Fourth Sunday after Easter and Sts. Phillip and James (1 May) - 2018

The Fourth Sunday after Easter.

Ephesians 1.3-14

Benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, * who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, * that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, * according to the good pleasure of his will,

To the praise of the glory of his grace, * wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, * the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Wherein he hath abounded toward us * in all wisdom and prudence;

Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, * according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times * he might gather together in one all things in Christ,

Both which are in heaven, * and which are on earth; even in him:

In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, *being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

That we should be to the praise of his glory, * who first trusted in Christ.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, * the gospel of your salvation:

In whom also after that ye believed, * ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, * unto the praise of his 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 ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 39.21-29

Psalter: Psalm 126, 127, 128 | 129, 130, 131

Epistle Reading: James 1.17-21

Gospel Reading: St. John 16.5-15

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter4_09.html

Personal: Here’s a devotion I wrote recently “The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith” and it is primarily about Habakkuk 3.17-19a: http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2018/04/the-righteous-shall-live-by-his-faith.html

Saint Phillip and Saint James - Apostles
May 1

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

Third Sunday after Easter and St. Mark the Evangelist (25 April) - 2018

The Third Sunday after Easter.

Philippians 2.5-16

Hoc enim sentite in vobis

Let this mind be in you, * which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, * thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, * and was made in the likeness of men:

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, * and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, * and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, * of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, * to the glory of God the Father.

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, * not as in my presence only,

But now much more in my absence, * work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

For it is God which worketh in you * both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Do all things without murmurings and disputings: * That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,

In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, * among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Holding forth the word of life; * that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

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 shewest to them that be in error the light of thy truth, to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness; Grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Religion, that they may eschew those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 2.1b-10

Psalter: Psalm 120, 121, 122 | 123, 124, 125

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 2.11-17

Gospel Reading: St. John 16.16-24

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter3_09.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

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3.14-18).

Second Sunday after Easter - 2018

The Second Sunday after Easter.

Isaiah 42:5-10

Haec dicit Dominus Deus

Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; * he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it;

He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, * and spirit to them that walk therein:

I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, * and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, * and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, * neither my praise to graven images.

Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: * before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, * ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.

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 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.

God, who by the humiliation of Thy Son didst raise up the fallen world: grant unto Thy faithful ones perpetual gladness, and those whom Thou hast delivered from the dangers of everlasting death do Thou make partakers of eternal joys; through the same, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen (Brotherhood Prayer Book).

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_09.html

Personal: Here’s my review of a wonderful book on the Lord’s Supper: http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2018/04/remembrance-communion-and-hope-by-j.html

First Sunday after Easter - 2018

The First Sunday after Easter.

Hosea 6.1-3

In tribulatione sua mane

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: * for he hath torn, and he will heal us;

He hath smitten, * and he will bind us up.

After two days will he revive us: * in the third day he will raise us up,

And we shall live in his sight. * Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD:

His going forth is prepared as the morning; * and he shall come unto us as the rain,

As the latter * and former rain unto the earth.

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.

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God: that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by the help of Thy grace bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; through the same, Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen (Brotherhood Prayer Book).

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_09.html