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Theme of the Day

Every gathering for worship has elements of thanksgiving. When we are nourished with God’s bounty in holy communion, when we partake of Jesus’ word that gives life to the world, and even when two or three of us simply join our hearts in prayer to make our requests known to God, we do so “with thanksgiving.” Let us give thanks to God, who is good and whose mercy endures forever.

The Collect for Sunday

Almighty God our Father, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer Intentions

  • for the renewal of creation;
  • for peace in the world and especially for an end to the war in Ukraine;
  • for all refugees, especially those from Afghanistan seeking refuge in Canada;
  • for the needs of the world, especially at this time of continuing pandemic;
  • for those who are particularly vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus;
  • for those who are sick and those awaiting surgeries postponed;
  • for the healing of racial inequality, prejudice, bigotry, systemic racism, injustice, and hatred;
  • for all who grieve for lost children, for the survivors of Indian Residential Schools, and for generational healing;
  • for those who are homeless;
  • for all those who mourn, who are lonely, or suffer from depression;
  • for all those who work for reconciliation and the common good;
  • for Charles our King and all those set in authority under him, for Justin, the Prime Minister of Canada and all members of parliament; Doug, the Premier of Ontario and all member of the legistlature; Fred, the mayor of Hamilton and those who serve on city council;
  • for the whole church: for Susan, our Diocesan Bishop; for Leonel and Brian, our priests; for all bishops, priests and deacons; and for all the baptized: that God may accomplish God's work in and through us for the sake of the world;
  • for our parish in this time of transition;
  • for all for whom we have been asked to pray, especially Olga;
  • for those who are dying and all those who have departed from this life and are at rest. 

In our cycles of prayer:

  • With the worldwide Anglican Communion, we pray for The Church of the Province of Central Africa.
  • In our Diocese: Christ Church, Flamborough, The Reverend Naomi Kabugi, Rector; The Reverend Canon Wendy Roy, Honorary Assistant, and the people of that parish.
  • In our neighbourhood we pray for Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Church, The Rev’d Aba Gebreeyesus Ayalew, head priest, and people of that parish..
  • In our parish cycle of prayer we pray for Jim, Beth, Lyall, Debbie, Brian, Barbara, Brian, Sue, Martin, Rebecca, and August. We pray also for our small group ministry, for all groups and their members.

The Readings for Sunday

First Reading: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c

Naaman, a Syrian general, suffers from leprosy. In this passage Elisha miraculously cures his illness, but only after Naaman realizes, with the help of his servants, that he also needs healing for his pride. This foreign general then acknowledges the sovereignty of the God of Israel.

1Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 7When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”
 8But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. 10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” 11But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. 13But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
 15a-cThen he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.”

Psalm: Psalm 111

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. (Ps. 111:1)

 1Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the Lord with | my whole heart,
  in the assembly of the upright, in the | congregation.
 2Great are your | works, O Lord,
  pondered by all who de- | light in them. R
 3Majesty and splendor | mark your deeds,
  and your righteousness en- | dures forever.
 4You cause your wonders to | be remembered;
  you are gracious and full | of compassion.
 5You give food to | those who fear you,
  remembering forev- | er your covenant.
 6You have shown your people the power | of your works
  in giving them the lands | of the nations. R
 7The works of your hands are faithful- | ness and justice;
  all of your pre- | cepts are sure.
 8They stand fast forev- | er and ever,
  because they are done in | truth and equity.
 9You sent redemption to your people and commanded your cove- | nant forever;
  holy and awesome | is your name.
 10The fear of the Lord is the begin- | ning of wisdom;
  all who practice this have a good understanding. God’s praise en- | dures forever. R

Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Though Paul is chained as a prisoner, the word of God is never shackled or confined. Timothy is encouraged to proclaim that word of freedom in an honest and upright life as well as in his teaching and preaching.

8Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11The saying is sure:
 If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
 12if we endure, we will also reign with him;
 if we deny him, he will also deny us;
 13if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
 for he cannot deny himself.

 14Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

Jesus’ mission includes making people clean again. Unexpectedly, a Samaritan healed of leprosy becomes a model for those who would praise and worship God and give thanks for God’s mercy.

11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Semicontinuous First Reading: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7

Ten years before the destruction of Jerusalem, many leaders of Judah were taken to Babylon. Jeremiah sends a letter to those exiles encouraging them, as they live in that strange place, to raise families and even to pray for the welfare of Babylon. God will restore them in due time.

1These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 4Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

Semicontinuous Psalm: Psalm 66:1-12

God has kept us among the living. (Ps. 66:9)

 1Be joyful in God, | all you lands;
  be joyful, | all the earth.
 2Sing the glory | of God’s name;
  sing the glory | of God’s praise.
 3Say to God, “How awesome | are your deeds!
  Because of your great strength your enemies | cringe before you.
 4All the earth bows | down before you,
  sings to you, sings | out your name.” R
 5Come now and see the | works of God,
  how awesome are God’s deeds | toward all people.
 6God turned the sea into dry land, so that they went through the wa- | ter on foot,
  and there we re- | joiced in God.
 7Ruling forever in might, God keeps watch o- | ver the nations;
  let no rebels ex- | alt themselves.
 8Bless our | God, you peoples;
  let the sound of | praise be heard. R
 9Our God has kept us a- | mong the living
  and has not allowed our | feet to slip.
 10For you, O God, have | tested us;
  you have tried us just as sil- | ver is tried.
 11You brought us in- | to the net;
  you laid heavy burdens up- | on our backs.
 12You let people ride over our heads; we went through | fire and water,
  but you brought us out into a place | of refreshment. R

This Week in Sacred Time

  • Sunday, October 9, Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost (The Lord's Day), [Proper 28] (Green) Or Harvest Thanksgiving (White).
  • Monday, October 10, Paulinus, First Bishop of York, Missionary, 644 (Commemoration, Green), Thanksgiving Day (White),
  • Tuesday, October 11, Feria (Green).
  • Wednesday, October 12, Feria (Green).
  • Thursday, October 13, Edward the Confessor (Commemoration, Green).
  • Friday, October 14, Feria (Green); day of discipline and self-denial.
  • Saturday, October 15, Teresa of Avila, Spiritual Teacher and Reformer, 1582 (Commemoration, Green) and John of the Cross, Priest, Spiritual Teacher, 1591 (Commemoration, Green); Eve of Sunday (Green).
  • Sunday, October 16, Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (The Lord's Day), [Proper 29] (Green).