Recent Articles, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 16, 2025

February Newsletter
Lectionary – Epiphany 6, Year C
Visual Lectionary Vanderbilt, Epiphany 6, Feb. 16, 2025
The Setting of the Beatitudes
Luke’s Beatitudes
A Powerpoint look at the Beatitudes
Black History Month, Feb. 2025
Celebrating the lives of Absalom Jones and Abraham Lincoln this week
The Epiphany was Jan. 6, 2025 The Season after the Epiphany lasts until March 4, Shrove Tuesday.
Epiphany Sermon, Trinity Episcopal, NY, Jan. 5, 2025
Epiphany Content and traditions
3 Miracles associated with the Epiphany
Epiphany Readings
The Epiphany – a perfect start to the new year
Bursting Forth – An Epiphany Reflection
Newsletter, February, 2025

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Website
Our mission: “To do God’s Will”
February is beautifying our grounds with snow but services go on and we are so thankful for the support of our members and friends. If you read the annual reports of our many activities last months, you know how busy we all are!
This month the Men’s Group (ECM) has been busy planning a “Ladies Night Out” which has been moved to Sat. Feb. 22 at 6pm at the Parish House. This fundraiser ($30 per man) will help the ECM fund their philanthropic partnership with the Caroline County Dept. of Social Services. There will be wine, food, music and time to “sing along” with your friends! Please call Ken to chat /RSVP at 540-847-9017.
The Food Bank at the Parish House will be this coming week also. Meet the truck that appears magically (loaded down) at 9:20am on Tuesday 2/18! Help is always needed to unload and organize food items inside. Then on Wed. Feb. 19 another team meets those who come in need of food and other supplies. Thanks to all who take time to help. (This is a St. Peters Ministry that has helped the needy for more than 10 years!)
Lectionary – Epiphany 6, Year C
I. Theme – Blessed!

Blessed is anyone who trusts in the Lord. (Jeremiah) Blessed are you when you are in need.(Luke)
The lectionary readings are here or individually:
Old Testament – Jeremiah 17:5-10 Psalm – Psalm 1 Epistle – 1 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Gospel – Luke 6:17-26
In the Old Testament, reading from Jeremiah God, through the prophet Jeremiah, contrasts the fates of the ungodly and the godly. To ancient peoples, the heart was the centre of emotions, feelings, moods and passions. It also discerned good from evil and was the centre of decision-making. Conversion to God’s ways took place in the heart.
In Corinthians 15:12-20, Paul continues his argument against those at Corinth who deny that Christians will be resurrected bodily. He has written of three basic doctrines he has received and passed on: Christ died, was buried, and rose. He now confronts these people with a logical argument. He confronts them with the consequences of their denial and tells the benefits of affirming resurrection.
In Luke 6:17-26, Jesus has ascended a mountain to pray. While there, he has chosen twelve of his disciples to be apostles. Now he descends part-way, to a “level place”. There he finds followers and many others, from Israel and beyond. He tells who will be admitted to his Kingdom – and who will not.
Visual Lectionary Vanderbilt, Epiphany 6, Feb. 16, 2025
Click here to view in a new window.
The Setting of the Beatitudes

“The spacious slope of the Mount of Beatitudes (also known as Mount Eremos, a Greek word meaning solitary or uninhabited) would have provided ample space for a large crowd to gather to hear Jesus”
“Archaeologist Bargil Pixner says: “The terrace above this still existing cave, called Mughara Ayub, must be considered the traditional place of the Sermon on the Mount. The hillcrest of Eremos indeed offers a magnificent view over the entire lake and the surrounding villages. The cragginess of this hill meant it was left uncultivated and enabled Jesus to gather large crowds around him without causing damage to the farmers.”
Luke’s Beatitudes
There are two Beatitudes in the Bible, Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-23. Both are similar in that they contain a guide for the conduct of the disciples on this earth. Of these shared beatitudes, Luke has written the equivalent of Matthew’s first, fourth, second and ninth beatitudes, in that order.
Similarities. Here is a beatitudes comparison using a table of the two accounts
1 Poor –. Matthew “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” and Luke “Blessed are you who are poor.” They will inherit the Kingdome of Heaven (Matthew) or God (Luke” Luke’s account contains some woes – “But woe to you who are rich,for you have received your consolation.”
2 Hungry – Matthew “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and Luke “Blessed are you who are hungry”. In both cases you will be filled. The rejoinder from Luke – “Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry
3 Hate/Persecution – Matthew “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” And Luke “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man.” In both cases your reward is in heaven. Luke’s “woe” – Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.
There are common contexts between the beatitudes. The sayings are in the context of discipleship, which Luke has been emphasizing in various ways since Jesus’ visit to Nazareth. He will continue dealing with the nature of discipleship through the conclusion of the Galilean ministry (ch. 9), and then set the tone for the journey to Jerusalem by opening that trip with a discussion of discipleship and the sending of the seventy (9:51ff). The sayings are also in the context of the nature of the Kingdom,
There are a number of major differences between these four beatitudes, which firstly includes the point of view where Luke writes in second person plural “yours” and Matthew in third person plural “theirs”.
Celebrating the lives of Absalom Jones and Abraham Lincoln this week

Absalom Jones died this week in 1818 not only the first trained black minister in any denomination but the first black minister ordained into the Episcopal Church and the first to create a Black religious organization in Philadelphia. More information is here

Abraham Lincoln was born this week, 210 years ago. What was his relationship to the Episcopal Church ? No he wasn’t a member but attended St. John’s Episcopal during his years in Washington, just across from the White House. He also made time with Bishop Whipple, first Episcopal Bishop in Minn. 300 Indians has been sentenced to death in the Dakota Indian Wards. Lincoln made the decision to reduce the number to 38. Was it related to Bishop Whipple’s influence ? The historian of the event writes “it is difficult to imagine that Whipple’s visit did not count in the president’s decision.” Read the entire story on “Lincoln’s Bishop”