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Notable Feast Days this Week:

January 29 - Gildas the Wise, Brittany, 570
January 30 - The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great,
Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom (Eastern)
January 31 - John Bosco, 1888 (Roman Catholic)
February 1 - Brigid of Ireland, 523
February 2 - The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
February 3 - Anskar, Scandinavian Bishop, 865

Revised Common Lectionary

Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

Daily Readings (RCL)
Liturgical Color - Green

Forward

Fifth Sunday After the Epiphany February 4, 2018 (Year B)

God Works Miracles and Renews His People

Praise God for his provision and renewal (Ps. 147:1-11). God's ways are beyond our understanding, yet he lifts up the weak and stoops to save his people (Isaiah 40:21-31). Jesus came as "God among us," sovereign over brokenness and disease (Mark 1:29-39). Like Paul, we follow the example of Jesus and live for the sake of others, that they might know the healing grace of God through Christ (1 Cor. 9:16-23).

The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple

This Friday (February 2) marks The Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. This day was first formally celebrated by the Eastern Church and began to be celebrated by the Western Church in the sixth century (Candlemas). Counting forward from Christmas Day, "...we find that day forty is February 2nd. A Jewish woman is in semi-seclusion for 40 days after giving birth to a son...it is on February 2nd that we celebrate the coming of Mary and Joseph with the infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifice, both on behalf of Mary and on behalf of Jesus as a first-born male. As they did so, they were greeted by the aged Simeon," who sings the Nunc Dimittis in response to the revelation of Jesus the Messiah.

Scripture Readings: Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 84, Hebrews 2:14-18, and Luke 2:22-40
Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) Spotify Playlist
Article by Paul McCain on The Presentation of our Lord in the Temple

Psalm of the Week

Scripture Readings

Psalm 147:1-11, 20c

Praise the Lord.
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
The Lord... gathers the exiles of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds...

Commentary on Psalm 147
Augustine, Calvin, Spurgeon,
John Paul II

Audio
Psalm 147, Isaiah 40,
1 Corinthians 9, Mark 1

The Bible Project Videos
Isaiah 40-66, 1 Corinthians, Mark

Isaiah 40:21-31
God cares for the powerless

1 Corinthians 9:16-23
A servant of the Gospel

Mark 1:29-39
The healing of Peter's mother-in-law

Daily Readings
Revised Common Lectionary

Daily Readings
Book of Common Prayer

The Entire Bible in One Year

Chronological

Practicing Prayer

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. -The Book of Common Prayer

Contemplative Prayer (View and Download)

Morning Prayer (View and Download)

Further Prayer 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)

Psalm Playlists

Singing Psalms and Hymns

Hymn suggestions for the Fifth Sunday in Epiphany (Year B) from Hymnary.org

Hymns related to Psalm 147 from Hymnary.com

Songs for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time | OCP Liturgy Podcast

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem (Psalm 147) | by Justin Philip Brooks / Uptown Worship Band | Leadsheet

They That Wait | by Fred Hammond | Leadsheet

Praise the Lord Who Heals the Broken Hearted (Psalm 147) | by Bryan Murdaugh | Leadsheet

In Peace and Joy, I Now Depart | Words by Martin Luther (Inspired by Nunc Dimittis) | Four-Part Chart

Psalm 147 | Genevan Resources

Psalm 147 Anglican Chant | Anglican Chant Psalter

Psalm 147 Pointed Chant | Chart | How to Sing Pointed Chant

Songs for Epiphany from The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

Commentary on Mark 1:29-39

"So, stretching forth his hand to touch, the leprosy immediately departs. The hand of the Lord is found to have touched not a leper, but a body made clean! Let us consider here, beloved, if there be anyone here that has the taint of leprosy in his soul, or the contamination of guilt in his heart? If he has, instantly adoring God, let him say: “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." -Origen

More Historic Commentary
(View and Download)

Music for Listening

Thematic Art

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