Saturday then.

     The Propers for tomorrow are loaded, for wandering all about in our Sunday School class. 

    We will meet in the Library, by the way, reclaiming an element of old normalcy. The room is clean, the water is back on, the restroom space is clean, the toilet is fine; around the tables, the chairs are properly distanced. Our attendance is WAY down as it is, and I believe the eight or nine chairs will be sufficient; if not, we will deal with it in welcome, comfort, and safety. Several folks, including me, have thought about having the three outside doors open for air circulation and so, weather permitting, we will do that. 

    As always, handouts will be new and untouched. Facemasks will be available for anyone who comes without one. Hand sanitizer.

    Coffee will be available, and prepackaged nibbles of some sort, cookies or biscotti.

    The prime caveat continues to be, come if you want to, by all means do not come if you are hesitant, uneasy, or feel you have been exposed to covid and want to protect others.

    Sunday’s readings, Propers including the Collect, are below. Again including the OT readings (but not the psalms) for both Track One (Joshua) and Track Two (Amos). The Amos reading fits with the other two readings (1 Thessalonians and Matthew 25 simile (the kingdom is Like), and with the Season (coming up on Advent’s apocalyptic sense). The Joshua reading is at the end of the book of Joshua, conveniently skipping over the nightmare of it, the unspeakable atrocities that mark Joshua’s conquest of the Promised Land. 

    So, thus, therefore, my intentions for Sunday School class tomorrow morning may be a mixed bag of apocalypticism (Amos, Paul and Matthew/Jesus), the kingdom, one’s own personal hopes or fears, the gospel threat; and also a look between the pages of Joshua to see what the Lectionary Framers didn’t want us to hear about (or even know about?).  

    Though I don’t have tomorrow morning’s handout ready yet, it’ll be ready later and I’ll email it early tomorrow morning, to class members who indicated wanting to stay on the SS Class email list. In addition to the Propers, I anticipate it including a selection of readings from Joshua. And a line from the Catechism about our Hope as Christians.

    Below are the readings (less Joshua).

TW+

 

The Collect for Sunday, 8 Nov 2020

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 (not printed here, it’s in the blogpost “Why do you want the Day of the Lord?” for last Monday, and I don't intend for us to read it in class tomorrow) 

Amos 5:18-24

Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the Lord: Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why do you want the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.

Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

The Epistle

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

    We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Gospel

Matthew 25:1-13

    Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 

    As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 

    Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 

    Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

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Okay, I'll admit it. That photo at the top is from Friday 6:08 AM, Friday Dawning. This morning is all overcast: