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2018/11/30

First Sunday of Advent - 2018/2019


The First Sunday of Advent.
Psalm 8.
Domine, Dominus noster.
O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world; * thou that hast set thy glory above the heavens!
2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies, * that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, even the work of thy fingers; * the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? * and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 Thou madest him lower than the angels, * to crown him with glory and worship.
6 Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands; * and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen; * yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea; * and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Governor, * how excellent is thy Name in all the world!
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.

The Collect.
[This Collect is to be repeated every day, with the other Collects in Advent, until Christmas-Eve.]

ALMIGHTY God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 28.14-22
Psalter 8, 50; 96, 97
Epistle Reading: Romans 13.8-14
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21.1-13


A short note for the weekly Collects and readings in the 2019 year: for the opening Psalter selection I will be following the suggested Psalter reading listed under “Proper Psalms for Seasons and Days” on p. 344 of the 1928 BCP. 

2018/11/29

St. Andrew the Apostle - 30 November 2018



Saint Andrew the Apostle
[November 30]
Collect
ALMIGHTY God, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay; Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy Word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 55.1-5
Psalter: Psalm 34
Epistle Reading: Romans 10.9-21
Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 4.18-22


2018/11/23

The Sunday next before Advent - 2018


The Sunday next before Advent.
Habakkuk 3.12-19
In fremitu
Thou didst march through the land in indignation, * thou didst thresh the heathen in anger.
Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, * even for salvation with thine anointed;
Thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, * by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah.
Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: * their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
Thou didst walk through the sea with thine horses, * through the heap of great waters.
When I heard, my belly trembled; * my lips quivered at the voice:
Rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, * that I might rest in the day of trouble:
When he cometh up unto the people, * he will invade them with his troops.
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, * neither shall fruit be in the vines;
The labour of the olive shall fail, * and the fields shall yield no meat;
The flock shall be cut off from the fold, * and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, * I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, * and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.
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.

The Collect.
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23.5-8
Psalter: Psalm 146, 147 | 148, 149, 150
Epistle Reading: (Ephesians 2.1-10)
Gospel Reading: St. John 6.1-14


Personal: What did our Lord mean in Matthew 17.14-21 by “when you say to this mountain”? Here’s a devotional reflection giving an answer to that question, and goes well with today’s Collect: “Say to this Mountain”.

Note: At the end of October 2018 Monies were sent to Sanctuary Consulting International. One of our centurions, Johnny Smith, is with this organization and is presently serving in an African country. Sanctuary’s mission is the protection, safety, and security of others. They conduct security training for NGOs and missionary organizations. They also provide Site Surveys, Security Assessments, and Risk Assessments for individuals, organizations, locations, and endeavors. We are grateful for their service!

Johnny received the gift from the Order, and wrote a short “thank you”: “Thank you and the thank the Order of Centurions for the gift again. I'm honored to be in your thoughts and prayers.

2018/11/22

Thanksgiving (USA) - 22 November 2018


Thanksgiving Day
(USA)
¶ Instead of the Venite, the following shall be said or sung.

O PRAISE the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God; * yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful.
The Lord doth build up Jerusalem, * and gather together the outcasts of Israel.
He healeth those that are broken in heart, * and giveth medicine to heal their sickness.
O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; * sing praises upon the harp unto our God:
Who covereth the heaven with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth; * and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;
Who giveth fodder unto the cattle, * and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.
Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; * praise thy God, O Sion.
For he hath made fast the bars of thy gates, * and hath blessed thy children within thee.
He maketh peace in thy borders, * and filleth thee with the flour of wheat.
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.

The Collect.
O MOST merciful Father, who hast blessed the labours of the husbandman in the returns of the fruits of the earth; We give thee humble and hearty thanks for this thy bounty; beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness to us, that our land may still yield her increase, to thy glory and our comfort; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Epistle. St. James i. 16.
The Gospel. St. Matthew vi. 25.

Additional readings that regularly come to my mind at this time of year:

Psalm 8
1O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! * who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength * because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, *the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? * and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, * and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; * thou hast put all things under his feet:
All sheep and oxen, * yea, and the beasts of the field;
The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, * and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
O Lord our Lord, * how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

Deuteronomy 8.7-18
For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. 10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee. 11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; 14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; 17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

1 Timothy 6.6-10, 17-19
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows…17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

2018/11/16

Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity - 2018


The Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity.
(from The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany)
Habakkuk 3.2-11
Domine audivi
O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: * O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make known; * in wrath remember mercy.
God came from Teman, * and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah.
His glory covered the heavens, * and the earth was full of his praise.
And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: * and there was the hiding of his power.
Before him went the pestilence, * and burning coals went forth at his feet.
He stood, and measured the earth: * he beheld, and drove asunder the nations;
And the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: * his ways are everlasting.
I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: * and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? * was thine anger against the rivers? 
Was thy wrath against the sea, * that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
Thy bow was made quite naked, * according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers. * The mountains saw thee, and they trembled:
The overflowing of the water passed by: * the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, * and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
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.

The Collect.
O GOD, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil, and make us the sons of God, and heirs of eternal life; Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 66.1-2, 10, 12-16, 18-23
Psalter: Psalm 75, 138, 98 | 9, 76, 96
Epistle Reading: 1 John 3.1-8
Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 24.23-31

Homily

2018/11/09

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity - 2018



The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity.
Jeremiah 31.10-14
Audite verbum Domini
Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, * and declare it in the isles afar off, and say,
He that scattered Israel will gather him, * and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, * and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, * and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD,
For wheat, and for wine, and for oil, * and for the young of the flock and of the herd:
And their soul shall be as a watered garden; * and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, * both young men and old together:
For I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, * and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, * and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
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.

The Collect.
O LORD, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Malachi 3.13-4.3
Psalter: Psalm 129, 130, 131 | 144, 145
Epistle Reading: Colossians 1.3-12
Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 9.18-26

2018/11/02

Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity - 2018


The Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity.
1 Chronicles 29.10-13
Benedictus es, Domine Deus Israel
Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, * for ever and ever.
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: * for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;
Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, * and thou art exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come of thee, * and thou reignest over all;
And in thine hand is power and might; *and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, * and praise thy glorious name.
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.

The Collect.
O GOD, our refuge and strength, who art the author of all godliness; Be ready, we beseech thee, to hear the devout prayers of thy Church; and grant that those things which we ask faithfully we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 64.1-12
Psalter: Psalm 126, 127, 128 | 140, 141
Epistle Reading: Philippians 3.17-21
Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 22.15-22

Homily