Saturday February 18, 2022
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)
Friday, February 18, 2022
Collect
Almighty God and Father, your beloved Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption. Give us the courage to take up our cross and follow him in newness of life and hope. He 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 65:17 - 25 (NRSV)
The Glorious New Creation
For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old person who does not live out a lifetime; for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth, and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, or bear children for calamity; for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord- and their descendants as well. Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent-its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
Psalm 102 (Book of Alternative Services page 839):
1 Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come before you; * hide not your face from me in the day of my trouble.
2 Incline your ear to me; * when I call, make haste to answer me,
3 For my days drift away like smoke, * and my bones are hot as burning coals.
4 My heart is smitten like grass and withered, * so that I forget to eat my bread.
5 Because of the voice of my groaning * I am but skin and bones.
6 I have become like a vulture in the wilderness, * like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake and groan; * I am like a sparrow, lonely on a house-top.
8 My enemies revile me all day long, * and those who scoff at me have taken an oath against me.
9 For I have eaten ashes for bread * and mingled my drink with weeping.
10 Because of your indignation and wrath * you have lifted me up and thrown me away.
11 My days pass away like a shadow, * and I wither like the grass.
12 But you, O Lord, endure for ever, * and your name from age to age.
13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to have mercy upon her; * indeed, the appointed time has come.
14 For your servants love her very rubble, * and are moved to pity even for her dust.
15 The nations shall fear your name, O Lord, * and all the kings of the earth your glory.
16 For the Lord will build up Zion, * and his glory will appear.
17 He will look with favour on the prayer of the homeless; * he will not despise their plea.
18 Let this be written for a future generation, * so that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord.
19 For the Lord looked down from his holy place on high; * from the heavens he beheld the earth;
20 That he might hear the groan of the captive * and set free those condemned to die;
21 That they may declare in Zion the name of the Lord, * and his praise in Jerusalem;
22 When the peoples are gathered together, * and the kingdoms also, to serve the Lord.
23 He has brought down my strength before my time; * he has shortened the number of my days;
24 And I said, "O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days; * your years endure throughout all generations.
25 In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, * and the heavens are the work of your hands;
24 They shall perish, but you will endure; they all shall wear out like a garment; * as clothing you will change them, and they shall be changed;
25 But you are always the same, * and your years will never end.
26 The children of your servants shall continue, * and their offspring shall stand fast in your sight"
God of unchanging mercy, look with compassion upon all who-suffer: the sick and the friendless, the homeless and the captive, the weary and the depressed. Be present to them in the power of your healing love; give them health, comfort, and hope; and bring them to share in the life of your risen Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 5:17-22 (23 - 25) (NRSV)
Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in preaching and teaching; for the scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain', and, 'The labourer deserves to be paid.' Never accept any accusation against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest also may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels, I warn you to keep these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing on the basis of partiality. Do not ordain anyone hastily, and do not participate in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.
No longer drink only water but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.
The sins of some people are conspicuous and precede them to judgement, while the sins of others follow them there. So also good works are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden.
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28 - 34 (NRSV)
The First Commandment
One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, 'Which commandment is the first of all?' Jesus answered, 'The first is, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." The second is this, "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.' Then the scribe said to him, 'You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that "he is one, and besides him there is no other"; and "to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength", and "to love one's neighbour as oneself",-this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.' When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' After that no one dared to ask him any question.
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
Faithful God, your loving kindness for all people is revealed in Jesus Christ. Let your kingdom come now in peace and justice in all the world. We ask this in his name.
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 -