Ninth Sunday after Trinity - 2018

The Ninth Sunday after Trinity.

Deuteronomy 33.2-4, 26-29

Dominus de Sinai venit

The LORD came from Sinai, *and rose up from Seir unto them;

He shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: * from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: * and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

Moses commanded us a law, * even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

And he was king in Jeshurun, * when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, * and in his excellency on the sky.

The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: * and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; * also his heavens shall drop down dew.

Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, * O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help,

And who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; * and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

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.

GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as be rightful; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 10.1-25

Psalter: Psalm 46, 47 | 44, 45

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 10.1-13

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 16.1-9

Homily 

Eighth Sunday after Trinity (and St. James' Day - 25 July) - 2018

The Eighth Sunday after Trinity.

Deuteronomy 32.1-4, 37-40

Audite cæli quæ loquor

Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; * and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

My doctrine shall drop as the rain, * my speech shall distil as the dew,

As the small rain upon the tender herb, * and as the showers upon the grass:

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: * ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: * for all his ways are judgment:

A God of truth and without iniquity, * just and right is he.

And the LORD shall say, * “Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted,

Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, * and drank the wine of their drink offerings?

Let them rise up and help you, * and be your protection.

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: * I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.

For I lift up my hand to heaven, * and say, I live 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 GOD, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth; We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and to give us those things which be profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Zechariah 4.1-10 (11-14)

Psalter: Psalm 39, 41 | 37

Epistle Reading: Romans 8.12-17

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 7.15-21

The Homily  

Saint James the Apostle – 25 July

The Collect

Grant, O merciful God, that as thine holy Apostle Saint James, leaving his father and all that he had, without delay was obedient unto the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him; so we, forsaking all worldly and carnal affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 45.1-5

Psalter: Psalm 34

Epistle Reading: Acts 11.27-12.3

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 20.20-28

The Homily  

Seventh Sunday after Trinity - 15 July 2018

The Seventh Sunday after Trinity.

Ecclesiastes 12.13-14

Finem loquendi pariter omnes audiamus.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: * Fear God,

And keep his commandments: * for this is the whole duty of man.

For God shall bring every work into judgment, * with every secret thing,

Whether it be good, * or whether it be evil.

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.

LORD of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Hosea 14.1-9

Psalter: Psalm 32, 36 | 33, 34

Epistle Reading: Romans 6.19-23

Gospel Reading: St. Mark 8.1-9

Homily

Personal: I would like to alert you to two books that you will find useful and encouraging, for different reasons. The first deals with being overcome by fear of the future or having faith that carries you through the future. The second looks at disability from a Biblical and Christian perspective. Here are links to my book review:

 “A Bright Tomorrow” 

“Same Lake, Different Boat” 

Sixth Sunday after Trinity - 8 July 2019

The Sixth Sunday after Trinity.

Daniel 2.20-23

Domini benedictum

Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: * for wisdom and might are his:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: *he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:

He giveth wisdom unto the wise, * and knowledge to them that know understanding:

He revealeth the deep and secret things: * he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, * who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired 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.

The Collect.

O GOD, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; Pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 57.13b-19

Psalter: Psalm 28, 29 | 30, 31

Epistle Reading: Romans 6.3-11

Gospel Reading: St. Matthew 5.20-26

Homily: http://orderofcenturions.org/documents/trinity6_09.html

Personal: Throughout the month of July I am going to focus one of the petitions of our church’s pastoral/congregational prayer on our nation’s founding. Here is the petition for the 8^th of July:

O God, by your creating mankind in your own image you did bestow on all people certain, unalienable rights. We come today in rich gratitude for these God-given liberties which are assumed in the Declaration of Independence, described in the U.S. Constitution and longed for world over. Thank You, Father, for your directing providence and gift of courage that guided our forbearers to stand against tyranny and to fight for true liberty. Please protect our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines today, especially those who face numerous dangers and depravations to defend these liberties. Shield our police officers and firefighters who risk much to keep us safe. Guide our national leaders, our legislators, governors and judiciary that they will be firmly steered by our founding principles, protecting and promoting liberty and justice for all – for the free born, foreign born and unborn. Prosper all honest industry, our farmers, our educators, public servants, the self-employed, the medical and helping professions, and others, so that our country may flourish. Deliver us from all natural catastrophes, plagues, famines, pestilence, drought, war, and rebellion. May the religious always be safe to live out their faith in this nation. May the citizens of this land always strive for a godly, moral and ethical excellence in every situation. We joyfully commend these United States of America into your safe keeping, and implore you for Jesus Christ’s sake to hear our prayers. Amen.