We Live and Die to the Lord: Ordinary Time Daybook for the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

15A.fall sunflowers.jpg

Welcome to the weekly Ordinary Time Daybook devotional post for the 22 weeks between Pentecost and Advent. Ordinary Time is the longest season of the church calendar - a season of working and resting with Christ as he brings God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. 

You can read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Ordinary Time.

Look: Fall Sunflowers, Helen Gotlib (Source)

Listen*: Dead Horse, Andy Squyres Lyrics at Bandcamp | Spotify | YouTube 

Read**:  Genesis 50:15-21; Psalm 103; Romans 14:5-12; Matthew 18:21-35 

Monday (9/14) Psalm 56-57, 64-65; Job 40:1-24; Acts 15:36-16:5; John 11:55-12:8

Tuesday (9/15) Psalm 61-62, 68; Job 40:1,41:1-11; Acts 16:6-15; John 12:9-19

Wednesday (9/16) Psalm 72, 119:73-96; Job 42:1-17; Acts 16:16-24; John 12:20-26

Thursday (9/17) Psalm 71, 74; Job 28:1-28; Acts 16:25-40; John 12:27-36a

Friday (9/18) Psalm 69, 73; Esther 1:1-4,10-19; Acts 17:1-15; John 12:36b-43

Saturday (9/19) Psalm 75-76, 23, 27; Esther 2:5-8,15-23; Acts 17:16-34; John 12:44-50

Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for the Fifteenth Sunday After The Pentecost

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.

Do: Read this month’s issue of Silencio, a spiritual formation resource from the organization I belong to as a Spiritual Director. This month’s thematic focus is Praying the Psalms and is written by (the wonderful!) Ted Wueste.

An excerpt:

"The true beauty of the psalms is that they express what we are often not able to put into words for ourselves. The intricacies of our hearts, which are often mysterious and frequently fearful to us, are ground which is not tread often enough. The psalms invite us to explore and express our hearts so that God can shape and form us in the context of relationship with himself."

As you read through the Scripture passages each day this week, consider reading the Psalm out loud as a prayer. Read slowly. If one particular Psalm speaks deeply to you, stay with that Psalm for the rest of the week. 

I'd love to hear from you! What Psalm is speaking to you most deeply right now? Let us know in the comments below!

*Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify: Ordinary Time 2020 . Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’

** Sunday Scripture readings are taken from Year A of the Book of Common Prayer 2019 (Anglican Church of North America). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer and include both Morning and Evening Psalms (Year 2)