When the Church says “contend,” does it mean to be contentious—or courageous?On this episode, the Everyday Monks roundtable (Fr. Michael Vinson, Dcn. Timothy Wilson, Fr. Michael Templin, and Fr. Mark Toombs) opens the 1928 Book of Common Prayer for the Feast of St. Simon & St. Jude and traces a compelling line from Jude 3 (“the faith once delivered”) to Ephesians 2 (built on the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone)—all the way to life in your parish this week.

In this conversation:

* Zeal without frenzy: What Simon the Zealot teaches about holy courage vs. misdirected heat

* Jude’s charge: How to contend for the faith with truth, patience, and charity

* The living temple: Why ordered vocations and unity in the Spirit build a house God inhabits

* Comfort in conflict: Rethinking the Holy Spirit as Comforter amid real opposition

* History & hope: Early martyr traditions, a nod to Psalm 118, and the 1928 BCP Collect’s bold petition

Lighthearted parish life is here too—birthday shout-outs, an anniversary, and a quick Synod recap—set against the serious call to faithful witness.

Listen now and be strengthened to love, to build, and to contend—without becoming contentious.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast built thy Church upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the head corner-stone; Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their doctrine, that we may be made an holy temple acceptable unto thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. Ephesians ii. 19.

NOW therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the house-hold of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The Gospel. St. John xv. 17.

THESE things I command you, that ye love I one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep your’s also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

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