St. Matthias's Day (24 February) and The Second Sunday in Lent - 2018

Saint Matthias’s Day

(24 February)

Psalm 140

Eripe me, Domine

DELIVER me, O Lord, from the evil man : and preserve me from the wicked man.

2. Who imagine mischief in their hearts : and stir up strife all the day long.

3. They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent : adders’ poison is under their lips.

4. Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the ungodly : preserve me from the wicked men, who are purposed to overthrow my goings.

5. The proud have laid a snare for me, and spread a net abroad with cords : yea, and set traps in my way.

6. I said unto the Lord, Thou art my God : hear the voice of my prayers, O Lord.

7. O Lord God, thou strength of my health : thou hast covered my head in the day of the battle.

8. Let not the ungodly have his desire, O Lord : let not his mischievous imagination prosper, lest they be too proud.

9. Let the mischief of their own lips fall upon the head of them : that compass me about.

10. Let hot burning coals fall upon them : let them be cast into the fire and into the pit, that they never rise up again.

11. A man full of words shall not prosper upon the earth : evil shall hunt the wicked person to overthrow him.

12. Sure I am that the Lord will avenge the poor : and maintain the cause of the helpless.

13. The righteous also shall give thanks unto thy Name : and the just shall continue in thy sight.

The Collect

Almighty God, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles; Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 2.27-36

Psalter: Psalm 33, 93 | 139

Epistle Reading: Acts 1.15-26

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 11.25-30

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

The Second Sunday in Lent.

Jeremiah 31.10-14

Audite verbum Domini

Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, * and declare it in the isles afar off, and say,

He that scattered Israel will gather him, * and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, * and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, * and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD,

For wheat, and for wine, and for oil, * and for the young of the flock and of the herd:

And their soul shall be as a watered garden; * and they shall not sorrow any more at all.

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, * both young men and old together:

For I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, * and make them rejoice from their sorrow.

And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, * and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

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 seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through 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: 1 Kings 8.37-43

Psalter: Psalm 6, 38 | 119.33-72

Epistle Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4.1-8

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 15.21-28

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/lent2_09.html

The First Sunday in Lent and Lenten Ember Days - 2018

The First Sunday in Lent.

Isaiah 45.15-25

Vere tu es Deus

Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, * O God of Israel, the Saviour.

They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: * they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols.

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: * ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; * God himself that formed the earth and made it;

He hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: * I am the LORD; and there is none else.

I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: * I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain:

I the LORD speak righteousness, * I declare things that are right.

Assemble yourselves and come; * draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations:

They have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, * and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Tell ye, and bring them near; * yea, let them take counsel together:

Who hath declared this from ancient time? * who hath told it from that time? 

Have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; * a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: * for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, * the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return,

That unto me every knee shall bow, * every tongue shall swear.

Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; * and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, * and shall glory.

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.

O LORD, who for our sake didst fast forty days and forty nights; Give us grace to use such abstinence, that, our flesh being subdued to the Spirit, we may ever obey thy godly motions in righteousness, and true holiness, to thy honour and glory, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. 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: Isaiah 58.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 51, 54 | 119.1-32

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 6.1-10

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 4.1-11

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/lent1_08.html

Ember days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Here are the readings (morning and evening) along with the Collect:  http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ember_lent.html

Here are additional Collects for the Lenten ember days from the Brotherhood Prayer Book:

(Wednesday) We beseech Thee, O Lord: that Thou wouldest graciously hear our prayers, stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to be our defence against all adversaries; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

(Friday) We beseech Thee, O Lord: mercifully to have compassion on Thy people, that they, which by Thee are enabled to serve Thee, may ever be comforted by Thy gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

(Saturday) We beseech Thee, O Lord: graciously to hear the prayers of Thy people, and of Thy great goodness turn aside from them the scourges of Thine anger; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Sunday called Quinquagesima and Ash Wednesday - 2018

The Sunday called Quinquagesima, or the next Sunday before Lent.

1 Chronicles 29.10-13

Benedictus es, Domine Deus Israel

Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, * for ever and ever.

Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: * for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;

Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, * and thou art exalted as head above all.

Both riches and honour come of thee, * and thou reignest over all;

And in thine hand is power and might; *and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, * and praise thy glorious name.

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.

O LORD, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 10.12-11.1

Psalter: Psalm 15, 16 | 111, 112

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 13.1-13

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 18.31-43

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/quinquagesima_10.html

The First day of Lent,

Commonly called Ash-Wednesday.

Isaiah 12.1-6

Confitebor tibi

O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, * and thou comfortedst me.

Behold, God is my salvation; * I will trust, and not be afraid:

For the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; * he also is become my salvation.

Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. * And in that day shall ye say,

Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, * make mention that his name is exalted.

Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: * this is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: * for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

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.

A Litany: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/litany.html

A Penitential Office: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/penitential.html

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.

{This Collect is to be read every day in Lent after the Collect appointed for the Day.}

Old Testament Reading: Joel 2.12-17

Psalter: Psalm 51

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 6.16-21

A history on the use – disuse – and then return of ashes to Ash Wednesday, as well as a Lenten meditation: http://anglicanorthodoxchurch.blogspot.com/2013/02/ash-wednesday.html

Sexagesima, or the Second Sunday before Lent - 2018

The Sunday called Sexagesima, or the Second Sunday before Lent.

1 Samuel 2.1-10

Exultant cor meum

My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, * mine horn is exalted in the LORD:

My mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; * because I rejoice in thy salvation.

There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: * neither is there any rock like our God.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; * let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, * and by him actions are weighed.

The bows of the mighty men are broken, * and they that stumbled are girded with strength.

They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; * and they that were hungry ceased:

So that the barren hath born seven; * and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.

The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: * he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.

The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: * he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, * and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill,

To set them among princes, * and to make them inherit the throne of glory:

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, * and he hath set the world upon them.

He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; * for by strength shall no man prevail.

The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; * out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:

The LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, * and exalt the horn of his anointed.

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.

O LORD God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 50.4-9

Psalter: Psalm 33, 93 | 139

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 11.19-12.10

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 8.4-15

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/sexagesima_08.html

Personal Reflection: Hannah’s song (the canticle) is not only the precursor to Mary’s song (Magnificat); but it is also looking forward to the day of Christ, where the first will be last, and the last first. It is a beautiful meditation as we prepare for Lent, remembering the God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.