Fourth Sunday after Epiphany and the Presentation (2 February) - 2017

The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Psalm 2

Quare fremuerunt gentes?

WHY do the heathen so furiously rage together : and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

2. The kings of the earth stand up, and the rulers take counsel together : against the Lord, and against his Anointed.

3. Let us break their bonds asunder : and cast away their cords from us.

4. He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn : the Lord shall have them in derision.

5. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath : and vex them in his sore displeasure.

6. Yet I have set my King : upon my holy hill of Sion.

7. I will preach the law, whereof the Lord hath said unto me : Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

8. Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance: and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession.

9. Thou shalt bruise them with a rod of iron : and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

10. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings : be learned, ye that are judges of the earth.

11. Serve the Lord in fear : and rejoice unto him with reverence.

12. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and so ye perish from the right way : if his wrath be kindled, (yea, but a little,) blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

The Collect.

O GOD, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Amos 3

Psalter: Psalm 75, 76 | 107

Epistle Reading: Romans 13.1-7

Gospel Reading: Matthew 8:23-34

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany4.html#homily

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

(2 February)

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

Third Sunday after the Epiphany and the Conversion of St. Paul (25 January) - 2017

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany.

Psalm 15

Domine, quis habitabit?

LORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle : or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?

2. Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life : and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.

3. He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour : and hath not slandered his neighbour.

4. He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes : and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.

5. He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not : thou it were to his own hindrance.

6. He that hath not given his money upon usury : nor taken reward against the innocent.

7. Whoso doeth these things : shall never fall.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities, and in all our dangers and necessities stretch forth thy right hand to help and defend us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 41.8-10, 17-20

Psalter: Psalm 20, 21 | 27, 29

Epistle Reading: Romans 12.16-21

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 8.1-13

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany3_10.html

The Conversion of Saint Paul (25 January)

Psalm 138

Confitebor tibi

I WILL give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart : even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

2. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name, because of thy loving-kindness and truth : for thou hast magnified thy Name and thy word above all things.

3. When I called upon thee, thou heardest me : and enduedst my soul with much strength.

4. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord : for they have heard the words of thy mouth.

5. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord : that great is the glory of the Lord.

6. For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly : as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.

7. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me : thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

8. The lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me : yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever; despise not then the works of thine own hands.

The Collect

O God, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 1.4-10

Psalter: Psalm 67

Epistle Reading: Acts 9.1-22

Gospel Reading: *St. Matthew 19.27-30

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/paul_conversion_08.html

Second Sunday after Epiphany and Confession of Peter (18 January) - 2017

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany.

Psalm 14

Dixit insipiens

THE fool hath said in his heart : There is no God.

2. They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings : there is none that doeth good, no not one.

3. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men : to see if there were any that would understand, and seek after God.

4. But they are all gone out of the way, they are altogether become abominable : there is none that doeth good, no not one.

5. Their throat is an open sepulchre, with their tongues have they deceived : the poison of asps is under their lips.

6. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness : their feet are swift to shed blood.

7. Destruction and unhappiness is in their ways, and the way of peace have they not known ; there is no fear of God before their eyes.

8. Have they no knowledge, that they are all such workers of mischief : eating up my people as it were bread, and call not upon the Lord?

9. There were they brought in great fear, even where no fear was : for God is in the generation of the righteous.

10. As for you, ye have made a mock at the counsel of the poor : because he putteth his trust in the Lord.

11. Who shall give salvation unto Israel out of Sion? When the Lord turneth the captivity of his people : then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth; Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and grant us thy peace all the days of our life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 45.1-15

Psalter: Psalm 96, 97 | 45, 46

Epistle Reading: Romans 12.6-16

Gospel Reading: St. Mark 1.1-11

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany2_chrysostom_romans_xii_4.html

The Confession of Saint Peter
Commemorated January 18

ALMIGHTY Father, who didst inspire Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep thy Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reignth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Somesay that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-19 AV).

The Epiphany and the First Sunday after Epiphany

The Epiphany, or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.

Psalm 96

Cantate Domino

O SING unto the Lord a new song : sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth.

2. Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name : be telling of his salvation from day to day.

3. Declare his honour unto the heathen : and his wonders unto all people.

4. For the Lord is great, and cannot worthily be praised : he is more to be feared than all gods.

5. As for all the gods of the heathen, they are but idols : but it is the Lord that made the heavens.

6. Glory and worship are before him : power and honour are in his sanctuary.

7. Ascribe unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people : ascribe unto the Lord worship and power.

8. Ascribe unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name : bring presents, and come into his courts.

9. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness : let the whole earth stand in awe of him.

10. Tell it out among the heathen that the Lord is King : and that it is he who hath made the round world so fast that it cannot be moved; and how that he shall judge the people righteously.

11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad : let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is.

12. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it : then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.

13. For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth : and with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with his truth.

The Collect.

O GOD, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles: Mercifully grant, that we, which know thee now by faith, may after this life have the fruition of thy glorious Godhead; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

[Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60.1-9]

Psalter: Psalm 96

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 3.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 2.1-12

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany_10.html

***Also, for an idea with regard to prayer this year, check out my post on my blog: http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2017/01/an-idea-for-prayer-in-2017.html

The First Sunday after the Epiphany.

Psalm 13

Usque quo, Domine?

HOW long wilt thou forget me, O Lord, for ever : how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

2. How long shall I seek counsel in my soul, and be so vexed in my heart : how long shall mine enemies triumph over me?

3. Consider, and hear me, O Lord my God : lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death.

4. Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him : for if I be cast down, they that trouble me will rejoice at it.

5. But my trust is in thy mercy : and my heart is joyful in thy salvation.

6. I will sing of the Lord, because he hath dealt so lovingly with me : yea, I will praise the Name of the Lord most Highest.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to receive the prayers of thy people which call upon thee; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 60.1-9

Psalter: Psalm 47, 48 | 66, 67

Epistle Reading: Romans 12.1-5

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 2.41-52

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/epiphany1_10.html

Feast of the Order of Centurions (3 January) - 2017

Feast of the Order of Centurions (3 January)

Renewal of our Vows

Office of the Renewal of Vows

On this day centurions may reaffirm the Vow of the Order in remembrance of the tradition of the centurions of the first centuries "Sacramentum". Another suggested day is January 1, or its eve, which was another day when the Roman Army soldiers would affirm their vows.

New members may be received into the order. 

Where two or more are gathered, a leader will state the Sacramentum. For those without a Cohort, the Primus Pilus will state the Sacramentum at the Chapel of the Centurions.

I acknowledge Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior. I will endeavor to obey the Ten Commandments and the Summary of the Law, and follow the Rule of the Order of Centurions; and through faith and the aid of the Holy Spirit - fear God and do what is right. So help me God.

Centurions and candidates, in turn, affirm their acceptance with the words, "The same in my case"

When a man was enlisted in the army, he received a special mark. All early Christians received an invisible mark at baptism, when he was sealed with the cross on the forehead.

The observance then may continue with Devotion or Eucharist using the following collect, readings, and sermon and Communion and/or an Agape banquet. If this office is performed on January 1, or its eve, then the appointed collects and the readings for the Circumcision may be used.

For the Scripture readings and homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/feast_order.html