First Sunday of Advent and St. Andrews (30 Nov) - 2021/22

 

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 

Homily

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 

Homily

Thanksgiving Day (USA) - 25 November 2021

 

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.

² 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.

³ When I consider thy heavens, 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 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, * and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

⁶ Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; * thou hast put all things under his feet:

⁷ All sheep and oxen, * yea, and the beasts of the field;

⁸ The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, * and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord our Lord, * how excellent is thy name in all the earth! 

Deuteronomy 8.7-18

⁷ 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; ⁸ A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; ⁹ 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

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. ⁹ 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.

The Sunday next before Advent - 2021

 

The Sunday next before Advent.

Isaiah 12.1-6

Confitebor tibi

And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, * and thou comfortedst me.

Behold, God is my salvation; * I will trust, and not be afraid:

for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; * he also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. * And in that day shall ye say,

Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, * make mention that his name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: * this is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: * for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

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. 

Suffrages

(from the Lutheran Brotherhood Prayer Book Morning Prayer)

I said, O Lord be merciful unto me;

Heal my soul; for I have sinned against Thee.

Return, O Lord, how long?

And let it repent Thee concerning Thy servants.

Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,

According as we hope in Thee.

Let Thy priests be clothed with righteousness,

And let Thy servants shout for joy.

O Lord, save our rulers;

Let the King hear us when we call.

Save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance;

Feed them also and lift them up forever.

Remember Thy congregation,

Which Thou hast purchased of old.

Peace be within thy walls,

And prosperity within thy palaces.

Let us pray for our absent brethren.

O Thou, our God, save Thy servants that trust in Thee.

Let us pray for the brokenhearted and the captives.

Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Send them help from the Sanctuary

And strengthen them out of Zion.

  

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 

Homily 

Recently I wrote a short blog post of my reflections on Isaiah 32:14-17, especially how it brought me to pray. At the end is that prayer: “Until the Spirit Is Poured Upon Us from On High”.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity - 2021

 

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 

Homily

 

The following prayer is from the Book of Common Prayer 1662 (International ed.) published by IVP 2021:

Eternal and gracious God, who art slow to anger and of great kindness:

Have mercy on thy faithless and backsliding church.

We mourn and confess to thee our sins, the poverty of our devotion,

and the weakness of our testimony.

Pardon, cleanse, and restore us, we humbly beseech thee.

Fill us with the power of thy Holy Spirit,

that we thy people may be humbled and sanctified,

and that the multitudes who are lost to thee may be convicted of their sins

and converted to their Saviour, for the glory of his saving name. Amen (p.676-7).

Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity and Prayer for Courts of Justice - 2021

 

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 

In regard to the cases our Supreme Court is hearing, I think it fitting to remember the Court all this week:

For Courts of Justice.

ALMIGHTY God, who sittest in the throne judging

right; We humbly beseech thee to bless the courts of

justice and the magistrates in all this land; and give unto

them the spirit of wisdom and understanding, that they may

discern the truth, and impartially administer the law in the

fear of thee alone; through him who shall come to be our

Judge, thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity and All Saints (1 Nov) - 2021

 

The Twenty-second Sunday after Trinity.

1 Samuel 2.1-10

Exultant cor meum

My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, * mine horn is exalted in the LORD:

My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; * because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: * neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; * let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, * and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, * and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; * and they that were hungry ceased:

So that the barren hath born seven; * and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: * he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: * he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, * and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,

To set them among princes, * and to make them inherit the throne of glory:

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, * and he hath set the world upon them.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; * for by strength shall no man prevail.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; * out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:

The LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, * and exalt the horn of his anointed.

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. 

Suffrages

(from the Te Deum)

O LORD, save thy people, and bless thine heritage.

Govern them, and lift them up for ever.

Day by day we magnify thee;

And we worship thy Name ever, world without end.

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is in thee.

O Lord, in thee have I trusted; let me never be confounded. 

The Collect.

LORD, we beseech thee to keep thy household the Church in continual godliness; that through thy protection it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Numbers 20.14-29

Psalter: Psalm 123, 124, 125 | 136, 138

Epistle Reading: Philippians 1.3-11

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 18.21-35 

Homily 

All Saints’ Day

The Collect

O almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

At the beginning of morning prayer and for an anthem at communion:
The Lord is glorious in his saints; * O come, let us adore him 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 26.1-21

Psalter: Psalm 116

Epistle Reading: Revelation 7.2-17

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5.1-12 

Homily

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity - 2021

 

(This monument is in honor of the Marylanders who fought on both sides of Gettysburg. This is from the plaque on the reverse side: "A Final Tribute - More than 3,000 Marylanders served on both sides of the conflict at the Battle of Gettysburg. They could be found in all branches of the army from the rank of private to major general and on all parts of the battlefield. Brother against brother would be their legacy, particularly on the slopes of Culp’s Hill. This memorial symbolizes the aftermath of that battle and the war. Brothers again, Marylanders all.")

The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity.

Benedic, anima mea.

Psalm ciii.

PRAISE the Lord, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;

Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness.

O praise the Lord, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.

O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure.

O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: * praise thou the Lord, O my soul.

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. 

Suffrages

(from Evening Prayer)

Minister. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us.

Answer. And grant us thy salvation.

Minister. O Lord, save the State.

Answer. And mercifully hear us when we call upon thee.

Minister. Endue thy Ministers with righteousness.

Answer. And make thy chosen people joyful.

Minister. O Lord, save thy people.

Answer. And bless thine inheritance.

Minister. Give peace in our time, O Lord.

Answer. For it is thou, Lord, only, that makest us dwell in safety.

Minister. O God, make clean our hearts within us.

Answer. And take not thy Holy Spirit from us. 

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 59.15b-21

Psalter: Psalm 120, 121, 122 | 133, 134, 135

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 6.10-20

Gospel Reading: St. John 4.46-54 

Homily

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity and St. Luke's (18 October) - 2021

 

(My wife and I at the monument "Peace Eternal" built at Gettysburg with Southern limestone and Northern granite. Built and dedicated by both North and South as part of the healing of the Union after the late unpleasantness. The inscription reads "Eternal Peace In a Nation United")

The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity.

Deus misereatur.

Psalm lxvii.

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us, * and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us;

That thy way may be known upon earth, * thy saving health among all nations.

Let the peoples praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the peoples praise thee.

O let the nations rejoice and be glad; * for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the nations upon earth.

Let the peoples praise thee, O God; * yea, let all the peoples praise thee.

Then shall the earth bring forth her increase; * and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing.

God shall bless us; * and all the ends of the world shall fear him.

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 ALMIGHTY and most merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us; that we, being ready both in body and soul, may cheerfully* accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

{*the 1549 BCP has, “may with free hearts accomplish…”}

 

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 9.4-10

Psalter: Psalm 116, 117 | 118, 83

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 5.15-21

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 22.1-14 

Homily

Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist (18 October):

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who didst inspire thy servant Saint Luke the Physician, to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of thy Son; Manifest in thy Church the like power and love, to the healing of our bodies and our souls; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

The Epistle. 2 Timothy iv. 5.

WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: for Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry. And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus. The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 

The Gospel. St. Luke x. 1.

THE Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire.

 

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/luke.html#homily