Weekly Parish Email for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity: 17 August 2025
Contents:
- Propers (Collect and Lessons) for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity, with hymns.
- Link to “Watch this Sunday’s live-stream” on our parish website.
- Parish Announcements for the week of August 17th, 2025.
Propers for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity.
The Book of Common Prayer 1928.
The Collect.
GRANT to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle. 1 Corinthians x. 1.
BRETHREN, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
The Gospel. St. Luke xv. 11.
JESUS said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger ! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Hymns:
Processional Hymn: “Fairest Lord Jesus” #346
Sermon Hymn: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy” #304
Communion Hymn: “Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness” #210
Recessional Hymn: “Stand up, stand up for Jesus” #562
The service of Holy Communion, 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, is broadcast weekly via YouTube and on our website:
Watch this Sunday’s live-stream!
The upcoming YouTube live-stream will always be found at “Watch this Sunday’s live-stream,” accessible from the menu bar at the top of the website home page. If we are not doing a live-stream for any reason, there will be a link to a past Sunday service to aid in your worship if you aren’t able to be with us in person.
If a live-stream of a Sunday service is accomplished, the audio of that Sunday’s sermon will usually be posted sometime Sunday evening on the media page on our website.
Our website is found at cca-nc.org. It’s our “one-stop shop” for information about Christ Church Anglican.
On any given day, check our “Current operating status” – in other words, whether or not the church is open for services or office hours, in case of inclement weather or unusual episodes (like the sabotage of transformers a few years ago). Check for changes to the service schedule (to include seasonal services such as Holy Week and Christmas) at Services and Office Hours.
The weekly parish email is reproduced on the blog page.
And lastly…if you ever want to ask a question, make a comment, contact someone about a ministry opportunity…please drop us a line using our church contact page. We’ll get your question or concern directed to the right person.
To volunteer for our media team, please contact our IT/AV/Social media specialist, John Fesq, at video.christchurchanglican@gmail.com.
Announcements for the Week of Sunday, August 17th, 2025
(Ninth Sunday after Trinity)
If you are visiting us: Welcome to Christ Church Anglican, Southern Pines! Thank you for being with us. We are very pleased to have you join us for the service, and hope that your worship here is a blessing to you. Please sign the guest book on the table in the narthex, and if you wish, share your email or other contact information with us. And may God bless you!
Midweek (Wednesday) Eucharist: We offer a service of Holy Communion – also known as the Holy Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper, or the Mass) at 10:00 on Wednesday mornings. Please note that this service includes an opportunity for the laying on of hands and anointing with oil for healing, for those who may desire this ministry. The Propers and Homily for the Wednesday service typically commemorate a saint whose day falls in that week.
Ordo Kalendars: It’s that time of the year again! Time to order your Ordo Kalendar, so you can keep track of liturgical seasons, feasts and fasts, and holy days. The price is $10.00 each, and there are two options now: the Original Ordo Kalendar – a full-size (8″ x 13¾”), full-color wall calendar; or the Pocket Ordo Kalendar: a 3¾” x 6″ black and white calendar. Checks should be made out to Christ Church Anglican, and given to Sandy Parsons to process your order. Thank you very much!
Support for Christian Missions: Our brother in Christ and former assistant, Fr. John Taylor Brantley, now Bishop Brantley of the Evangelical & Reformed Synod (see below), who will be helping us get our classical Christian education program started, is preparing for a mission trip to Africa in September, and asks, “Would Christ Church be willing to purchase a few Bibles for us to take to Africa?” He then provided a list with Bibles in the Swahili and Ganda languages, adding, “Any help would be appreciated.”
Given the help he has been, and continues to be, to us, I think it would be nice if we were able to send him off to Africa with a small stack of Holy Scriptures! It should be noted that the E&R Synod provides needed items – such as Bibles – not raw funds, to their member parishes abroad, to ensure accountability and that funds are not diverted. If you are willing to assist in this endeavor, please contact me (Fr. Tom) for further specifics, or if you wish to purchase them yourself:
Luganda Contemporary Bible (Hardcover – $20.98, $6 less than Amazon): https://www.christianbook.com/luganda-contemporary-bible-hardcover/9780310456773/pd/456773
Kiswahili Contemporary Bible (Hardcover – $18.08, ≈ $2 less than Amazon): https://www.christianbook.com/kiswahili-contemporary-version-bible-hardcover/9780310449942/pd/449940
Kiswahili Contemporary Version New Testament (Paperback – $9.99): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0310107229
Note: The E & R Synod is not currently in communion with the ACC, but discussions have been initiated. Bishop Brantley preached at Amanda’s and my wedding, at which Bishop Hewett officiated.
— Fr. Tom Harbold
Sandhills Student Assistance: Our parish continues to support Sandhills Student Assistance, also known as the “Matthew 25:40 Project.” Fr. Tom sits on the Board of the SSA, which provides focused, immediate assistance to disadvantaged and at-risk students in Moore County. At our July Vestry meeting, we identified a desire for Christ Church to become more active in supporting this excellent local organization.
While Sandhills Student Assistance has provided various types of aid to students and their families, including hygiene packs, school supplies, and even clothes and shoes, the primary focus is on providing food to students who may not be eating well (or at all) at home, to enable them to have the mental acuity and attentiveness to continue learning effectively. Currently on the list of requested donations are following individually-packaged food items, which can be placed in the wicker box in our social hall:
• Breakfast bars
• Pastry crisps
• Cracker packs
• Capri Sun juice packs
• Protein bars
• Microwaveable noodle bowls
• Trail mix
Sandhills Student Assistance provides approximately 175 shelf-stable food items for hungry students each school day, across Moore County. Please note that the actual need of these students is vetted by their school guidance counselors and social workers, not by Sandhills Student Assistance: we only get asked when there is a genuine, determined need.
