Rogation Sunday, Rogation Days and Saints Phillip and James - 2016

The Fifth Sunday after Easter (or Rogation Sunday).

Psalm 84

Quam dilecta!

O HOW amiable are thy dwellings : thou Lord of hosts!

2. My soul hath a desire and longing to enter into the courts of the Lord : my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

3. Yea, the sparrow hath found her an house, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young : even thy altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.

4. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : they will be alway praising thee.

5. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee : in whose heart are thy ways.

6. Who going through the vale of misery use it for a well : and the pools are filled with water.

7. They will go from strength to strength : and unto the God of gods appeareth every one of them in Sion.

8. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer :hearken, O God of Jacob.

9. Behold, O God our defender : and look upon the face of thine Anointed.

10. For one day in thy courts : is better than a thousand.

11. I had rather be a door-keeper in the house of my God : than to dwell in the tents of ungodliness.

12. For the Lord God is a light and defence : the Lord will give grace and worship, and no good thing shall he withhold from them that live a godly life.

13. O Lord God of hosts : blessed is the man that putteth his trust in thee.

The Collect.

O LORD, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 1.10-20

Psalter: Psalm 146, 147 | 132, 133, 134

Epistle Reading: James 1.22-27

Gospel Reading: St. John 16.23-33

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter5_08.html

Saint Phillip and Saint James - Apostles
[May 1]

The Collect

O ALMIGHTY God, whom truly to know is everlasting life; Grant us perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life; that, following the steps of thy holy Apostles, Saint Philip and Saint James, we may stedfastly walk in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epistle Reading: James 1.1-12

Gospel Reading: John 14.1-14

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

The Rogation Days
Being the Three Days before Ascension Day

Psalm 147

Laudate Dominum

( . . . )

7. O sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving : sing praises upon the harp unto our God;

8. Who covereth the heavens with clouds, and prepareth rain for the earth : and maketh the grass to grow upon the mountains, and herb for the use of men;

9. Who giveth fodder unto the cattle : and feedeth the young ravens that call upon him.

10. He hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse : neither delighteth he in any man’s legs.

11. But the Lord’s delight is in them that fear him : and put their trust in his mercy.

( . . . )

ALMIGHTY God, Lord of heaven and earth; We beseech thee to pour forth thy blessing upon this land, and to give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday AM: Psalm 104. 1^st Lesson – Deuteronomy 8.1-11, 17-20. 2^nd Lesson – Matthew 5.5-15.

Monday PM: Psalm 34. 1^st Lesson – Deuteronomy 28.1-14. 2^nd Lesson – James 1.1-17

Tuesday AM: Psalm 80. 1^st Lesson – Deuteronomy 11.10-17. 2^nd Lesson – Matthew 6.24-34

Tuesday PM: Psalm 65, 67. 1^st Lesson – 1 Kings 8.22-30. 2^nd Lesson – James 4.8-17

Wednesday AM: Psalm 144. 1^st Lesson – Jeremiah 14.1-9. 2^nd Lesson – 1 John 5.5-15

Wednesday PM: Psalm 93, 99. 1^st Lesson – Isaiah 11.1-5. 2^nd Lesson – Luke 24.44-48

A modern custom for Rogation Days has been to focus prayers and actions toward charity to help feed poor folk. On this page we have provided three ways to do that: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/rogation.html

Saint Mark the Evangelist - 2016

Saint Mark the Evangelist
[25 April]

 “17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.19For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen” (Romans 16.17-20).

O ALMIGHTY God, who hast instructed thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Saint Mark; Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epistle Reading:  Ephesians 4.7-16

Gospel Reading: John 15.1-11

The Fourth Sunday after Easter - 2016

The Fourth Sunday after Easter.

Psalm 82

Deus stetit

GOD standeth in the congregation of princes : he is a Judge among gods.

2. How long will ye give wrong judgement : and accept the persons of the ungodly?

3. Defend the poor and fatherless : see that such as are in need and necessity have right.

4. Deliver the outcast and poor : save them from the hand of the ungodly.

5. They will not be learned nor understand, but walk on still in darkness : all the foundations of the earth are out of course.

6. I have said, Ye are gods : and ye are all the children of the most Highest.

7. But ye shall die like men : and fall like one of the princes.

8. Arise, O God, and judge thou the earth : for thou shalt take all heathen to thine inheritance.

The Collect.

O ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 39.21-29

Psalter: Psalm 126, 127, 128 | 129, 130, 131

Epistle Reading: James 1.17-21

Gospel Reading: St. John 16.5-15

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter4_07.html

The Third Sunday after Easter - 2016

The Third Sunday after Easter.

Psalm 75

Confitebimur tibi

UNTO thee, O God, do we give thanks : yea, unto thee do we give thanks.

2. Thy Name also is so nigh : and that do thy wondrous works declare.

3. When I receive the congregation : I shall judge according unto right.

4. The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof : I bear up the pillars of it.

5. I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly: and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.

6. Set not up your horn on high : and speak not with a stiff neck.

7. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west : nor yet from the south.

8. And why? God is the Judge : he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

9. For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red : it is full mixed, and he poureth out of the same.

10. As for the dregs thereof : all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out.

11. But I will talk of the God of Jacob : and praise him for ever.

12. All the horns of the ungodly also will I break : and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 2.1b-10

Psalter: Psalm 120, 121, 122 | 123, 124, 125

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 2.11-17

Gospel Reading: St. John 16.16-24

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter3_07.html

The Second Sunday after Easter - 2016

{The Good Shepherd, 280-290 AD, Late Roman, Asia Minor, marble - Cleveland Museum of Art}

The Second Sunday after Easter.

Psalm 120

Ad Dominum

WHEN I was in trouble I called upon the Lord : and he heard me.

2. Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips : and from a deceitful tongue.

3. What reward shall be given or done unto thee, thou false tongue : even mighty and sharp arrows, with hot burning coals.

4. Woe is me, that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech : and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar.

5. My soul hath long dwelt among them : that are enemies unto peace.

6. I labour for peace, but when I speak unto them thereof : they make them ready to battle.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who has given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40.1-11

Psalter: Psalm 21, 23 | 116, 117

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 2.19-25

Gospel Reading: St. John 10.11-16

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter2_07.html

The First Sunday after Easter - 2016

The First Sunday after Easter.

Psalm 112

Beatus vir

BLESSED is the man that feareth the Lord : he hath great delight in his commandments.

2. His seed shall be mighty upon earth : the generation of the faithful shall be blessed.

3. Riches and plenteousness shall be in his house : and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4. Unto the godly there ariseth up light in the darkness : he is merciful, loving, and righteous.

5. A good man is merciful, and lendeth : and will guide his words with discretion.

6. For he shall never be moved : and the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance.

7. He will not be afraid of any evil tidings : for his heart standeth fast, and believeth in the Lord.

8. His heart is established, and will not shrink : until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9. He hath dispersed abroad, and given to the poor : and his righteousness remaineth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10. The ungodly shall see it, and it shall grieve him : he shall gnash with his teeth, and consume away; the desire of the ungodly shall perish.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY Father, who has given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 43.1-12

Psalter: Psalm 110, 111 | 2, 57

Epistle Reading: 1 John 5.4-12

Gospel Reading: St. John 20.19-23

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter1_07.html