Sunday’s Readings From The Lectionary Page

The Collect

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The First Lesson

Acts 11:19-30

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that took place over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, and they spoke the word to no one except Jews. But among them were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who, on coming to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord. Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

or

The Old Testament

Isaiah 45:11-13,18-19

Thus says the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:
Will you question me about my children,
or command me concerning the work of my hands?
I made the earth,
and created humankind upon it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
and I commanded all their host.
I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness,
and I will make all his paths straight;
he shall build my city
and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,
says the LORD of hosts.
For thus says the LORD,
who created the heavens
(he is God!),
who formed the earth and made it
(he established it;
he did not create it a chaos,
he formed it to be inhabited!):
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
I did not speak in secret,
in a land of darkness;
I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,
“Seek me in chaos.”
I the LORD speak the truth,
I declare what is right.

The Psalm

Psalm 33 or 33:1-8,18-22 Page 626, BCP
Exultate, justi

1
Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous; *
it is good for the just to sing praises.

2
Praise the LORD with the harp; *
play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.

3
Sing for him a new song; *
sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.

4
For the word of the LORD is right, *
and all his works are sure.

5
He loves righteousness and justice; *
the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth.

6
By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, *
by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.

7
He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin *
and stores up the depths of the sea.

8
Let all the earth fear the LORD; *
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.

9
For he spoke, and it came to pass; *
he commanded, and it stood fast.

10
The LORD brings the will of the nations to naught; *
he thwarts the designs of the peoples.

11
But the LORD’S will stands fast for ever, *
and the designs of his heart from age to age.

12
Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! *
happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

13
The LORD looks down from heaven, *
and beholds all the people in the world.

14
From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
on all who dwell on the earth.

15
He fashions all the hearts of them *
and understands all their works.

16
There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army;
a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

17
The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
for all its strength it cannot save.

18
Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, *
on those who wait upon his love,

19
To pluck their lives from death, *
and to feed them in time of famine.

20
Our soul waits for the LORD; *
he is our help and our shield.

21
Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
for in his holy Name we put our trust.

22
Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, *
as we have put our trust in you.

The Epistle

1 John 4:7-21

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

The Gospel

John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

God’s Call Comes by Cellphone | Chicago Tribune

Those groups formed the Internet Evangelism Coalition, which offers advice on using the Web to spread the Gospel. The coalition’s top tip: Don’t sound preachy. Avoid “churchy jargon” ? words like ministry, salvation, redemption, even faith. Draw nonbelievers to Jesus (or attract “unchurched” Christians to your specific congregation) by presenting the church as an upbeat, uplifting community of friends.

Mark Batterson, the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., posts zany video blogs on his website; one shows him tap dancing in the reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Other pastors post MTV-worthy clips of church bands. Many offer free downloads of their most popular sermons, including PowerPoint presentations.

“People often think the church is boring, judgmental, not relevant,” said Richard Reising, president of the Dallas firm Artistry Marketing, which specializes in church advertising. “New media’s a great way to reposition ourselves.”

Nearly 60% of Protestant churches have websites now, up from 35% in 2000. More than half use e-mail blasts to communicate with their congregation ? and 12% let the faithful tithe online, according to the Barna Group, which conducts research for Christian ministries.

This probably wouldn’t be a good fit for Holy Innocents, because we’re pretty traditional when it comes to music and liturgy. However, I can see it happening for an occasional informal outdoor prayer service, at least with music a la iPod and a boombox. And occasionally Father Ted would like to post sermons here.

And altough projections of light and color on the ceiling at Holy Innocents might be pretty and evocative, I don’t think we’re quite ready for a slide show.

Although you never know, I’ve seen some pretty impressive and contemplative slideshows with images of the Earth from space, Greek icons, and so on.

Speaking of “occasional informal outdoor” services, we’re going to hold some Eucharist services on Wednesdays during the summer season in a nearby park. Times and places will be posted here. Watch this space!

Sunday’s Readings From The Lectionary Page

Deuteronomy 4:1-9

Ephesians 6:10-20

Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

Psalm 15

The Collect

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Old Testament

Deuteronomy 4:1-9

Moses said: So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the LORD your God with which I am charging you. You have seen for yourselves what the LORD did with regard to the Baal of Peor–how the LORD your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed
the Baal of Peor, while those of you who held fast to the LORD your God are all alive today.

See, just as the LORD my God has charged me, I now teach you statutes and ordinances for you to observe in the land that you are about to enter and occupy. You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is whenever we call to him? And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances
as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?

But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children–

The Psalm

Psalm 15 Page 599, BCP

Domine, quis habitabit?

1 LORD, who may dwell in your tabernacle? * who may abide upon your holy hill?

2 Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, * who speaks the truth from his heart.

3 There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil to his friend; * he does not heap contempt upon his neighbor.

4 In his sight the wicked is rejected, * but he honors those who fear the LORD.

5 He has sworn to do no wrong * and does not take back his word.

6 He does not give his money in hope of gain, * nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

7 Whoever does these things * shall never be overthrown.

The Epistle

Ephesians 6:10-20

Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere
in supplication for all the saints.

Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

The Gospel

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing
of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,

‘This people honors me with their lips,

but their hearts are far from me;

in vain do they worship me,

teaching human precepts as doctrines.’

You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile
a person.”