The Third Sunday in Lent (with a prayer for those addicted) - 2016

The Third Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 43

Judica me, Deus

GIVE sentence with me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people : O deliver me from the deceitful and wicked man.

2. For thou art the God of my strength, why hast thou put me from thee : and why go I so heavily, while the enemy oppresseth me?

3. O send out thy light and thy truth, that they may lead me : and bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy dwelling.

4. And that I may go unto the altar of God, even unto the God of my joy and gladness : and upon the harp I will give thanks unto thee, O God, my God.

5. Why art thou so heavy, O my soul : and why art thou so disquieted within me?

6. O put thy trust in God : for I will yet give him thanks, which is the help of my countenance, and my God.

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: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/lent3_08.html

Personal: In light of the Gospel reading, please remember to pray for those who are bound up by dark and destructive powers. I’m thinking especially those who are captured by addictions that are destroying their lives, whether chemical, visual, gambling, or others.  Maybe something along this lines:

Lord Jesus, who hast come to set the captives free; who through thine cross and resurrection hast disarmed principalities and powers, making a public spectacle of them and triumphed over them: set free these for whom we pray….that all may know that thou art Lord of lords and King of kings, and that these may glorify and enjoy thee now and hereafter. Amen.

Saint Matthias Day - 24 February 2016

Saint Matthias’s Day (24 February)

Psalm 140

Eripe me, Domine

DELIVER me, O Lord, from the evil man : and preserve me from the wicked man.

2. Who imagine mischief in their hearts : and stir up strife all the day long.

3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent : adders’ poison is under their lips.

4. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly : preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.

5. The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords : yea, and set traps in my way.

6. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God : hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord.

7. O Lord God, thou strength of my health : thou hast covered my head in the day of the battle.

8. Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord : let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.

9. Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them : that compass me about.

10. Let hot burning coals fall upon them : let them be cast into the fire and into the pit, that they never rise up again.

11. A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth : evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.

12. Sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor : and maintain the cause of the helpless.

13. The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name : and the just shall continue in thy sight.

The Collect

Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles; Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 2.27-35

Psalter: Psalm 15

Epistle Reading: Acts 1.15-26

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 11.25-30

The Second Sunday in Lent - 2016

The Second 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.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the 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: 1 Kings 8.37-43

Psalter: Psalm 6, 38 | 119.33-72

Epistle Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4.1-8

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 15.21-28

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/lent2_07.html

The First Sunday in Lent (and Ember Days) - 2016

The First Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 32

eati, quorum

BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven : and whose sin is covered.

2. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin : and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3. For while I held my tongue : my bones consumed away through my daily complaining.

4. For thy hand is heavy upon me day and night : and my moisture is like the drought in summer.

5. I will acknowledge my sin unto thee : and mine unrighteousness have I not hid.

6. I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord : and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.

7. For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found : but in the great water-floods they shall not come nigh him.

8. Thou art a place to hide me in, thou shalt preserve me from trouble : thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

9. I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go : and I will guide thee with mine eyes.

10. Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding : whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle. lest they fall upon thee.

11. Great plagues remain for the ungodly : but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side.

12. Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord : and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.

The Collect.

O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. 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 58.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 51, 54 | 119.1-32

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 6.1-10

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 4.1-11

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/lent1_10.html

Ember days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Here are the readings (morning and evening) along with the Collect: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ember_lent.html

The First day of Lent - 2016

The First day of Lent,

Commonly called Ash-Wednesday.

Psalm 6

Domine, ne in furore

O LORD, rebuke me not in thine indignation : neither chasten me in thy displeasure.

2. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak : O Lord, heal me, for my bones are vexed.

3. My soul also is sore troubled : but, Lord, how long wilt thou punish me?

4. Turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul : O save me for thy mercy’s sake.

5. For in death no man remembereth thee : and who will give thee thanks in the pit?

6. I am weary of my groaning; every night wash I my bed : and water my couch with my tears.

7. My beauty is gone for very trouble : and worn away because of all mine enemies.

8. Away from me, all ye that work vanity : for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.

9. The Lord hath heard my petition : the Lord will receive my prayer.

10. All mine enemies shall be confounded, and sore vexed : they shall be turned back, and put to shame suddenly.

A Litany: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/litany.html

A Penitential Office: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/penitential.html

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.

{This Collect is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the Day.}

Old Testament Reading: Joel 2.12-17

Psalter: Psalm 51

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 6.16-21

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

The Sunday called Quinquagesima - 2016

The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the next Sunday before Lent.

Psalm 26

Judica me, Domine

BE THOU my judge, O Lord, for I have walked innocently : my trust hath been also in the Lord, therefore shall I not fall.

2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me : try out my reins and my heart.

3. For thy loving-kindness is ever before mine eyes : and I will walk in thy truth.

4. I have not dwelt with vain persons : neither will I have fellowship with the deceitful.

5. I have hated the congregation of the wicked : and will not sit among the ungodly.

6. I will wash my hands in innocency, O Lord : and so will I go to thine altar.

7. That I may shew the voice of thanksgiving : and tell of all thy wondrous works.

8. Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house : and the place where thine honour dwelleth.

9. O shut not up my soul with the sinners : nor my life with the blood-thirsty.

10. In whose hands is wickedness : and their right hand is full of gifts.

11. But as for me, I will walk innocently : O deliver me, and be merciful unto me.

12. My foot standeth right : I will praise the Lord in the congregations.

The Collect.

O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 10.12-11.1

Psalter: Psalm 15, 16 | 111, 112

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 13.1-13

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 18.31-43

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/quinquagesima_08.html

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple - 2016

The presentation of Christ in the temple, commonly called the Purification of Saint Mary the Virgin

Psalm 134

Ecce nunc

BEHOLD now, praise the Lord : all ye servants of the Lord;

2. Ye that by night stand in the house of the Lord : even in the courts of the house of our God.

3. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary : and praise the Lord.

4. The Lord that made heaven and earth : give thee blessing out of Sion.

The Collect

Almighty and everliving God, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Malachi 3.1-5

Psalter: Psalm 84

Epistle Reading: Galatians 1.1-24

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 2.22-40

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