Church of the Epiphany

Saturday, October 10, 2015

The Collect

Proper 23
Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Amos 5:6-7,10-15
⁶ Seek the LORD and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, ⁷ O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth! ¹⁰ They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. ¹¹ Therefore because you trample upon the poor and take from him exactions of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. ¹² For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins--you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. ¹³ Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. ¹⁴ Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. ¹⁵ Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Psalm

Psalm 90

^{Domine, refugium}
¹Lord, you have been our refuge *
     from one generation to another.
²Before the mountains were brought forth,
     or the land and the earth were born, *
     from age to age you are God.
³You turn us back to the dust and say, *
     "Go back, O child of earth."
⁴For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday
     when it is past *
     and like a watch in the night.
⁵You sweep us away like a dream; *
     we fade away suddenly like the grass.
⁶In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
     in the evening it is dried up and withered.
⁷For we consume away in your displeasure; *
     we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
⁸Our iniquities you have set before you, *
     and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
⁹When you are angry, all our days are gone; *
     we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
¹⁰The span of our life is seventy years,
     perhaps in strength even eighty; *
     yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow,
     for they pass away quickly and we are gone.
¹¹Who regards the power of your wrath? *
     who rightly fears your indignation?
¹²So teach us to number our days *
     that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
¹³Return, O LORD; how long will you tarry? *
     be gracious to your servants.
¹⁴Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
     so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
¹⁵Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
     and the years in which we suffered adversity.
¹⁶Show your servants your works *
     and your splendor to their children.
¹⁷May the graciousness of the LORD our God be upon us; *
     prosper the work of our hands;
     prosper our handiwork.

- OR -
Psalm 90:1-8,12

¹Lord, you have been our refuge *
     from one generation to another.
²Before the mountains were brought forth,
     or the land and the earth were born, *
     from age to age you are God.
³You turn us back to the dust and say, *
     "Go back, O child of earth."
⁴For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday
     when it is past *
     and like a watch in the night.
⁵You sweep us away like a dream; *
     we fade away suddenly like the grass.
⁶In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
     in the evening it is dried up and withered.
⁷For we consume away in your displeasure; *
     we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
⁸Our iniquities you have set before you, *
     and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
¹²So teach us to number our days *
     that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 3:1-6
¹ Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. ² He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God's house. ³ Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. ⁴ (For every house is built by some one, but the builder of all things is God.) ⁵ Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, ⁶ but Christ was faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope.

Gospel Reading

Mark 10:17-27(28-31)
¹⁷ And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁸ And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" ²⁰ And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." ²¹ And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." ²² At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. ²³ And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" ²⁴ And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁶ And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (²⁸ Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." ²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many that are first will be last, and the last first." )

Friday, October 2, 2015

The Collect

Proper 22
Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Genesis 2:18-24
¹⁸ Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ¹⁹ So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. ²¹ So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; ²² and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." ²⁴ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Psalm

Psalm 8

^{Domine, Dominus noster}
¹O LORD our Governor, *
     how exalted is your Name in all the world!
²Out of the mouths of infants and children *
     your majesty is praised above the heavens.
³You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
     to quell the enemy and the avenger.
⁴When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
     the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
⁵What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
     the son of man that you should seek him out?
⁶You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
     you adorn him with glory and honour;
⁷You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
     you put all things under his feet:
⁸All sheep and oxen, *
     even the wild beasts of the field,
⁹The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
     and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
¹⁰O LORD our Governor, *
     how exalted is your Name in all the world!

- OR -
Psalm 128

^{Beati omnes}
¹Happy are they all who fear the LORD, *
     and who follow in his ways!
²You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *
     happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
³Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *
     your children like olive shoots round about your table.
⁴The man who fears the LORD *
     shall thus indeed be blessed.
⁵The LORD bless you from Zion, *
     and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days
     of your life.
⁶May you live to see your children's children; *
     may peace be upon Israel.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 2:(1-8)9-18
(¹ Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, ⁴ while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. ⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶ It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? ⁷ Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, ⁸ putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. )⁹ But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. ¹⁰ For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹ For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." ¹³ And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." ¹⁴ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. ¹⁶ For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Gospel Reading

Mark 10:2-16
² And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" ³ He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" ⁴ They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." ⁵ But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.' ⁷ `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." ¹⁰ And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. ¹¹ And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." ¹³ And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." ¹⁶ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

The Collect

Proper 9
O God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to thee with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Ezekiel 2:1-7
¹ And he said to me, "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you." ² And when he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. ³ And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. ⁴ The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them, `Thus says the Lord GOD.' ⁵ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit upon scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house.

Psalm

Psalm 123

^{Ad te levavi oculos meos}
¹To you I lift up my eyes, *
     to you enthroned in the heavens.
²As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
     and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
³So our eyes look to the LORD our God, *
     until he show us his mercy.
⁴Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, *
     for we have had more than enough of contempt,
⁵Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
     and of the derision of the proud.

New Testament Reading

2 Corinthians 12:2-10
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³ And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷ And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸ Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; ⁹ but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Gospel Reading

Mark 6:1-6
¹ He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. ² And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. ⁴ And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." ⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, June-14-2015
Proper 6

The Collect

Proper 6
Keep, O Lord, we beseech thee, thy household the Church in thy steadfast faith and love, that by the help of thy grace we may proclaim thy truth with boldness, and minister thy justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Ezekiel 31:1-6,10-14
¹ In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: "Whom are you like in your greatness? ³ Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade, and of great height, its top among the clouds. ⁴ The waters nourished it, the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow round the place of its planting, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the forest. ⁵ So it towered high above all the trees of the forest; its boughs grew large and its branches long, from abundant water in its shoots. ⁶ All the birds of the air made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; and under its shadow dwelt all great nations. ¹⁰ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, ¹¹ I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. ¹² Foreigners, the most terrible of the nations, will cut it down and leave it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches will fall, and its boughs will lie broken in all the watercourses of the land; and all the peoples of the earth will go from its shadow and leave it. ¹³ Upon its ruin will dwell all the birds of the air, and upon its branches will be all the beasts of the field. ¹⁴ All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to lofty height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height; for they are all given over to death, to the nether world among mortal men, with those who go down to the Pit.

Psalm

Psalm 92

^{Bonum est confiteri}
¹It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, *
     and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
²To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning *
     and of your faithfulness in the night season;
³On the psaltery, and on the lyre, *
     and to the melody of the harp.
⁴For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; *
     and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
⁵LORD, how great are your works! *
     your thoughts are very deep.
⁶The dullard does not know,
     nor does the fool understand, *
     that though the wicked grow like weeds,
     and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
⁷They flourish only to be destroyed for ever; *
     but you, O LORD, are exalted for evermore.
⁸For lo, your enemies, O LORD,
     lo, your enemies shall perish, *
     and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
⁹But my horn you have exalted like the horns of wild bulls; *
     I am anointed with fresh oil.
¹⁰My eyes also gloat over my enemies, *
     and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked who
     rise up against me.
¹¹The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, *
     and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
¹²Those who are planted in the house of the LORD *
     shall flourish in the courts of our God;
¹³They shall still bear fruit in old age; *
     they shall be green and succulent;
¹⁴That they may show how upright the LORD is, *
     my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

- OR -
Psalm 92:1-4,11-14

¹It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, *
     and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
²To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning *
     and of your faithfulness in the night season;
³On the psaltery, and on the lyre, *
     and to the melody of the harp.
⁴For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; *
     and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
¹¹The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, *
     and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
¹²Those who are planted in the house of the LORD *
     shall flourish in the courts of our God;
¹³They shall still bear fruit in old age; *
     they shall be green and succulent;
¹⁴That they may show how upright the LORD is, *
     my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

New Testament Reading

2 Corinthians 5:1-10
¹ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ⁶ So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Gospel Reading

Mark 4:26-34
²⁶ And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. ²⁸ The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. ²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." ³⁰ And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; ³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." ³³ With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; ³⁴ he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

The Collect

Third Sunday of Easter
O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Acts 4:5-12
⁵ On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. ¹¹ This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - OR -
Micah 4:1-5
¹ It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, ² and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ³ He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; ⁴ but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. ⁵ For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

Psalm

Psalm 98

^{Cantate Domino}
¹Sing to the LORD a new song, *
     for he has done marvelous things.
²With his right hand and his holy arm *
     has he won for himself the victory.
³The LORD has made known his victory; *
     his righteousness has he openly shown in
     the sight of the nations.
⁴He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to
     the house of Israel, *
     and all the ends of the earth have seen the
     victory of our God.
⁵Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
⁶Sing to the LORD with the harp, *
     with the harp and the voice of song.
⁷With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
     shout with joy before the King, the LORD.
⁸Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
     the lands and those who dwell therein.
⁹Let the rivers clap their hands, *
     and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
     when he comes to judge the earth.
¹⁰In righteousness shall he judge the world *
     and the peoples with equity.
¹¹Light has sprung up for the righteous, *
     and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.
¹²Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, *
     and give thanks to his holy Name.

- OR -
Psalm 98:1-5

¹Sing to the LORD a new song, *
     for he has done marvelous things.
²With his right hand and his holy arm *
     has he won for himself the victory.
³The LORD has made known his victory; *
     his righteousness has he openly shown in
     the sight of the nations.
⁴He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to
     the house of Israel, *
     and all the ends of the earth have seen the
     victory of our God.
⁵Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

New Testament Reading

1 John 1:1-2:2
1:¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- ² the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- ³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:¹ My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ² and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Gospel Reading

Luke 24:36-48
³⁶ As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them. ⁴⁴ Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

The Collect

Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Acts 3:12-15,17-26
¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁷ "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. ²² Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' ²⁴ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness." - OR -
Isaiah 26:2-9,19
² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. ³ Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. ⁴ Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. ⁵ For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. ⁶ The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy." ⁷ The way of the righteous is level; thou dost make smooth the path of the righteous. ⁸ In the path of thy judgments, O LORD, we wait for thee; thy memorial name is the desire of our soul. ⁹ My soul yearns for thee in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. ¹⁹ Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For thy dew is a dew of light, and on the land of the shades thou wilt let it fall.

Psalm

Psalm 111

^{Confitebor tibi}
¹Hallelujah!
     I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *
     in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
²Great are the deeds of the LORD! *
     they are studied by all who delight in them.
³His work is full of majesty and splendor, *
     and his righteousness endures for ever.
⁴He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *
     the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
⁵He gives food to those who fear him; *
     he is ever mindful of his covenant.
⁶He has shown his people the power of his works *
     in giving them the lands of the nations.
⁷The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; *
     all his commandments are sure.
⁸They stand fast for ever and ever, *
     because they are done in truth and equity.
⁹He sent redemption to his people;
     he commanded his covenant for ever; *
     holy and awesome is his Name.
¹⁰The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; *
     those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
     his praise endures for ever.

- OR -
Psalm 118:19-24

¹⁹Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
     I will enter them;
     I will offer thanks to the LORD.
²⁰"This is the gate of the LORD; *
     he who is righteous may enter."
²¹I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
     and have become my salvation.
²²The same stone which the builders rejected *
     has become the chief cornerstone.
²³This is the LORD'S doing, *
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴On this day the LORD has acted; *
     we will rejoice and be glad in it.

New Testament Reading

1 John 5:1-6
¹ Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶ This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. - OR -
Acts 3:12-15,17-26
¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁷ "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. ²² Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. ²³ And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' ²⁴ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."

Gospel Reading

John 20:19-31
¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." ²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." ²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." ²⁸ Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." ³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

The Collect

Easter Day
O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Acts 10:34-43
³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

- OR -

Isaiah 25:6-9
⁶ On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. ⁷ And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. ⁸ He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. ⁹ It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Psalm

Psalm 118:14-29

¹⁴The LORD is my strength and my song, *
     and he has become my salvation.
¹⁵There is a sound of exultation and victory *
     in the tents of the righteous:
¹⁶"The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
     the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
     the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
¹⁷I shall not die, but live, *
     and declare the works of the LORD.
¹⁸The LORD has punished me sorely, *
     but he did not hand me over to death.
¹⁹Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
     I will enter them;
     I will offer thanks to the LORD.
²⁰"This is the gate of the LORD; *
     he who is righteous may enter."
²¹I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
     and have become my salvation.
²²The same stone which the builders rejected *
     has become the chief cornerstone.
²³This is the LORD'S doing, *
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴On this day the LORD has acted; *
     we will rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵Hosanna, LORD, hosanna! *
     LORD, send us now success.
²⁶Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
     we bless you from the house of the LORD.
²⁷God is the LORD; he has shined upon us; *
     form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
²⁸"You are my God, and I will thank you; *
     you are my God, and I will exalt you."
²⁹Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
     his mercy endures for ever.

- OR -

Psalm 118:14-17,22-24

¹⁴The LORD is my strength and my song, *
     and he has become my salvation.
¹⁵There is a sound of exultation and victory *
     in the tents of the righteous:
¹⁶"The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
     the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
     the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
¹⁷I shall not die, but live, *
     and declare the works of the LORD.
²²The same stone which the builders rejected *
     has become the chief cornerstone.
²³This is the LORD'S doing, *
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴On this day the LORD has acted; *
     we will rejoice and be glad in it.

New Testament Reading

Colossians 3:1-4
¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

- OR -

Acts 10:34-43
³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Gospel Reading

Mark 16:1-8
¹ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. ³ And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁶ And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." ⁸ And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

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