Notable Feast Days this Week:

April 3 - Nicetas the Confessor, 824
April 4 - Isidore of Seville, 636
April 6 - Martyrs of Persia, 345
April 6 - Eutychius, Bishop of Constantinople, 582
April 7 - George the Younger, Mytilene, 821
April 8 - Lazarus Saturday (Eastern)
April 9 - Mary Clopas, John 19:25 (Roman Catholic)
April 9 - Palm Sunday, Sunday of the Passion


Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Purple

Revised Common Lectionary

Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Philippians 2:5-11
Matthew 26:14 - 27:66

Liturgy of the Palms
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Matthew 21:1-11

Share
Tweet
Forward
------ The Sixth Sunday in Lent ------ April 9, 2017 (Year A)

Humbled for Our Sake

"God is with us in our suffering (Isaiah 50:4-9a), and we petition him to protect us from those who wish us harm (Psalm 31:9-16). Yet, the innocent Jesus, God's only Son, was crucified so that we might have eternal life and forgiveness of sins (Matthew 27:11-54). Because he defeated death, his name is above all names, and we give God glory (Philippians 2:5-11)."
-Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional

Psalms of the Week
Scripture Readings

"Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish
    and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak...
Let your face shine on your servant;
    save me in your unfailing love."


Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter..."

Isaiah 50:4-9a
The suffering servant

Philippians 2:5-11
Even death on a cross

Matthew 21:1-11
Jesus enters Jerusalem

Matthew 26:14 - 27:66
The passion and death of Jesus Christ
 

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year
Chronological
Palm Sunday
"The events framed by Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem ... are some of the most dramatic and theologically important of the entire scriptural narrative. These days feature not only the drama of the triumphal entry, trial, last supper, and crucifixion but also Jesus’ prayers and prophetic teachings. John’s gospel devotes eight of its twenty-one chapters to this week alone... (more)"
-from preachingandworship.org
Links
A meditation on Giotto di Bondone's “Entry into Jerusalem"  

Free Download of Celtic Cross graphic by Elizabeth Steele Halstead

The Bible Project Videos: Isaiah 40-66, Philippians, and Matthew 14-28  
Practicing Prayer
"Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; 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)
Audio Prayer Meditation - Pray As You Go
Spotify Playlists
More Spotify Psalms Playlists...
Singing Psalms and Hymns
Psalm 31 | Music by Sarah Majorins and Words by J.C Lowry| Leadsheet

Music for Palm Sunday from Cardiphonia (With Recordings and Leadsheets)


Psalm 31 Metrical Options

Psalm 118 Metrical Options

Hymn Suggestions for Palm Sunday 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 Matthew 21:1-11
"In order to lay claim to the honors of royalty, he enters Jerusalem, riding an ass. A magnificent display, truly! more especially when the ass was borrowed from some person, and when the want of a saddle and of accouterments compelled the disciples to throw their garments on it, which was a mark of mean and disgraceful poverty. He is attended, I admit, by a large retinue; but of what sort of people? Of those who had hastily assembled from the neighboring villages. Sounds of loud and joyful welcome are heard; but from whom? From the very poorest, and from those who belong to the despised multitude...But as he had two things to do at the same time, — as he had to exhibit some proof of his kingdom, and to show that it does not resemble earthly kingdoms, and does not consist of the fading riches of this world, it was altogether necessary for him to take this method."
Music for Listening
Thematic Art 
Enjoying this newsletter? Become a patron of the Liturgy Letter on Patreon; an on-going crowd funding service where you can commit to as little as $1 a month or set a maximum limit. Anything helps!

Thank you for your support.
Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.
*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:
*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*