NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
October 6, 2024
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTION.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
In our Gospel lesson today, St. Matthew describes for us the healing of the paralytic, which comes to us an illustration of the power and authority of Christ to heal the afflictions of our souls, and not just our bodies, through the forgiveness of sins., something we experience every Sunday morning in the Holy Communion. Sin, truly, is a paralyzing force in our lives, which deadens, and keeps us from doing the good God would have us do. In forgiveness, God causes us to stand up from the bed of our paralysis, and walk in newness of life. Just what that newness of life consists of, and looks like, is what St. Paul describes for us in our Epistle reading from his Letter to the Ephesians.
THE LESSON : Ephesians 4:17-32
Now this I affirm and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart; they have become callous and have given themselves up to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of uncleanness. You did not so learn Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
THE GOSPEL : Matthew 9:1-8
And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic— ‘Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.’ And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.
PARISH LIFE NOTES
RECTOR’S FORUM. Canon Claude Schroeder gave a presentation at coffee hour last Sunday on the icon print of “The Mystical Supper” from iconographer Symeon van Donkelaar at Red Earth Icons.
Use the following link to find out more about Symeon’s work , and to see a video conversation on this work between the Rector and Symeon.
FAMILY SERVICE. Today the children will be worshipping with the adults in church, assisting in the liturgy through greeting, bearing torches, the offering of the gifts, and helping with the sermon.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to join the after Sunday Service Coffee Team on one fixed Sunday each month.
Duties include: 10:00 a.m. covering of prearranged tables with cloths, making beverages and arranging goodies after service serving beverages and greeting social hour participants, clean up.
Please sign the sheet at the beverage counter in the main hall and be prepared for good fellowship and fun. Thank-you, Eileen B – Coffee Team Co-Ordinator.
UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS.
HARVEST THANKSGIVING SERVICE will take place next Sunday with Harvest hymns and readings.
DEDICATION FESTIVAL
On December 14, 1913 the very first service of worship at St. Mary’s took place in small a-frame building on what was to become the corner of 15th ave and Montague St. (pictured above) Join us on Sunday, October 27, as celebrate the 111th anniversary of the dedication of St. Mary’s , our Communion with Christ and those who have gone before us in this place, and give thanks to God for His faithfulness in the past, and look to the future with hope. The service of Holy Communion will be followed by a roast beef lunch (carved by the Churchwardens) and salad, provided by the congregation, to be followed by a presentation by the Rector and Wardens on “St. Mary’s Past Present and Future.” Stewardship packages for 2025 will be distributed at this time.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
Morning Prayer: Tuesday to Friday at 8.30 a.m.
Evening Prayer: Wednesday at 5.30 p.m.
Holy Communion: Wednesday at 9.30 a.m.