Sunday, April 26, 2009

The Third Sunday of Easter

Let Us Pray For…

Anglican Communion Network (ACN)
The Rt. Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan (Moderator)


From the Scriptures
For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer* of your souls.

I Peter 2:19-25 (ESV)

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*The Greek word translated as “Overseer” here is episcopos—which eventually became, in English, “Bishop.”


The Collect
ALMIGHTY God, who hast given thine only Son to be unto us both a sacrifice for sin, and also an ensample of godly life; Give us grace that we may always most thankfully receive that his inestimable benefit, and also daily endeavour ourselves to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The Second Sunday after Easter,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)



A Heritage Reflection
“The apostolic Church exists by mission as fire exists by burning.”

“The Dublin Agreed Statement 1984”
Anglican-Orthodox Diologue


Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Second Sunday of Easter

Let Us Pray For…

Anglican Coalition in Canada (ACiC)
The Rt. Rev. Alexander Green (Bishop)
The Rev. Barclay Mayo (Network Leader)


From the Scriptures
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is he who came by water and blood--Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

I John 5:4-12 (ESV)


The Collect
ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“The First Sunday after Easter,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)



A Heritage Reflection
Lift up, lift up your voices now!
The whole wide world rejoices now;
The Lord has triumphed gloriously,
The Lord shall reign victoriously.

In vain with stone the cave they barred;
In vain the watch kept ward and guard;
Majestic from the spoilèd tomb,
In pomp of triumph Christ is come.

He binds in chains the ancient foe;
A countless host He frees from woe,
And heaven’s high portal open flies,
For Christ has risen, and man shall rise

And all He did, and all He bare,
He gives us as our own to share;
And hope, and joy and peace begin,
For Christ has won, and man shall win.

O Victor, aid us in the fight,
And lead through death to realms of light;
We safely pass where Thou hast trod;
In Thee we die to rise to God.

Thy flock, from sin and death set free,
Glad alleluias raise to Thee;
And ever with the heavenly host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Rev. John Mason Neale (1818-1866)


Saturday, April 11, 2009

Easter Sunday

Let Us Pray For…

American Anglican Council (AAC)
The Rt. Rev. David C. Anderson (President and CEO)


From the Scriptures
Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

I Corinthians 6:5b-8 (ESV)


The Collect
ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

“Easter Day,” The Book of Common Prayer (USA, 1928)


A Heritage Reflection
“Happy then this day to us; happy we that this day came, which opens to us a door of hope—have reason, therefore, to remember it, and with joy to keep it, as the first dawning of a better hope, the day-spring of all our happiness. This day our head is risen, and with him our hope has enlarged its borders, and made a prospect into the other world, sees some comfort there for our sorrows here. This day's bright -shining beams have lightened our eyes, that now we shall not sleep in death; a Sunday indeed, the first true Sunday that ever shone, wherein the Sun of righteousness arose out of the chambers of the grave, to guide our feet out of misty darkness into marvellous light--out of the paths of the dead into the land of the living--out of this miserable into a blessed life by Christ's resurrection.”

Rev. Mark Frank (1613-1664)
Sermons (Vol. II)