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The late Bishop A. Cleveland Coxe, writing in his wonderful little 1860 book Thoughts on the Service: An Introduction to the Liturgy, notes that
“There is a complete philosophy of life in the idea of the Collect today. ‘The steadfast fear and love of God’ are all we need to be anxious about. Let us ensure this, and God will do the rest for us. We shall be under the protection of His good providence, and all things shall work together in our behalf.
“The Epistle teaches us the love of God, and how it ought to operate in making us love our fellow-men. The Gospel persuades us to be in earnest in accepting the call of God to the Great Supper which divine love has prepared. The excuses of men, who plead their ordinary business, their extraordinary enterprises, and even their social relations, as if these could justify them in neglect of duty, are detailed and rebuked.”
Thus we see the way in which the Trinitytide Lectionary continues to show forth the path of duty, when it may be that the ardor of passion, and the excitement of great doings – as in the Nativity and Passion Cycles – have perhaps begun to ebb. Trinitytide is a reminder that in faith as in personal relations, love is a verb, not merely a noun: it is something we do, not just something we may, or may not, feel.
The Propers for the Second Sunday after Trinity.
The Book of Common Prayer 1928.
The Collect.
O LORD, who never failest to help and govern those* whom thou dost bring up in thy stedfast fear and love; Keep us, we beseech thee, under the protection of thy good providence, and make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle. 1 St. John iii. 13.
MARVEL not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
The Gospel. St. Luke xiv. 16.
A CERTAIN man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall. taste of my supper.
Announcements
For the Week of Sunday, June 26th
If you are a visitor:
Welcome! Thank you for being here. We are very pleased to have you with us, and hope that your worship at Christ Church Anglican was a blessing to you. Please sign the guest book on the table in the narthex, and include your email address to be placed on our parish email list: you won’t be bombarded, but it’s a good way to keep in touch. And may God bless you!
Feasts and Holy Days:
Tuesday, June 28th: Irenaus, Bishop of Lyon
Wednesday, June 29th: St. Peter the Apostle
Donations invited for Bibles and Hymnals
If you would like to make a donation to help defray the cost of our recently-purchased Bibles or the replacement hymnals we need to purchase (as many of our existing ones are falling apart, and/or missing pages), please see our Treasurer, Bud Saulsbury. Donations may be made in honour of, or in loving memory of, a loved one, or to the glory of God, or may be made anonymously, as you choose. Many thanks!
Matthew 25:40 Project (Sandhills Student Assistance)
We continue to collect protein bars for this worthy project, which provides nutritional and other targeted support for students of Moore County schools who are in need. Protein bars are our parish’s contribution to this worthy ministry. Please donate as you are able!
Hoping and praying that everyone has a good, safe, and healthy weekend. Stay cool and well-hydrated, and I look forward to seeing many of you at church on Sunday! Take care, and God bless.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
Fr. Tom Harbold
Note: Image is “Peasant Wedding” (1567) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
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