CRUCIS Magazine of St. Salvador’s Scottish Episcopal Church Dundee September 2009 “Far be it from me to glory except in the cross of Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14 spelled exactly the same), the Saint carried the Christ Child. The server who carries the Cross (“crucis”) in Church processions is called the “Crucifer”. Often the Crucifer is specially clothed in a decorated garment with sleeves called a “tunicle”. Why? I suppose, with the Cross carried at the head of the procession, it adds some colour, but I think there’s more to it than that. There’s something special about carrying the Cross. We vest the Crucifer with his own special garment to emphasise that particular idea. But the original Crucifer was not such a pretty sight. And I don’t mean the Emperor. Our Lord was Himself the original Crucifer In the Beginning… – the One who carried the Cross to Calvary. Holy Cross Day is sometimes known as the He was half-dead from being tortured and Feast of the Exaltation (or Triumph) of the bled from his many wounds. His only Holy Cross. It commemorates the retrieval adornment was a crown of thorns. There on of the supposed relic of the Holy Cross Calvary Hill He offered His unique and from the Persians in the year 629 and its bloody sacrifice for our sins, the same sacri- triumphant return to Jerusalem, carried per- fice that Christians share every time we sonally by the Emperor, divested of his im- gather for the Holy Eucharist. We hear the perial robes. story so often liturgically, and we have so dressed it up, that we need to remember In ‘Churchspeak’ – that peculiar second lan- from time to time what a gory, cruel, pa- guage active followers of Jesus Christ ac- thetic and desperately sad moment it was quire – adding “fer” to the end of a word that we commemorate so beautifully. suggests a “carrier”. Liturgically, the carrier of the thurible used for incense is called the No, the original Crucifer was not a pretty “Thurifer”. The name of the angel who was sight. But neither is human sin and death, once bearer of the light (“lucis”) and who which the Cross has overcome. Hallelujah. fell from grace through pride was “Lucifer”. In the legend of St. Christopher (okay – not Blessings for Holy Cross 2009 Fr. Clive MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST as physical wealth and riches, drugs, crime, gambling and sexual gratification as solutions to the pending issues in their lives because they Many Christians having come to believe in don’t know where to turn to. However, as a Christ suffer from an identity crisis. What I child of God, this is not the case. Our worries mean by identity crisis is the lack of knowledge belong to God. The scripture says we should of the person we are in Christ. Knowing this cast our anxiety to God because as a Father, He makes a lot of difference between living a life cares for us. (1 Peter 5: 7). If you are in doubt of comprise, mediocrity or accepting whatever of this, ask a year old child who has a loving the world throws at us and living a fulfilled life, parent! a life that takes on board all the benefit of being Redeemed through the blood of Christ and in Christ and fulfils the purpose of God. Paul Forgiven: “I am redeemed and forgiven” describes our life in Christ so beautifully in In him we have redemption through his blood, Ephesians 1:3ff. In this passage we are able to the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the know what our identity in Christ is. Let’s take a riches of God's grace Eph 1:7 look at some of the verses: The soul of man is a priceless commodity; no wonder God had to pay the ultimate price for it Blessed with every spiritual blessing in through the blood of Christ. The devil is also Christ: “I am blessed in Christ” out there waging serious battle to win the soul Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord of men to his side. For those of us who have Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heav- accepted Christ, we have been redeemed. In enly realms with every spiritual blessing in other words, we have been bought by God, we Christ. Eph 1:3 are God’s possession, we literally belong to God, not One of the things that should register in our to ourselves and our sins have been forgiven. mind as children of God is that we are loaded We have just been able to scratch the surface on with the blessings of our Father. These bless- what our identity in Christ is. However, knowing ings are described as spiritual, signifying that these simple facts about our identity will shut the they are not temporary favours from God but mouth of the devil when he tries to condemn us, or permanent blessings. tries to woo us to his side through the attractions of this world. Chosen by God before the creation of the Fr. Tunji world: “I am chosen in Christ” For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight We continue to collect used postage Eph 1:4 stamps (domestic and foreign) and This scripture make us to know that we are not post cards, as well as old spectacles an accident in this world or a product of our parent’s desire to bring us into this world. God and (clean) tin foil to raise money for has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of a variety of good causes. Please bring the earth for a special purpose: to live a holy any contributions to church and leave and blameless life that brings glory to Him. them in the basket on the table at the When we fail to realize this, we give in to the standards of this world and live a life of com- back of the church. Thank you! prise. The Bible Study and Prayer group Adopted by God as His Child: “I am God’s meets at 5 PM at the Rectory on Child” In love he predestined us to be adopted as his every Sunday of the month except the sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with first Sunday (when there is Evensong his pleasure and will Eph 1:5 at the Church). We usually read and There is nothing more comforting than knowing that the One who owns the whole heavens and discuss the three readings from the all the earth and who holds the future in His Scriptures we heard at Mass in the hands is our Father. Many people in their my- morning. All are welcome. opic thinking have turned to various things such 2 of all things, both the Ark of the Covenant, car- ried at head height and the Holy Grail (in a per- spex viewing case). Then during periodic show- ers of fireworks these items were carried cere- monially up the path to the castle entrance and into the castle. (I wondered if Dan Brown knew anything about this ...) The official council website has the following description (automatically translated): Night Templar is the recreation of a medieval fantastic event. Under the light of the first full moon of summer, Guido Frey Garda, Master of the Order of the Knights Templar, returns to the town of Iron Bridge to seal a pact with her eternal friendship and deliver the custody of the symbols found in the sacred land of Jerusalem, the sacred Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail. Last in Our Series: From Our Correspondent in Spain The delegation was received by the Templar Templar Glorieta thousands of ponferradinos 5 July 2009: On Friday we visited the Temple wearing medieval clothing, on parade and park to let Damon play on the swings, and heard guarding the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy some music in the background. On investigat- Grail, go to the castle. There is a trial to the ing, we discovered a rehearsal at the open air Templar Order. concert hall there of Carmina Burana, with or- chestra and full choir. As the amphitheatre was "Yo, Guido de Garda, Master of the strength of open and a few people were sitting listening, we Ponsferrata, agree to all the people from Pon- stayed to hear some of it, which was very good. ferrada to return every year to renew this com- Tonight they were performing for real at the mitment festive with its history and legend until castle - €3 per ticket, so we saved the money! the time comes to clear the horizon." This weekend, while the British were celebrat- I'm a little worried about the meaning of ing their independence from America, and free- 'clearing the horizon', but let's hope it won't be dom from the final of Wimbledon, Ponferrada for some time yet (!). was involved in Noche Templaria (Templar Night), a (probably completely invented) his- Ed. Note: Martin returned to Dundee on 5th Au- torical celebration all about the Templars who gust to a warm welcome from us all at St. Salva- built and briefly occupied the castle here to give dor’s. A few days previously Yady and Damon protection to pilgrims on their way to Santiago returned to Iran, where Yady is being treated de Compostela.