October 20, 2019 – Pentecost 19
The Week Ahead…
Oct. 23- 8:00am – Way of Love Breakfast
Oct. 23- 10:00am – Ecumenical Bible Study
Oct. 27 – 9:00am – Holy Eucharist, Rite I
Oct. 27 – 11:00am – Morning Prayer, Rite II
Sunday, Oct. 27 Readings and Servers
Way of Love Breakfast, Oct. 23, 8am
We have been working this year on an initiative from the Episcopal Church, The Way of Love. This rule of life sums up the way we Christians are already trying to live, a rule of life The Way of Love includes the following seven actions—turning, learning, praying, worshiping, blessing, going, and resting.
The 25th will be a breakfast. Way of Love at 8am and ends just before Bible Study at 10am.
The Episcopal of Love supports the Way of Love with a webcast, Traveling the Way of Love and a podcast. They are in season 2 of the podcast. Episode 5 is here.
“When we worship, we gather with others before God. We hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, give thanks, confess, and offer the brokenness of the world to God. So many of our worship experiences take place within a church building – it can be hard to imagine worship without candles and stained glass and pews – but there are many ways we can bring worship out into the wider world, knowing that God is waiting out there, too.”
Link to our Way of Love page:
PhilHarmonia is a 28-voice community choir that sings classical and contemporary choral music from Philadelphia. Founded in 2013, and now in its sixth season, PhilHarmonia continues to delight audiences with its commitment to musical excellence, and its diverse range of choral programs.
They will be here Sat. Nov. 2, 2019, 7pm to share their music. There will be a reception preceding the concert.
PhilHarmonia is pleased to open its 7th Season with “Music, She Wrote” – a concert celebrating works by women composers through the ages. From Italian Renaissance madrigalist, Madalena Casulana, the first woman in western music history to have her works published to composers today such as Estonian composer Evelin Seppar, Australian-American composer Melissa Dunphy, and American composer Mari Esabel Valverde, PhilHarmonia will perform an eclectic tribute to music by women. We also mark the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Clara Schumann, herself a remarkable composer and extraordinary musician, with her only extant choral set, Drei Gemischte Chöre, Op. 19.
Composers include: Madalena Casulana, Rafaella Aleotti, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel, Clara Schumann, Amy Cheney Beach, Evelin Seppar, Katerina Gimon, Melissa Dunphy, Mari Esabel Valverde.
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Request for Names for All Saints Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019
We remember those who have died on All Saints Sunday, Nov. 3 since the last All Saints Sunday.
If you have a name you would like to submit, please email Catherine by October 28.
Lectionary, Oct. 27 2019 – Pentecost 20, Year C
I. Theme – Seeking Virtue in Lowliness
"The Pharisee and the Tax Collector"- Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1794-1872)
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
First Reading – Sirach 35:12-17 OR
First Reading – Jeremiah 14:7-10,19-22
Psalm – Psalm 84:1-6
Epistle – 2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18
Gospel – Luke 18:9-14
Today’s readings define lowliness and celebrate its virtue. Jeremiah speaks for God’s people, confessing their sin and pleading for God’s mercy. Paul looks forward to the reward of his many humble labors for the faith. In Jesus’ parable, two men come to pray but only the humble man leaves justified by God.
Our life of faith can be trying, at times seeming even meaningless. We feel the pressures around us and wonder where God is. Sometimes our own choices have taken us away from God; but God remains faithful to us. But it is up to us to turn back and see that God has been with us all along. We may leave God, but God cannot leave us. And if we stick with it, we will see that God has seen us through, all along.
Anne Lamott asserts that the essential elements of prayer are “Help, Thanks, and Wow.” Today’s readings involve a litany of praise – a spiritual “wow” at the many ways God moves in our lives and the world. God is always at work faithfully in the microcosm and macrocosm and the human and non-human. The only response we can make to God’s ubiquitous grace is praise.
Read more about the Lectionary….
October
Photo Gallery of early fall color, October
St. James of Jerusalem, October 23
We celebrate James day on Tues Oct. 23. He is known as St. James of Jerusalem (or “James the Just”). James was so respected by all, including even unbelieving Jews, that he was nicknamed “the Just”.
He is referred to by Paul as “the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19) and the equal of the other disciples. Matthew provides some clues in Matthew 13:55 on his identity. “Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?” with the story of Jesus less than enthusiastic reaction in Nazareth.
Some have written that he was a half brother of Jesus, a son of Joseph and Mary and, therefore, a biological brother of Jesus. But others in the church think Paul’s term “brother” is understood as “cousin” or “kinsman,” and James is thought to be the son of a sister of Joseph or Mary who was widowed and had come to live with them.
James was not an instant believer in Jesus just because he was in his family. In Mark 3:20–21 we are told that people crowded around Him so densely that He and His disciples could not even eat. Seeing this, His family members, probably also including James, thought that He was out of His mind. On another occasion we are told plainly that His brother did not believe in Him. However, Jesus did not give up on James.
Along with other relatives of our Lord (except His mother), James did not believe in Jesus until after his resurrection (John 7:3-5; 1 Corinthians 15:7). Paul reports that Jesus miraculously appeared to James after his crucifixion and before his ascension, and this is the act which leads to James’ conversion. Once that happened he soon rose to distinction in the Church and became the Bishop of Jerusalem, even staying in Jerusalem ministering to his people during a period of intense Christian persecution.
He is known for his role in accepting the Gentiles. James was thrilled that members of the early Church were willing to welcome Gentiles into their flock, but he boldly proclaimed that they would be welcome as they are without any restrictions.
Block Print by Mike Newman
Projects
3-Minute Retreats invite you to take a short prayer break right at your computer. Spend some quiet time reflecting on a Scripture passage.
Knowing that not everyone prays at the same pace, you have control over the pace of the retreat. After each screen, a Continue button will appear. Click it when you are ready to move on. If you are new to online prayer, the basic timing of the screens will guide you through the experience.
Daily meditations in words and music.
Your daily prayer online, since 1999
“We invite you to make a ‘Sacred Space’ in your day, praying here and now, as you visit our website, with the help of scripture chosen every day and on-screen guidance.”
Saints of the Week, – Oct. 20 – Oct. 27
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19
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Henry Martyn, Priest and Missionary, 1812 |
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20
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21
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22
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23
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Saint James of Jerusalem, Brother of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Martyr, c. 62 |
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24
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Hiram Hisanori Kano, Priest, 1986 |
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25
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Tabitha (Dorcas) of Joppa |
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Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Scholar & Social Reformer, 1902 Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, 899 |
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27
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