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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)


Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Collect
Lord God, the well-spring of life, pour into our hearts the living water of your grace.  By your light we see light.  Increase our faith, and grant that we may walk in the brightness of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  AMEN.
Come, let us worship.

The Proclamation of the Word-
1st Reading:  Isaiah 63:7-14(NRSV)
God's Mercy Remembered

I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favour to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love.  For he said, 'Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely'; and he became their saviour in all their distress.  It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit; therefore he became their enemy; he himself fought against them.  Then they remembered the days of old, of Moses his servant.  Where is the one who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock?  Where is the one who put within them his holy spirit, who caused his glorious arm to march at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name, who led them through the depths?  Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble.  Like cattle that go down into the valley, the spirit of the Lord gave them rest.  Thus you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.


Psalm 97 (Book of Alternative Services page 835):

1.        The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; * let the multitude of the isles be glad.
2            Clouds and darkness are round about him, * righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.
3            A fire goes before him * and burns up his enemies on every side.
4            His lightnings light up the world; * the earth sees it and is afraid.
5            The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, * at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
6            The heavens declare his righteousness, * and all the peoples see his glory.
7            Confounded be all who worship carved images and delight in false gods! *   Bow down before him, all you gods.
8            Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice, * because of your judgements, O Lord.
9            For you are the Lord, most high over all the earth; * you are exalted far above all gods.
10          The Lord loves those who hate evil; * he preserves the lives of his saints and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
11          Light has sprung up for the righteous, * and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.
12          Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous, * and give thanks to his holy name.

Almighty God, your whole creation declares your glory. May we perceive you in all your works and live in the light of your righteousness, through him who is the light of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

2nd Reading:  1 Timothy 1:18 - 2:8 (NRSV)

I am giving you these instructions, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies made earlier about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, having faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have suffered shipwreck in the faith; among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have turned over to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Instructions concerning Prayer

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings should be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all -this was attested at the right time.  For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;


Gospel Reading:  Mark 11:12-25 (NRSV)
Jesus Curses the Fig Tree

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see whether perhaps he would find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. He said to it, 'May no one ever eat fruit from you again.' And his disciples heard it.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Then they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling and those who were buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves; and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.  He was teaching and saying, 'Is it not written, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations"?  But you have made it a den of robbers.'  And when the chief priests and the scribes heard it, they kept looking for a way to kill him; for they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was spellbound by his teaching.  And when evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

The Lesson from the Withered Fig Tree

In the morning as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots.  Then Peter remembered and said to him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered.' Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, "Be taken up and thrown into the sea", and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you.  So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

'Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.'

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
Shield and protector of all, hear the prayers of those who call upon you, and set them free from violence, persecution and fear, that all may know that deliverance belongs to you.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer.

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 -