Joel: crisis & renewal for the people of god
October 15-16
Sermon Title: “They” Will Notice
Preacher: The Rev. Alex Shuttleworth
Saturday Evening Bulletin
Sunday Morning Bulletin
The Collect of the day
O God, our refuge and strength, true source of all godliness: Graciously hear the devout prayers of your Church, and grant that those things which we ask faithfully, we may obtain effectually; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The lesson: Joel 2: 15-17
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion;
consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
16 gather the people.
Consecrate the congregation;
assemble the elders;
gather the children,
even nursing infants.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her chamber.
17 Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep
and say, “Spare your people, O Lord,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”
Return to the Lord
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.”
Return to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;
and he relents over disaster.
14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,
and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering
for the Lord your God?
Psalm 79: 4-10 OR Psalm 31
Note: Psalm 79 will be read at the Saturday evening service; Psalm 31 will be sung at the Sunday morning services
4 We have become a reproach to our enemies,
an object of scorn and derision to those who are round about us.
5 O Lord, how long will you be angry?
Shall your jealousy burn like fire for ever?
6 Pour out your indignation upon the nations that have not known you,
and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your Name.
7 For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his dwelling place.
8 O remember not our past sins, but have mercy on us speedily,
for we have come to great misery.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your Name;
O deliver us and forgive our sins for your Name’s sake.
10 Why do the nations say,
“Where now is their God?”
(BCP 2019)
The gospel: Matthew 5: 11-12
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
