October 13, 2020
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Theme of the Day
When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus, he tells them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God, we offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the world.
The Collect for Sunday
O God, whose image we bear and whose name we carry, yours is the world and all it contains. Recall us to our true allegiance, so that above the powers and rulers of this world you alone may claim our loyalty and love. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Alternative Collects (2019).
Prayer Intentions
The prayers of the church are offered especially:
- for the needs of the world, especially at this time of global pandemic;
- for those who are sick and for all medical personnel and caregivers;
- for research workers and scientists who are working to protect us, provide adequate testing, and to develop a vaccine;
- for those who are particularly vulnerable to this virus;
- for those who are isolated;
- for those who are anxious, especially in the midst of a second wave of infections and the onset of cooler weather;
- for the healing of racial inequality, prejudice, bigotry, systemic racism, and injustice; for the whole church: for Susan, our Diocesan Bishop; for David and Brian, our priests; for Rob, our intern; for all bishops, priests and deacons; and for all the baptized: that God may accomplish God's work in and through us for the sake of the world;
- for Elizabeth our Queen and all set in authority under her; for Justin, the Prime Minister of Canada and all members of parliament; Doug, the Premier of Ontario and all members of the legislature; Fred, the mayor of Hamilton and those who serve city council; for the First Nations of this land, for elders, chiefs, and band councils; for all in civil authority and for all citizens that we might work together for the common good;
- for all for whom we have been asked to pray: especially Mary, that God will bring them healing and wholeness;
- for those who are dying and all those who have departed from this life and are at rest.
In our cycles of prayer:
- In the Worldwide Anglican Communion: Pray for the Episcopal Church in the United States and The Most Revd Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church.
- In the Diocese of Niagara: St. Paul, Jarvis, The Reverend Canon Richard Moorse, Rector and the people of that parish. For other faith communities in our neighbourhood, especially, Central Presbyterian Church, The Rev’d Dr. Gregory Davidson, Minister, and the people of that congregation.
- For one another, in our parish cycle of prayer, for Dave and Susan McKay; Steven, Emma, Duncan, Willa, and Flora McKay; Charles Meeks; Olga Miller; Robert and Jamie Miller.
Prayer requests to be included on the following Sunday can can be submitted here by the Thursday morning before.
The Readings for Sunday
First Reading: Exodus 33:12-23
Moses successfully interceded with God to accompany Israel to the promised land after their sin with the golden calf. In response to a request to display the divine glory, God recites a sentence that appears frequently in the Hebrew Scriptures: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious.” Moses is not allowed to see God’s face, but only God’s back.
12Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”
17The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” 19And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 21And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
17The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” 19And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 21And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
Psalm: Psalm 99
Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God. (Ps. 99:5)
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Most likely this letter is the first written by Paul. Paul gives pastoral encouragement and reassurances to new Christians living in an antagonistic environment. Their commitment of faith, love, and hope makes them a model for other new Christian communities.
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22
After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar.
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
Readings for the Week
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 29] (Green) | Sunday, October 18, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 148, 149, 150; Sir 4:1-10; 1 Cor 10:1-13; Coll 387
- Holy Eucharist: Propers 386; Ex 33:12-23; Ps 99 (or Is 45:1-7; Ps 96:1-9 (10-13)); 1 Th 1:1-10; Mt 22:15-22; Preface of the Lord's Day
- Evening Prayer: Ps 114, 115; (Jer 29:1, 4-14); Mt 16:13-30; Coll 387
Eve of Precedence: The second Eve of Sunday takes precedence over the evening of St Luke unless he is the Patron and the Patronal Festival will be celebrated on Monday instead of being transferred to Sunday.
St Luke the Evangelist - HD (Red) | Monday, October 19, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 103; Ezek 47:1-12; Lk 1:1-4; Coll 425 or FAS 311
- Holy Eucharist: Propers 425 or FAS 311; Sir 38:1-4, 6-10, 12-14 or 2 Tim 4:5-13; Ps 147:1-7; Lk 4:14-21; Preface of All Saints
- Evening Prayer: Ps 67, 96; Is 52:7-10; Acts 1:1-8; Coll 425 or FAS 311
Feria (Green) | Tuesday, October 20, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 26, 28; Sir 6:5-17; Rev 7:9-17; Coll 387
- Holy Eucharist: As Sunday, except: Eph 2:11-22; Ps 85:8-13; Lk 12:35-38; Preface of Weekdays
- Evening Prayer: Ps 36, 39; (Lam 1:1-5, (6-9), 10-12); Lk 10:1-16; Coll 387
Feria (Green) | Wednesday, October 21, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 38; Sir 7:4-14; Rev 8:1-13; Coll 387
- Holy Eucharist: As Sunday, except: Eph 3:2-12; C 3 or Ps 113 or 122; Lk 12:39-48; Preface of Weekdays
- Evening Prayer: Ps 119:25-48; (Lam 2:8-15); Lk 10:17-24; Coll 387
Feria (Green) | Thursday, October 22, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 37:1-18; Sir 10:1-18; Rev 9:1-12; Coll 387
- Holy Eucharist: As Sunday, except: Eph 3:14-21; Ps 33:1-11; Lk 12:49-53; Preface of Weekdays
- Evening Prayer: Ps 37:19-42; (Ezra 1:1-11); Lk 10:25-37; Coll 387
James of Jerusalem - Mem (Red) | Day of discipline and self-denial | Friday, October 23, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 31; Sir 11:2-20; Rev 9:13-21; Coll 387 (Mem: 438/9 or FAS 315)
- Holy Eucharist: James of Jerusalem: Common of a Saint 438/9 or FAS 315; Acts 15:12-22a; Ps 1; Mt 13:53-58; Preface of All Saints OR Feria: As Sunday, except: Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 12:54-59; Preface of Weekdays (Mem: 438/9 or FAS 315)
- Evening Prayer: Ps 35; (Ezra 3:1-13); Lk 10:38-42; Coll 387 (Mem: 438/9 or FAS 315)
Feria (Green) | Eve of Dedication Sunday (White) OR Eve of Sunday (Green) | Saturday, October 24, 2020
- Morning Prayer: Ps 30, 32; Sir 15:9-20; Rev 10:1-11; Coll 387
- Holy Eucharist: As Sunday, except: Eph 4:7-16; Ps 122; Lk 13:1-9; Preface of Weekdays
- Evening Prayer: Eve of Dedication: Ps 48, 122; Hag 2:1-9; 1 Cor 3:9- 17; Coll 668 OR Eve of Pentecost 21: Ps 42, 43; (Ezra 4:7, 11-24); Lk 11:1-13; Coll 388
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