Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Almighty Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may alway serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the… Continue reading First Sunday of Easter preparation
Category: Bible
The maundy in Maundy Thursday
This is one of those church things you either know well, or don’t know at all. It’s worth knowing and isn’t intuitive. I’ll make this brief. Today is Maundy Thursday. It’s always the Thursday before Easter. The name maundy comes from the Latin mandamus for commandment, as in what Jesus told his disciple (=students): A… Continue reading The maundy in Maundy Thursday
Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) preparation
Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Sunday before Easter commonly called Palm Sunday Almighty and everlasting, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility;… Continue reading Palm Sunday (Passion Sunday) preparation
Third Sunday in Lent preparation
Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) 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. Epistle: Eph. v, 1-14. Gospel: Luke xi, 14-28. A book of prayer… Continue reading Third Sunday in Lent preparation
Second Sunday in Lent Preparation
I feel confident enough in my typing to resume my weekly lectionary propers. Free Church Book of Common Prayer (1929) Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves; keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; than we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the… Continue reading Second Sunday in Lent Preparation
Last Sunday’s Order of Service
If you’re interested… An old form, but well integrated and — as it was for evening — restful in its own way. Note that the Bible readings are from the American Standard Version, the grandparent of the NRSV, and once favored on the progressive end of the Protestant spectrum. The tip-in hymn was from the… Continue reading Last Sunday’s Order of Service
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany preparation
Bill Baar wonders why there isn’t more buzz about Peter Morales’s vision of the Unitarian Universalist Association. God knows I’ve worked on a blog post on it a good bit of the morning and now realize it wouldn’t be done tonight. Perhaps Monday or Tuesday. Not easy work, so I’ll put up the lectionary propers… Continue reading Fourth Sunday after Epiphany preparation
Third Sunday after Epiphany preparation
Again — and for some time — we have the eccentric Universalist dating, and only a single lection. I suspect the Universalist collect is from Martineau, as I’ve only found the phrasing in a period Unitarian congregational worship-book and a (later) Unitarian work of daily prayer. Seems better fit for a baptism or the Feast… Continue reading Third Sunday after Epiphany preparation
Second Sunday after Epiphany preparation
Well, Second Sunday for some. The Universalist book I’ve been citing for months has a very long Christmas season. I’ll try to keep these synched. The Free Church collect is worth noting as a prayer to close prayer. Note, too, its Romans reading picked up where last week’s left off. Free Church Book of… Continue reading Second Sunday after Epiphany preparation
Sunday after Epiphany preparation
So most Christians mark the Epiphany on January 6, but what does that make the Sunday (January 8) that follows it? Epiphany — Magi, star, manifestation of the Gentiles — or the commemoration of Jesus’ baptism. I’d call it both or else one theme’s going to get lost. And since the theme of divine disclosure… Continue reading Sunday after Epiphany preparation