Church guide

The Birth of Jesus Foretold 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel came to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women” Lk 1:26

THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY THE INTROIT: Justus es, Domine. Psalm 119. RIGHTEOUS art thou, O Lord, and true is thy judgment: deal with thy servant according unto thy merciful kindness. Ps. Ibid. Blessed are those that are undefiled in the way: and walk in the law of the Lord. V. Glory... Righteous... THE COLLECT: LORD, we pray thee that thy grace may always prevent and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Third Collect chosen by the Celebrant. FOR THE EPISTLE: Ephesians 4:1 I THEREFORE, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. THE GRADUAL: Psalm 33. Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord: and blessed are the folk that he hath chosen to him to be his inheritance. V. By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made: and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth. THE HOLY GOSPEL: Saint Luke 14:1 IT came to pass, as Jesus went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him. And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy. And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day? And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go; and answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day? And they could not answer him again to these things. And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them, When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest seat; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; and he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. THE OFFERTORY: Daniel 9. I, Daniel, prayed unto the Lord my God, and said: Hear, O our God, the prayer of thy servant. Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary: and behold, O God, this thy people, who are called by thy Name. THE COMMUNION: Psalm 76. Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it: all ye that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. He shall refrain the spirit of princes: and is wonderful among the kings of the earth. THE POST-COMMUNION: WE beseech thee, O Lord, mercifully to cleanse and renew our souls with thy heavenly Sacraments: that we may thereby be defended both now and ever against all temptations. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. WE beseech thee, O Lord: that the gifts now offered in this heavenly Sacrament may cleanse and defend us; that at the intercession of blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N..., and of all thy Saints, they may render us free from iniquity and sale from all adversity.

Fifteenth Sunday After Trinity THE INTROIT: Inclina, Domine Psalm 86. BOW down, O Lord, thine ear to me, and hear me: O my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee; have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I have called daily upon thee. Ps. Ibid. Comfort the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. V. Glory... Bow down... THE COLLECT: KEEP, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy Church with thy perpetual mercy; and, because the frailty of man without thee cannot but fall, keep us ever by thy help from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. FOR THE EPISTLE: Galatians 6:11 YE see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. . THE GRADUAL: Psalm 92. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: and to sing praises unto thy Name, O Most Highest. V. To tell of thy loving-kindness early in the morning: and of thy truth in the night-season.Alleluia, alleluia. V. Psalm 95. For the Lord is a great God: and a great King over all the earth, alleluia. THE HOLY GOSPEL: Saint Matthew 6:24 NO man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the food, and the body than the raiment? Behold the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not ye of much more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit unto the measure of his life? And why are ye anxious concerning raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, what shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. THE OFFERTORY: Psalm 40. I waited patiently for the Lord: and he inclined unto me: he heard my calling, and hath put a new song in my mouth, even a thanksgiving unto our God. THE COMMUNION: Saint John 6. The bread that I will give is my Flesh: which I will give for the life of the world. THE POST-COMMUNION: MAY thy Sacrament, O God, ever purify and protect us: and guide us to the attainment of eternal salvation. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

13th Sunday After Trinity THE INTROIT: Respice, Do mine Psalm 74 LOOK, O Lord, graciously upon thy covenant, and forsake not the congregation of the poor for ever: arise, O Lord, maintain thine own cause; and be not unmindful of the voices of them that seek thee. Ps. Ibid. O God, wherefore art thou absent from us so long: why is thy wrath so hot against the sheep of thy pasture? Glory... Look, O Lord... THE COLLECT: ALMIGHTY and merciful God, of whose only gift it cometh that thy faithful people do unto thee true and laudable service; Grant, we beseech thee, that we may so faithfully serve thee in this life, that we fail not finally to attain thy heavenly promises; through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. DEFEND us, we beseech thee, O Lord, from all perils of mind and body: and at the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary, the ever Virgin Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N..., and of all Saints, graciously bestow upon us both peace and safety; that all adversity and error being done away, thy Church may serve thee in untroubled freedom. WE beseech thee, O Lord; mercifully to forgive the sins of thy people; that we, who ourselves can do nothing that is acceptable unto thee, may be succoured by the intercession of the Mother of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen FOR THE EPISTLE: Galatians 3:16ff To Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. THE GRADUAL: Psalm 74. Look upon thy covenant, O Lord: and forget not the congregation of the poor for ever. Arise, O Lord, maintain thine own cause: remember how the foolish man blasphemeth thee daily.Alleluia, alleluia. Psalm 90. Lord, thou hast been our refuge: from one generation to another, alleluia THE HOLY GOSPEL: Saint Luke 10:23ff BLESSED are the eyes which see the things that ye see: for I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. THE OFFERTORY: Psalm 31. My hope hath been in thee, O Lord: I have said, Thou art my God, my time is in thy hand. THE COMMUNION: Wisdom16. Thou hast given us Bread from heaven, O Lord: having every delight, and every taste of sweetness. THE POST-COMMUNION: QUICKEN us, we pray thee, O Lord, who have received these holy mysteries: that they may win for us both pardon and protection. Through Jesus Christ thy Son, our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. WE beseech thee, O Lord: that the gifts now offered in this heavenly Sacrament may cleanse and defend us; that at the intercession of blessed Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, of blessed Joseph, of thy blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of blessed N..., and of all thy Saints, they may render us free from iniquity and safe from all adversity. O Lord, who hast vouchsafed to make us partakers of thy heavenly banquet: we humbly beseech thee; that we who here observe the Glorification of the Mother of God, may by her intercession be delivered from all the evils that beset us. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - to the Greater Glory of God- St. Ignatius of Loyola

Often for some, the Old Testament of the Bible seem to be an inconvenient truth. Some even wanted to expunge passages that do not support their lifestyle. The OT is God's Word as the NT is: God spoke and everything came into being. The OT entails God's plan of redemption-our salvation story and many messianic prophecies announcing the arrival of the Son of God. Those very prophecies are fulfilled in the New Testament. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). In our earlier format of 'Here We Stand' the emphasis was on the OT as God's word: this was not to the detriment of the NT being God's word. Hope this quells any or all doubts about the entire Holy Bible (OT & NT) is the Word of God. Here is the "We believe" reasserting both OT and NT to be the Word of God.

Often for some, the Old Testament of the Bible seem to be an inconvenient truth. Some even wanted to expunge passages that do not support their lifestyle. The OT is God's Word as the NT is: God spoke and everything came into being. The OT entails God's plan of redemption-our salvation story and many messianic prophecies announcing the arrival of the Son of God. Those very prophecies are fulfilled in the New Testament. "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). In our earlier format of 'Here We Stand' the emphasis was on the OT as God's word: this was not to the detriment of the NT being God's word. Hope this quells any or all doubts about the entire Holy Bible (OT & NT) is the Word of God. Here is the "We believe" reasserting both OT and NT to be the Word of God.

‪#maundythursday #preciousbody #preciousblood unless you eat the flesh of the son of man & drink his blood you have no life in you -Jn 6:53‬

RIP MRS. JANET SHEPHERD Of your Christian Charity Please remember Mrs Janet Shepherd (dear spouse of Fr Lewis Shepherd) who entered Everlasting Life last night. Our heartfelt condolences to Fr Lewis and his daughter Christine.May I request the priests to offer a requiem for the repose of the soul of our dear departed. Rest eternal grant unto Mrs Janet O Lord and let thine Light perpetual shine upon her. May she Rest In Peace with all thine saints forevermore. Amen.

RIP Mrs. PRISCILLA KINNER With deep sorrow and regret we announce that our dear Mrs. Priscilla Kinner entered everlasting life at 11:30 pm last night. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to our beloved Bishop Kinner and their sons and their families, in particular Mark Kinner, Senior Warden at Holy Trinity and Paul Kinner, Senior Warden at Holy Family. May Jesus who is our resurrection and life comfort us all. Dear Priests of God, kindly offer a requiem for the repose of the soul of Mrs. Priscilla Kinner today throughout our diocese. Rest eternal grant unto her O Lord and let thine eyes perpetual shine upon her. May she rest in peace with all thy saints forevermore, Amen. IAM the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me, shall never die. I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though this body be destroyed, yet shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not as a stranger REMEMBER thy handmaiden Pricilla Kinner, O Lord, according to the favour which thou bearest unto thy people, and grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, she may go from strength to strength, in the life of perfect service, in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever, one God, world without end. Amen