Contents:

• The Propers and Hymns for the Transfiguration of Christ (Trinity IX)
• YouTube link for the live-stream of our 10:30 service
• Announcements for the week of August 6th, 2023

The Propers for the Transfiguration of Christ.
The Book of Common Prayer, 1928.

The Collect.

O GOD, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistering; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in his beauty, who with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end. Amen.

Old Testament Lesson. Exodus 34:29-35.

AND it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with the Lord. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone: and Moses put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

The Psalter. Psalm 27. 

THE LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? * the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?
    2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, * they stumbled and fell.
    3 Though an host of men were laid against me, yet shall not my heart be afraid; * and though there rose up war against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
    4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, which I will require; * even that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the fair beauty of the LORD, and to visit his temple.
    5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; * yea, in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me, and set me up upon a rock of stone.
    6 And now shall he lift up mine head * above mine enemies round about me.
    7 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation, with great gladness: * I will sing and speak praises unto the LORD.
    8 Hearken unto my voice, O LORD, when I cry unto thee; * have mercy upon me, and hear me.
    9 My heart hath talked of thee, Seek ye my face: * Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
    10 O hide not thou thy face from me, * nor cast thy servant away in displeasure.
    11 Thou hast been my succour; * leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
    12 When my father and my mother forsake me, * the LORD taketh me up.
    13 Teach me thy way, O LORD, * and lead me in the right way, because of mine enemies.
    14 Deliver me not over into the will of mine adversaries: * for there are false witnesses risen up against me, and such as speak wrong.
    15 I should utterly have fainted, * but that I believe verily to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
    16 O tarry thou the LORD’s leisure; * be strong, and he shall comfort thine heart; and put thou thy trust in the LORD.

GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, * and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, * world without end. Amen.

The Epistle. 2 St. Peter 1:13-18.

I THINK it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,. but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

The Gospel. St. Luke 9. 28-36.

AND it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance war altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Hymns:

153           Christ whose glory fills the skies

288          O worship the King, all glorious above

352           Crown Him with many crowns

Link to the YouTube Live-stream of our Sunday service – 10:30 a.m.:

https://youtube.com/live/rh08CPhJP3M

Click here to access our YouTube channel where you can always view past live-streams or check for any scheduled upcoming live-streams.

For information and tips on getting the best sound and picture from the live-stream, click here.

If you have any questions or issues, please contact our media team at video.christchurchanglican@gmail.com. 

Announcements for Sunday, August 6th, 2023

If you are visiting us – Welcome to Christ Church Anglican, Southern Pines! Thank you for being with us. We are very pleased to have you, and we hope that your worship here is a blessing to you. Please sign the guest book on the table in the narthex, and provide appropriate contact information. Include your email address in order to be placed on our parish email list: you won’t be bombarded with mail, but it’s a good way to keep in touch. And may God bless you!

Prayers for Fr. John Sharpe – Please keep former Christ Church Rector Fr. John Sharpe in your prayers: he is suffer­ing from a severe attack of sciatica, which is giving him a great deal of pain, and has restricted him to a wheelchair for move­ment. He reports, “I have missed very much going to church,” asks that he be added to the prayer list – which I have done – and also asks me to “greet in the name of our Lord all the blessed parishioners with a word of love from a former Rector.” So please do keep him in prayer!

Prayers for Pastor Buddy’s son Joseph – Pastor Buddy is a Presbyterian minister, who is also a faithful attendee and communicant at our Wednesday service of Holy Communion. He requested prayers for his son, who has been diagnosed with Stage IV metastasizing liver cancer. They are fighting it, but it’s an uphill battle, and he asks for prayer.

“Heads Up” for August Vestry Meeting – A reminder that our regular monthly Vestry meeting for August is coming up this Saturday, August 12th, at noon here at the church. If you not a member of the VestrAnnouncements for Sunday, August 6th, 2023y, but are a member of the parish, you are welcome to attend as an observer!

Live Not By Lies, Part 1 – As I have mentioned previously, the plan is to initiate our adult Christian formation (Sunday School) class for this Fall at some point in September (precise date TBA), with a study of author, conservative cultural critic, and Eastern Orthodox Christina Rod Dreher’s recent book, Live Not By Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents. The official “blurb” on Christianbook.com comments,

“Aleksandr Solzhenitzyn once noted that people often assume that their democratic government would never submit to totalitarianism – but Dreher says it’s happening. Sounding the alarm about the insidious effects of identity politics, surveill­ance technology, psychological manipula­tion, and more, he equips contemporary Christian dissidents to see, judge, and act as they fight to resist the erosion of our freedoms.”

While, as I say, we are planning to start the formal study of this book in the Fall, there is nothing wrong with buying it now, and starting to read and think about it ahead of time! Available wherever books are sold, online or in “real” book­stores. Here are two sources:

ChristianBook.com: https://www.christianbook.com/not-by-lies-manual-christian-dissidents/rod-dreher/9780593087398/pd/087392

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Live-Not-Lies-Christian-Dissidents/dp/0593087399/

Live Not By Lies, Part 2 – I have just learned, from Dreher’s blog, that Angel Studios – which as many of us know is behind the summer blockbuster Sound Of Freedom – is con­sidering funding a documentary series based on Live Not By Lies. The idea is to make it into a series, featuring inter­views with the former dissidents – those in the book, and others – who can talk about what it’s like to live under totalitarianism, and what skills we should develop to prepare for it, should the worst come to pass. Dreher writes,

“Hey friends, we are turning my book Live Not By Lies into a documentary series in partnership with Angel Studios Inc. Please help support the project by visiting https://angel.com/live to ‘Express Interest’ and spread the word that this important series is coming soon!”

He emphasizes that you will not be asked to donate money, and if you try to donate now, they won’t accept it. He also notes that “there is a thing that allows you to say how much you would be willing to invest (not donate — invest) if the project is approved, but you can say zero dollars, and that’s fine.” Supporting a worthwhile project with no risk, just by expressing interest – sounds like a good deal to me!

New Brochures have arrived – Our new brochures have been printed, and you may check them out at the holder on the table in the Narthex, if you missed them on the way in.

Caps are on order – Our Christ Church Anglican ball-caps are on order! Estimated arrival date is August 8th. Next on the agenda: mugs! More on that at a later date… 

Hope and pray that everyone has a good, safe, and healthy week – please do your best to stay cool and well-hydrated! Heat-related illnesses are nothing to trifle with. And I also hope and pray that the week ahead is rewarding to you, in whatever fashion is most in keeping with your particular circum­stances, and is spent in God’s favor! 

Faithfully yours in Christ,

Fr. Tom Harbold