth and buried in Joseph’s own tomb. Christian fables credit Joseph with taking the Gospel to England, establishing the first church at Glastonbury (where his staff budded and became the Glastonbury thorn), and carrying with him the cup from the Last Supper (the origin of the Holy Grail stories of King Arthur legends). History indicates that Christianity did reach England very early, perhaps as early as the lifetime of Joseph of Arimathea.

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Joseph of Arimathea, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last, with him, we attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Art & bio by Ben Lansing,

Order the book 📚 ourchurchspeaks.com

07/26/2026

On July 26 the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne, the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

While Holy Scripture does not tell us anything about St. Mary’s parents, their story comes from early non-canonical texts like the 2nd-century Protevangelium of James.

“Joachim and Anna have sown in themselves a source leading to righteousness and harvested a fruit of life. They have illumined in themselves a light of knowledge and have sought out their Lord; and an offspring of righteousness has come to them.”—Saint John Damascene

07/24/2026

Great news. Bp. Reed is a superb leader and a staunch Anglo-Catholic!

BIG NEWS FROM ACNA:

Province Announces Appointment of Bishop Ryan Reed as Assistant Dean (of the Anglican Church of North America):

"Bishop Julian M. Dobbs is pleased to announce the appointment of the Right Reverend Ryan Reed, Bishop Ordinary of the Anglican Diocese of Fort Worth, as Assistant Dean of the Province, effective immediately.

"Bishop Ryan Reed is a man of steady judgment, with a deep commitment to Christ and a sincere love for the Church. Over many years, I have seen Bishop Reed serve faithfully and I have worked alongside him as a senior bishop of our College," said Bishop Dobbs. "This appointment follows prayerful consideration and consultation with the College of Bishops, and I believe Bishop Reed will serve with wisdom, humility, and the heart of a shepherd."

This appointment is effective immediately and follows the provisions of the Province's Canons, which were recently amended and ratified by the Provincial Assembly to establish the office of Assistant Dean. After a season of prayer, the appointment has been made in accordance with those canonical provisions and with the counsel of the College of Bishops.

A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Bishop Reed was raised near Houston. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Texas A&M University, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, and a Master of Divinity from Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pennsylvania.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1997, Bishop Reed has served congregations in Fort Worth, Bridgeport, and Bedford, Texas, and has held a variety of ministerial and administrative leadership positions.

He has served each role with faithfulness, humility, and pastoral wisdom. His willingness to assume this new responsibility reflects his longstanding commitment to the Church, and the Province looks forward to the gifts of leadership, experience, and pastoral care he will bring.

Please join us in prayer, lifting up Bishop Reed, his wife Kathy, their family, and the Diocese of Fort Worth as he undertakes these additional responsibilities. May the Lord grant him wisdom, strength, and grace as he continues to serve Christ and His Church."

God speed on this new appointment, Bishop!

07/22/2026

The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that, by your grace, we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

07/21/2026

St. Christopher is the Patron Saint of travelers.

“Father, grant that we may be bearers of Christ Jesus.” - Christopher (?- c.251), Martyr

Christopher was a martyr of the early church. He was tortured and decapitated by the Roman state in the mid-3rd century after he refused to renounce Christ. The historical details about Christopher’s life are few, although many tales about Christopher exist in Christian tradition. He was from either Canaan or North Africa (traditions differ). According to legend, Christopher was a large, strong man who made his living as a porter. Each day, he carried travelers across a raging river, holding them on his shoulders. One day, a small child approached Christopher and asked to be carried over the water. As Christopher carried the small passenger, he was surprised to find himself nearly overcome by the weight of the child. Fearing they would drown, Christopher was strengthened by a power not of himself and made it to the other side of the river. Safely ashore, the child revealed that he was Jesus Christ and that the heaviness was from the weight of the world, which Christ bore for all of mankind. Christopher, whose name means “Christ-bearer,” had performed the essential act of every Christian - bearing the Savior who bore the sins of us all (1 Peter 2:24).

Almighty God, you gave your servant Christopher boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Art & history by Ben Lansing

Order the book www.ourchurchspeaks.com

07/15/2026

A long. It good read on the Canticles we sing / say in the Daily Office.

The canticles are not liturgical garnish. They form part of the rhythm by which Scripture becomes prayer and prayer becomes praise.