Fr. Tom reads evening prayer.
Here is tonight’s Video.
Jesus said When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’
The Episcopal Church isn’t “dying,” but instead “the demographics are changing,” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, House of Deputies President Julia Ayala Harris and the Rev. Anthony Guillén, the church’s Latino/Hispanic Ministries’ missioner, all told Episcopal News Service during the 2024 Nuevo Amanecer, or “new dawn,” conference. “If people go out and visit the Latino congregations, they will see there’s a vibrancy, that there’s creativity,” Guillén said. “They’ll see that it’s intergenerational; they’ll see that there’s lively music; they’ll see that Latinos are engaged with the community and are willing to share the many gifts that they can offer.” Three hundred Latino Episcopalians (Photo Above) gathered June 3-6 at Kanuga Conference and Retreat Center for Nuevo Amanecer, a churchwide conference that celebrates and supports Latino ministries in The Episcopal Church. The church’s Office of Latino Ministries has been hosting the popular biennial event since 2008. This year’s theme was “Sembrando Amor y Esperanza,” or “Sowing Love and Hope.” (ENS)
Their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:4
INVITATORY AND PSALTER
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn: O Gracious Light
O gracious Light,
pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven,
O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed!
Now as we come to the setting of the sun,
and our eyes behold the vesper light,
we sing your praises, O God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You are worthy at all times to be praised by happy voices,
O Son of God, O Giver of life,
and to be glorified through all the worlds.
Psalm 119:73-96
73 Your hands have made me and fashioned me; *
give me understanding, that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you will be glad when they see me, *
because I trust in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your judgments are right *
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your loving-kindness be my comfort, *
as you have promised to your servant.
77 Let your compassion come to me, that I may live, *
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the arrogant be put to shame, for they wrong me with lies; *
but I will meditate on your commandments.
79 Let those who fear you turn to me, *
and also those who know your decrees.
80 Let my heart be sound in your statutes, *
that I may not be put to shame.
81 My soul has longed for your salvation; *
I have put my hope in your word.
82 My eyes have failed from watching for your promise, *
and I say, “When will you comfort me?”
83 I have become like a leather flask in the smoke, *
but I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How much longer must I wait? *
when will you give judgment against those who persecute me?
85 The proud have dug pits for me; *
they do not keep your law.
86 All your commandments are true; *
help me, for they persecute me with lies.
87 They had almost made an end of me on earth, *
but I have not forsaken your commandments.
88 In your loving-kindness, revive me, *
that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.
89 O LORD, your word is everlasting; *
it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *
you established the earth, and it abides.
91 By your decree these continue to this day, *
for all things are your servants.
92 If my delight had not been in your law, *
I should have perished in my affliction.
93 I will never forget your commandments, *
because by them you give me life.
94 I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *
for I study your commandments.
95 Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *
I will apply my mind to your decrees.
96 I see that all things come to an end, *
but your commandment has no bounds.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
Jesus says in the following passage “Oh you of little faith…” But worry will not get us anywhere, so choose faith.
THE LESSON
Matthew 16:1-12 (NRSV)
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.
When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. Jesus said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They said to one another, “It is because we have brought no bread.” And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
Canticle: The Song of Mary
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,
and holy is your Name.
You have mercy on those who fear you *
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm, *
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones, *
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things, *
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God,
the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ,
God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
V. That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
R. We entreat you, O Lord.
V. That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
R. We entreat you, O Lord.
V. That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
R. We entreat you, O Lord.
V. That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
R. We entreat you, O Lord.
V. That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
R. We entreat you, O Lord.
V. That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit
in the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
R. We entreat you, O Lord.
Enmegahbowh, known to Caucasians as John Johnson, was an Ottawa Indian from Canada who became the first recognized Native American priest in the Episcopal Church. He ministered among the Ojibway of Minnesota and beyond, making peace, training deacons, enculturating Christianity into the language and developing mission strategy. (The Rev. Johnson Loud Jr.)
Collect of the Day: Enmegahbowh, Priest and Missionary, 1902
Almighty God, who led your pilgrim people of old by fire and cloud; Grant that the ministers of your Church, following the example of your servant Enmegahbowh, may lead your people with fiery zeal and gentle humility. This we ask through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Collect for Protection
O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Japanese cherry blossoms frame the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C. (Thrillist)
For the Beauty of the Earth
We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Diocese of Fond du Lac –The Episcopal Church
Wednesday Evening Prayer List
For Disaster & Terror Victims
Those who have lost their lives and homes due to the tornados that moved across the southern part of the United States
Cargo ship toppled the Key Bridge in Baltimore; 7 dead
7 dead in Israeli attack on World Food Kitchen personnel
Alexei Navalny murdered in prison
Tribal bloodshed and earthquake in Papua New Guinea
Haiti state of emergency: acting PM resigns
Israel & Hamas at war; 32,000 dead in Gaza, 100 Israeli hostages
War threats between Congo & Rwanda displace 1 million people
For Prisoners
Putin jails a sociologist for 5 years for criticizing his invasion of Ukraine
50 journalists in Myanmar; Sai Zaw Thaike given 20-year sentence
Evan Gershkovich, Wall Street Journal, sentence extended to June
Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., Russian opposition leader
Austin Tice, journalist kidnapped in Syria in 2012, believed still alive
Political prisoners around the world
Brogan, 15-year sentence
Cleave Thomas, last years of a 20-year sentence
Matthew
Children and families of prisoners
Prison chaplains and ministries
Sr. Helen Prejean and all prison reformers
All who are condemned to die, and all the innocent who are freed
Please offer your own prayers here.
Prayer for Mission
O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.++
VIDEO: Blest are the pure in heart (#656, Franconia, Johann Balthasar König, adapt. William H. Havergal; John Keble, William John Hall) – Church of the Evangelists, Tottenham, Ontario, 2021
The Daily Office 