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Public Service of Healing St John 091813 A Public Service of Healing with Anointing and the Holy Eucharist Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882) St. John’s Episcopal Church Ocean Springs, Mississippi September 18, 2013 5:30 p.m. EDWARD BOUVERIE PUSEY PRIEST, RENEWER OF THE CHURCH (18 SEP 1882) Grant, O God, that in all time of our testing we may know your presence and obey your will; that, following the examples of your servant Edward Bouverie Pusey, we may with integrity and courage accomplish what you give us to do, and endure what you give us to bear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. The revival of High Church teachings and practices in the Anglican Communion, known as the Oxford Movement, found its acknowledged leader in Edward Bouverie Pusey. Born near Oxford, August 22, 1800, Pusey spent all his scholarly life in that University as Regius Professor of Hebrew and as Canon of Christ Church. At the end of 1833 he joined Keble and Newman in producing the Tracts for the Times, which gave the Oxford Movement its popular name of Tractarianism. His most influential activity, however, was his preaching—catholic in content, evangelical in his zeal for souls. But to many of his more influential contemporaries it seemed dangerously innovative. A sermon preached before the University in 1843 on “The Holy Eucharist, a Comfort to the Penitent” was condemned without his being given an opportunity to defend it, and he himself was suspended from preaching for two years—a judgment he bore most patiently. His principles were thus brought before the public, and attention was drawn to the doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. From another University sermon, on “The Entire Absolution of the Penitent,” may be dated the revival of private confession in the Anglican Communion. When Newman defected to the Church of Rome in 1845, Pusey’s adherence to the Church of England kept many from following, and he defended them in their teachings and practices. After the death of his wife in 1839, Pusey devoted much of his family fortune to the establishment of churches for the poor, and much of his time and care to the establishment of sisterhoods. In 1845, he established the first Anglican sisterhood since the Reformation. It was at this community’s convent, Ascot Priory in Berkshire, that Pusey died on September 16, 1882. His body was brought back to Christ Church and buried in the cathedral nave. Pusey House, a house of studies founded after his death, perpetuates his name at Oxford. His own erudition and integrity gave stability to the Oxford Movement and won many to its principles. 2 A Brief Statement Regarding the History and Theology of Anointing ! The liturgical ceremony of anointing with oil is known as Unction. Usually administered by a bishop or priest, it is part of the baptismal, confirmation, and ordination rites within both the Western and Eastern Church. The word is most commonly applied, however, to the Sacrament of Unction (or Anointing) of the Sick. ! Anointing with oil as a sign of dedicating people and things to God is an ancient practice. The Hebrew Scriptures speak of the practice several times and in the Christian Scriptures there are references to the apostles healing with oil. However, the key factor in the use of unction in the liturgy comes from the figure of Jesus as the Messiah, which literally means, “the Anointed One.” Anointed through the incarnation and at baptism, the Spirit was at work in Jesus’ messianic ministry and saving work of the cross. After his death and resurrection he becomes the source of the Spirit sent upon the Church. This coming of the Holy Spirit to the individual Christian is symbolized in the liturgy both by the laying on of hands and by unction. It conveys the Spirit of Christ who is at once the source of the Spirit and the exemplar of a Christian life. ! The use of unction for the healing of the sick can be found in Christian writings as early as the Third Century. By the Tenth Century, the anointing of the sick had become entangled with penitential rite and the removal of sin, and unction of the sick was usually delayed until danger of death was imminent, hence the titles Extreme Unction or Last Rites. Thanks to historical research, the liturgical sacrament of unction has been once again separated from the death bed. Anointing is now seen as a sacrament seeking strength for the whole person in faith, in trust in God, and for restoration of health; not merely physical health, but emotional, relational, and societal was well. ! In the first English Book of Common Prayer (1549) a form of unction was included in the order for the Visitation of the Sick. It contained prayers for healing of body and mind, forgiveness, and spiritual strengthening. Beginning in 1552 and continuing through several later versions of the Prayer Book, provisions for unction were omitted. Modern editions of Anglican Prayer Books be have re- instituted a liturgical form of unction. In the 1928 American Prayer Book, sacramental unction was restored and has been kept in the latest revision of 1979 as part of the “Ministration to the Sick,” Book of Common Prayer, page 455. 3 A Public Service of Healing with Anointing and the Holy Eucharist Celebrant Grace and peace be with you, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. People And also with you. Celebrant Let us pray. O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Lessons First Reading 1 Peter 2:19-23 All sit. A Reading from the book of First Peter. 19For it is to your credit if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22 ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ 23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. Reader The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God. 4 Psalm Remain seated. Psalm 106:1-5 1 Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever. 2 Who can utter the mighty doings of the Lord, or declare all his praise? 3 Happy are those who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times. 4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favour to your people; help me when you deliver them; 5 that I may see the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory in your heritage. Holy Gospel Matthew 13:44-52 All stand. Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. People Glory to you, Lord Christ. 44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ 52And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ Deacon The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ. All sit. A period of silent reflection on our readings will follow the gospel reading. The Celebrant will conclude the silence by introducing the Litany of Healing. 5 Litany of Healing The Celebrant introduces the Litany with this bidding Let us name before God those for whom we offer our prayers. All stand and the People audibly name those for whom they are interceding. A Person appointed then leads the Litany, the People responding. God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly; We praise you and thank you, O Lord. God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence; We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
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