Mass at the Beach 8 AM

Said the sign and I thought, "why not." I have been avoiding church for a variety of reasons and this was a less than 2 mile drive for me instead of the 38 mile one I usually make. So, I set my alarm for 7 but, truth be told, I am accustomed to CPT* so it was no surprise that I was about 10 minutes late.

The local Roman parish has been hosting a mass on the beach twice yearly since 1998 and this would be the last one for the current priest. Maybe 200 or 300 people were present this morning, Trinity Sunday. I do believe I heard it mentioned a few times although the sermon/homily was focused elsewhere, somewhere, kind of nostalgic. I realize that, in the Lutheran liturgy, the Creed is optional but I thought for sure one would be included today--but it wasn't. Odd. The prayers of the Church/people was a little disjointed, too. Sometimes the priest forgot to give us our clue for a reponse. He prayed for peace throughout the world and named some places. Since it is also Memorial Day, one would expect him to include places like Iraq and Afghanistan, but he didn't.

After a subtle sharing of peace, we moved into the communion liturgy. I didn't expect to get any wine, it was just for the priest but, then he gave some to the communion ministers but not the acolytes, er altar servers. What's up with that? We received at one of several stations. To me, being at the beach evoked scenes of Jesus feeding people with things like real bread, fishes, and the like so, naturally, the little beige wafer was woefully insufficient. Not insufficient for grace, just not much of a meal. Oh, yeah, there was the Lord's Prayer, too, and I was smooth enough to know where to stop instead of going on like the Lutheran I am accustomed to being.

We were given a benediction and the dismissal was more like "Oh, yeah, support your parish especially with your special offerings, an envelope for which was included in your box." That was for the regulars, I guess. Maybe they didn't think folks like me would show up because of a sign that said "Mass at the Beach, 8 a.m."

Anyway, when the musicians launched into God bless America or something, I knew it was time to go. But, at least, I had Mass at the beach, 8 a.m.

*CPT is a slang expression for "colored people time." It means we start when the Spirit moves, show up when you can, and we finish when we finish, no need for a watch. It's how I roll.

Lorica for Trinity Sunday

I find this appropriate for today and will read it when I prepare for worship. It is attributed to Patrick of Armagh, Bishop and Missionary of Ireland (scroll down for the Irish translation).

I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity,
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three.

I bind this day to me for ever,
By power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
His baptism in the Jordan River;
His death on cross for my salvation;
His bursting from the spicèd tomb;
His riding up the heavenly way;
His coming at the day of doom;
I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
Of the great love of the Cherubim;
The sweet 'Well done' in judgment hour;
The service of the Seraphim,
Confessors' faith, Apostles' word,
The Patriarchs' prayers, the Prophets' scrolls,
All good deeds done unto the Lord,
And purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
The virtues of the starlit heaven,
The glorious sun's life-giving ray,
The whiteness of the moon at even,
The flashing of the lightning free,
The whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
The stable earth, the deep salt sea,
Around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need.
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, his shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile men that mar my course;
Or few or many, far or nigh,
In every place and in all hours
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
Against false words of heresy,
Against the knowledge that defiles,
Against the heart's idolatry,
Against the wizard's evil craft,
Against the death-wound and the burning
The choking wave and the poisoned shaft,
Protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity;
By invocation of the same.
The Three in One, and One in Three,
Of whom all nature hath creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
Praise to the Lord of my salvation,
salvation is of Christ the Lord.

or

Atomriug indiu

niurt tríun

togairm Tríndóite

cretim treodatad

foísitin oendatad

i nDúilemon dáil.

Atomriug indiu

niurt gene Chríst cona baithius

niurt a chrochtho cona adnacul

niurt a esséirgi cona ḟresgabáil

niurt a thoíniuda fri brithemnas mbrátho.

Atomriug indiu

niurt gráid Hiruphin;

i n-aurlattaid aingel

i frestul archaingel

i frescisin esséirgi ar chenn fochraicce

i n-ernaigdib úasalathrach

i tairchetlaib fáthe

i praiceptaib apstal

i n-iressaib foísmedach

i n-enccai noebingen

i ngnímaib fer fírían.

Atomriug indiu

niurt nime

soilsi gréine

étrochtai ésci

áini thened

déini lóchet

lúaithi gaíthe

fudomnai maro

tairismigi thalman

cobsaidi ailech.

Atomriug indiu

niurt Dé dom lúamairecht;

cumachtae nDé dom chumgabáil

cíall Dé dom imthús

rosc nDé dom remcisin

clúas Dé dom étsecht

bríathar Dé dom aurlabrai

lám Dé dom imdegail

intech Dé dom remthechtas

scíath Dé dom immdítin

sochraite Dé dom anacul

ar intledaib demnae

ar aslaigib dúalchae

ar airrechtaib aicnid

ar cach nduine mídúthrastar dam

i céin ocus i n-ocus

i n-úathad ocus i sochaidi.

Tocuirir etrum indiu inna huli nertso

fri cach nert n-amnas fristaí dom churp ocus dom anmain

fri tairchetla saebḟáthe

fri dubrechtu gentliuchtae

fri saebrechtu eretecdae

fri imchellacht n-idlachtae

fri brichtu ban ocus gobann ocus druad

fri cach fiss arachuili corp ocus anmain duini.

Críst dom imdegail indiu

ar neim

ar loscud

ar bádud

ar guin

condomthair ilar fochraicce.

Críst limm, Críst reum, Críst im degaid
Críst indium, Críst íssum, Críst úassum
Críst dessum, Críst túathum
Críst i llius, Críst i ssius, Críst i n-érus
Críst i cridiu cach duini rodomscrútadar
Críst i ngiun cach oín rodomlabrathar
Críst i cach rusc nomdercadar
Críst i cach clúais rodomchloathar.

Atomriug indiu

niurt tríun

togairm Tríndóite

cretim treodatad

foísitin oendatad

i nDúilemon dáil.