A New Bible Study?
Bibliomancy is the ancient practice of seeking spiritual guidance by closing one's eyes, formulating a question, opening a book at random and blindly choosing a single sentence from it as the answer to that question. Sad to say, it has been quite popular among Christians at some times and places. While I doubt that many of us would expect this to be a very fruitful means of seeking the will of God (a few selections of some of the endless Old Testament genealogies or ritual observances would probably disabuse one of any such notion), I mention it to make the point that in reading Scripture it is helpful to have as much context as possible. Father Roddy made this point quite forcefully in a recent sermon regarding the miraculous feeding in the desert in the sixth chapter of Saint John's Gospel stressing that Jesus' action makes much more sense in the contexts of both the provision of manna to the Israelites in their desert wandering and the breaking of bread at the Last Supper instituting the Eucharist as well as His revelation of Himself to the travelers on the road to Emmaus.
Those of you who have heard me preach or teach know that I am convinced that a broad understanding of the religious, literary, historical, and cultural worlds in which the books of Scripture were produced can be of great value. I would like to test that out by offering a somewhat different sort of Bible study course beginning after Easter. A proposed title is “The Gospel of Saint Mark in the World of Saint Mark.” The goal would be to provide a good deal of background material before examining the Gospel itself as we have it in English using both the King James Version and the Oxford Annotated Revised Standard Version (NOT the New Revised Standard Version) as our texts. I would provide one or possibly two lectures before addressing the text itself and offer further context as we proceed through the Gospel. I envision the sessions as starting at 7:30 PM in the undercroft and lasting about ninety minutes with a lecture/question and answer/discussion format. Caffeine will be available!
If you think that you would be interested in such an offering, please let me know what evenings would or would not be best for you. I would very much like an opportunity to do this and hope to hear from you any questions you might have regarding it.
--Father Bragg+
Palm Sunday Bulletin for 7:45 AM & 9:00 AM Services
Palm Sunday Bulletin for 11:15 AM Service
The Collect, The Epistle and The Gospel for Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Grace and Peace be unto you. In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
In Sunday's Gospel, first, all the key players knew that our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ is innocent from Judas, Priests, elders, Pilate, Pilate’s wife, the mob, the criminal, and eventually the centurion. All of them knew Jesus was innocent and none of them had any evidence against him. Yet our Lord Jesus Christ is bound, led and delivered to Pilate the Governor from Pontus because Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Second, Judas realized that he had sinned against the innocent blood and had repented but he didn’t ask Jesus for forgiveness but repented unto himself. This shows how Judas continued with his wrong decisions by betraying Jesus & hanging himself rather than asking for Jesus’ forgiveness & living the life of Jesus Christ. Third, the Jewish priests & elders refused the thirty pieces of silver because they didn’t want the blood money. This indicates that they knew they were in the wrong. If Jesus was guilty then they would have taken the blood money back.
Fourth, Pilate asked Jesus: Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus replied: Thou sayest. In other words, I am what you say or I do not say it but you do. After the Priests & the elders accuse Jesus, Jesus never says a word & Pilate is marveled because Jesus doesn’t resist. Fifth, Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent because he knew the priests & the elders envied Jesus. This is a clear violation of Thou shalt not envy commandment. Also, Pilate’s wife knew Jesus was innocent when she called Jesus a “just man” from her dreams. Sixth, during this Passover, the Priests & the elders ask Pilate to release Barabbas & goads the crowd to crucify Jesus. Pilate then asks what evil had Jesus done. The crowd couldn’t reply except to crucify Jesus. This is a clear violation of the Thou shall not murder & not bear false witness. Moreover, Pilate still thought Jesus was still innocent. And he had no evidence against Jesus - but Pilate simply washes his hands from this blood thirsty crowd.
Seventh, the Roman soldiers take Jesus into a common hall to strip him, place scarlet robe on him, placed crown of thorns, placed a reed in his right hand, bowed before him, mocked him by saying “Hail, King of the Jews,” spit upon him, smote his head, mocked him again, stripped his robe, placed raiment on him, led him to crucifixion, gave him vinegar to drink, crucified him, parted his garments, cast lot on him, watched him like a spectacle, and set above his head “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
Eighth, the crowds reviled Jesus and the Chief Priests mocked him again with these true words: He saved others; himself he cannot save. This statement is true because our Lord Jesus Christ came to shed his blood for a complete & eternal salvation of our souls and cleanse of our conscience of our fleshly sins. Ninth, at the sixth hour to the ninth hour or 12 Noon to 3PM, darkness came over all the land and Jesus cried: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me. This is the human Jesus crying. At the second cry, Jesus yielded up the ghost & descended into Paradise in Hell. In other word, Jesus is still in control because he yielded, not death.
Tenth, the Jerusalem Temple is split from top to bottom showing the path of Jesus Christ into Paradise to save the Old Testament Saints. The earth quaked; the rocks rent; graves opened; and dead saints arose and went into the holy cities to appear to others. And eleventh, the centurion watched Jesus and affirms: Truly this was the Son of God.
In sum, let us be reminded that this Palm Sunday, we invite Jesus Christ into our lives as he enters Jerusalem on a donkey. He is then betrayed & abandoned by his followers; falsely accused by the Jews; tortured in unbelievable ways by the Romans; crucified on the cross with unimaginable pains, and descended into hell. And on this Palm Sunday, we await for the Lord’s resurrection in the coming days for the complete salvation of our souls.
In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.
--Fr. Yoe
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Please click here in this Lenten season to donate to St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Tonight, 7:00 PM, Stations of the Cross followed by light Lenten Supper
Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )
Sunday School, 10:30 AM
Holy Week Services (for online participation, check info under Sunday Services):
Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing
Maundy Thursday, April 6, 7:00 PM, followed by the Watch in the Chapel of the Martyrs (Rectory Basement)
Good Friday, April 7, 12 noon and 7:00 PM
Confessions will be heard starting one hour before each Good Friday service.
Easter Sunday, April 9, Striking of the New Fire at 7:15 AM.
Easter Sunday, April 9, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, and 11:15 AM services
Your support of the Food Bank and MaRIH Crisis Pregnancy Center is greatly appreciated.. The lists below tell what is needed. If you cannot bring items to the church, you can also click on the donate button above and then on the dropdown menu that appears on the donation page choose Charity and Mercy to give a cash donation. In the comment box you can specify if the donation is for the Food Bank and/or for the MaRIH Crisis Pregnancy Center. Thank you.
Food Donations
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar). Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar
Recently Updated List of Needs for MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff has been providing help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need. If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)
Especially Needed
Baby wipes* (an ongoing great need)
Diapers (sizes 1*, 2, 3*, 4, 5*, & 6*)
Diaper rash ointment*
Baby shampoo*
Baby blankets*
Spring/Summer clothing for 0-3 months and 2T*
(Bold and * are a critical need.)
Clothing
Bibs
Sleep Sacks: Girls 0-6 mos.
Socks: Boy/Girl 2T
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility; Mercifully grant, that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This Collect is to be said every day, after the Collect appointed for the day, from Palm Sunday until Good Friday.
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