Frontpage, Feb. 10, 2019

February 10, 2019 – Epiphany 5

Top – bright sunshine on the church, sermon on four most important words that you can ever say in this life – “Here I am Lord”, Ducks migrating down the Rappahannock, After the Gospel reading, children find the images on Catherine’s stoll

Bottom – 8 birthdays celebrated so far in February

Pictures and text from this Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019

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The Week Ahead…

Feb. 11 – 4:00pm – Vestry

Feb. 13 – 10:00-12pm – Ecumenical Bible Study

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Feb. 17 – 10am – Adult Education – Good Book Club – Romans

Feb. 17 – 10am – Children’s Education Living the Good News

Feb. 17 – 11am – Holy Eucharist, Epiphany 6

Sunday, Feb. 17 Readings and Servers

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Reading Romans during Epiphany

Read Romans during Epiphany which began Jan. 7. This is sponsored by Forward Movement, the people who make “Day by Day” and encouraged throughout the Episcopal Church. They call the initiative the “Good Book Club.”

Why Read Romans ?
from J. I. Packer, Canadian Theologian.

Paul’s primary theme in Romans is the basic gospel, God’s plan of salvation and righteousness for all humankind, Jew and Gentile alike.

Paul’s purposes for writing this letter were varied:

1. He wrote to prepare the way for his coming visit to Rome and his proposed mission to Spain (1:10-15; 15:22-29).

2. He wrote to present the basic system of salvation to a church that had not received the teaching of an apostle before.

3. He sought to explain the relationship between Jew and Gentile in God’s overall plan of redemption. The Jewish Christians were being rejected by the larger Gentile group in the church because the Jewish believers still felt constrained to observe dietary laws and sacred days.

There are 50 daily readings here from January 7 to March 5. The readings are in manageable chunks plus there are resources to help you along the way.

Links

1. The Readings

2. Basic Resources

3. Catherine’s Roman’s Outline

4. Catherine’s Roman’s Study Guide

5. Indepth Resource

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Celebrating the lives of Absalom Jones and Abraham Lincoln this week

Absalom Jones died this week in 1818 not only the first trained black minister in any denomination but the first black minister ordained into the Episcopal Church and the first to create a Black religious organization in Philadelphia. More information is here

Abraham Lincoln was born this week, 210 years ago. What was his relationship to the Episcopal Church ? No he wasn’t a member but attended St. John’s Episcopal during his years in Washington, just across from the White House. He also made time with Bishop Whipple, first Episcopal Bishop in Minn. 300 Indians has been sentenced to death in the Dakota Indian Wards. Lincoln made the decision to reduce the number to 38. Was it related to Bishop Whipple’s influence ? The historian of the event writes “it is difficult to imagine that Whipple’s visit did not count in the president’s decision.” Read the entire story on “Lincoln’s Bishop”

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Epiphany –  Jan 6 until Lent  begins March 6, 2019

Adoration of the Magi – Bartholomäus Zeitblom (c. 1450 – c. 1519)

The English word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which means “appearing” or “revealing.” Epiphany focuses on God’s self-revelation in Christ.  

Epiphany celebrates the twelfth day of Christmas, the coming of the Magi to give homage to God’s Beloved Child. 

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The Epiphany celebration remembers the three miracles that manifest the divinity of Christ. The celebration originated in the Eastern Church in AD 361, beginning as a commemoration of the birth of Christ. Later, additional meanings were added – the visit of the three Magi, Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River with the voice from heaven that identifies Jesus as God’s son, and his first miracle at the wedding in Cana. These three events are central to the definition of Epiphany, and its meaning is drawn from these occurrences.

More about Epiphany

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Lectionary, Feb. 17, 2019

I. Theme – Blessed! 

“Sermon on the Plain” – Sharon Geiser

Blessed is anyone who trusts in the Lord. (Jeremiah) Blessed are you when you are in need.(Luke)

The lectionary readings are here  or individually:

Old Testament – Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm – Psalm 1
Epistle – 1 1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Gospel – Luke 6:17-26

In the Old Testament, reading from Jeremiah God, through the prophet Jeremiah, contrasts the fates of the ungodly and the godly. To ancient peoples, the heart was the centre of emotions, feelings, moods and passions. It also discerned good from evil and was the centre of decision-making. Conversion to God’s ways took place in the heart.

In Corinthians 15:12-20, Paul continues his argument against those at Corinth who deny that Christians will be resurrected bodily. He has written of three basic doctrines he has received and passed on: Christ died, was buried, and rose. He now confronts these people with a logical argument. He confronts them with the consequences of their denial and tells the benefits of affirming resurrection.

In Luke 6:17-26, Jesus has ascended a mountain to pray. While there, he has chosen twelve of his disciples to be apostles. Now he descends part-way, to a “level place”. There he finds followers and many others, from Israel and beyond. He tells who will be admitted to his Kingdom – and who will not.

Read more..

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Luke’s Beatitudes

There are two Beatitudes in the Bible, Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23 which is in the lectionary for Feb. 17. Both are similar in that they contain a guide for the conduct of the disciples on this earth. Of these shared beatitudes, Luke has written the equivalent of Matthew’s first, fourth, second and ninth beatitudes, in that order.

Similarities. Here is a beatitudes comparison using a table of the two accounts

1  Poor –. Matthew “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and Luke “Blessed are you who are poor.” They will inherit the Kingdome of Heaven (Matthew) or God (Luke” Luke’s account contains some woes – “But woe to you who are rich,for you have received your consolation.”

2 Hungry – Matthew “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and Luke “Blessed are you who are hungry”. In both cases you will be filled. The rejoinder from Luke – “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry

3  Hate/Persecution – Matthew “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” And Luke “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.”  In both cases your reward is in heaven. Luke’s “woe” – Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their  ancestors did to the  false prophets.

Read more..

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A Powerpoint look at the Beatitudes

 

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