Fifth Sunday after Trinity and Independence Day (USA 4 July) - 2018

The Fifth Sunday after Trinity.

Isaiah 8.11-13

Hæc enim ait Dominus ad me

For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me * that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

Say ye not, A confederacy¹, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; * neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; * and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

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.

¹ The word “Confederacy” in the AV is the Hebrew (qesher) and actually means “Conspiracy,” as is reflected in most English translations (which can be seen here).

The Collect.

GRANT, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 2.1-23

Psalter: Psalm 21, 23 | 26, 27

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 3.8-15a (15b-17)

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 5.1-11

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity5_09.html

Independence Day (USA)

July 4

The Collect

O ETERNAL God, through whose mighty power our fathers won their liberties of old; Grant, we beseech thee, that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the Epistle. Deuteronomy x. 17: THE LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward: he doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Fourth Sunday after Trinity (St. John Baptist - 24 June, St. Peter - 29 June) - 2018

The Fourth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.25-32

Adhaesit pavimento

MY SOUL cleaveth to the dust * O quicken thou me, according to thy word.

26. I have acknowledged my ways, and thou heardest me * O teach me thy statutes.

27. Make me to understand the way of thy commandments * and so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.

28. My soul melteth away for very heaviness * comfort thou me according unto thy word.

29. Take from me the way of lying * and cause thou me to make much of thy law.

30. I have chosen the way of truth * and thy judgements have I laid before me.

31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies * O Lord, confound me not.

32. I will run the way of thy commandments * when thou hast set my heart at liberty.

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 GOD, the protector of all that trust in thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy; Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that, thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3.22-33

Psalter: Psalm 19, 20 | 24, 25

Epistle Reading: Romans 8.18-23

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 6.36-42

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity4_07.html  

Saint John Baptist’s Day (June 24)

The Collect

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of they Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading (For the Epistle): Isaiah 40.1-11

Gospel Reading: Luke 1.57-80

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/baptist_07.html

Saint Peter the Apostle (29 June)

The Collect

O almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epistle Reading: Acts 12.1-11

Gospel Reading: Matthew 16.13-19

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

Third Sunday after Trinity - 2018

The Third Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 23

Dominus regit me.

THE Lord is my shepherd * therefore can I lack nothing.

He shall feed me in a green pasture * and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.

He shall convert my soul * and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.

Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil * for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me * thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.

But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life * and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom though hast given an hearty desire to pray, may be comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.1-14

Psalter: Psalm 16, 17 | 18

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 5.5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 15.1-10

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity3_10.html

Second Sunday after Trinity and St. Barnabas (11 June) - 2018

The Second Sunday after Trinity.

Jude 1-4, 24-25

Qui sunt in Deo Patre dilectis

To them that are sanctified by God the Father, * and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:

Mercy unto you, and peace, * and love, be multiplied.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, *it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you

That ye should earnestly contend for the faith * which was once delivered unto the saints.

For there are certain men crept in unawares, * who were before of old ordained to this condemnation,

Ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, * and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, * and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, * dominion and power, both now and ever.

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 never failest to help and govern them who thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 6.5-18

Psalter: Psalm 12, 13 | 10, 11

Epistle Reading: 1 John 3.13-24

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 14.15-24

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity2_09.html

Saint Barnabas the Apostle

(11 June)

Psalm 1

Beatus vir, qui non abiit, &c.

1. BLESSED is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stood in the way of sinners : and hath not sat in the seat of the scornful.

2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord : and in his law will he exercise himself day and night.

3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the water-side : that will bring forth his fruit in due season.

4. His leaf also shall not wither : and look, whatsoever he doeth, it shall prosper.

5. As for the ungodly, it is not so with them : but they are like the chaff, which the wind scattereth away from the face of the earth.

6. Therefore the ungodly shall not be able to stand in the judgement : neither the sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

7. But the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous : and the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Collect

O Lord God Almighty, who didst endue thy holy Apostle Barnabas with singular gifts of the Holy Ghost; Leave us not, we beseech thee, destitute of thy manifold gifts, nor yet of grace to use them alway to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Epistle Reading: Acts 11.22-30

Gospel Reading: John 15.12-16

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

First Sunday after Trinity - 2018

The First Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119

Beati immaculati

BLESSED are those that are undefiled in the way : and walk in the law of the Lord.

2. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies : and seek him with their whole heart.

3. For they who do no wickedness : walk in his ways.

4. Thou hast charged : that we shall diligently keep thy commandments.

5. O that my ways were made so direct : that I might keep thy statutes!

6. So shall I not be confounded : while I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7. I will thank thee with an unfeigned heart : when I shall have learned the judgements of thy righteousness.

8. I will keep thy ceremonies : O forsake me not utterly.

The Collect.

O GOD, the strength of all them that put their trust in thee, mercifully accept our prayers; and because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without thee, grant us the help of thy grace, that in keeping of thy commandments we may please thee, both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23.23-32

Psalter: Psalm 1, 5 | 2, 3, 4

Epistle Reading: 1 John 4.7-21

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 16.19-31

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity1_09.html

If you’re ministering at a small church (250 or less) I have two books to recommend for you. I found both (by the same author) very encouraging and heart-lifting. Here are my reviews:

The Grasshopper Myth

Small Church Essentials