Third Sunday of Advent

Scripture Readings

The Collect

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

THE FIRST READING:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

THE RESPONSE:
Psalm 126 

THE SECOND READING:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

THE HOLY GOSPEL:
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Sermon

Fr. Bill Breedlove

Second Sunday of Advent

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE COLLECT

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE OLD TESTAMENT:
Isaiah 40:1-11

THE RESPONSE:
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

THE EPISTLE:
2 Peter 3:8-15a

THE GOSPEL:
Mark 1:1-8

Sermon

“I challenge us, as God’s people, to love for no good reason. To love just because that’s who we are, and that’s what nourishes life, and that’s what Jesus wants us to do.”

Deacon Turner Guidry

First Sunday of Advent

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE COLLECT

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

THE FIRST READING:
Isaiah 64:1-9

THE RESPONSE:
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

THE SECOND READING:
1 Corinthians 1:3-9

THE HOLY GOSPEL:
Mark 13:24-37

Sermon

Fr. Bill Breedlove

Christ the King Sunday

Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well¯beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The First Reading:
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

The Response:
Psalm 95:1-7a

The Second Reading:
Ephesians 1:15-23

The Holy Gospel:
Matthew 25:31-46

Sermon

“It’s not so much about what we say we do. [...] Good works matter. You can’t just say the good thing, and ignore the brokenness of the world.”

— Fr. Bill

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE COLLECT

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE Old Testament:
Amos 5:18-24

THE RESPONSE:
Psalm 70

THE EPISTLE:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

THE GOSPEL:
Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon

“We tell God everything, we talk to God about everything, but do we listen to Him? Do we take time to be still and quiet, and let Him speak to the depths of our souls?”

— Fr. Fred

Fr. Fred Lindstrom

All Saints' Day

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE COLLECT

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The First Lesson:
Revelation 7:9-17

The Response:
Psalm 34:1-10, 22

The Epistle:
1 John 3:1-3

The Gospel:
Matthew 5:1-12

Sermon

“To be in God’s presence is God’s blessedness. To be a saint of the church means nothing more than to be in the presence of God.”

— Fr. Bill

Fr. Bill Breedlove

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE COLLECT

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT:
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18

RESPONSE:
Psalm 1

EPISTLE:
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

GOSPEL:
Matthew 22:34-46

Sermon

“Jesus did not come to Earth to change his Father’s mind about us. He came to Earth to change our mind about his Father.”

— Fr. Bill

Fr. Bill Breedlove

The Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist

SCRIPTURE READINGS

THE COLLECT

Almighty God, who inspired your servant Luke the physician to set forth in the Gospel the love and healing power of your Son: Graciously continue in your Church this love and power to heal, to the praise and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson:
Ecclesiasticus 38:1-4,6-10,12-14 

Response:
Psalm 147:1-7 

EPISTLE:
2 Timothy 4:5-13 

GOSPEL:
Luke 4:14-21 

Sermon

Visiting Anglican priest, Rev. Dr. Russ Parker, talks about healing through Christ, Paul's letter to Timothy, and being accepted by God.

The Rev. Dr. Russ Parker

“Don’t you think you need to start your life with [God’s] acceptance, rather than run yourself ragged to get it? Jesus starts with acceptance. ”

— Rev. Russ Parker

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture Readings

THE COLLECT

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT:
Isaiah 25:1-9

RESPONSE:
Psalm 23

EPISTLE:
Philippians 4:1-9

GOSPEL:
Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon

Fr. Bill Breedlove

“That is the person who we are supposed to be. Not just people who come to church and look good, and say they right things while we’re here. But people who leave here fed by the Sacraments.”

— Fr. Bill

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture Readings

The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Old Testament:
Isaiah 5:1-7

Response:
Psalm 80: 7-14

Epistle:
Philippians 3:4b-14

Gospel:
Matthew 21:33-46

Sermon

Fr. Bill Breedlove

“God is always more ready to hear our prayers than we are to pray. So pray more. And God is always willing to grant more than we can ask for. So ask for more.”

— Fr. Bill