The Other Side of the Story

To me, one of the cool things about the Episcopal Church is what is known as the Lectionary.  Briefly, the Lectionary is a three-year cycle of readings for all Episcopal churches.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/lectionary/about-revised-common-lectionary

This year, which started with Advent last December, happens to be Year A, with this past Sunday being the Second Sunday after Pentecost.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/lectionary/second-sunday-after-pentecost-0

The lectionary indicates also that we were to use Proper 7 for this past Sunday, so the abbreviation would be 7A.  The Old Testament lesson for 7A is Genesis 21:8-21, which is the story of Hagar (the servant of Abraham or actually the servant of his wife Sarah) and Hagar's son being evicted.

While many often choose to "preach the Gospel," sometimes the Old Testament lesson or the Epistle lend themselves to being good subject matter for the sermon. Such was the case this past Sunday at St. Dunstan's.

Tricia often offers insights into seemingly minor characters in her sermons. So, while we would ordinarily concentrate on Abraham and Sarah and why they evicted Hagar and her son, Tricia chose to look at at the story from Hagar's point of view.

Here's a link to her sermon.

I really enjoyed it Sunday morning and hope you will, too.

Remember, if you're out traveling this summer and miss Tricia's sermons, they can be found on our website, http://www.stdunstan.net/sermons
You can also click on the link on the left.

Te Deum: You Are God

This past Sunday, for the Offertory Anthem, the choir performed "Te Deum:  You Are God," composed by our own Tom Gibbs.

According to legendary tradition,

when St. Ambrose baptized St. Augustine,

the two composed and sang this hymn spontaneously,

in alternating lines.

You are God: we praise you;

You are the Lord: we acclaim you;

You are the eternal Creator:

All creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the pow'rs of heav'n,

Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow'r and might,

heav'n and earth are full of your glory.

The glorious company of apostles praise you.

The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.

The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.

Throughout the world the holy church acclaims you.

God, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,

The Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

You are Christ, the glorious Ruler, the eternal Child of God.

When you came to show us freedom you were of a woman born.

You triumph'd over death and open'd heav'n to all believers.

You are seated at God's right hand in glory.

We believe that you will come to be our judge.

Come then, Lord, and help your people,

redeem'd with your own blood,

uniting us with your saints in glory everlasting.

For the Rev. Patricia Templeton

in celebration of the 10th anniversary

of her ministry at St. Dunstan's, Atlanta,

in the Parish's 50th anniversary year, 2014.

You can listen to Sunday's performance here:

https://app.box.com/s/y1of1d5w2oh8t4cr4tj5