Quinquagesima Sunday
February 19, 2023
GLORY BE TO JESUS CHRIST! GLORY FOREVER!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
PREVIEW OF SUNDAY’S READINGS.
1 Corinthians 13. 1-13
Here, in St. Paul’s famous ‘hymn to love,’ we understand the character of the spiritual journey that we are embarking on in the season of Lent. It is a journey into maturity and the perfection of the love of God for us, in us, and through us.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Luke 18. 31-48.
The Gospel lesson for today sets us on the path of Lenten pilgrimage or journey. It focusses out attention upon the Cross of Christ. Traditionally, the spiritual journey has been understood to consist of three elements: cleansing, illumination, and union. It is at the Cross where all three elements comes together.
Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the gentiles, and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. As he approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” Then he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who were in front sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and ordered the man to be brought to him, and when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him, glorifying God, and all the people, when they saw it, praised God.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the whole congregation will be held today 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.
Please bring finger food to share.
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 Bornowsky, 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. Join us this Wednesday for 20 minutes of prayer in preparation for our Lenten mission starting at 12 noon. Suggested outline for these prayers may be found on pp. 16 and 17 of The Book of Common Prayer.
LENTEN LECTIONARY STUDY GROUPS. There will be two Bible study groups meeting at St. Mary’s during Lenten to look at the upcoming Sunday readings.
- Men’s Group – Wednesdays at 9.30 following Morning Prayer (fasting breakfast included!)
- Women’s Group – Thursdays at 10.00 a.m.
LENTEN PRAYER PILGRIMMAGE WITH JESUS. “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy upon me a sinner.” The Jesus Prayer, also known as “The Prayer of the Heart” is an ancient and beautiful prayer of the Christian East. Repeated many times consecutively, it is a prayer which allows us to stand in the presence of the Lord, focusing on Him and asking for His mercy. This prayer is a wonderful guide for many people as they come to know the Lord and is a handy weapon for engaging in spiritual combat. Interested parishioners in being part of this prayer pilgrimage are invited to contact the Rector.
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.
Ash Wednesday Penitential Service & Holy Communion
- Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.
Lenten Mission Services: The Temptation and Triumph of Jesus Christ.
- Friday and Saturday at 7.00 p.m.