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Notable Feast Days this Week:

March 14 - Benedict of Nursia, 547 (Eastern)
March 15 - Leocritia, Spain, 859
March 16 - Julian of Antioch, 302
March 17 - Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, 460
March 17 - Gertrude, Nivelles, 659
March 18 - Cyril of Jerusalem, 386
March 19 - Joseph, husband of the virgin Mary

Revised Common Lectionary

Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42

Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Purple

Forward

----- The Third Sunday in Lent ----- March 19, 2017 (Year A)

Living Water

"Water is used throughout Scripture as a symbol of faith. In the Old Testament, it sometimes foreshadows Christ's sacrifice for our sins (Exodus 17:1-7). In the New Testament, Jesus offers forgiveness to all, regardless of race or past misdeeds, and 'living water,' which is the Holy Spirit and eternal life (John 4:5-42). Through his death, we are reconciled to God (Romans 5:1-11), our Creator and King, to whom we offer praise and thanks for our salvation (Psalm 95)."
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 95

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,
    the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,
    and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,
    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    the flock under his care..."

Exodus 17:1-7
Water from the rock

Romans 5:1-11
Reconciled to God by Christ's death

John 4:5-42
The Samaritan woman at Jacob's well

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

Resources

A Prayer for the Third Sunday in Lent:

"Almighty and everlasting God, by whom that begins to be which was not and that which lay hidden is made visible, cleanse away the folly of our heart and purify us from our secret vices, that we may be able to serve you, O Lord, with pure mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." -The Gregorian Sacramentary (6th Century)

A Scripture Prayer for the Third Sunday in Lent:
"Enduring Presence,
goal and guide,
you go before and await our coming.
Only our thirst compels us
beyond complaint to conversation,
beyond rejection to relationship.
Pour your love into our hearts,
that, refreshed and renewed,
we may invite others to the living water
given to us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
-from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (Fortress Press)

Art:
A meditation on "Orthodox Icon: St. Photini (Samaritan Woman)" by Professor Daniella Zsupan-Jerome (Video)

Scripture Study:

The Bible Project Videos: Exodus 1-18, Romans 5-16, and John 1-12
Psalm 95 (The Venite): Notes on the Liturgy - by Rich Lusk
O Come, Let Us Say the Entire Venite (Psalm 95) - by John Mason Lock
Psalm 95 Commentary: Augustine, John Paul II, John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon

St Patrick's Day:

The Story of St. Patrick's Day - Veggie Tales
The History of St. Patrick - Video Overview
Reclaiming St. Patrick's Day by Ted Olsen

Links for Lent:

Introducing Lent: A Season of Preparation and Repentance a short article by Cornelius Plantinga Jr.
40 Reasons to Observe Lent by Peter Leithart
The Jesus Storybook Bible Lent Reading Plan for children
Sermon Resources for Lent and Holy Week 2017 (RCL)
Forty for 40: A Literary Reader for Lent by Nick Ripatrazone
The Lent Project: Daily Devotionals with Art from the Biola University Center for Christianity, Culture, and the Arts
"O Thou Who Chastenest..." a poem by Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)

Practicing Prayer

"Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen." -The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (View and Download)

Daily Prayer (View and Download)

Morning and Evening Prayer (Church of England)

Audio Prayer Meditation - Pray As You Go

Psalm 95 Spotify Playlist

More Spotify Psalms Playlists...

Singing Psalms and Hymns

Come, Worship the Lord (Psalm 95) | by John Michael Talbot| Leadsheet

Come, Christians Join to Sing | by Christian Bateman | Leadsheet | Capo Leadsheet

There is a Fountain Filled With Blood | Words by William Cowper | Leadsheet and Re-tuned Arrangments

Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above | Words by Johann Jakob Schutz (1675) Music and Arrangement by Eric Gilbert | Leadsheet | Capo Leadsheet

Come to the Fount| by Bruce Benedict | Leadsheet

The King of Love My Shepherd Is | Words by Henry Baker (1868) Traditional Irish Melody | Leadsheet

Psalm 95 Metrical Options

Hymn Suggestions for The Third Sunday in Lent from Hymnary.org

Resources for Pointed Chant

Resources for Plainchant

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

Commentary on John 4:5-42

"The woman immediately believed, showing that she was not only much wiser than Nicodemus but also more courageous. For when he heard ten thousand things like this, he neither invited any others to hear what he heard, nor did he himself speak openly (about his encounter). But she exhibited the actions of an apostle, preaching the gospel to everyone she could and calling them to Jesus. She even drew out a whole city to hear him. When Nicodemus heard Jesus, his reaction was, "How can these things be?" And when Christ set before him a clear illustration utilizing "the wind," even then he did not receive the word of God. But this is not the case with the woman. At first she doubted, but afterward, receiving the Word not by any regular demonstration but in the form of an assertion, she immediately hurried to embrace it."

-Chrysostom, Homilies on the Gospel of John, 32:1

More Historical Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening (Lent)

Contemporary

The Brilliance - Youtube Playlist for Lent
"Apodeipnon" - Docetism (Ambient/Contemplative)
The Verses Project - Songs for the Gospel of John

Classical/Sacred

The Entire Book of Psalms - Anglican chant sung by English Cathedral Choirs.
"Passio" by Arvo Part (1982) - A seventy-minute cantata based on the Passion narrative in the Gospel of John. The oratorio focuses on Jesus, Pilate, and John.
"Lamentations of Jeremiah" by Thomas Tallis (1565-1570) - Thomas Tallis served under Henry VIII, Mary I, and Elizabeth. This piece was written toward the end of his life and is characterized by stunning depth and beauty.

Thematic Art

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