Sunday February 20, 2022
Join us on live on our Facebook page today @ 9:00 am.
Please come – it’s not the same without you!
Don’t forget that all of Fr. Steve’s messages are available on our 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)
Sunday, February 20, 2022 – 7th Sunday after Epiphany (green)
Sentence
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 13.34
Opening Hymn: #315 – When the morning stars together
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjxy07j6EDU
Collect (on page 356):
Almighty God, your Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving love. Renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN
The Proclamation of the Word
1st Reading: Genesis 45:3-11 (NRSV)
Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.”
And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Psalm 37:1-12, 41-42 (Book of alternative prayer, page 749)
1 Do not fret yourself because of evildoers; * do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 For they shall soon wither like the grass, * and like the green grass fade away.
3 Put your trust in the Lord and do good; * dwell in the land and feed on its riches.
4 Take delight in the Lord, * and he shall give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way to the Lord and put your trust in him, * and he will bring it to pass.
6 He will make your righteousness as clear as the light * and your just dealing as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord * and wait patiently for him.
8 Do not fret yourself over the one who prospers, * the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
9 Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; * do not fret yourself; it leads only to evil.
10 For evildoers shall be cut off, * but those who wait upon the Lord shall possess the land.
11 In a little while the wicked shall be no more; * you shall search out their place, but they will not be there.
12 But the lowly shall possess the land; * they will delight in abundance of peace.
41 But the deliverance of the righteous comes from the Lord; * he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
42 The Lord will help them and rescue them; * he will rescue them from the wicked and deliver them, because they seek refuge in him.
God our strength, give us the humility to trust in your loving care, and the patience to be faithful in seeking your kingdom, that we may come to share in the inheritance of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. AMEN
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 (NSRV)
The Resurrection Body
But someone will ask, ‘How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?’ Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body.
So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, ‘The first man, Adam, became a living being’; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.
What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
Sequence (Gradual) Hymn: #507 – Blest be the tie that binds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6lzTJfWdmk
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:27-38 (NRSV)
Love for Enemies
‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’
The Prayers of the People
(Let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”)
Let us pray for the peace of the world: the Lord grant that we may live together in justice and faith.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for this country, and especially for Queen Elizabeth, the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and all in authority: the Lord help them to serve this people according to his holy will.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for children and young people: the Lord guide their growth and development.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the sick: the Lord deliver them and keep them in his love.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all who are condemned to exile, prison, harsh treatment, or hard labour, for the sake of justice and truth: the Lord support them and keep them steadfast.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We remember the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all who have borne witness to the gospel: the Lord direct our lives in the same spirit of service and sacrifice.
Lord, hear our prayer. AMEN
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.
Our Closing Hymn is #379 – Rejoice the Lord is King
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypvXPiBmRs4
Dismissal
Leader: May the touch of Christ bring you healing; may the love of Christ bring you hope; may the life of Christ bring you insight as you go forth with new vision.
People: Thanks be to God, Allelujah!
God bless and keep us as we continue the process of opening up our province - please join us in person or online – all COVID protocols are continuing to be observed (masking, social distancing, staying home if not well and our sanitizing).