Septuagesima and Presentation of Christ in the Temple (2 February) - 2018

The Sunday called Septuagesima, or the third Sunday before Lent.

Exodus 15.1-19, 21

Cantemus Domino.

I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously : the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation : he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

The LORD is a man of war : the LORD is his name.

Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea : his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

The depths have covered them : they sank into the bottom as a stone.

Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power : thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee : thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap : and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil : my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them : they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? : who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand : the earth swallowed them.

Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed : thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The people shall hear, and be afraid : sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina.

Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them :  all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

Fear and dread shall fall upon them: by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone;

till thy people pass over, O LORD : till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance : in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, 

in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established : The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea : and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them;

but the children of Israel went on dry land : in the midst of the sea.

Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously : the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Joshua 1.1-9

Psalter: Psalm 8, 148 | 104

Epistle Reading:1 Corinthians 9.24-27

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 20.1-16

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/septuagesima_09.html

Note: The Canticle for today is Exodus 15, the song of Moses and Miriam after crossing the Red Sea. I got the idea from the Brotherhood Prayer Book, but tweaked it a little. This is the canticle that is supposed to be lingering in the backs of our minds when we come upon the song of Moses and the Lamb in Revelation 15.1-4.

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 Epiphany and Conversion of St. Paul (25 January) - 2018

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany.

Psalm 98

Cantate Domino.

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

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

The Lord declared his salvation; * his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.

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.

Show yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands; * sing, rejoice, and give thanks.

Praise the Lord upon the harp; * sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving.

With trumpets also and shawms, * O show yourselves joyful before the Lord, the King.

Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is; * the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; * for he cometh to judge the earth.

With righteousness shall he judge the world, * and the peoples with equity.

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_06.html

The Conversion of Saint Paul (25 January)

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_09.html

Second Sunday after Epiphany and Confession of St. Peter (18 January) - 2018

The Second Sunday after the Epiphany.

Deus misereatur.

Psalm lxvii.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

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_09.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).

Epiphany and First Sunday after Epiphany - 2018

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_11.html

The First Sunday after the Epiphany.

Nunc dimittis.

St. Luke ii. 29.

LORD, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace : according to thy word.

For mine eyes have seen : thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared : before the face of all people;

To be a light to lighten the Gentiles : and to be the glory of thy people Israel.

Glory be to the Father, &c.

As it was in the beginning, &c.

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.

O God, our heavenly Father, whose voice was heard at the Baptism of Thine only-begotten Son, declaring Him to be the One with whom Thou art well-pleased: pour down Thy Holy Ghost upon Thy faithful people, that we may rejoice in this same sonship that we have received from Thee through our Baptism into Christ; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the same Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen (The Brotherhood Prayer Book).

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_09.html

Feast of the Order of Centurions - 2018

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