The Fifth Sunday in Lent and Pastoral Letter - 2026

 

The Fifth Sunday in Lent or Passion Sunday.

Psalm 143. Domine, exaudi.

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, and consider my desire; * hearken unto me for thy truth and righteousness’ sake.

2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant; * for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; * he hath laid me in the darkness, as the men that have been long dead.

4 Therefore is my spirit vexed within me, * and my heart within me is desolate.

5 Yet do I remember the time past; I muse upon all thy works; * yea, I exercise myself in the works of thy hands.

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee; * my soul gaspeth unto thee as a thirsty land.

7 Hear me, O Lord, and that soon; for my spirit waxeth faint: * hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

8 O let me hear thy loving-kindness betimes in the morning; for in thee is my trust: * show thou me the way that I should walk in; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies; * for I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do the thing that pleaseth thee; for thou art my God: * let thy loving Spirit lead me forth into the land of righteousness.

11 Quicken me, O Lord, for thy Name’s sake; * and for thy righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 And of thy goodness slay mine enemies, * and destroy all them that vex my soul; for I am thy servant.

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.

WE beseech thee, Almighty God, mercifully to look upon thy people; that by thy great goodness they may be governed and preserved evermore, both in body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

{The Collect from the First Day of Lent is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the Day.} 

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 1:10-20

Psalter: Psalm 42, 43 | 119:145-176

Epistle Reading: Hebrews 9:11-15

Gospel Reading: St. John 8:46-59 

Homily 

In my letter to my congregation this week, I begin talking about making disciples: Making Disciples Pt 1

Fourth Sunday in Lent - 2026

 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 130. De profundis.

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.

2 O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.

3 If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?

4 For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.

5 I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.

6 My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.

7 O Israel, trust in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

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.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

{The Collect from the First Day of Lent is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the Day.} 

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 39:21-29

Psalter: Psalm 142, 143 | 119:105-144

Epistle Reading: Galatians 4:21-31

Gospel Reading: St. John 6:1-14 

Homily

Third Sunday in Lent - 2026

 

The Third Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 102. Domine, exaudi.

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, * and let my crying come unto thee.

2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble; * incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.

3 For my days are consumed away like smoke, * and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand.

4 My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass; * so that I forget to eat my bread.

5 For the voice of my groaning, * my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh.

6 I am become like a pelican in the wilderness, * and like an owl that is in the desert.

7 I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow, * that sitteth alone upon the housetop.

8 Mine enemies revile me all the day long; * and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, * and mingled my drink with weeping;

10 And that, because of thine indignation and wrath; * for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down.

11 My days are gone like a shadow, * and I am withered like grass.

12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever, * and thy remembrance throughout all generations.

13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion; * for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come.

14 And why? thy servants think upon her stones, * and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.

15 The nations shall fear thy Name, O Lord; * and all the kings of the earth thy majesty;

16 When the Lord shall build up Sion, * and when his glory shall appear;

17 When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute, * and despiseth not their desire.

18 This shall be written for those that come after, * and the people which shall be born shall praise the LORD.

19 For he hath looked down from his sanctuary; * out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

20 That he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity, * and deliver them that are appointed unto death;

21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion, * and his worship at Jerusalem;

22 When the peoples are gathered together, * and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.

23 He brought down my strength in my journey, * and shortened my days.

24 But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age; * as for thy years, they endure throughout all generations.

25 Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, * and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: * they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

27 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed; * but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, * and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight.

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.

WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

{The Collect from the First Day of Lent is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the Day.} 

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 6

Psalter: Psalm 56, 58 | 119.73-104

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 5.1-14

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 11.14-28 

Homily