Consecration
of the
Internet Chapel of the Centurions
Feast of St Michael and All
Angles
29 September, 2004
Opening Psalm - Domini est terra. Psalm xxiv.
THE earth
is the Lord's, and all that therein is; * the compass of the world,
and they that dwell therein.
For he
hath founded it upon the seas, * and stablished it upon the
floods.
Who
shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? * or who shall rise up in
his holy place?
Even he
that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; * and that hath not lift
up his mind unto vanity, nor sworn to deceive his
neighbour.
He
shall receive the blessing from the Lord, * and righteousness from
the God of his salvation.
This is
the generation of them that seek him; * even of them that seek thy
face, O Jacob.
Lift up
your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is
this King of glory? * It is the Lord strong and mighty, even the
Lord mighty in battle.
Lift up
your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is
this King of glory? * Even the Lord of hosts, he is the King of
glory.
Glory be
to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost; *As it was
in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end.
Amen.
DEARLY beloved in the Lord; forasmuch as devout and holy men, as well under the Law as under the Gospel, moved either by the express command of God, or by the secret inspiration of the blessed Spirit, and acting agreeably to their own reason and sense of the natural decency of things, have designated places for public worship of God, and separated them from all unhallowed, worldly, and common uses, in order to fill men's minds with greater reverence for his glorious Majesty, and affect their hearts with more devotion and humility in his service; which pious works have been approved of and graciously accepted by our heavenly Father; Let us not doubt but that he will also favorably approve our godly purpose of setting apart this Internet space in solemn manner, for the several Offices of religious worship, and let us faithfully and devoutly beg his blessing on this our undertaking.
- Collect and readings
The Collect.
MOST glorious God, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain; Graciously accept the Dedication of this Internet Chapel to your service; and grant that all who shall call upon you here may worship you in spirit and in truth, and may in their lives show forth your praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For the Old Testament Lesson
Daniel xii. 1
AT that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.For the First Epistle
Revelation xii. 7
THERE was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
For the Second Epistle.
Revelation xxi. 2.
AND I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
St. John ii. 13.
AND the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost + Amen
The 29th of September marks the Feast of St. Michael & All Angels. It also marks the anniversary of the Order of Centurions. In 2003 on this feast day, we "opened the doors" to www.OrderofCenturions.org on the Internet. This year, we consecrate and dedicate the Internet Chapel of the Centurions. We pray this Chapel will provide a place for members and visitors to come for daily prayer where they may be refreshed and renewed.
One hundred years ago, most worshippers might find a church or chapel that said the daily office or offered daily communion and whose doors were never locked. That is not the case today. However, the Chapel of the Centurions offers a place where worshippers gather through the Internet and may read the collects and lessons every day at any hour. A place of rest from the busy world and a place to reflect on God's word. The worshippers are not alone, but offer praise and thanksgiving with thousands of worshippers from around the globe around the clock who visit the Internet sites of Sacred Space for the Daily Holy Reading (Lectio Divina), or Oremus for the daily office, and Vanderbilt Divinity Library for the Sunday collects and readings. Cohorts that meet together in worship in their local chapels may use this Internet Chapel as a resource for worship, and those who cannot physically attend a church or chapel to take Communion on Sundays and Holy Days may participate in a Spiritual Communion at this Chapel.
It is fitting that both the Order's establishment and the Chapel's consecration are remembered on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angles. Michael means "one like the Lord." Michael is seen in both the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation as the armed angel fighting against and vanquishing Evil. Michael is the commander of all the angles. His militant and vigilant spirit serves as an example for the Centurion in Christ's Legion. He guards the faith and fights against the powers that wage war against the Church Militant and God's Good in the world.
In hoc signo vinces. Amen
O EVERLASTING God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so, by thy appointment, they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O ETERNAL God, mighty in power, and of majesty incomprehensible, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands; and who yet has been graciously pleased to promise your special presence, wherever two or three of your faithful servants shall assemble in your Name, to offer up their praises and supplications unto you; Vouchsafe, O Lord, to be present with us, who are gathered in spirit with all humility and readiness of heart, to consecrate this place to the honor of your great Name; separating it henceforth from all unhallowed, ordinary, and common uses; and dedicating it to your service, for reading your holy Word, for offering to your glorious Majesty the sacrifices of prayer and thanksgiving, and for all other holy purposes: accept, O Lord, this service at our hands, and bless it with such success as may tend most to your glory, and the furtherance of our happiness both temporal and spiritual; through Jesus Christ our blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that whosoever shall make Spiritual Communion with you in this place may come with faith, charity, and true repentance; and being filled with your grace and heavenly benediction, may, to their great and endless comfort, be assured of your forgiveness of their sins, and all other benefits of the passion of Jesus Christ. Amen.
GRANT, O Lord, that by your holy Word which shall be read in this place, and by your Holy Spirit grafting it inwardly in the heart, the readers thereof may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and may have power and strength to fulfil the same. Amen.
GRANT, we beseech you, blessed Lord, that whosoever shall draw near to you in this place, to give you thanks for the benefits which they have received at your hands, to set forth your most worthy praise, to confess their sins unto you, and to ask such things as are requisite and necessary, as well for the body as for the soul, may do it with such steadiness of faith, and with such seriousness, affection, and devotion of mind, that you may accept their bounden duty and service, and vouchsafe to give whatever in your infinite wisdom you shall see to be most expedient for them. All which we beg for Jesus Christ's sake, our most blessed Lord and Savior. Amen.
Peace
Offering
Communion
Blessings after communion and before dismissal
BLESSED be your Name, O Lord God, for that it has pleased you to have your habitation among the sons of men, and to dwell in the midst of the assembly of the saints upon the earth; Grant, we beseech thee, that in this place now set apart to your service, your holy Name may be worshipped in truth and purity through all generations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May the Lord bless us and keep us, may the Lord make his face to shine upon us and grant us peace.Amen.
Adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer: This service occurred in the Red River "Miliari" Cohort, Campton, KY, amongst the Ordo Centurionum Tribunus