Sixtieth Sunday after Pentecost - Proper 20

Wiki Commons - Ananias Baptising Paul

Highlights & Mini-Bible Study

Book of Common Prayer | Daily Office Readings

Days of Pentecost

We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, calling upon your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 75:1 | Enriching Our Worship 1, p.19

Pray this way or this way or this way or this way or this way. Alternatives

Readings

Today | Sunday | 24 September 2017 |

Ps. 93, 96; Ps. 34; 2 Kings 4:8–37; Acts 9:10–31; Luke 3:7–18

Psalm 93  | Background

This psalm praises God as the sole King of the universe; God brings the stability of the cosmos; God has all the aspects of a royal king

2 Kings 4

The books of Kings should be seen as one unit; probably written by the Deuteronomists according to scholars; This writing starts with the reign of Ahaziah; Story of Elisha and a woman who prayed for a son, the son died, Elisha resurrected him through an elaborate ritual.

Acts 9

The second volume of Luke tells of the work of the early church; This is the story today of a reluctant volunteer name Ananias who healed and baptized the Apostle Paul. Can you imagine the shape of the church without St. Paul? But the one act of a volunteer listening to God changed the Christian Church forever.  This unique conversation shows the faith of Ananias but also the relationship with the Lord that he had and the freedom to ask questions of God.  Amazing.

Luke 3

John the Baptist shows up and commands repentance in preparing the way of the Lord; the crowd asks how? - be just in all things and share the abundance that God has given to you; is John the Messiah? No, the one to follow will give the Holy Spirit. Are you wheat or chaff? Do you know the Holy Spirit?

S: HS+; Book of Common Prayer; Mission St Clare; The Episcopal Church in Garrett County, Maryland, USA; biblegateway.com; dailyoffice.org; pandora.com; New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised, 4th edition copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.

Prayers and Intercessions | Mission St Clare | Book of Common Prayer
Today | Pentecost 16 - Proper 20

Collect for the Day

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

For Mission

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen

A Prayer for People Doing Missions

I thank the Lord for all those who are volunteering their time;

They go to disasters and build and comfort;

They go to distant lands to talk about You;

They go to staff retreat centers to work so that You may walk with others;

They go and are persecuted for the faith;

Bring your legions of angels to guard and protect them;

Surround them with the Holy Spirit so they feel your presence;

And may they come home worked well and revitalize in the Gospel to be witnesses to others and inspire service.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                                                                                                                                       Dwe - 13 Sept 2017