First Sunday after Trinity - 2016

The First Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119

Beati immaculati

BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way : and walk in the law of the Lord.

2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies : and seek him with their whole heart.

3. For they who do no wickedness : walk in his ways.

4. Thou hast charged : that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.

5. O that my ways were made so direct : that I might keep thy statutes!

6. So shall I not be confounded : while I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart : when I shall have learned the judgements of thy righteousness.

8. I will keep thy ceremonies : O forsake me not utterly.

The Collect.

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23.23-32

Psalter: Psalm 1, 5 | 2, 3, 4

Epistle Reading: 1 John 4.7-21

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 16.19-31

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity1_07.html

Trinity Sunday - 2016

Trinity-Sunday.

Psalm 67

Deus misereatur

GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us : and shew us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto us:

2. That thy way may be known upon earth : thy saving health among all nations.

3. Let the people praise thee, O God : yea, let all the people praise thee.

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

5. Let the people praise thee, O God : let all the people praise thee.

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

7. God shall bless us : and all the ends of the world shall fear him.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of thy Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee, that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Numbers 21.4-9

Psalter: Psalm 29, 33 | 93, 97, 150

Epistle Reading: Revelation 4.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. John 3.1-15

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity_10.html

Pentecost Ember Days - 2016

Pentecost Ember Days

Readings for Pentecost Ember Days(Wednesday, Friday and Saturday): http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ember_pentecost.html

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son; Mercifully look upon the same, and at this time so guide and govern the minds of thy servants the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons, to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be ordained to any holy function, give thy grace and heavenly benediction; that both by their life and doctrine they may show forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or this.

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Whit-Sunday, along with Monday and Tuesday of Whitsun Week - 2016

(The picture above reflects Isaiah 11.1-4: "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.")

Whit-Sunday.

Psalm 33

Exultate, justi

REJOICE in the Lord, O ye righteous : for it becometh well the just to be thankful.

2. Praise the Lord with harp : sing praises unto him with the lute, and instrument of ten strings.

3. Sing unto the Lord a new song : sing praises lustily unto him with a good courage.

4. For the word of the Lord is true : and all his works are faithful.

5. He loveth righteousness and judgement : the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.

6. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made : and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth.

7. He gathereth the waters of the sea together, as it were upon an heap : and layeth up the deep, as in a treasure-house.

8. Let all the earth fear the Lord : stand in awe of him, all ye that dwell in the world.

9. For he spake, and it was done : he commanded and it stood fast.

10. The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought : and maketh the devices of the people to be of none effect, and casteth out the counsels of princes.

11. The counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever : and the thoughts of his heart from generation to generation.

12. Blessed are the people, whose God is the Lord Jehovah : and blessed are the folk, that he hath chosen to him to be his inheritance.

13. The Lord looked down from heaven, and beheld all the children of men : from the habitation of his dwelling he considereth all them that dwell on the earth.

14. He fashioneth all the hearts of them : and understandeth all their works.

15. There is no king that can be saved by the multitude of an host : neither is any mighty man delivered by much strength.

16. A horse is counted but a vain thing to save a man : neither shall he deliver any man by his great strength.

17. Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him : and upon them that put their trust in his mercy.

18. To deliver their soul from death : and to feed them in the time of dearth.

19. Our soul hath patiently tarried for the Lord : for he is our help and our shield.

20. For our heart shall rejoice in him : because we have hoped in his holy Name.

21. Let thy merciful kindness, O Lord, be upon us : like as we do put our trust in thee.

(V.6. – “the breath” in Hebrew is *ruach* which is translated often as “the Spirit”. Therefore, notice the relation between “the word of the Lord” and “the ruach of his mouth.”)

The Collect.

GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Joel 2.28-31

Psalter: Psalm 48, 68 | 104, 145

Epistle Reading: Acts 2.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. John 14.15-31

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/whitsunday_08.html

Monday in Whitsun-Week.

Psalm 100

Jubilate Deo

O BE joyful in the Lord, all ye lands : serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song.

2. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God : it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

3. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise : be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name.

4. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting : and his truth endureth from generation to generation.

Same Collect for Sunday along with this one added in the 1928 BCP:

Send, we beseech thee, Almighty God, thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to thy will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.31-34

Psalter: Psalm 139

Epistle Reading: Acts 10.34-48

Gospel Reading: St. John 3.16-21

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

Tuesday in Whitsun-Week.

Psalm 101

Misericordiam et judicium

MY SONG shall be of mercy and judgement : unto thee, O Lord, will I sing.

2. O let me have understanding : in the way of godliness.

3. When wilt thou come unto me : I will walk in my house with a perfect heart.

4. I will take no wicked thing in hand; I hate the sins of unfaithfulness : there shall no such cleave unto me.

5. A froward heart shall depart from me : I will not know a wicked person.

6. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour : him will I destroy.

7. Whoso hath also a proud look and high stomach : I will not suffer him.

8. Mine eyes look upon such as are faithful in the land : that they may dwell with me.

9. Whoso leadeth a godly life : he shall be my servant.

10. There shall no deceitful person dwell in my house : he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

11. I shall soon destroy all the ungodly that are in the land : that I may root out all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

Same Collect for Sunday along with this one added in the 1928 BCP:

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Psalter: Psalm 148

Epistle Reading: Acts 8.14-17

Gospel Reading: St. John 10.1-10

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

Sunday after Ascension-Day - 2016

Sunday after Ascension-Day.

Psalm 93

Dominus regnavit

THE Lord is King, and hath put on glorious apparel : the Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength.

2. He hath made the round world so sure : that it cannot be moved.

3. Ever since the world began hath thy seat been prepared : thou art from everlasting.

4. The floods are risen, O Lord, the floods have lift up their voice : the floods lift up their waves.

5. The waves of the sea are mighty, and rage horribly : but yet the Lord, who dwelleth on high, is mightier.

6. Thy testimonies, O Lord, are very sure : holiness becometh thine house for ever.

The Collect.

O GOD the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65.17-25

Psalter: Psalm 108, 110 | 46, 47

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 4.7-11

Gospel Reading: St. John 15.26-16.4

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ascension1_07.html

The Ascension-Day - 2016

The Ascension-Day.

Psalm 8

Domine, Dominus noster

O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world : thou 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. For I will consider thy heavens, even the works 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!

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 7.9-14

Psalter: Psalm 96

Epistle Reading: Acts 1.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 24.49-53

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ascension_06.html