Sunday after Ascension-Day

 

Sunday after Ascension-Day.

Psalm 15. Domine, quis habitabit?

LORD, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? * or who shall rest upon thy holy hill?

2 Even he that leadeth an uncorrupt life, * and doeth the thing which is right, and speaketh the truth from his heart.

3 He that hath used no deceit in his tongue, nor done evil to his neighbour, * and hath not slandered his neighbour.

4 He that setteth not by himself, but is lowly in his own eyes, * and maketh much of them that fear the Lord.

5 He that sweareth unto his neighbour, and disappointeth him not, * though it were to his own hindrance.

6 He that hath not given his money upon usury, * nor taken reward against the innocent.

7 Whoso doeth these things * shall never fall.

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 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

Fifth Sunday after Easter, Rogation Days and Ascension - 2026

 

The Fifth Sunday after Easter (or Rogation Sunday).

Psalm 114. In exitu Israel.

WHEN Israel came out of Egypt, * and the house of Jacob from among the strange people,

2 Judah was his sanctuary, * and Israel his dominion.

3 The sea saw that, and fled; * Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams, * and the little hills like young sheep.

5 What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? * and thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?

6 Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams? * and ye little hills, like young sheep?

7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord: * at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8 Who turned the hard rock into a standing water, * and the flint-stone into a springing well.

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 

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 

The Ascension-Day.

Psalm 8

Domine, Dominus noster

O LORD our Governor, how excellent is thy Name in all the world; * thou that 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 When I consider thy heavens, even the work 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!

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 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

Fourth Sunday after Easter and Two Reflections - 2026

 The Fourth Sunday after Easter.

Psalm 113. Laudate, pueri.

PRAISE the Lord, ye servants; * O praise the Name of the Lord.

2 Blessed be the Name of the Lord * from this time forth for evermore.

3 The Lord’s Name is praised * from the rising up of the sun unto the going down of the same.

4 The Lord is high above all nations, * and his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, that hath his dwelling so high, * and yet humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and earth!

6 He taketh up the simple out of the dust, * and lifteth the poor out of the mire;

7 That he may set him with the princes, * even with the princes of his people.

8 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, * and to be a joyful mother of children.

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 ALMIGHTY God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men; Grant unto thy people, that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed, where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 39:21-29

Psalter: Psalm 126, 127, 128 | 129, 130, 131

Epistle Reading: James 1:17-21

Gospel Reading: St. John 16:5-15 

Homily 

***First, the Collect for this week is deeply meaningful for me. I have prayed through it much over the years, especially regarding certain pastoral situation. (1) I have prayed through it while counseling a disabled U.S. Army Vet who was racked with schizoaffective disorder. (2) I have prayed through this with my people while family crises have been happening. (3) I have prayed these words during political turmoil in my country. (4) And I have prayed this prayer during my own fearful moments. Dear friends, I heartily commend this week's Collect to you.

***Second, below was from my letter I sent to my congregation this week: 

To be hospitable is to be friendly toward guests and welcoming of strangers, and comes in many shapes and sizes. We can invite folks into our homes for meals or have them over for a relaxing time of coffee, dessert, and a board game, and we can enjoy some time with them at a coffee shop or café. But also, when they visit our congregation we can greet them and warmly receive them in ways that say, “You’re welcome here, and we’re truly thankful you’ve come here.” Our “greeters” who meet folks at the church’s front door on Sundays are an important piece in our hospitality. To unhurriedly greet folks, guiding them to the nursery or water fountain or restrooms or sanctuary, leaves a positive impression of our congregation. There are also the aesthetics of our foyer that have recently been freshened up and made more visually welcoming. Another piece to hospitality.

 

But beyond the “greeters” and freshening up our building there are the intentional actions of the rest of us. Such as making time to gather around someone who is new, engaging in small talk, taking an interest in them. But also, making sure they have space to stop the conversation and leave when they want. Scripture is very clear that hospitableness is a Christian trait: “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality” (Romans 12:13; see also Hebrews 13:2 and 1 Peter 4:9).

 

 And God has blessed us with many visitors in the last several months. Some have recently moved here from other places. A few are looking for a new church home. Let’s continue to remember and show hospitality, recalling that Christ is hospitable toward us: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7).

Pastor Mike