Tenth Sunday after Trinity (and Pastoral Letter) - 2025

 

The Tenth Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.145-160

xix. Clamavi in toto corde meo.

I CALL with my whole heart; * hear me, O Lord; I will keep thy statutes.

146 Yea, even unto thee do I call; * help me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.

147 Early in the morning do I cry unto thee; * for in thy word is my trust.

148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches; * that I might be occupied in thy word.

149 Hear my voice, O Lord, according unto thy lovingkindness; * quicken me, according to thy judgments.

150 They draw nigh that of malice persecute me, * and are far from thy law.

151 Be thou nigh at hand, O Lord; * for all thy commandments are true.

152 As concerning thy testimonies, I have known long since, * that thou hast grounded them for ever.

xx. Vide humilitatem.

O CONSIDER mine adversity, and deliver me, * for I do not forget thy law.

154 Avenge thou my cause, and deliver me; * quicken me according to thy word.

155 Health is far from the ungodly; * for they regard not thy statutes.

156 Great is thy mercy, O Lord; * quicken me, as thou art wont.

157 Many there are that trouble me, and persecute me; * yet do I not swerve from thy testimonies.

158 It grieveth me when I see the transgressors; * because they keep not thy law.

159 Consider, O Lord, how I love thy commandments; * O quicken me, according to thy loving-kindness.

160 Thy word is true from everlasting; * all the judgments of thy righteousness endure 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.

LET thy merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of thy humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 1.1-12

Psalter: Psalm 61, 62 | 48, 49

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 12.1-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 19.41-46

Homily

 This is what I wrote my congregation this past week:

As I was pondering Proverbs I found myself returning to a book I had read years ago, “Safe People: How to Find Relationships That Are Good for You” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Toward the end of that book they describe what they call Safe Churches. They list off nine traits of a safe church. It was encouraging to read, and it makes me stop and pray. 

“Safe churches have the following qualities:

• Grace is preached from the pulpit and is the foundation for how people are treated
• Truth is preached without compromise…
• The church leaders are aware of their own weaknesses and need to grow…
• The church uses small groups to touch people’s lives, and sermons focus on community in the body of Christ as well as doctrine.
• The culture is one of forgiven sinners, not self-righteous religious Pharisees.
• The church, instead of being a self-contained unit and thinking it has all the answers, is networked into the community…
• The teaching has a relational emphasis as well as a vertical one…
• The teaching has brokenness, struggle, and inability as normal parts of the sanctification process.
• There are opportunities to serve others through a variety of ministries” (pg.164-165). 

I read it in 2017, and I’ve started re-reading this book last night. 

Pastor Mike