Patrick Comerford
In the Church Calendar, next Tuesday (30 October 2021) is the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle.
The readings in the Revised Common Lectionary, as adapted for use in the Church of Ireland, are:
Readings: Isaiah 52: 7-10; Psalm 19: 1-6; Romans 10: 12-18; Matthew 4: 18-22.
Introducing Saint Andrew the Apostle
Saint Andrew the Apostle is often known as the first-called of the disciples.
Before he was called, Saint Andrew was a fisherman, an every-day ordinary-day commercial occupation, working on the Lake of Galilee in partnership with his brother Simon Peter. It is said that when Saint John the Baptist began to preach, Saint Andrew became one of his closest disciples.
When he heard Christ’s call by the sea to follow him, Saint Andrew hesitated for a moment, not because he had any doubts about that call, but because he wanted to bring his brother with him. He left his nets behind and went to Peter and, as Saint John’s Gospel recalls, he told him: ‘We have found the Messiah … [and] he brought Simon to Jesus’ (John 1: 41, 42).
The call in the Gospel reading – to Peter and Andrew, to James and John, the sons of Zebedee – comes to us as individuals and in groups. It is not a story of an either/or choice between proclaiming the Gospel to individuals or groups, but a both/and choice.
And this is a two-way call, as Saint Paul reminds us in the Epistle reading: God calls us, and we call to God.
Saint Paul’s inclusive language – ‘Lord of all’ … ‘generous to all’ … ‘Everyone who calls’ … ‘all the earth’ – is unambiguous in ruling out all discrimination: ‘For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek.’
But that particular form of discrimination is already, inherently rejected in the Gospel reading. There are two brothers, one with a very Jewish name, Simon from the Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimon) meaning ‘listen’ and ‘best’; and one with a very Greek name, Andrew, Ἀνδρέας (Andreas), meaning ‘manly,’ even ‘brave’ … ‘strong’ … ‘courageous.’
From the very beginning, the call of Christ rejects the most obvious discrimination between Jew and Greek. Standing against discrimination is inherently built into the mission of the Church.
Recently, I was visiting one of the surviving Christopher Wren churches in London, Saint Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe on Queen Victoria Street. It is two blocks south of Saint Paul’s Cathedral and close to Blackfriars station, and is the last of Wren’s city churches. The church was destroyed by German bombs during the Blitz in World War II, but was rebuilt and rededicated in 1961.
As the bitter weather of winter takes hold, I am reminded of a prayer, appropriate for Advent and this winter weather, that I found that morning at Saint Andrew’s and which the church offers for people who have no shelter on the streets:
God of compassion,
your love for humanity was revealed in Jesus,
whose earthly life began in the poverty of a stable
and ended in the pain and isolation of the cross:
we hold before you those who are homeless and cold
especially in this bitter weather.
Draw near and comfort them in spirit
and bless those who work to provide them
with shelter, food and friendship.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Matthew 4: 18-22 (NRSVA)
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake – for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
The cloister-like colonnade on the north side of the former Saint Andrew’s Church in Suffolk Street, Dublin (Photograph: Patrick Comerford) Liturgical Resources:
Liturgical Colour: Red.
Penitential Kyries:
Lord, you are gracious and compassionate.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
You are loving to all,
and your mercy is over all your creation.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Your faithful servants bless your name,
and speak of the glory of your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Collect:
Almighty God,
who gave such grace to your apostle Saint Andrew
that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ
and brought his brother with him:
call us by your holy Word
and give us grace to follow without delay
and to tell the good news of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Introduction to the Peace:
We are fellow citizens with the saints
and the household of God,
through Christ our Lord,
who came and preached peace to those who were far off
and those who were near (Ephesians 2: 19, 17).
The Preface:
In the saints
you have given us an example of godly living,
that rejoicing in their fellowship,
we may run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
and with them receive the unfading crown of glory …
Post Communion Prayer:
Father,
may the gifts we have received at your table
keep us alert for your call
that we may always be ready to answer,
and, following the example of Saint Andrew,
always be ready to bear our witness
to our Saviour Jesus Christ.
The Blessing:
God give you grace
to share the inheritance of all Saint Simon and Saint Jude
and of his saints in glory …
Suggested Hymns:
Isaiah 52: 7-10:
479, Go, tell it on the mountain
125, Hail to the Lord’s anointed
129, How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
166, Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
597, Take my life, and let it be
387, Thanks to God, whose Word was spoken
142, Wake, O wake! With tidings thrilling
Psalm 19: 1-6:
153, Come, thou Redeemer of the earth
351, From all that dwell below the skies
97, Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
34, O worship the King all-glorious above
35, The spacious firmament on high
Romans 10: 12-18:
478, Go forth and tell! O Church of God, awake!
522, In Christ there is no east or west
425, Jesus, thou joy of loving hearts
303, Lord of the Church, we pray for our renewing
71, Saviour, again to thy dear name we raise
597, Take my life, and let it be
117, To the name of our salvation
Matthew 4: 18-22:
86, Christ is the King! O friends rejoice
549, Dear Lord and Father of mankind
584, Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult
395, When Jesus taught by Galilee
605, Will you come and follow me
Anglican Communion Day of Prayer:
Saint Andrew’s Day is traditionally associated with prayers for mission.
Christians around the world are signing up to take part in a 24-hour global wave of prayer on 30 November. The majority of the 42 provinces in the Anglican Communion have pledged to join the Anglican Communion Day of Prayer on 30 November, and many others are expected to come on board as the day approaches.
This Day of Prayer is being co-ordinated by the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), and it has the support of the Anglican Communion Office and several Anglican agencies around the world.
Two contributions from the Church of Ireland – from Bishop Michael Burrows, of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, and Canon Patrick Comerford of the Rathkeale Group of Parish (Diocese of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe) – are included in the day’s programme, between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
The event is open to everyone. There is no need to register. You can get involved via zoom or Facebook. When you want to join just click on one of these links:
Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82308523750?pwd=dzRXQ3A2TVM5VjhwZVpaaGpKTFdDdz09
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USPGglobal
Prayer Schedule:
The Day will provide Christians all over the world an opportunity to unite in prayer. It will focus on individual provinces and extra-provinces of the Anglican Communion, and churches in relationship with the Communion, in 30-minute slots.
Anglican provinces from all over the world have been producing short prayer films for the event with authentic local expressions of prayer, worship, readings and reflection. These will be played in separate time slots between 12 midnight and 12 midnight.
For example, the programme begins at 00:00 (UTC and Irish time) with the Anglican Church of Melanesia. The Anglican Communion Office is at 17:30 UTC (5:30 p.m.) and the Church of Ireland is at 18:00 UTC (6 p.m.).
FAQs:
What time should I join?
You can join at any time that suits you, stay for as long as you like and come back as many times as you want. You can join the slot allocated to a particular province or choose to pray with other parts of the world … or both.
Should I pray alone or with other people?
It’s up to you. You can choose to watch at home, at work – wherever works for you. And you can decide to pray alone or organise a Prayer Watch Party and invite friends or a church group to join you.
Praying with others can be a particularly powerful collective experience. Whatever you decide, you will be contributing to a global wave of prayer. And hopefully you will feel inspired and united to the global church.
If you would like to share details with friends and family, you can download USPG’s printable poster HERE.
What is a Prayer Watch Party?
A Prayer Watch Party is where a group of people get together in the same local area to join an online worship experience . You can meet in your house, church or anywhere else suitable. It can be a collective powerful experience of prayer and solidarity.
To hold a Prayer Watch Party, invite friends, family or church members to meet at the time you plan to join this event. If you can’t meet face-to-face, you can still invite people to join online from their own home at the same time as you. That way you will know you are sharing the same worship experience.
Can I watch prayer videos from other countries?
Yes! This is encouraged. Use the timetable to see the times for each province and then join the ones you’d like to see. The event is a great way to pray and join with Christians around the world in worshiping Jesus Christ. More than half of the 42 provinces in the Anglican Communion have already pledged to join and we are excited to share their contributions with you.
Questions?
If you have any further questions, please contact the organisers at cdpevent@uspg.org.uk They are delighted to hear from you and happy to help.
Downloadable Resources
You can download resources related to USPG’s Communion Day of Prayer HERE.
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
The hymn suggestions are provided in Sing to the Word (2000), edited by Bishop Edward Darling. The hymn numbers refer to the Church of Ireland’s Church Hymnal (5th edition, Oxford: OUP, 2000)
Material from the Book of Common Prayer is copyright © 2004, Representative Body of the Church of Ireland.
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