Winning

Proper 19    The Sunday closest to September 14
O God, because without you we are not able to please you,
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct
and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.
There’s a lot to do in Sunday School tomorrow morning as we kick off our fall season. We have for introduction the red booklet Enriching Our Worship, which General Convention authorized for use in the church as a supplement to The Book of Common Prayer, and which we have used for Wednesday worship from time to time. We have fourteen brand new study Bibles to have and to hold and to love. We have the lectionary sheets with the Propers -- the collect (above) and readings for the day. The readings include a psalm or canticle, a reading from Exodus, a reading from Romans, and a reading from Matthew. Enough already about Paul to the Romans, but there are things to probe in Matthew and perhaps especially in the Exodus story, and we will be able to use our new study Bibles for that.
We won’t use it, but the lectionary authorizes, instead of the appointed psalm, the Song of Moses, which triumphantly celebrates Israel’s crossing of the Red Sea:
Exodus 15
 1Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
 2The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
 3The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.
 4Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.
 5The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
 6Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
 7And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.
 8And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.
 9The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.
 10Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
 11Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?  
About football, someone said, “Winning isn’t the main thing, it’s the only thing.” Lo, not only football, it has been ever thus, yea unto Moses!
TW+