Webmaster -- Church of Saint John the Evangelist
Webmaster -- Church of Saint John the Evangelist
October 27, 2020
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Theme of the Day

All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.

The Collect for Sunday

God of all people, from every tribe and language; you called true witnesses who sang your praise, lived your grace and worked for peace. May we share their faith and live by their example, so that we might be a blessing to the hunger of your world; through Jesus Christ, whose body we are, and who lives and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Prayer Intentions

The prayers of the church are offered especially:

  • for the needs of the world, especially at this time of the second wave 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;
  • 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 Church of the Province of West Africa; The Most Revd Dr Jonathan Bau-Bau Bonaparte Hart - Primate & Metropolitan, Church of the Province of West Africa; Metropolitan of the internal province of West Africa and Archbishop of Liberia.
  • In the Diocese of Niagara: St. Luke, Palermo, The Reverend Garfield Wu, Rector, and the people of that parish.
  • For other faith communities in our neighbourhood, especially, Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church, The Rev’d Aba Gebreeyesus Ayalew, head priest, and people of that parish.
  • For one another, in our parish cycle of prayer, for John, Carol, Scott, Laura & William Nicholson; Christie Noonan; Ed Meidema & Bethany Osborne; Dave & Rebekah Parkinson; Dhamika, Prasthanika, Anargi & Liam Perera.

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: Revelation 7:9-17

The book of Revelation is written to seven churches in western Asia Minor during a time of great oppression. Today’s reading is a response to the question asked in 6:17: “Who is able to stand?” The writer gives the faithful the assurance of God’s protection and a vision of victory.

9After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
 “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing,
 “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
 and thanksgiving and honor
 and power and might
 be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
  13Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
 15For this reason they are before the throne of God,
  and worship him day and night within his temple,
  and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
 16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
  the sun will not strike them,
  nor any scorching heat;
 17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
  and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Psalm: Psalm 34:1-10, 22

Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord; for those who fear the Lord lack nothing. (Ps. 34:9)

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-3

A saint is one who has been set apart by God for God’s purposes. God, out of divine love, set us apart to be the children of God. Our holy hope is that we shall see God as God really is.

1See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

In the Beatitudes, Jesus provides a unique description of those who are blessed with God’s favor. His teaching is surprising and shocking to those who seek wealth, fame, and control over others.

1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
  3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
  5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
  6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
  7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
  8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
  9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
  10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Readings for the Week

All Saints' Day - PF (White or Gold) | Sunday, November 1, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps 111, 112; 2 Esd 2:42-47; Heb 11:32-12:2; Coll 428 or FAS 329
  • Holy Eucharist: Propers 427 or FAS 329; Rev 7:9-17; Ps 34:1-10, 22; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12; Preface of All Saints
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 148, 150; Wis 5:1-5, 14-16; Rev 21:1-4, 22-22:5; Coll 428 or FAS 329

All Souls' Day - Commemoration of All Faithful Departed - Mem (Violet or Black) | Monday, November 2, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps 56, 57, [58]; Sir 38:24-34; Rev 14:1-13; Coll 429 (Mem: 429 or FAS 331)
  • Holy Eucharist: All Souls' Day: Propers 429 or FAS 331; Wis 3:1-9; Ps 116:1-8; 1 Pet 1:3-9; Jn 6:37-40 or Jn 11:21-27; Preface for the Commemoration of the Dead.
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 64, 65; (Neh 6:1-19); Lk 12:49-59; Coll 429 (Mem: 429 or FAS 331)

Richard Hooker, Priest and Teacher of the Faith, 1600 - Com (Green) | Tuesday, November 3, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps 61, 62; Sir 43:1-22; Rev 14:14-15:8; Coll 390 (Com: 436 or FAS 333)
  • Holy Eucharist: As Proper 31, except: Phil 2:5-11; Ps 22:22-28; Lk 14:15-24; Preface of Weekdays (Com: 436 or FAS 333)
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 68:1-20, (21-23), 24-36; (Neh 12:27-31a, 42b-47); Lk 13:1-9; Coll 390 (Com: 436 or FAS 333)

Saints of the Old Testament - Mem (White) | Wednesday, November 4, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps 72; Sir 43:23-33; Rev 16:1-11; Coll 390 (Mem: 438/9 or FAS 335)
  • Holy Eucharist: Old Testament: Common of a Saint 438/9 or FAS 335; Heb 11:1-3, 8-12, 23-28, 32-12:2; Ps 37:28-36; Mt 22:23-32; Preface of All Saints  OR  Feria: As Proper 31, except: Phil 2:12-18; Ps 27:1-6, 17-18; Lk 14:25-33; Preface of Weekdays (Mem: 438/9 or FAS 335)
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 119:73-96; (Neh 13:4-22); Lk 13:10-17; Coll 390 (Mem: 438/9 or FAS 335)

Feria (Green) | Thursday, November 5, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps [70], 71; Sir 44:1-15; Rev 16:12-21; Coll 390
  • Holy Eucharist: As Proper 31, except: Phil 3:3-8a; Ps 105:1-7; Lk 15:1-10; Preface of Weekdays
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 74; (Ezra 7:(1-10), 11-26); Lk 13:18-30; Coll 390

Feria (Green) | Day of discipline and self-denial | Friday, November 6, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps 69:1-23, (24-30), 31-38; Sir 50:1, 11-24; Rev 17:1-18; Coll 390
  • Holy Eucharist: As Proper 31, except: Phil 3:17-4:1; Ps 122; Lk 16:1-8 Preface of Weekdays
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 73; (Ezra 7:27-28, 8:21-36); Lk 13:31-35; Coll 390

Willibrord, Archbishop of Utrecht, Missionary, 739 - Com (Green) | Eve of Sunday (Green) | Saturday, November 7, 2020

  • Morning Prayer: Ps 75, 76; Sir 51:1-12; Rev 18:1-14; Coll 390 (Com: 434 or FAS 337)
  • Holy Eucharist: Feria: As Proper 31, except: Phil 4:10-19; Ps 112; Lk 16:9-15; Preface of Weekdays (Com: 434 or FAS 337)
  • Evening Prayer: Ps 23, 27; (Ezra 9:1-15); Lk 14:1-11; Coll 391 (Eve of Pentecost XXIII)
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