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Notable Feast Days this Week:

November 20 - Edmund the Martyr, East Anglia, 870
November 21 - Presentation of the Virgin Mary
November 22 - Cecilia the Martyr, 230
November 23 - Clement of Rome, 100 (Western Calendars)
November 24 - Clement of Rome, 100 (Eastern Calendars)
November 24 - Flora and Mary, 851
November 25 - Catherine, Alexandria, 313
November 26 - Christ the King/Reign of Christ

Revised Common Lectionary

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 100
Psalm 95:1-7a
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-46

Daily Readings
Liturgical Color - White/Gold

Forward

-----------Reign of Christ----------- November 26, 2017 (Year A)

Our King and Shepherd

God made us and we are His (Psalm 100), the sheep of His pasture who worship Him and take comfort in his guidance (Psalm 95). Our Good Shepherd will look after, and search for, His lost sheep (Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24). We pray for wisdom and enlightenment so that we may know Christ better (Ephesians 1: 15-23), longing for Christ to come and say, "You who are blessed, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:31-46)."

Christ the King/ Reign of Christ (November 26, 2017)

"Christ the King Sunday focuses our worship on the cosmic character of Christ’s reign over the world. It is a proclamation to all that everything in creation and culture must submit to Christ and an invitation to actively and joyfully submit to his rule. The day is celebrated widely in some traditions and is normally scheduled on the last Sunday before Advent. It therefore serves as a transitional Sunday leading directly into Advent, the Christmas cycle, and the new Christian year. The day fits well with the eschatological emphasis and anticipation of Christ’s second coming highlighted during Advent. It also helps worshipers, who are already thinking about Christmas, to remember that Christmas is about much more than a baby in a manger—it is about a sovereign Christ who came to be the 'Prince of Peace.'" - from The Worship Sourcebook, 2nd Ed.

Happy Thanksgiving (November 23, 2017)

A Prayer of Thanksgiving (from The Book of Common Prayer)

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Family Litany

Thanksgiving Day Litany (with Scripture Readings)

Scripture Readings
Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15, Luke 17:11-19

Thanksgiving Hymn
For the Beauty of the Earth | Leadsheet

Psalms of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 95:1-7a
Worship our great God and shepherd

Psalm 100
We are the sheep in God's pasture

Commentary - Psalm 95
Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon,
John Paul II

Commentary - Psalm 100
Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon,
John Paul II

Audio
Matthew 25, Ezekiel 34, Ephesians 1,
Psalm 95, Psalm 100

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
God will shepherd Israel

Ephesians 1:15-23
The reign of Christ

Matthew 25:31-46
The sheep and the goats

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. - The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (Click to View)

Morning Prayer (Click to View)

Further Resources

Morning and Evening Prayer (Church of England-Protestant)
Liturgy of the Hours and Sung Breviary (Roman Catholic)
Sung Morning Prayer by Calvin Peters (Eastern Orthodox)
Audio Prayer Meditation (Pray as You Go)

O King of the nations, and their desire,
the cornerstone making both one:
Come and save the human race,
which you fashioned from clay.

- from "The O Antiphons"

Spotify Playlist

Singing Psalms and Hymns

Commentary on Matthew 25:31-46

Music for Listening

"All I Have is Yours" by Sojourn Music
Psalm 100:4-5 by Ryan Gilkas from The Verses Project
Gateway Hymns "Songs for the Journey"
"Orthodox Hymns in Gregorian Chant" from The Choir

Thematic Art

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