Joel: crisis & renewal for the people of god
October 8-9
Sermon Title: Inescapable Crisis—Unattainable Hope
Preacher: The Rev. Ben Hughes
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: 10-14
10 The earth quakes before them;
the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.
11 The Lord utters his voice
before his army,
for his camp is exceedingly great;
he who executes his word is powerful.
For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome;
who can endure it?
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 86: 12-17
12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
and will praise your Name for evermore.
13 For great is your mercy toward me;
you have delivered my life from the nethermost Pit.
14 O God, the proud have risen up against me,
and the company of violent men have sought after my life,
and have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, O Lord God, are full of compassion and mercy,
long-suffering, plenteous in goodness and truth.
16 O turn then unto me, and have mercy upon me;
give your strength unto your servant, and help the son
of your handmaid.
17 Show me some token of your favor, that those who hate me
may see it and be ashamed,
because you, Lord, have been my helper and comforter.
(BCP 2019)
The gospel: Matthew 24: 29-31
The Coming of the Son of Man
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
