All Saints' Day (1 November) and the Twenty-Third Sunday after Trinity - 2024

 

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 

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 

Last week I wrote my congregation about being a garden-church. This week I wrote the second installment of that theme: A Garden-Church #2

Twenty-Second Sunday after Trinity and Saxa Rubra (27 October) - 2024

 

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

 

***My letter to my congregation this last week is about being a Garden-Church.

 

27 October

The Victory at Saxa Rubra

"Labarum, hoc est Christi sacratum nomine signum." 

Collect: Almighty God, Captain of the Host, grant, we beseech thee, that through thy grace we might be ever vigilant to recognize thy sign, and hear thy calling; through thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, forever and ever. Amen

---

Psalm 144: Benedictus Dominus.

BLESSED be the LORD my strength, who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust; who subdueth my people that is under me. LORD, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him? or the son of man, that thou so regardest him? Man is like a thing of nought; his time passeth away like a shadow. Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down; touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them; shoot out thine arrows, and consume them. Send down thine hand from above; deliver me, and take me but of the great waters, from the hand of strangers; Whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God; and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute. Thou hast given victory unto kings, and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword. Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strangers, whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity: That our sons may grow up as the young plants, and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple; That our garners may be full and plenteous with all manner of store; that our sheep may bring forth thousands, and ten thousands in our fields; That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no decay, no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets. Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people who have the LORD for their God. 

Ephesians 6: 10-18

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

Luke xii. 35

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. 

Here is the link for the Collect and readings.

 Labarum Guard

Twenty-First Sunday after Trinity - 2024

 

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:[9-15a]15b-21

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

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

Gospel Reading: St. John 4:46-54 

Homily

 I recently wrote a letter to my congregation on the Repentant Christian Life. I t revolves around Scripture and the 4^th Century Prayer of Ephraim the Syrian: Prayer of the Repentant Christian Life.

Also, I am still doing a video Morning Prayer. Here is today’s.

Twentieth Sunday after Trinity and St. Luke the Evangelist (18 October) - 2024

 

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

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity - 2024

 

The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

Nunc dimittis.

St. Luke ii. 29.

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, * according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen * thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared * before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles, * and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

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, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee; Mercifully grant, that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Note the change from the 1549 BCP: "O GOD, for as muche as without thee, we are not able to please thee; Graunte that the workyng of thy mercie maye in all thynges directe and rule our heartes; Through Jesus Christ our Lorde.")

Old Testament: Job 24.1-17
Psalter: 114, 115 | 107, 70
Epistle: Ephesians 4.17-32
Gospel: St. Matthew 9.1-8

Homily

St. Michael and All Angels (29 September) and Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity - 2024

Saint Michael and All Angels

{29 September}

Psalm 113

Laudate, pueri

PRAISE the Lord, ye servants : O praise the Name of the Lord.

2. Blessed be the Name of the Lord : from this time forth for evermore.

3. The Lord’s Name is praised : from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.

4. The Lord is high above all heathen and his glory above the heavens.

5. Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling so high : and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth?

6. He taketh up the simple out of the dust : and lifteth the poor out of the mire;

7. That he may set him with the princes : even with the princes of his people.

8. He maketh the barren woman to keep house : and to be a joyful mother of children. 

Collect

Everlasting God, who hast ordained and constituted the services of Angels and men in a wonderful order; Mercifully grant that, as thy holy Angels alway do thee service in heaven so by thy appointment they may succour and defend us on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 12.1-3

Psalter: Psalm 103

Epistle Reading: Revelation 12.7-12

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 18.1-10 

The Feast of St. Michael this year is the 20th anniversary of our Order: http://orderofcenturions.org/history.html 

The Feast of St. Michael is a good time to prayerfully reflect on our Vows we have taken: http://orderofcenturions.org/vow.html 

Finally, here is the Prayer of the Order: 

Almighty God, our sovereign Lord, who called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles, who healed the servant at Capernaum in accordance with the Centurion's great faith, and who inspired the Centurion at Calvary to glorify Jesus; strengthen us in our faith that we might follow their example to love, serve, and glorify you as faithful members of the Church Militant, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

The Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity.

Bonum est confiteri.

Psalm xcii.

IT is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, * and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest;

To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning, * and of thy truth in the night season;

Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the lute; * upon a loud instrument, and upon the harp.

For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy works; * and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operations of thy hands.

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.

LORD, we beseech thee, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and with pure hearts and minds to follow thee the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Amos 8.4-12

Psalter: Psalm 111, 112 | 106, 69

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1.4-9

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 22.34-46 

Homily

Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity (and Weekly Pastoral Letter) - 2024

 

The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity.

Cantate Domino.

Psalm xcviii

O SING unto the Lord a new song : for he hath done marvellous things.

With his own right hand, and with his holy arm : hath he gotten himself the victory.

The Lord declared his salvation : his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.

He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel : and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God.

Show yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands : sing, rejoice, and give thanks.

Praise the Lord upon the harp : sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

With trumpets also and shawms : O shew yourselves joyful before the Lord the King.

Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is : the round world, and that dwell therein.

Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord : for he cometh to judge the earth.

With righteousness shall he judge the world : and the peoples with equity.

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.

LORD, we pray thee that thy grace may always *prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

*N.B. In older use prevent meant: to act ahead of; forestall; to precede; to anticipate. 

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 13.15-21

Psalter: Psalm 91, 92 | 105, 60

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 4.1-6

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 14.1-11 

Homily

 

This was my pastoral letter to my congregation this last week: 

I love the Old Testament prophets, and one of my favorite is Habakkuk. Many, many years ago Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the Welsh Calvinist-Methodist preacher (yes, there once was such a creature as a Calvinist-Methodist church) wrote a teeny book working through Habakkuk. The book is made up of his sermons on Habakkuk that were printed in 1953, not long after WWII, in the middle of the Korean War, and at the hieght of the Cold War. It is titled “From Fear to Faith” and you can still order it. Here’s a little taste of Lloyd-Jones as he ponders various passages in Habakkuk. 

“The key to the history of the world is the kingdom of God…And ultimately history today is relevant only as it bears upon the history of the Christian Church…The problems of today are to be understood only in its light. What God is permitting in the Church and in the world today is related to His great purpose for His own Church and kingdom” (p.21-2). 

“There are, in our time, grave dangers confronting the Church and, unless she is careful, like Israel of old she may enter into political alliances to try to stave off the very thing which God has directed. It is essential that the Church should not view things with a political eye, but learn to interpret events spiritually and to understand them in light of God’s instructions to her” (p.23). 

“If we desire to be at peace within, in spite of what is happening in the world around and about us, the only way to do so is to understand this biblical philosophy of history which explains what is happening in the secular world and its bearing on the Church of God. The essential principle is that history can be understood only in terms of God’s kingdom – that is, the rule of God in the world as a whole and including the Church. All history is being directed by God in order to bring His own purpose with respect to the kingdom to pass” (p.45-6). 

“Turning to the positive aspect of this truth (2:14) we read, ‘For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea’. It is not for anyone to attempt to predict what is going to happen in detail, but we can be certain of one great fact, namely, the ultimate triumph of God” (p.53). 

“In the light of all this, what, then, is our final conclusion? … God forbid that we should trust, or commit ourselves to, any power other than God Himself, to any idols man may set up, even though they be the British Commonwealth or the United Nations! … Put your trust in nothing of man, but in God alone! ‘But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him’ (2:20)” (p.54). 

Brothers and sisters, I hope you will find a copy of this book and read it. No matter what is happening here at home, in Europe, Bangladesh, the Middle East, or anywhere else, our God is overseeing it all, and steering it all in the right direction. And when that reality has gotten hold of us, then truly “the righteous shall live” and he shall live “by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4b). 

Pastor Mike