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The Season of Epiphany 2017 (Year A)

Notable Feast Days this Week:

February 6 - Paul Miki and Co, Japan, 1597 (Roman Catholic)
February 9 - Apollonia of Alexandria, Martyr, 249
February 10 - Scholastica, sister of Benedict, 543
February 11 - Caedmon, 680

Liturgical Color - Green/White

Revised Common Lectionary

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Psalm 119:1-8
1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Matthew 5:21-37

Daily Readings (RCL)

Forward

-The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany- February 12, 2017 (Year A)

Serving God with Purity of Heart and Seeking to Forgive

"To look with lust violates relationships. To swear an oath disguises God's mercy. The law of God is a pattern against pretense. It affects how we perceive others, the relationships that we enter, and what comes forth from our mouths. The lesson is twofold: let how we behave be obedient, and let what we say have integrity."
-Rev. James Kirk, When We Gather: A Book of Prayers for Worship

Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 119:1-8

"Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— they do no wrong
    but follow his ways.
You have laid down precepts
    that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast
    in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame
    when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart
    as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees;
    do not utterly forsake me."

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Life and Death: Choose life

1 Corinthians 3:1-9
It is God who makes things grow

Matthew 5:21-37
Forgiveness and integrity

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

The Bible Project Videos: Deuteronomy, Matthew 1-13, and 1 Corinthians.
Commentary on Psalm 119: Charles Spurgeon, John Paul II, Augustine, and Calvin.

A prayer inspired by Psalm 119 from Psalms for All Seasons:

Holy God
your ways are just and your commandments are true.
Help us to understand your law, and when understanding fails
inspire us to follow you in joyful obedience, so that we may faithfully serve you,
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Practicing Prayer

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; 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 119 Spotify Playlist

More Spotify Psalms Playlists...

Singing Psalms and Hymns

Speak O Lord | by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty| Leadsheet | Guitar Chart

We Are Listening | by Sojourn Music | Chord Chart

Let All Things Now Living | Traditional Welsh Melody with text by Katherine Davis, 1939 | Leadsheet

Hymn Suggestions for the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany from Hymnary.org

Psalm 119 Metrical Options (Kingsfold and Forest Green)

Resources for Pointed Chant

Resources for Plainchant

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

Commentary on Matthew 5:21-37

"Consider this analogy from the animals that we tame. A horse does not tame itself; a camel does not tame itself; an elephant does not tame itself; a snake does not tame itself; a lion does not tame itself. So too a man does not tame himself. In order to tame a horse, an ox, a camel, an elephant, a lion and a snake, a human being is required. Therefore God should be required in order for a human being to be tamed."

-Augustine (Sermon 55.2)

More Historical Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening

Purity of Heart is the Will One Thing (EP) - The Welcome Wagon

Brother to Brother - Michael Card and John Michael Talbot

The Psalms of David (Psalm 119) - Orthodox Chant in English from the St. Sabbas Monastery in Harper Woods, Michigan.

Thematic Art

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