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The Season of Epiphany 2017 (Year A)

Notable Feast Days this Week:

January 23 - Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children (Roman Catholic - USA)
January 24 - Francis de Sales, 1622 (Roman Catholic)
January 25 - Conversion of St. Paul (Western Calendars)
January 25 - Gregory of Nazianzus, 389 (Eastern Calendars)
January 26 - Timothy and Titus (Western Calendars)
January 27 - John Chrysostom, 407 (Traditional Western)
January 28 - Thomas Aquinas, 1274 (Anglican/Roman)

Liturgical Color - White

Revised Common Lectionary

Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew 5:1-12

Daily Readings (RCL)

Forward

-The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany- January 29, 2017 (Year A)

Living Blessed in the Upside Down Kingdom
"God asks that we practice love, justice, kindness and humility (Micah 6:1-8). We are to be truthful, not slander others, protect the innocent and do what is right (Psalm 15). God shows his strength through what the world considers weak or despised, so that he might be glorified (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). Thus, he calls "blessed" the poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, and the persecuted (Matthew 5:1-12)." -Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Resources

- The Bible Project overview of Matthew 1-13, Matthew 14-28, and 1 Corinthians.

- PPT Slideshow for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany (Art and Scripture)

- Worship Service Outlines based on "The Beatitudes" from The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

- "The Cost of Discipleship" - A full PDF copy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's classic exposition of The Sermon on the Mount.

- Thomas Aquinas comments on the Beatitudes in Summa Theologica.

- A brief commentary on the Beatitudes from the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

-John Calvin commentary on Matthew 5.

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Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 15

"Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

The one whose walk is blameless,
    who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander,
    who does no wrong to a neighbor,
    and casts no slur on others;
who despises a vile person
    but honors those who fear the Lord;
who keeps an oath even when it hurts,
    and does not change their mind;
who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent.

Whoever does these things
will never be shaken."

Micah 6:1-8
An offering of justice, kindness, humility

1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Christ crucified, the wisdom and power of God seems foolish to some

Matthew 5:1-12
The teaching of Christ: The Beatitudes

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

Practicing Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. -from The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (View and Download)

Daily Prayer (View and Download)

Audio Prayer Meditation - Pray As You Go

Psalm 15 Spotify Playlist

More Spotify Psalms Playlists...

Singing Psalms and Hymns

The Kingdom of God - by The Community of Taize | Leadsheet

Micah 6 - by Philip Majorins | Leadsheet

You Are Blessed - by Bruce Benedict and Naaman Wood | Chord Chart | Leadsheet

Blest Are They, the Poor in Spirit | by David Haas | Leadsheets

The Beatitudes Song - by Matt Mason and Mandi M. | Chord Chart

Psalm 15 (Who May Abide With You) - by Shane Heilman | Chord Chart

The Lord is My Light | Taize Melody | Leadsheet

Songs for Epiphany: A list of songs to shape Epiphany from The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

A list of c ontemporary Epiphany music compiled by Bruce Benedict from Cardiphonia. Chord charts and recordings included!

Psalm 15 Metrical Options (Tunes: Amazing Grace, Richmond)

Resources for Pointed Chant

Resources for Plainchant

Read about "Singing the Psalms: A Guide for Modern Worship"

Commentary on Matthew 5:1-12

"We know many poor people, indeed, who are not merely poor but blessed. For the necessity of poverty does not produce blessedness in each of us, but a devout trust sustained through poverty does. Some, having no worldly resources, continue to sin and remain without faith in God. Clearly we cannot call these people blessed. We must inquire just who are these blessed of whom the Lord says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus means that those persons are truly blessed who, having spurned the riches and resources of the world to become rich in God, desire to be poor in the world. Indeed, such people seem to be poor in the sight of the world, but they are rich in God, needy in the world but wealthy in Christ." -Chromatius

More Historical Commentary (View and Download)

Music for Listening

"The Beatitudes EP" Hope College Worship (Holland, MI)

"Asaph" Loud Harp (Alternative Shoe-Gaze Ambient Psalms)

"Epiphany EP" The Calendar Years

Choral Anthems for Epiphany - A Youtube Playlist

Thematic Art

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