The Episcopal Church of the
Incarnation
The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 14](A)
1
Kings 19.9-18 Psalm 85.8-13 Romans 10.5-15
Matthew 14.22-33
In lieu of a sermon on this date, an outline and explication of two developments in the life of the Church and of this parish is offered:
1) The adoption, content, and use of the Revised Common Lectionary, Track Two, for the lessons offered at each Sunday celebration of Holy Eucharist.
2) The results of the discussions held at the 2008 Lambeth Conference.
a) Characterization of the “Revisionist” and “Traditionalist” positions vis-a-vis authority and Scripture.
i) The presenting issue of human sexuality.
b) The identity and instruments of unity of the Anglican Communion.
c) Competing worldviews: “justice” and “sin and redemption”.
i) The exaltation of self in a new gnosticism: claiming the “prophetic mantle” to justify self.
d) Competing views of the Church: Congregational polity v. the Church Catholic.
e) Possible next steps.
i) The call to ongoing witness.
(1) The “confessing Church”: Jeremiah and Bonhoeffer.
ii) The call to ongoing connectedness.
(1) Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13.8).
iii) The fundamental Christian identity and Romans 10.8.
(1) One part of the Body cannot say to another, “I have no need of you” (1 Cor. 12.21).
Prayer for the Unity of the Church (BCP p. 818):
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.