The Sunday of the Unmerciful Servant (10/20)

Prepare for Worship
Written By Christopher Gillespie

Within the liturgy for each Lord’s day, we receive the Word of God through uniquely appointed readings, psalms, hymns, and prayers. This week we will pray the Office of Matins (audio of this liturgy.) The following guide will help you to prepare to hear and sing the Propers, i.e. the varied texts and hymns for this week.

Walking humbly with our God and forgiving one another

With what shall we come before the Lord (Micah 6:6) who forgives all our sins, and how often shall our fellow Christians sin against us and we forgive them (Matt. 18:21)? Our gracious God on high does not need our “burnt offerings” or “thousands of rams” (Micah 6:6-7), which we could legitimately offer in thanksgiving. He is the Savior who gave His only-begotten Son for our transgression. He offers the fruit of His body, once hanging dead on a cross but now living and giving life in His holy Meal, for the sin of our souls (Micah 6:7). Because He releases us from our enormous debt of sin against Him, we need not imprison our fellow sinners with our lack of love and refusal of forgiveness (Matt. 18:24, 27, 30). As partakers of His grace, we yearn for one another “with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:8). As forgiven sinners, “filled with the fruit of Christ’s righteousness,” our “love may abound more and more, with knowledge and discernment” (Phil. 1:11, 9), for He leads us “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God” (Micah 6:8).

Collect of the Day: O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, hear the devout prayers of Your Church, especially in times of persecution, and grant that what we ask in faith we may obtain; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings:

Psalm 116:12-19
Old Testament: Micah 6:6-8
Epistle: Philippians 1:3-11
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Hymns:

614 As surely as I live, God said St. Luke Video

611 Chief of sinners though I be Gethsemane Video

676 Behold a host, arrayed in white Den store hvide flok (Great White Host) Video Hymn Study

Christopher Gillespie

The Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie was ordained into the Holy Ministry on July 25, A+D 2010. He and his wife, Anne, enjoy raising their family of ten children in the Lord in southwest Wisconsin. He earned a Masters of Divinity in 2009 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Christopher also is a freelance recording and media producer. His speciality is recording of classical, choral, band and instrumental music and mastering of all genres of music. Services offered include location multi-track audio recording, live concert capture and production, mastering for CD and web, video production for web.

Also he operates a coffee roasting company, Coffee by Gillespie. Great coffee motivates and inspires. Many favorite memories are often shared over a cup. That’s why we take our coffee seriously. Select the best raw coffee. Roast it artfully. Brew it for best flavor. Coffee by Gillespie, the pride and passion of Christopher Gillespie, was founded to share his own experience in delicious coffee with you.

His many hobbies include listening to music, grilling, electronics, photography, computing, studying theology, and Christian apologetics.

https://outerrimterritories.com
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The Sunday of the Noble Of Capernaum (10/13)