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2022/03/25

Fourth Sunday in Lent - 2022

 

The Fourth Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 130. De profundis.

OUT of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord; * Lord, hear my voice.

2 O let thine ears consider well * the voice of my complaint.

3 If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss, * O Lord, who may abide it?

4 For there is mercy with thee; * therefore shalt thou be feared.

5 I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him; * in his word is my trust.

6 My soul fleeth unto the Lord before the morning watch; * I say, before the morning watch.

7 O Israel, trust in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, * and with him is plenteous redemption.

8 And he shall redeem Israel * from all his sins.

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, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 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: Ezekiel 39.21-29

Psalter: Psalm 142, 143 | 119.105-144

Epistle Reading: Galatians 4.21-31

Gospel Reading: St. John 6.1-14 

Homily

2022/03/24

Annunciation of the BVM - 25 March

 

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – 25 March

Psalm 131

Domine, non est

LORD, I am not high-minded : I have no proud looks.

2. I do not exercise myself in great matters : which are too high for me.

3. But I refrain my soul, and keep it low, like as a child that is weaned from his mother : yea, my soul is even as a weaned child.

4. O Israel, trust in the Lord : from this time forth for evermore.

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

We beseech thee, O Lord, pour thy grace into our hearts; that, as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 7.10-15

Psalter: Psalm 8, 113 | 111, 138

Epistle Reading: [Hebrews 2.5-18]

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 1.26-38 

Homily


2022/03/19

Third Sunday in Lent - 2022

 


The Third Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 102. Domine, exaudi.

HEAR my prayer, O Lord, * and let my crying come unto thee.

2 Hide not thy face from me in the time of my trouble; * incline thine ear unto me when I call; O hear me, and that right soon.

3 For my days are consumed away like smoke, * and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand.

4 My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass; * so that I forget to eat my bread.

5 For the voice of my groaning, * my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh.

6 I am become like a pelican in the wilderness, * and like an owl that is in the desert.

7 I have watched, and am even as it were a sparrow, * that sitteth alone upon the housetop.

8 Mine enemies revile me all the day long; * and they that are mad upon me are sworn together against me.

9 For I have eaten ashes as it were bread, * and mingled my drink with weeping;

10 And that, because of thine indignation and wrath; * for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down.

11 My days are gone like a shadow, * and I am withered like grass.

12 But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever, * and thy remembrance throughout all generations.

13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Sion; * for it is time that thou have mercy upon her, yea, the time is come.

14 And why? thy servants think upon her stones, * and it pitieth them to see her in the dust.

15 The nations shall fear thy Name, O Lord; * and all the kings of the earth thy majesty;

16 When the Lord shall build up Sion, * and when his glory shall appear;

17 When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute, * and despiseth not their desire.

18 This shall be written for those that come after, * and the people which shall be born shall praise the LORD.

19 For he hath looked down from his sanctuary; * out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth;

20 That he might hear the mournings of such as are in captivity, * and deliver them that are appointed unto death;

21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion, * and his worship at Jerusalem;

22 When the peoples are gathered together, * and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.

23 He brought down my strength in my journey, * and shortened my days.

24 But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age; * as for thy years, they endure throughout all generations.

25 Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth, * and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: * they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

27 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed; * but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

28 The children of thy servants shall continue, * and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight.

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.

WE beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; 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: Deuteronomy 6

Psalter: Psalm 56, 58 | 119.73-104

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 5.1-14

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 11.14-28 

Homily

2022/03/11

Second Sunday in Lent and a Letter - 2022

 

The Second Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 38. Domine, ne in furore.

PUT me not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine anger; * neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure:

2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, * and thy hand presseth me sore.

3 There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure; * neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin.

4 For my wickednesses are gone over my head, * and are like a sore burden, too heavy for me to bear.

5 My wounds stink, and are corrupt, * through my foolishness.

6 I am brought into so great trouble and misery, * that I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a sore disease, * and there is no whole part in my body.

8 I am feeble and sore smitten; * I have roared for the very disquietness of my heart.

9 Lord, thou knowest all my desire; * and my groaning is not hid from thee.

10 My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me, * and the light of mine eyes is gone from me.

11 My lovers and my neighbours did stand looking upon my trouble, * and my kinsmen stood afar off.

12 They also that sought after my life laid snares for me; * and they that went about to do me evil talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long.

13 As for me, I was like a deaf man, and heard not; * and as one that is dumb, who doth not open his mouth.

14 I became even as a man that heareth not, * and in whose mouth are no reproofs.

15 For in thee, O Lord, have I put my trust; * thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God.

16 I have required that they, even mine enemies, should not triumph over me; * for when my foot slipt, they rejoiced greatly against me.

17 And I truly am set in the plague, * and my heaviness is ever in my sight.

18 For I will confess my wickedness, * and be sorry for my sin.

19 But mine enemies live, and are mighty; * and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number.

20 They also that reward evil for good are against me; * because I follow the thing that good is.

21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God; * be not thou far from me.

22 Haste thee to help me, * O Lord God of my salvation.

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

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My letter to my congregation sent out on Wednesday:

This Sunday we’ll be examining 1 Peter 5:6-14 as we end Peter’s first letter and get ready to move into his second. Peter’s words in 5:6-7 have stuck with me for many, many years and one specific statement has been heavy on my mind recently. It goes like this, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” You’ll get an ear full on these two verses and more this coming Sunday. But the part that has weighed heavy on me is what I underlined, “at the proper time”. The proper time is God’s time, not ours. 

This came home to me this morning in my devotional reading as I was working through Genesis 41-42. It’s Joseph’s story. It was when his brothers first came to purchase grain in the deep famine that was unfolding. As they arrive before Joseph to petition for grain, they didn’t recognize him – but he recognized them. And before they even spoke “Jospeph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them” (42:9). These were the dreams way back when he was a young teen in Genesis 37. And it’s now many, many years later, at the proper time, he perceives those dreams beginning to be played out. That’s when the words of 1 Peter 5:6-7, “at the proper time” jumped out at me. 

Joseph had those dreams before his brothers had trafficked him on the slave market. Back around the time when he was 17 years old (37:2) he had those dreams, and then shortly afterward he brothers disposed of him, assuming they’d never see him again, “we will see what will become of his dreams” (37:20). After he is sold off, he then is bought by Potipher (39:18) where he has a long, good season of success but then is falsely accused and condemned, without any trial, to prison (39:19 – 40:23). Several years later, he is brought out of prison to explain two of Pharaoh’s dreams that are forecasting a seven year season of bumper crops and then a seven year time of hard famine (41:1-36). Because he seems to have God’s wisdom, Pharaoh exalts him to become the chief administrator of his emergency operations and national administration. At this point he was 30 years old (41:46). Thus, he spends the next seven years beefing up the grain reserves (41:47), gets married and has two sons (41:51-52). Now he’s 37 years old and then comes the famine. Somewhere early in the famine his brothers arrive (42:1-11). 

That’s where it hit me! At least 20 years after the dreams, Joseph is humbled and must cast his anxieties upon him who cares for him. And then, “at the proper time” God exalts him. Over 20 years! Then it was God’s proper time! It wasn’t Joseph’s timing, it wasn’t Jacob’s timing, it wasn’t anyone else’s timing. It was at God’s proper time. 

And so, dear brothers and sisters, our task is to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, to cast our anxieties on him knowing – trusting – convinced that he really does care for us, and rest in God’s proper time which is rarely our concept of the proper time. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

2022/03/04

First Sunday in Lent, Ember Days and a Letter - 2022

 

The First Sunday in Lent.

Psalm 32. Beati quorum.

BLESSED is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven, * and whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin, * and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3 For whilst I held my tongue, * my bones consumed away through my daily complaining.

4 For thy hand was heavy upon me day and night, * and my moisture was like the drought in summer.

5 I acknowledged my sin unto thee; * and mine unrighteousness have I not hid.

6 I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord; * and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin.

7 For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee, in a time when thou mayest be found; * surely the great water-floods shall not come nigh him.

8 Thou art a place to hide me in; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; * thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

9 I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go; * and I will guide thee with mine eye.

10 Be ye not like to horse and mule, which have no understanding; * whose mouths must be held with bit and bridle, else they will not obey thee.

11 Great plagues remain for the ungodly; * but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side.

12 Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; * and be joyful, all ye that are true of heart.

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

 

Ember days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Here are the readings (morning and evening) along with the Collect.

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My letter to my congregation this past week:

Some time back in my morning Bible reading, two passages of Scripture were pulled together for me that I thought were encouraging, and it made me think of some folks I know. 

The first was Matthew 14:22-33. Immediately after Jesus had, from sparse resources, fed 5,000 men plus the women and children so that they “all ate and were satisfied” (20), he sent out his disciples by boat. It was in the thick darkness, with the thunderous wind and thrashing waves that Jesus came to his disciples, walking on the water. They were terrified by the shock of it all, and instantly thought it was a ghost they were seeing. Jesus then said to them, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (27). After Peter attempts to approach Jesus on the waves, the Lord enters the boat, the wind ceased, and “those in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God” (33). 

The second reading was from Psalm 107:23-32. Here is a description of merchants traveling by sea who enter a horrendous storm that brings them to “their wits’ end” (27). They cry out to Yahweh “in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distresses” (28). He stilled the storm, hushed the sea, quieted the waters, and brought them to safety. Then comes the joyous refrain, “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders” (31-32). 

The seas can be terrifying places, even when sailing on one of our giant cruise liners. When storms smash against ships, it feels like a fight for life; like the bottom is falling out and one is firmly planted in mid-air. The squall is all around coming from every side at once, disorienting and crushing; feeling as if at any second it will scarf one up, and swallow them down. There are incidents in our lives, moments when we feel like sailors and merchants devoured by a storm. And that’s where these two passages come home. 

The seafaring merchants in Psalm 107 were God’s people who knew to call upon the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The disciples in the boat were Christ’s disciples who worshipped him and declared him Son of God. If Yahweh can deliver God-fearing sailors through the raging tempest and Jesus can come to his own people and rescue them from the grinding storm and their own fearful dread, then can he not be with you in your devouring distress? You who are the dearly loved by God; you who have confessed with your mouths that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead; you who are “in Christ,” united to Christ; even though surrounded as you may be by thick darkness, thunderous wind and thrashing waves, see our Lord Jesus coming to you, and hear him say to you, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And instead of crying out, “It is a ghost!” call out to him: 

“Calm me, O Lord, as You stilled the storm.

Still me, O Lord, keep me from harm.

Let all the tumult within me cease.

Enfold me, Lord, in Your peace”

(“Celtic Daily Prayer,” 38).