Ember days. Days of prayer for those preparing for ordination, days for celebrating ordination, days of prayer for those engaged in ordained ministry. Three days of fasting and prayer—Wednesday, Friday, Saturday—are set aside four times a year (the week of Pentecost, the week following Holy Cross Day, the week following St. Lucy’s Day in December, the first full week of Lent) in order to pray for and ordain clergy to sustain the life of the Body of Christ.

But—Ember Days are also the source of Tempura! Tempura is a typical Japanese dish that was originally introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in Nagasaki through fritter-cooking techniques during the 16th century. The dish usually consists of seafood, meat and vegetables that have been battered and deep fried. Who’d athunk it?!

The word tempura comes from the original Latin for the Ember Days; the term “Ember Days” itself comes from the Latin quatuor tempora (literally ‘four times’). The Ember Days are also regular times to avail oneself of Confession and spiritual direction at the four turning points of the seasons. Tying self-examination, repentance, confession, etc to the Ember Days removes these from the realm of “whether I feel it’s necessary” and waiting for a moment of “inspiration” so that such activities become simply part of the regular, expected rhythm of spiritual life and practice.

Some people see a connection between the Ember Days and the four Lenten periods of the Orthodox Church year—Nativity Fast, Great Lent, the Apostles’ Fast, and the Dormition Fast. Although falling at similar times of the year, there is no firm connection between the Ember Days and these Orthodox fasting periods. But the four Lenten periods are also times of prayer and fasting, spiritual guidance and confession, as well as frequently occasions for ordination.

Spanish folklore says the weather of the Ember Days predicts the weather for that coming season of the year, much as the folklore of Groundhog Day says the weather of February 2 sets the pattern for the next six weeks. (That means the summer will be pleasant and mild, at least in New York! 🤞)

So, four times a year for three days: Fast! Pray! Confess! Be ordained! And eat tempura ….

The parish of St. Dunstan’s and All Saints (commonly known simply as “St. Dunstan’s”) in the East End of London was the last church a seagoing ship would pass and the first church a ship would pass returning to port. All births and deaths at sea were recorded there. It is “the parish of the high seas” and many–if not most–people coming to the North American colonies passed by St. Dunstan’s.

It was a wonderful experience to visit our sister parish in London! The parish was dedicated by St. Dunstan in the tenth century; the stone church he built replaced an even older wooden church. The sense of history is palpable—just beneath the surface of everything. Scratch a stone and so much history pours out—most of the altar area of the current church was built in 13th century, though a small portion of it dates from the time of St. Dunstan himself in the 10th century. The current nave was built in the 14th century and the bell tower dates from the 15th century.

St. Dunstan himself was bishop of London and then archbishop of Canterbury. He is said to have been a skilled metal worker and there are several folktales of him besting the devil with pincers, hammers, nails, and horseshoes–all tools found in a metalworking forge. (St. Dunstan’s red-hot pincers, which he used to grab the devil by the nose, appear next to the front door of the church.)

The area around the parish–the East End of London–was heavily bombed during WWII as the Nazis attempted to disrupt British naval operations and capabilities. Although the church building was not damaged, the medieval windows were blown out; the current windows are modern post-war replacements. The window above the high altar shows Christ in glory on the Cross presiding over the resurrection of the East End after the war.

Here’s to many more visits between the Church of the Good Shepherd, Kips Bay (Manhattan) and St. Dunstan’s, Stepney (London)!

See more about St. Dunstan’s, Stepney here and here.

I am away preaching at our sister parish of St. Dunstan’s and All Saints, Stepney (London) and will be blogging again the week of May 23. Remember me in your prayers. Light a candle on my behalf, as well as for the parish of Good Shepherd, and Fr. Trevor with the parish of St. Dunstan’s and All Saints.