St Edmund's Episcopal Church San Marino

The Feast of St. Edmund, November 23rd, 2014

I have a new favorite musician; Pablo Alborán. He is from Spain, sings in Spanish, and is unlikely to catch on among many of my contemporaries. Music is so personal. I recall as a younger person how I thought an affinity for “REM” or “Talking Heads” reflected discriminating taste in the too-often head-banging world of rock and roll (I still think this).

Religion is subjective. I think Faith involves a good deal more than personal taste, and requires at least a smidgen of moral, philosophical and intellectual inquiry. But there is an aesthetic component, and religious commitment is certainly personal. There is a Spanish phrase I like very much: “Sobre gustos, no hay nada escrito.” “Regarding taste, there is no holy writ.”

I am a votary of St. Edmund. He is one hip Saint, with his own Wolf, claim to all England as the first patron of that admirable land, and a commitment to Christ that carried him to an untimely death. We needn’t aspire to imitate all specifics of the lives of the admired!

I am keen every year for our Patronal Festival, and keen to promote Edmund throughout the year. Edmund, like Pablo Alborán, REM and Talking Heads in the field of music, may simply be emblematic of my well-curated religious aesthetic. I do not pray to Edmund, as Edmund’s former votaries may have done. But he has acquired my full affection and devotion. I am a fan, and his Feast Day is November 20th.

The Sunday thereafter, we’ll rejoice in his witness to Jesus Christ in our parish church in San Marino, which rates among the best among all the cogniscenti. It is not required that one swoon, as when the Beatles first hit American shores, but a little whooziness as the incense passes will be fully understood.

“Christ Jesus, with the martyrdom of St. Edmund, King of East Anglia, you inspired generations of pilgrims in the way of love and hope. Enfold your Church in the mystery of your life, that we, in our own pilgrimage, may be apostles of your wounded and risen glory, who with the Father + and the Holy Spirit are present eternally. Amen”

“Sacrarium Regis, Cunabula Legis”
“Shrine of a King, Cradle of the Law” – Motto of Bury St. Edmunds,
GFW+

THIS COMING SUNDAY:

Christmas Pageant Choir Practice: 9:25am
Child Advocacy Committee: 11:30am

The appointed Lessons (Track Two) to be used for the Last Sunday After Pentecost (on which we observe our Patronal Festival this year) may be found HERE.

Read “The Lead” from Episcopal Café.

The recent edition of Episcopal News from the Diocese of L.A. may be found HERE, and articles from the national Episcopal News Service HERE.

Sheree and Brian Tyler run into parishioner Derek Barker in Orlando, where Derek works as concierge at the Boardwalk Hotel, Disney World!
Sheree and Brian Tyler run into parishioner Derek Barker in Orlando, where Derek works as concierge at the Boardwalk Hotel, Disney World!