Sexagesima Sunday
February 12, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
Preview of Sunday’s Readings
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 11.19-31
In this passage St. Paul’s speaks about the perils that impede and distract us from our goal in Lent of following Jesus into newness of life: there are outward circumstances, legitimate cares and duties, and our own inner weaknesses. In a counterintuitive way, St. Paul would have us embrace these trials and infirmities as the very stuff of glory.
For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! 20 For you bear it if a man makes slaves of you, or preys upon you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!But whatever any one dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I have received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I have been beaten with rods; once I was stoned. Three times I have been shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brethren; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie.
Gospel: Luke 8. 4- 15.
In The Parable of the Sower Jesus sets the spiritual agenda for us in Lent: to make good the soil of our souls by cultivating the word of God within us, with understanding and devotion, and not just superficially, and to practice or faith with steadfastness purpose and patience.
4 When a great crowd gathered and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: 5 ‘A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell on the path and was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered for lack of moisture. 7 Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8 Some fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold.’ As he said this, he called out, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’9 Then his disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets[b] of the kingdom of God; but to others I speak[c] in parables, so that “looking they may not perceive, and listening they may not understand.”11 ‘Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away. 14 As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
Parish Life Notes
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the whole congregation will be held on Sunday, February 19th following the morning service. The purpose of the meeting is to:
- Receive and review financial statements and ministry reports for 2022.
- Receive the budget and elect parish officers for 2023.
- To reflect on our congregational life and to discuss and discern some proposals for the rebuilding and renewal of our mission and ministry.
Baptized members of the congregation who regularly attend services and are over the age of 18 are encouraged to attend and vote at the meeting.
Annual reports and financial statements are still being assembled, and will be emailed out this week.
FINGER FOOD LUNCH. Please bring finger food to share for the Annual Meeting next Sunday.
ASH WEDNESDAY PENITENTIAL SERVICE WITH IMPOSITION OF ASHES AND HOLY COMMUNION for the beginning of Lent will take place on Wednesday, February 22 at 5.30 p.m.
LENTEN MISSION AT ST. MARY’S: THE TEMPTATION AND TRIUMPH OF JESUS CHRIST.
Following His baptism by St. John in the River Jordan, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.( Matthew 4.1-11) Join us for a series of special services and addresses by our guest missioner, the Revd. Dell Bornowski, as he leads us in an exploration of the temptations of Christ and the victory that He won, and the relevance of this for us today.
Mission Schedule:
| Friday, February 24, 7:00 PM | “Man does not live by bread alone” |
| Saturday, February 25, 7:00 PM. | “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” |
| Sunday, February 26, 10:30 AM. | “You shall worship the Lord your God.” |
NOON DAY PRAYERS FOR MISSION. Starting this Wednesday, Feb. 8, and the following two Wednesdays there will be 20 minutes of prayer in preparation for our Lenten mission starting at 12 noon. Please join us at St. Mary’s or at home and at work. Suggested outline for these prayers may be found on pp. 16 and 17 of The Book of Common Prayer.
TAX RECEIPTS FOR 2022. Our envelope secretary – Blair – is working on them so keep an eye out for them in the mail. If you would like an email version of the receipt, please let Blair know. Thank you.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer
- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday at 8:30 am
- Wednesday at 9.00 a.m.
Noon Day Prayers for Mission.
- Wednesday at 12:00 p.m.
Evening Prayer
- Wednesday at 5:30 pm. followed by potluck supper in the Upper Hall.