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The Season of Epiphany 2017 (Year A)

Notable Feast Days this Week:

February 13 - Modomnoc, Bishop of Ireland, 6th century
February 14 - Valentine, Martyr, 270
February 15 - Onesimus, Philemon v.10, (Eastern)
February 15 - Philemon and Onesimus (Lutheran)
February 16 - Onesimus, Philemon v.10, (Roman Catholic)
February 17 - Finan, Lindisfarne, 661
February 18 - Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, 461 (Eastern)
February 18 - Martin Luther, 1546 (Lutheran)

Revised Common Lectionary

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Psalm 119:33-40
1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
Matthew 5:38-48

Daily Readings (RCL)

Liturgical Color - Green/White

Forward

-Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany- February 19, 2017 (Year A)

God's Ways Bring Freedom and Call Us to Follow Jesus

God's commandments are gifts of grace designed to bring us freedom. Reverence for God and his ways compels us to love others in the same way that God has loved us. The ways of his kingdom may seem counterintuitive to our own conceptions of justice, but we must pursue what is right in spite of appearances. Jesus calls us to endure patiently while praying even for our enemies. Trust God and depend on his grace, even when it is hard. For we belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 119:33-40

"Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.

Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good ... In your righteousness preserve my life."

Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
Pursue holiness by loving your neighbor

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23
Allegiance to Christ and his ways

Matthew 5:38-48
Love your enemies

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

Further Resources

- 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 of dedication inspired by 1 Corinthians 3:

"O God, through your grace the foundations of faith have been laid. Christ, the cornerstone, has once and for all been set in place, and you have called us to be your building in whom the Spirit dwells. Each of us is a builder, too; in the Day of Christ our work will be revealed. Accept what we do and the gifts that we bring.
May they fit your design and prove enduring."
-Rev. James Kirk, When We Gather: A Book of Prayers for Worship, pg. 36.

- Lent is only three weeks away! The Liturgy Letter recommends reading the newly released book The Good of Giving Up: Discovering the Freedom of Lent by Aaron Damiani, in preparation for this upcoming season of intentional discipleship. This excellent volume is full of lucid illustrations and clear explanations that will encourage your understanding and practice of Lent.

Practicing Prayer

"O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing; Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen." -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

Trisagion | Music by Ryan Flannigan from the album "Table Settings"| Leadsheet

The Apostles' Creed | Music by Ryan Flannigan from the album "Table Settings"| Chord Chart

How Firm a Foundation | Leadsheet

Hymn Suggestions for the Seventh 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

"Matthew concludes, “All things are perfected by goodness.” The law used to demand that your neighbor be loved and allowed hatred against an enemy. Faith, rather, requires that enemies be cherished. It breaks the tendency we have to be peevish and urges us to bear life’s difficulties calmly. Faith not only deters anger from turning into revenge but even softens it into love for the injurer. It is merely human to love those who love you, and it is common to cherish those who cherish you. Therefore Christ calls us into the life of heirs of God and to be models for the just and the unjust of the imitation of Christ. He distributes the sun and the rain through his coming in baptism and by the sacraments of the Spirit."

-Hilary of Poitiers

More Historical Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening

Table Settings is a new release from Texas musician, Ryan Flannigan. There is much to be admired about this collection of new tunes that, "...consists of singable settings of historic prayers for churches and families." It was produced by Isaac Wardell of Bifrost Arts and presents a fabulous way to memorize some of the great prayers and responses embedded within the historic liturgies of the church. A great resource for both kids and adults!

During February, all proceeds from sales of Aaron Strumpel's album Bright Star on Noisetrade will go to benefit Horizons International School of Hope, a refugee organization based in Beirut, Lebanon.

Thematic Art

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