Trinity Sunday - 2018

Trinity-Sunday.

THE CREED OF ST. ATHANASIUS

At Morning Prayer.

Quicunque vult.

WHOSOEVER will be saved : before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholick Faith.

Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled : without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

And the Catholick Faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

Neither confounding the Persons : nor dividing the Substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son : and another of the Holy Ghost.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is all one : the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son : and such is the Holy Ghost.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate : and the Holy Ghost uncreate.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible : and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal : and the Holy Ghost eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals : but one eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated : but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty : and the Holy Ghost Almighty.

And yet they are not three Almighties : but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God : and the Holy Ghost is God.

And yet they are not three Gods : but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord : and the Holy Ghost Lord.

And yet not three Lords : but one Lord.

For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be both God and Lord;

So are we forbidden by the Catholick Religion : to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.

The Father is made of none : neither created, nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone : not made, nor created, but begotten.

The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son : neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons : one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.

And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other : none is greater, or less than another;

But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together : and co-equal.

So that in all things, as is aforesaid : the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

He therefore that will be saved : must think thus of the Trinity.

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation : that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess : that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;

God, of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds : and Man of the substance of his Mother, born in the world;

Perfect God and perfect Man : of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

Equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead : and inferior to the Father, as touching his manhood;

Who, although he be God and Man : yet he is not two, but one Christ;

One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh : but by taking of the Manhood into God;

One altogether; not by confusion of Substance : but by unity of Person.

For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man : so God and Man is one Christ;

Who suffered for our salvation : descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead.

He ascended into heaven, he sitteth at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty : from whence he will come to judge the quick and the dead.

At whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies : and shall give account for their own works.

And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting : and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

This is the Catholick Faith : which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

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 and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of thy Divine Majesty to worship the Unity; We beseech thee, that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith, and evermore defend us from all adversities, who livest and reignest, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Numbers 21.4-9

Psalter: Psalm 29, 33 | 93, 97, 150

Epistle Reading: Revelation 4.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. John 3.1-15

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity_08.html

Personal:

Lord, who hast formed me out of mud,
And hast redeemed me through thy blood,
And sanctified me to do good;

Purge all my sins done heretofore:
For I confess my heavy score,
And I will strive to sin no more.

Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,
With faith, with hope, with charity;
That I may run, rise, rest with thee.

(George Herbert, “Trinity Sunday,” from The Temple, 1633)

Whit-Sunday and Whit-Sunday Week (Monday, Tuesday and Embers) - 2018

Whit-Sunday.

Veni, Creator Spiritus

Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire, * And lighten with celestial fire.

Thou the anointing Spirit art, * Who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.

Thy blessed unction from above, * Is comfort, life, and fire of love.

Enable with perpetual light  * The dulness of our blinded sight.

Anoint and cheer our soiled face  * With the abundance of thy grace.

Keep far our foes, give peace at home; * Where thou art guide, no ill can come.

Teach us to know the Father, Son, * And thee, of both, to be but One;

That, through the ages all along, * This may be our endless song:

Praise to thy eternal merit, * Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Collect.

GOD, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by the sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit; Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Joel 2.28-31

Psalter: Psalm 48, 68 | 104, 145

Epistle Reading: Acts 2.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. John 14.15-31

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/whitsunday_10.html

Monday in Whitsun-Week.

Same Collect for Sunday along with this one added in the 1928 BCP:

Send, we beseech thee, Almighty God, thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to thy will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.31-34

Psalter: Psalm 139

Epistle Reading: Acts 10.34-48

Gospel Reading: St. John 3.16-21

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

Tuesday in Whitsun-Week.

Same Collect for Sunday along with this one added in the 1928 BCP:

GRANT, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Psalter: Psalm 148

Epistle Reading: Acts 8.14-17

Gospel Reading: St. John 10.1-10

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

Pentecost Ember Days

Readings for Pentecost Ember Days(Wednesday, Friday and Saturday): http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ember_pentecost.html

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who hast purchased to thyself an universal Church by the precious blood of thy dear Son; Mercifully look upon the same, and at this time so guide and govern the minds of thy servants the Bishops and Pastors of thy flock, that they may lay hands suddenly on no man, but faithfully and wisely make choice of fit persons, to serve in the sacred Ministry of thy Church. And to those which shall be ordained to any holy function, give thy grace and heavenly benediction; that both by their life and doctrine they may show forth thy glory, and set forward the salvation of all men; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Or this.

ALMIGHTY God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed divers Orders in thy Church; Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all those who are to be called to any office and administration in the same; and so replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, and endue them with innocency of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name, and the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday after Ascension Day - 2018

Sunday after Ascension-Day.

Ephesians 3.14-21

Flecto genua mea

I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, * of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, * to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; * that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

May be able to comprehend with all saints * what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, * that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, * according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus * throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

The Collect.

O GOD the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65.17-25

Psalter: Psalm 108, 110 | 46, 47

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 4.7-11

Gospel Reading: St. John 15.26-16.4

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ascension1_09.html

The Ascension - 2018

The Ascension-Day.

Psalm 8

Domine, Dominus noster

O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world : thou hast set thy glory above the heavens!

2. Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength, because of thine enemies : that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3. For I will consider thy heavens, even the works of thy fingers : the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained.

4. What is man, that thou art mindful of him : and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5. Thou madest him lower than the angels : to crown him with glory and worship.

6. Thou makest him to have dominion of the works of thy hands : and thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet;

7. All sheep and oxen : yea, and the beasts of the field;

8. The fowls of the air, and the fishes of the sea : and whatsoever walketh through the paths of the seas.

9. O Lord our Governor : how excellent is thy Name in all the world!

The Collect.

GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Daniel 7.9-14

Psalter: Psalm 96

Epistle Reading: Acts 1.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 24.49-53

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/ascension_chrysostom_acts1_1.html

Personal: This morning in my time of reading and praying, this prayer came about. It incorporates the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Christ has risen! Christ ascended! Christ reigns!

You ascended into heaven; * God and man in two distinct natures and one person, forever (WSC 21)!

You ascended into heaven, having finished the race, and have sat down at the right hand of the throne on high; * God and man in two distinct natures and one person, forever!

You ascended into heaven to be our perpetual prophet, revealing to us, by your word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation (WSC 24); * God and man in two distinct natures and one person, forever!

You ascended into heaven to be our permanent priest, after having once offering up yourself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, reconciling us to God, and now in making continual intercession for us (WSC 25); * God and man in two distinct natures and one person, forever!

You ascended into heaven to be our constant king, in subduing us to yourself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all your and our enemies (WSC 26); * God and man in two distinct natures and one person, forever!

Glory be to you, O Christ, ascended into heaven; * God and man in two distinct natures and one person, forever!

Fifth Sunday after Easter and Rogation Days - 2018

The Fifth Sunday after Easter (or Rogation Sunday).

Jeremiah 17.5-10, 14

Hæc dicit Dominus

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, * and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

For he shall be like the heath in the desert, * and shall not see when good cometh;

But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, * in a salt land and not inhabited.

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, * and whose hope the LORD is.

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, * and that spreadeth out her roots by the river,

And shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; * and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: * who can know it?

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, * even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: * for thou art my praise.

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, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 1.10-20

Psalter: Psalm 146, 147 | 132, 133, 134

Epistle Reading: James 1.22-27

Gospel Reading: St. John 16.23-33

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/easter5_09.html

The Rogation Days
Being the Three Days before Ascension Day

ALMIGHTY God, Lord of heaven and earth; We beseech thee to pour forth thy blessing upon this land, and to give us a fruitful season; that we, constantly receiving thy bounty, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Monday AM: Psalm 104. 1^st Lesson – Deuteronomy 8.1-11, 17-20. 2^nd Lesson – Matthew 5.5-15.

Monday PM: Psalm 34. 1^st Lesson – Deuteronomy 28.1-14. 2^nd Lesson – James 1.1-17

Tuesday AM: Psalm 80. 1^st Lesson – Deuteronomy 11.10-17. 2^nd Lesson – Matthew 6.24-34

Tuesday PM: Psalm 65, 67. 1^st Lesson – 1 Kings 8.22-30. 2^nd Lesson – James 4.8-17

Wednesday AM: Psalm 144. 1^st Lesson – Jeremiah 14.1-9. 2^nd Lesson – 1 John 5.5-15

Wednesday PM: Psalm 93, 99. 1^st Lesson – Isaiah 11.1-5. 2^nd Lesson – Luke 24.44-48

A modern custom for Rogation Days has been to focus prayers and actions toward charity to help feed poor folk. On this page we have provided three ways to do that: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/rogation.html