Monthly Archives: August 2017
The Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
The Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
Holiness, Truth, and Love
God is holy: more awesome than we can imagine or comprehend (Exodus 3:1-15). He has graciously revealed himself and called us to trust him. We respond in gratitude by choosing to walk in truth and love (Psalm 26). Remembering God’s faithfulness and promises (Psalm 105 & Jeremiah 15:15-21), we pursue love, joy, and patience in the midst of our adversaries. Like Jesus, we are to take up our cross and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:9-21). Jesus’ rebuke of Peter reminds us that God’s ways are often counterintuitive to our ways (Matthew 16:21-28). We follow Jesus by practicing self-giving love that cultivates true life.
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Psalm 124 Playlist
Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
The Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
Protection and Help
“God showed his care for the Israelites through raising up Moses to lead them out of Egypt (Exodus 1:8–2:10). We are grateful for God’s protection in the past and continuing help for the present and future (Psalm 124 / Psalm 138). We confess Christ, the Son of the living God and author of our salvation (Matthew 16:13-20), and offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-8).” -Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
The Liturgy Letter – Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude
After many years, Joseph is given the opportunity to reconcile with his brothers. This profound act of forgiveness prefigures the cross of Christ (Genesis 45:1-15). God has been gracious to us (Psalm 67). In gratitude, we pursue unity with others; especially believers (Psalm 133). God wants us to avoid hypocrisy, cultivate pure hearts, and demonstrate a humble faith (Matthew 15:10-20, 21-28). Even though we fall into disobedience, God bestows His generous mercy upon us through Christ (Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32).
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Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
The Liturgy Letter Newsletter – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost 2017 (Year A)
God’s Peace, Justice, and Salvation
The story of Joseph has many parallels with the life of Christ (Genesis 37:14-, 12-28). As Joseph was thrown into the pit by his brothers, so Christ was crucified by His own, descended into the dead, and was resurrected so that we might live. This is good news and we must tell others (Romans 10:5-15)! The life, death, and resurrection of Christ have fulfilled the allusions we find to him in the Old Testament (Psalm 105). He is the embodiment of peace, salvation, and justice (Psalm 85). Like Joseph and Peter, we need not fear when we are sinking. He has promised to be with us and will help us when our faith is weak (Matthew 14:22-33).
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