The Fifth Sunday after Trinity and Saint Peter the Apostle - 2016

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.33-40

Legem pone

TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes : and I shall keep it unto the end.

34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law : yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.

35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments : for therein is my desire.

36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies : and not to covetousness.

37. O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity : and quicken thou me in thy way.

38. O stablish thy word in thy servant : that I may fear thee.

39. Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of : for thy judgements are good.

40. Behold, my delight is in thy commandments : O quicken me in thy righteousness.

The Collect.

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 2.1-23

Psalter: Psalm 21, 23 | 26, 27

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 3.8-15a (15b-17)

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 5.1-11

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity5_07.html

Personal Reflection: This past week I spoke to a Bible study group that has been meeting at our State Capitol for over 30 years. The passage I spoke on was Luke 8.26-39, and I titled the talk, “Demon Piety.” It went in a direction that wasn’t anticipated, but was well received. Though it may not be connected to this Fifth Sunday after Trinity, the readings or the Collect, nevertheless, I think it is beneficial. Here is the link to the notes: http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2016/06/demon-piety-luke-826-39.html

Saint Peter the Apostle (29 June)

Psalm 144

Benedictus Dominus

BLESSED be the Lord my strength : who teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.

2. My hope and my fortress, my castle and deliverer, my defender in whom I trust : who subdueth my people that is under me.

3. Lord, what is man, that thou hast such respect unto him : or the son of man, that thou so regardest him?

4. Man is like a thing of nought : his time passeth away like a shadow.

5. Bow thy heavens, O Lord, and come down : touch the mountains, and they shall smoke.

6. Cast forth thy lightning, and tear them : shoot out thine arrows, and consume them.

7. Send down thine hand from above : deliver me, and take me out of the great waters, from the hand of strange children.

8. Whose mouth talketh of vanity : and their right hand is a right hand of wickedness.

9. I will sing a new song unto thee, O God : and sing praises unto thee upon a ten-stringed lute.

10. Thou hast given victory unto kings : and hast delivered David thy servant from the peril of the sword.

11. Save me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children : whose mouth talketh of vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of iniquity.

12. That our sons may grow up as the young plants : and that our daughters may be as the polished corners of the temple.

13. 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 streets.

14. That our oxen may be strong to labour, that there be no decay : no leading into captivity, and no complaining in our streets.

15. Happy are the people that are in such a case : yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God.

The Collect

O almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epistle Reading: Acts 12.1-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16.13-19

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

Saint John Baptist's Day - 2016

Saint John Baptist’s Day

(June 24)

Psalm 98

Cantate Domino

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

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

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

4. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Collect

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of they Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading (For the Epistle): Isaiah 40.1-11

Gospel Reading: Luke 1.57-80

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/baptist_07.html

Fourth Sunday after Trinity - 2016

The Fourth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.25-32

Adhaesit pavimento

MY SOUL cleaveth to the dust : O quicken thou me, according to thy word.

26. I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me : O teach me thy statutes.

27. Make me to understand the way of thy commandments : and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

28. My soul melteth away for very heaviness : comfort thou me according unto thy word.

29. Take from me the way of lying : and cause thou me to make much of thy law.

30. I have chosen the way of truth : and thy judgements have I laid before me.

31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies : O Lord, confound me not.

32. I will run the way of thy commandments : when thou hast set my heart at liberty..

The Collect.

O GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3.22-33

Psalter: Psalm 19, 20 | 24, 25

Epistle Reading: Romans 8.18-23

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 6.36-42

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity4_07.html

Personal note: I have just returned from a week-long mission trip among the Kiowa and Apaches here in southwestern Oklahoma. We (Heritage Presbyterian Church) came along side of an Indian United Methodist Church in that area, helped them with repairs etc, and worked their VBS. We’ve been doing this for a few years and I feel like it’s building some emotional and relational capital. This Collect reminds me how much I need to pray these things for them, myself and my congregation. The picture at the top of this post is the Church building where we worked this past week.

Feast of St. Barnabas and Third Sunday after Trinity - 2016

Saint Barnabas the Apostle

(11 June)

Psalm 1

Beatus vir, qui non abiit, &c.

1. BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners : and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.

2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord : and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side : that will bring forth his fruit in due season.

4. His leaf also shall not wither : and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.

5. As for the ungodly, it is not so with them : but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.

6. Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgement : neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

7. But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous : and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Collect

O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epistle Reading: Acts 11.22-30

Gospel Reading: John 15.12-16

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

The Third Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.17-24

Retribue servo tuo

O DO well unto thy servant : that I may live, and keep thy word.

18. Open thou mine eyes : that I may see the wondrous things of thy law.

19. I am a stranger upon earth : O hide not thy commandments from me.

20. My soul breaketh out for the very fervent desire : that it hath alway unto thy judgements.

21. Thou hast rebuked the proud : and cursed are they that do err from thy commandments.

22. O turn from me shame and rebuke : for I have kept thy testimonies.

23. Princes also did sit and speak against me : but thy servant is occupied in thy statutes.

24. For thy testimonies are my delight : and my counsellors.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom though hast given an hearty desire to pray, may be comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 16, 17 | 18

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 5.5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 15.1-10

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity3_09.html

Second Sunday after Trinity - 2016

The Second Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.9-16

In quo corriget?

WHEREWITHAL shall a young man cleanse his way : even by ruling himself after thy word.

10. With my whole heart have I sought thee : O let me not go wrong out of thy commandments.

11. Thy words have I hid within my heart : that I should not sin against thee.

12. Blessed art thou, O Lord : O teach me thy statutes.

13. With my lips have I been telling : of all the judgements of thy mouth.

14. I have had as great delight in the way of thy testimonies : as in all manner of riches.

15. I will talk of thy commandments : and have respect unto thy ways.

16. My delight shall be in thy statutes : and I will not forget thy word.

The Collect.

O LORD, who never failest to help and govern them who thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 6.5-18

Psalter: Psalm 12, 13 | 10, 11

Epistle Reading: 1 John 3.13-24

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 14.[15]16-24

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity2_10.html