St. Thomas Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/St.Thomas.the.Apostle.Cambridge<https://eur05.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FSt.Thomas.the.Apostle.Cambridge%2F%3Fref%3Dbookmarks&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cfcf3c0410aae4fa6641208d7fe4bf935%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637257474561193014&sdata=AmFV8IYvZZxoh2U%2Fe0mbdlV5XShIvcFTwUZqXJJzjeU%3D&reserved=0>
https://www.facebook.com/groups/969531309814142 (this is St. Luke's page)
Monday, February 14, 2021
Collect
Almighty God, grant us the Spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we who can do nothing good without you, may live according to your holy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
Come, let us worship.
The Proclamation of the Word-
1st Reading: Isaiah 63:1-6 (NRSV)
Vengeance on Edom
'Who is this that comes from Edom, from Bozrah in garments stained crimson? Who is this so splendidly robed, marching in his great might?'
'It is I, announcing vindication, mighty to save.'
'Why are your robes red, and your garments like theirs who tread the wine press?'
'I have trodden the wine press alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and stained all my robes. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year for my redeeming work had come. I looked, but there was no helper; I stared, but there was no one to sustain me; so my own arm brought me victory, and my wrath sustained me. I trampled down peoples in my anger, I crushed them in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.'
Psalm 89:1-18 (Book of Alternative Services page 823):
1 Your love, O Lord, for ever will I sing; * from age to age my mouth will proclaim your faithfulness.
2 For I am persuaded that your love is established for ever; * you have set your faithfulness firmly in the heavens.
3 "I have made a covenant with my chosen one; * I have sworn an oath to David my servant:
4 'I will establish your line for ever, * and preserve your throne for all generations.'"
5 The heavens bear witness to your wonders, O Lord, * and to your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones;
6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord? * who is like the Lord among the gods?
7 God is much to be feared in the council of the holy ones, * great and terrible to all those round about him.
8 Who is like you, Lord God of hosts? * O mighty Lord, your faithfulness is all around you.
9 You rule the raging of the sea * and still the surging of its waves.
10 You have crushed Rahab of the deep with a deadly wound; * you have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11 Yours are the heavens; the earth also is yours; * you laid the foundations of the world and all that is in it.
12 You have made the north and the south; * Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.
13 You have a mighty arm; * strong is your hand and high is your right hand.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundations of your throne; * love and truth go before your face.
15 Happy are the people who know the festal shout! * they walk, O Lord, in the light of your presence.
16 They rejoice daily in your name; * they are jubilant in your righteousness.
17 For you are the glory of their strength, * and by your favour our might is exalted.
18 Truly, the Lord is our ruler; * the Holy One of Israel is our king.
Remember us, gracious God, when we cannot see your way and purpose, and renew in us the joy of your kingdom of light and life. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 1:1-17 (NRSV)
THE FIRST LETTER OF PAUL TO
Timothy
Salutation
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,
To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Warning against False Teachers
I urge you, as I did when I was on my way to Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach any different doctrine, and not to occupy themselves with myths and endless genealogies that promote speculations rather than the divine training that is known by faith. But the aim of such instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith. Some people have deviated from these and turned to meaningless talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make assertions.
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it legitimately. This means understanding that the law is laid down not for the innocent but for the lawless and disobedient, for the godless and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their father or mother, for murderers, fornicators, sodomites, slave-traders, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to the sound teaching that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Gratitude for Mercy
I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the foremost. But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Gospel Reading: Mark 11:1-1 (NRSV)
Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem
When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, 'Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, "Why are you doing this?" just say this, "The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately."' They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, 'What are you doing, untying the colt?' They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, 'Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!'
Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Closing Prayer
God of our salvation, save us from envy and teach us to be content with what is enough. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
May the grace of God uphold you, the peace of God surround you, the love of God flow from you and the strength of God protect and bring you safely through this day. Amen.
God bless and keep us through this season of our lives -