Tag Archives: Newsletter

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Third Sunday of Easter 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Third Sunday of Easter 2018 (Year B)

Open Our Minds To the Light of Your Resurrection
“Why are we troubled? Christ suffered, Christ died, Christ is alive. Open our minds so we might understand (Luke 24:36b-48) and do right (1 John 3:1-7). Lord, please hear us when we cry out to you (Psalm 4); let us be your witnesses (Acts 3:12-19).”
– Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Second Sunday of Easter 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Second Sunday of Easter 2018 (Year B)

Light and Peace
Because the good news of Easter can hardly be contained in a single day’s celebration, Easter is only the first of fifty days of Eastertide, the “Great Fifty Days” that lead up to Pentecost. This season is designed for extended celebration, for exploring the ramifications of Easter for the redemption of all creation, and for joyful Christian living … Jesus Christ’s resurrection is the central event … of all human history. Christians who make this confession are talking not about the resurrection of faith in the disciples, or of hope in the women at the tomb, or of tulips in the spring. They are confessing the real resurrection of Jesus … (more)
-from The Worship Sourcebook2nd Edition.
This week’s readings:
Acts 4:32-35, Psalm 133, 1 John 1:1 – 2:2, John 20:19-31
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Easter Sunday 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Easter Day 2018 (Year B)

Christ is Risen!

“Jesus has risen (Acts 10:34-43)! God’s love for us is unshakeable. In the most desperate situations, he will be victorious (Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24). Let us then also walk in new life, putting away the old things (Colossians 3:1-4). Let us celebrate with the two women at the tomb Jesus’ triumph over death. He is risen, as he said (Matthew 28:1-10).” -Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Holy Week 2018 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Holy Week 2018 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)

Passion Week: Journeying Toward the Paschal Mystery

Lent began over five weeks ago on Ash Wednesday. Over the course of this week, Christians around the world will re-enact and remember the days leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection. This journey towards the cross began on Palm Sunday with a commemoration of Jesus entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. The people who confessed and praised him as the Savior King later cry out, “…crucify him, crucify him!”

On Monday and Tuesday, Jesus returned to Jerusalem from Bethany and purified the Temple, fulfilling the prophecy from the Old Testament (ex. Malachi 3:1-5). In Jerusalem, the tension continued to mount between Jesus and the religious rulers. Wednesday of Holy week is traditionally called “Spy Wednesday” because the enemies of Jesus were watching him closely and looking for an opportunity to capture him. On this day, the adoration of Mary of Bethany is juxtaposed with the tragic betrayal of Judas.

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Palm Sunday 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Palm Sunday Sunday 2018 (Year B)

The Humility of the True King
“Jesus prepares to enter Jerusalem. He will enter majestically, hearing cries of ‘Hosanna in the highest!’ His sights are set on what he must do; his intentions are faithful to God, who sustains him. Soon the crowds will disperse, to be replaced by tormentors. Adulation will cease, and he will be faced with betrayal. Humiliation and obedience lead to death so that life may abound to God’s glory.”
“This is the day the Lord had made–let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29)! Jesus humbled himself on the cross for us (Philippians 2:5-11). God’s help for us is all-sufficient (Isaiah 50:4-9a). Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Mark 11:1-11).”
-Thomas Oden, from Ancient Christian Devotional
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Fifth Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Fifth Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

Fresh Faith and a Clean Heart
“The old passes away, the new emerges. The grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies. From it springs the stalk that in time produces much fruit. Death’s sting is tempered by the promise of new life. Do not cling to old ways that hinder your ability to realize the hope of the gospel. Rather, let what you glean from the past lead to fresh insight, so that you may mature in faith.”
“Create in us clean hearts, O Lord (Psalm 51:1-12); write your law on our hearts and forget our sins forever (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Christ, who was divine, took on human flesh in order to give us eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:5-10). Follow him. Walk in the light (John 12:20-33).”
-Thomas Oden, from Ancient Christian Devotional
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Fourth Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Fourth Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

He Gave His Son
Give thanks to the Lord (Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22), for the power of sin was broken on the cross (Numbers 21:4-9). For God so loved the world that he gave his Son (John 3:14-21); by his grace and mercy, we are saved (Ephesians 2:1-10).
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Third Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Third Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

The Way of Obedience
Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight (Psalm 19). Help us to follow your commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) and fully believe and embrace the teachings of Jesus (John 2:13-22). Help us to remember that God makes foolish the wisdom of the world (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Second Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Second Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

A Faith Willing to Give Everything

Peter is rebuked because he misunderstood what it meant to follow Jesus. Jesus must suffer, even be put to death. To be his disciple means sacrifice as well. Such a thought was difficult for Peter, just as it is for us today. To lose one’s life for Christ sake is to put self behind and serve others without thought of reward.
-James Kirk, in When We Gather: A Book of Prayers for Worship
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – First Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

Liturgy Letter Newsletter – First Sunday in Lent 2018 (Year B)

God’s Covenant
Help us to know your ways, Lord; teach us your paths (Psalm 25:1-10). God has made a covenant with us (Genesis 9:8-17) and sent the Holy Spirit to guide us (Mark 1:9-15). We follow Jesus’ example and are baptized for the repentance of our sins and the promise of eternal life (1 Peter 3:18-22).
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional
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