Saint Phillip and Saint James - Apostles (1 May 2017)

Saint Phillip and Saint James - Apostles
May 1

Psalm 102:1-4, 11-18

Domine, exaudi

HEAR my prayer, O Lord : and let my crying come unto thee.

2. Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble : incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.

3. For my days are consumed away like smoke : and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand.

4. My heart is smitten down, and withered liked grass : so that I forget to eat my bread.

……….

11. My days are gone like a shadow : and I am withered like grass.

12. But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever : and thy remembrance throughout all generations.

13. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion : for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come.

14. And why? thy servants think upon her stones : and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.

15. The heathen shall fear thy Name, O Lord : and all the kings of the earth thy majesty;

16. When the Lord shall build up Sion : and when his glory shall appear;

17. When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute : and despiseth not their desire.

18. This shall be written for those that come after : and the people which shall be born shall praise the Lord.

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#firstpart

Second Sunday after Easter - 2017

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_08.html

Personal: This link is to my homily on Psalm 23 which fits in with the readings from 1 Peter and John 10 - http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-shepherd-psalm-23.html

First Sunday after Easter and Saint Mark the Evangelist (25 April) - 2017

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_08.html

Saint Mark the Evangelist
[25 April]

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

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For 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. For 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. And 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).

Monday and Tuesday in Easter-Week 2017

Monday in Easter-Week.

Psalm 62

Nonne Deo?

MY SOUL truly waiteth still upon God : for of him cometh my salvation.

2. He verily is my strength and my salvation : he is my defence, so that I shall not greatly fall.

3. How long will ye imagine mischief against every man : ye shall be slain all the sort of you; yea, as a tottering wall shall ye be, and like a broken hedge.

4. Their device is only how to put him out whom God will exalt : their delight is in lies; they give good words with their mouth, but curse with their heart.

5. Nevertheless, my soul, wait thou still upon God : for my hope is in him.

6. He truly is my strength and my salvation : he is my defence, so that I shall not fall.

7. In God is my health, and my glory : the rock of my might, and in God is my trust.

8. O put your trust in him alway, ye people : pour out your hearts before him, for God is our hope.

9. As for the children of men, they are but vanity : the children of men are deceitful upon the weights, they are altogether lighter than vanity itself.

10. O trust not in wrong and robbery, give not yourselves unto vanity : if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

11. God spake once, and twice I have also heard the same : that power belongeth unto God;

12. And that thou, Lord, art merciful : for thou rewardest every man according to his work.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who through thy only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee, that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For the Epistle: Acts 10.34-43

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 24.13-35

Tuesday in Easter-Week.

Psalm 113

Laudate, pueri

PRAISE the Lord, ye servants : O praise the Name of the Lord.

2. Blessed be the Name of the Lord : from this time forth for evermore.

3. The Lord’s Name is praised : from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.

4. The Lord is high above all heathen and his glory above the heavens.

5. Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling so high : and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth?

6. He taketh up the simple out of the dust : and lifteth the poor out of the mire;

7. That he may set him with the princes : even with the princes of his people.

8. He maketh the barren woman to keep house : and to be a joyful mother of children.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

{***Collect from the 1542 BCP for Tuesday in Easter-Week: ALMYGHTY father, whiche haste geven thy only sonne to dye for our synnes, and to ryse agayne for oure justificacion; Graunt us so to put awaye the leven of malyce and wyckednes, that we maye alwaye serve thee in purenes of lyvynge and truth; through Jesus Christe oure Lorde. }

For the Epistle: Acts 13.26-41

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 24.36-48

Easter-Even and Easter-Day 2017

Easter-Even.

The Collect.

GRANT, O Lord, that as we are baptized into the death of thy blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, so by continual mortifying our corrupt affections we may be buried with him : and that through the grave, and gate of death, we may pass to our joyful resurrection ; for his merits, who died, and was buried, and rose again for us, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Job 14.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 16

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 3.17-22

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 27.57-66

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

Easter-Day.

{For Easter Vigil: http://orderofcenturions.org/easter.html}

{At Morning Prayer, instead of the Psalm, O come, let us sing, &c. these Anthems shall be sung or said.}

CHRIST our passover is sacrificed for us : therefore let us keep the feast; Not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness : but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. v. 7

Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more : death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once : but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin : but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Rom. vi. 9

Christ is risen from the dead : and become the first-fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death : by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die : even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Cor. xv. 20.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son : and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee, that as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 25.1-9

Psalter: Psalm 2, 57, 111 | 113, 116, 117

Epistle Reading: Colossians 3.1-7

Gospel Reading: St. John 20.1-10

St. Athanasius: “For that death is destroyed, and that the Cross is become the victory over it, and that it has no more power but is verily dead, this is no small proof, or rather an evident warrant, that it is despised by all Christ’s disciples, and that they all take the aggressive against it and no longer fear it; but by the sign of the Cross and by faith in Christ tread it down as dead. For of old, before the divine sojourn of the Saviour took place, even to the saints death was terrible, and all wept for the dead as though they perished. But now that the Saviour has raised His body, death is no longer terrible; for all who believe in Christ tread him under as nought, and choose rather to die than to deny their faith in Christ. For they verily know that when they die they are not destroyed, but actually [begin to] live, and become incorruptible through the Resurrection. And that devil that once maliciously exulted in death, now that its pains were loosed, remained the only one truly dead. And a proof of this is, that before men believe Christ, they see in death an object of terror, and play the coward before him. But when they are gone over to Christ’s faith and teaching, their contempt for death is so great that they even eagerly rush upon it, and become witnesses for the Resurrection the Saviour has accomplished against it. For while still tender in years they make haste to die, and not men only, but women also, exercise themselves by bodily discipline against it. So weak has he become, that even women who were formerly deceived by him, now mock at him as dead and paralyzed. For as when a tyrant has been defeated by a real king, and bound hand and foot, then all that pass by laugh him to scorn, buffeting and reviling him, no longer fearing his fury and barbarity, because of the king who has conquered him; so also, death having been conquered and exposed by the Saviour on the Cross, and bound hand and foot, all they who are in Christ, as they pass by, trample on him, and witnessing to Christ scoff at death, jesting at him, and saying what has been written against him of old: “O death, where is thy victory? O grave, where is thy sting”” (“The Incarnation of the Word, Para. 27).

Good Friday - 2017

Good Friday.

Psalm 40.1-14

Expectans expectavi

I WAITED patiently for the Lord : and he inclined unto me, and heard my calling.

2. He brought me also out of the horrible pit, out of the mire and clay : and set my feet upon the rock, and ordered my goings.

3. And he hath put a new song in my mouth : even a thanksgiving unto our God.

4. Many shall see it, and fear : and shall put their trust in the Lord.

5. Blessed is the man that hath set his hope in the Lord : and turned not unto the proud, and to such as go about with lies.

6. O Lord my God, great are the wondrous works which thou hast done, like as be also thy thoughts which are to us-ward : and yet there is no man that ordereth them unto thee:

7. If I should declare them, and speak of them : they should be more than I am able to express.

8. Sacrifice and meat-offering thou wouldest not : but mine ears hast thou opened.

9. Burnt-offerings, and sacrifice for sin, hast thou not required : then said I, Lo, I come,

10. In the volume of the book it is written of me, that I should fulfil thy will, O my God : I am content to do it; yea, thy law is within my heart.

11. I have declared thy righteousness in the great congregation : lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Lord, and that thou knowest.

12. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart : my talk hath been of thy truth and of thy salvation.

13. I have not kept back thy loving mercy and truth : from the great congregation.

14. Withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O Lord : let thy loving-kindness and thy truth alway preserve me.

The Collects.

ALMIGHTY God, we beseech thee graciously to behold this thy family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was contented to be betrayed, and given up into the hands of wicked men, and to suffer death upon the cross, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified; Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all estates of men in thy holy Church, that every member of the same, in his vocation and ministry may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

O MERCIFUL God, who hast made all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor wouldest the death of a sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live; Have mercy upon all Jews, Turks, Infidels, and Hereticks, and take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word; and so fetch them home, blessed Lord, to thy flock, that they may be saved among the remnant of the true Israelites, and be made one fold under one shepherd, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 22.1-18

Psalter: Psalm 22

Epistle Reading: Hebrews 10.1-15

Gospel Reading: St. John 19.1-37

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

The Sunday next before Easter, and Holy Week - 2017

The Sunday next before Easter, commonly called Palm Sunday.

Psalm 61

Exaudi, Deus

HEAR my crying, O God : give ear unto my prayer.

2. From the ends of the earth will I call unto thee : when my heart is in heaviness.

3. O set me up upon the rock that is higher than I : for thou hast been my hope, and a strong tower for me against the enemy.

4. I will dwell in thy tabernacle for ever : and my trust shall be under the covering of thy wings.

5. For thou, O Lord, hast heard my desires : and hast given an heritage unto those that fear thy Name.

6. Thou shalt grant the King a long life : that his years may endure throughout all generations.

7. He shall dwell before God for ever : O prepare thy loving mercy and faithfulness, that they may preserve him.

8. So will I always sing praise unto thy Name : that I may daily perform my vows.

The Collect.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same 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: Zechariah 9.9-13

Psalter: Psalm 97, 110 | 22, 23

Epistle Reading: Philippians 2.5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 27.1-54

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/lent_palm_08.html

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Monday before Easter

{ALMIGHTY God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified; Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1928 BCP}

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 63.1-19

Gospel Reading: St. Mark 14.1-72

Tuesday before Easter

{O LORD God, whose blessed Son, our Saviour, gave his back to the smiters and hid not his face from shame; Grant us grace to take joyfully the sufferings of the present time, in full assurance of the glory that shall be revealed; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1928 BCP}

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50.5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Mark 15.1-39

Wednesday before Easter

{ASSIST us mercifully with thy help, O Lord God of our salvation; that we may enter with joy upon the meditation of those mighty acts, whereby thou hast given unto us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 1928 BCP}

Epistle Reading: Hebrews 9.16-28

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 22.1-71

Thursday before Easter

{ALMIGHTY Father, whose dear Son, on the night before he suffered, did institute the Sacrament of his Body and Blood; Mercifully grant that we may thankfully receive the same in remembrance of him, who in these holy mysteries giveth us a pledge of life eternal; the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who now liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen. 1928 BCP}

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 11.17-34

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 23.1-49