Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 50

Deus deorum

1

The Lord, the God of gods, has spoken; *

he has called the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

2

Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty, *

God reveals himself in glory.

3

Our God will come and will not keep silence; *

before him there is a consuming flame,

and round about him a raging storm.

4

He calls the heavens and the earth from above *

to witness the judgment of his people.

5

“Gather before me my loyal followers, *

those who have made a covenant with me

and sealed it with sacrifice.”

6

Let the heavens declare the rightness of his cause; *

for God himself is judge.

7

Hear, O my people, and I will speak:

“O Israel, I will bear witness against you; *

for I am God, your God.

8

I do not accuse you because of your sacrifices; *

your offerings are always before me.

9

I will take no bull-calf from your stalls, *

nor he-goats out of your pens;

10

For all the beasts of the forest are mine, *

the herds in their thousands upon the hills.

11

I know every bird in the sky, *

and the creatures of the fields are in my sight.

12

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, *

for the whole world is mine and all that is in it.

13

Do you think I eat the flesh of bulls, *

or drink the blood of goats?

14

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving *

and make good your vows to the Most High.

15

Call upon me in the day of trouble; *

I will deliver you, and you shall honor me.”

16

But to the wicked God says: *

“Why do you recite my statutes,

and take my covenant upon your lips;

17

Since you refuse discipline, *

and toss my words behind your back?

18

When you see a thief, you make him your friend, *

and you cast in your lot with adulterers.

19

You have loosed your lips for evil, *

and harnessed your tongue to a lie.

20

You are always speaking evil of your brother *

and slandering your own mother’s son.

21

These things you have done, and I kept still, *

and you thought that I am like you.”

22

“I have made my accusation; *

I have put my case in order before your eyes.

23

Consider this well, you who forget God, *

lest I rend you and there be none to deliver you.

24

Whoever offers me the sacrifice of thanksgiving honors me; *

but to those who keep in my way will I show the salvation of God.”

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsNehemiah 1

English Standard Version

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”

4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”

Now I was cupbearer to the king.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Revelation 5:11-6

English Standard Version

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

6 Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” 2 And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” 4 And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword.

5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. 6 And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!”

7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” 8 And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matt. 13:18-23

A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 25

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 119: Zayin

Memor esto verbi tui

BCP p. 767

Remember your word to your servant, *

because you have given me hope.

This is my comfort in my trouble, *

that your promise gives me life.

The proud have derided me cruelly, *

but I have not turned from your law.

When I remember your judgments of old, *

O Lord, I take great comfort.

I am filled with a burning rage, *

because of the wicked who forsake your law.

Your statutes have been like songs to me *

wherever I have lived as a stranger.

I remember your Name in the night, O Lord, *

and dwell upon your law.

This is how it has been with me, *

because I have kept your commandments.

Psalm 119: Heth

Portio mea, Domine

BCP p. 768

You only are my portion, O Lord; *

I have promised to keep your words.

I entreat you with all my heart, *

be merciful to me according to your promise.

I have considered my ways *

and turned my feet toward your decrees.

I hasten and do not tarry *

to keep your commandments.

Though the cords of the wicked entangle me, *

I do not forget your law.

At midnight I will rise to give you thanks, *

because of your righteous judgments.

I am a companion of all who fear you *

and of those who keep your commandments.

The earth, O Lord, is full of your love; *

instruct me in your statutes.

Psalm 119: Teth

Bonitatem fecisti

BCP p. 768

O Lord, you have dealt graciously with your servant, *

according to your word.

Teach me discernment and knowledge, *

for I have believed in your commandments.

Before I was afflicted I went astray, *

but now I keep your word.

You are good and you bring forth good; *

instruct me in your statutes.

The proud have smeared me with lies, *

but I will keep your commandments with my whole heart.

Their heart is gross and fat, *

but my delight is in your law.

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, *

that I might learn your statutes.

The law of your mouth is dearer to me *

than thousands in gold and silver.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsEzra 6:1-22

A Reading from the Book of Ezra.

Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored. And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: “A record. In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits and its breadth sixty cubits, with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury. And also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.”

  “Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and your associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away. Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site. Moreover, I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River. And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons. Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. May the God who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”

  Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered. And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia; and this house was finished on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.

  And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, as it is written in the Book of Moses.

  On the fourteenth day of the first month, the returned exiles kept the Passover. For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves. It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and also by every one who had joined them and separated himself from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the Lord, the God of Israel. And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Revelation 5:1-10

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

  And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

    “Worthy are you to take the scroll
        and to open its seals,
    for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
        from every tribe and language and people and nation,
    and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
        and they shall reign on the earth.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matt. 13:10-17

A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.

Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

    “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,
        and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
    For this people’s heart has grown dull,
        and with their ears they can barely hear,
        and their eyes they have closed,
    lest they should see with their eyes
        and hear with their ears
    and understand with their heart
        and turn, and I would heal them.’
    
    
      But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 25

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 119Lamedh

In æternum, Domine

89

O Lord, your word is everlasting; *

it stands firm in the heavens.

90

Your faithfulness remains from one generation to another; *

you established the earth, and it abides.

91

By your decree these continue to this day, *

for all things are your servants.

92

If my delight had not been in your law, *

I should have perished in my affliction.

93

I will never forget your commandments, *

because by them you give me life.

94

I am yours; oh, that you would save me! *

for I study your commandments.

95

Though the wicked lie in wait for me to destroy me, *

I will apply my mind to your decrees.

96

I see that all things come to an end, *

but your commandment has no bounds.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsDeuteronomy 32:1-4

English Standard Version

32 “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak,
    and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.
2 May my teaching drop as the rain,
    my speech distill as the dew,
like gentle rain upon the tender grass,
    and like showers upon the herb.
3 For I will proclaim the name of the Lord;
    ascribe greatness to our God!

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect,
    for all his ways are justice.
A God of faithfulness and without iniquity,
    just and upright is he.

Ephesians 2:13-22

English Standard Version

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

John 15:17-27

English Standard Version

17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

St Simon & St Jude

O God, we thank you for the glorious company of the apostles, and especially on this day for Simon and Jude; and we pray that, as they were faithful and zealous in their mission, so we may with ardent devotion make known the love and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 41

Beatus qui intelligit

BCP p. 641

Happy are they who consider the poor and needy! *

the Lord will deliver them in the time of trouble.

The Lord preserves them and keeps them alive,
so that they may be happy in the land; *

he does not hand them over to the will of their enemies.

The Lord sustains them on their sickbed *

and ministers to them in their illness.

I said, “Lord, be merciful to me; *

heal me, for I have sinned against you.”

My enemies are saying wicked things about me: *

“When will he die, and his name perish?”

Even if they come to see me, they speak empty words; *

their heart collects false rumors;
they go outside and spread them.

All my enemies whisper together about me *

and devise evil against me.

“A deadly thing,” they say, “has fastened on him; *

he has taken to his bed and will never get up again.”

Even my best friend, whom I trusted,
who broke bread with me, *

has lifted up his heel and turned against me.

But you, O Lord, be merciful to me and raise me up, *

and I shall repay them.

By this I know you are pleased with me, *

that my enemy does not triumph over me.

In my integrity you hold me fast, *

and shall set me before your face for ever.

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *

from age to age. Amen. Amen.

Psalm 52

Quid gloriaris?

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You tyrant, why do you boast of wickedness *

against the godly all day long?

You plot ruin;
your tongue is like a sharpened razor, *

O worker of deception.

You love evil more than good *

and lying more than speaking the truth.

You love all words that hurt, *

O you deceitful tongue.

Oh, that God would demolish you utterly, *

topple you, and snatch you from your dwelling,
and root you out of the land of the living!

The righteous shall see and tremble, *

and they shall laugh at him, saying,

“This is the one who did not take God for a refuge, *

but trusted in great wealth
and relied upon wickedness.”

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; *

I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

I will give you thanks for what you have done *

and declare the goodness of your Name in the presence of the godly.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsZech. 1:7-17

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Zechariah.

On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying, “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ And they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees, and said, ‘We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth remains at rest.’ Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion. And I am exceedingly angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little, they furthered the disaster. Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Revelation 1:4-20

A Reading from the Book of Revelation.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

  Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

  I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

  Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.

  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matt. 12:43-50

A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.

“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.”

  While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 25

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for the Renewal of Life

O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness during the day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 30

Exaltabo te, Domine

BCP p. 621

I will exalt you, O Lord,
because you have lifted me up *

and have not let my enemies triumph over me.

2

O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *

and you restored me to health.

3

You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *

you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.

4

Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *

give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.

5

For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *

his favor for a lifetime.

6

Weeping may spend the night, *

but joy comes in the morning.

7

While I felt secure, I said,
“I shall never be disturbed. *

You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains.”

8

Then you hid your face, *

and I was filled with fear.

9

I cried to you, O Lord; *

I pleaded with the Lord, saying,

10

“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *

will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?

11

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *

O Lord, be my helper.”

12

You have turned my wailing into dancing; *

you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.

13

Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Psalm 32

Beati quorum

BCP p. 624

Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *

and whose sin is put away!

2

Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *

and in whose spirit there is no guile!

3

While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *

because of my groaning all day long.

4

For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *

my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.

5

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *

and did not conceal my guilt.

6

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *

Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

7

Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *

when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.

8

You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *

you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

9

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *

I will guide you with my eye.

10

Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *

who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
or else they will not stay near you.”

11

Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *

but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.

12

Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *

shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsEzra 4:7,11-24

A Reading from the Book of Ezra.

In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written in Aramaic and translated.

(This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) “To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are finishing the walls and repairing the foundations. Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired. Now because we eat the salt of the palace and it is not fitting for us to witness the king’s dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king, in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste. We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”

  The king sent an answer: “To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now the letter that you sent to us has been plainly read before me. And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it. And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom tribute, custom, and toll were paid. Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me. And take care not to be slack in this matter. Why should damage grow to the hurt of the king?”

  Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease. Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Philemon 1-25

A Reading from the Letter to Philemon.

Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

  To Philemon our beloved fellow worker and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

  Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

  So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

  Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.

  Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.

  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matt. 12:33-42

A Reading from the Gospel According to Matthew.

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

  Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 24

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Saturdays

Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 31

In te, Domine, speravi

1

In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;

let me never be put to shame; *

deliver me in your righteousness.

2

Incline your ear to me; *

make haste to deliver me.

3

Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,

for you are my crag and my stronghold; *

for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4

Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *

for you are my tower of strength.

5

Into your hands I commend my spirit, *

for you have redeemed me,

O Lord, O God of truth.

6

I hate those who cling to worthless idols, *

and I put my trust in the Lord.

7

I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy; *

for you have seen my affliction;

you know my distress.

8

You have not shut me up in the power of the enemy; *

you have set my feet in an open place.

9

Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; *

my eye is consumed with sorrow,

and also my throat and my belly.

10

For my life is wasted with grief,

and my years with sighing; *

my strength fails me because of affliction,

and my bones are consumed.

11

I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,

a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *

when they see me in the street they avoid me.

12

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *

I am as useless as a broken pot.

13

For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;

fear is all around; *

they put their heads together against me;

they plot to take my life.

14

But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. *

I have said, “You are my God.

15

My times are in your hand; *

rescue me from the hand of my enemies,

and from those who persecute me.

16

Make your face to shine upon your servant, *

and in your loving-kindness save me.”

17

Lord, let me not be ashamed for having called upon you; *

rather, let the wicked be put to shame;

let them be silent in the grave.

18

Let the lying lips be silenced which speak against the righteous, *

haughtily, disdainfully, and with contempt.

19

How great is your goodness, O Lord!

which you have laid up for those who fear you; *

which you have done in the sight of all

for those who put their trust in you.

20

You hide them in the covert of your presence from those who slander them; *

you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues.

21

Blessed be the Lord! *

for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a besieged city.

22

Yet I said in my alarm,

“I have been cut off from the sight of your eyes.” *

Nevertheless, you heard the sound of my entreaty

when I cried out to you.

23

Love the Lord, all you who worship him; *

the Lord protects the faithful,

but repays to the full those who act haughtily.

24

Be strong and let your heart take courage, *

all you who wait for the Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsEzra 3

English Standard Version

3 When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening. 4 And they kept the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required, 5 and after that the regular burnt offerings, the offerings at the new moon and at all the appointed feasts of the Lord, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. But the foundation of the temple of the Lord was not yet laid. 7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord. 9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord,

“For he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.”

And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

1 Corinthians 16:10-24

English Standard Version

10 When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matthew 12:22-32English Standard Version

22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. 23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.” 25 Knowing their thoughts, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. 26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 Or how can someone enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house. 30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 24

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Fridays 

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 1

Beatus vir qui non abiit

1

Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *

nor lingered in the way of sinners,

nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

2

Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *

and they meditate on his law day and night.

3

They are like trees planted by streams of water,

bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *

everything they do shall prosper.

4

It is not so with the wicked; *

they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

5

Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *

nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.

6

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *

but the way of the wicked is doomed.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsActs 15:12-22a

English Standard Version

12 And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles. 13 After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. 14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name. 15 And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written,

16 “‘After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen;
I will rebuild its ruins,
     and I will restore it,
17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord,
    and all the Gentiles who are called by my name,
     says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

English Standard Version

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matthew 13:54-58

English Standard Version

54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

St. James

Grant, O God, that, following the example of your servant James the Just, brother of our Lord, your Church may give itself continually to prayer and to the reconciliation of all who are at variance and enmity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 38

Domine, ne in furore

1

O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger; *

do not punish me in your wrath.

2

For your arrows have already pierced me, *

and your hand presses hard upon me.

3

There is no health in my flesh,

because of your indignation; *

there is no soundness in my body, because of my sin.

4

For my iniquities overwhelm me; *

like a heavy burden they are too much for me to bear.

5

My wounds stink and fester *

by reason of my foolishness.

6

I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; *

I go about in mourning all the day long.

7

My loins are filled with searing pain; *

there is no health in my body.

8

I am utterly numb and crushed; *

I wail, because of the groaning of my heart.

9

O Lord, you know all my desires, *

and my sighing is not hidden from you.

10

My heart is pounding, my strength has failed me, *

and the brightness of my eyes is gone from me.

11

My friends and companions draw back from my affliction; *

my neighbors stand afar off.

12

Those who seek after my life lay snares for me; *

those who strive to hurt me speak of my ruin

and plot treachery all the day long.

13

But I am like the deaf who do not hear, *

like those who are mute and do not open their mouth.

14

I have become like one who does not hear *

and from whose mouth comes no defense.

15

For in you, O Lord, have I fixed my hope; *

you will answer me, O Lord my God.

16

For I said, “Do not let them rejoice at my expense, *

those who gloat over me when my foot slips.”

17

Truly, I am on the verge of falling, *

and my pain is always with me.

18

I will confess my iniquity *

and be sorry for my sin.

19

Those who are my enemies without cause are mighty, *

and many in number are those who wrongfully hate me.

20

Those who repay evil for good slander me, *

because I follow the course that is right.

21

O Lord, do not forsake me; *

be not far from me, O my God.

22

Make haste to help me, *

O Lord of my salvation.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsLamentations 2:8-15

English Standard Version

8 The Lord determined to lay in ruins
    the wall of the daughter of Zion;
he stretched out the measuring line;
    he did not restrain his hand from destroying;
he caused rampart and wall to lament;
    they languished together.

9 Her gates have sunk into the ground;
    he has ruined and broken her bars;
her king and princes are among the nations;
    the law is no more,
and her prophets find
    no vision from the Lord.

10 The elders of the daughter of Zion
    sit on the ground in silence;
they have thrown dust on their heads
    and put on sackcloth;
the young women of Jerusalem
    have bowed their heads to the ground.

11 My eyes are spent with weeping;
    my stomach churns;
my bile is poured out to the ground
    because of the destruction of the daughter of my people,
because infants and babies faint
    in the streets of the city.

12 They cry to their mothers,
    “Where is bread and wine?”
as they faint like a wounded man
    in the streets of the city,
as their life is poured out
    on their mothers' bosom.

13 What can I say for you, to what compare you,
    O daughter of Jerusalem?
What can I liken to you, that I may comfort you,
    O virgin daughter of Zion?
For your ruin is vast as the sea;
    who can heal you?

14 Your prophets have seen for you
    false and deceptive visions;
they have not exposed your iniquity
    to restore your fortunes,
but have seen for you oracles
    that are false and misleading.

15 All who pass along the way
    clap their hands at you;
they hiss and wag their heads
    at the daughter of Jerusalem:
“Is this the city that was called
    the perfection of beauty,
    the joy of all the earth?”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

English Standard Version

51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matthew 12:1-14

English Standard Version

12 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” 3 He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? 6 I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. 7 And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

9 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10 And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse him. 11 He said to them, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 24

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance (Wednesday)

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Opening Words

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14 

Confession

The Officiant says to the people 

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. 

Silence may be kept. 

Officiant and People together

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. 

The Leader or Individual says:

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. 

The Invitatory and Psalter

Leader: Lord, open our lips. 

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. 

Officiant and People 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

Venite (Psalm 95)

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The mercy of the Lord is everlasting: Come let us adore him.

The Psalms & Lessons AppointedPsalm 26

Judica me, Domine

1

Give judgment for me, O Lord,

for I have lived with integrity; *

I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.

2

Test me, O Lord, and try me; *

examine my heart and my mind.

3

For your love is before my eyes; *

I have walked faithfully with you.

4

I have not sat with the worthless, *

nor do I consort with the deceitful.

5

I have hated the company of evildoers; *

I will not sit down with the wicked.

6

I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, *

that I may go in procession round your altar,

7

Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving *

and recounting all your wonderful deeds.

8

Lord, I love the house in which you dwell *

and the place where your glory abides.

9

Do not sweep me away with sinners, *

nor my life with those who thirst for blood,

10

Whose hands are full of evil plots, *

and their right hand full of bribes.

11

As for me, I will live with integrity; *

redeem me, O Lord, and have pity on me.

12

My foot stands on level ground; *

in the full assembly I will bless the Lord.

Psalm 28

Ad te, Domine

1

O Lord, I call to you;

my Rock, do not be deaf to my cry; *

lest, if you do not hear me,

I become like those who go down to the Pit.

2

Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, *

when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.

3

Do not snatch me away with the wicked or with the evildoers, *

who speak peaceably with their neighbors,

while strife is in their hearts.

4

Repay them according to their deeds, *

and according to the wickedness of their actions.

5

According to the work of their hands repay them, *

and give them their just deserts.

6

They have no understanding of the Lord’s doings,

nor of the works of his hands; *

therefore he will break them down and not build them up.

7

Blessed is the Lord! *

for he has heard the voice of my prayer.

8

The Lord is my strength and my shield; *

my heart trusts in him, and I have been helped;

9

Therefore my heart dances for joy, *

and in my song will I praise him.

10

The Lord is the strength of his people, *

a safe refuge for his anointed.

11

Save your people and bless your inheritance; *

shepherd them and carry them for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LessonsLamentations 1:1-12

English Standard Version

1 How lonely sits the city
    that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become,
    she who was great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
    has become a slave.

2 She weeps bitterly in the night,
    with tears on her cheeks;
among all her lovers
    she has none to comfort her;
all her friends have dealt treacherously with her;
    they have become her enemies.

3 Judah has gone into exile because of affliction
    and hard servitude;
she dwells now among the nations,
    but finds no resting place;
her pursuers have all overtaken her
    in the midst of her distress.

4 The roads to Zion mourn,
    for none come to the festival;
all her gates are desolate;
    her priests groan;
her virgins have been afflicted,
    and she herself suffers bitterly.

5 Her foes have become the head;
    her enemies prosper,
because the Lord has afflicted her
    for the multitude of her transgressions;
her children have gone away,
    captives before the foe.

6 From the daughter of Zion
    all her majesty has departed.
Her princes have become like deer
    that find no pasture;
they fled without strength
    before the pursuer.

7 Jerusalem remembers
    in the days of her affliction and wandering
all the precious things
    that were hers from days of old.
When her people fell into the hand of the foe,
    and there was none to help her,
her foes gloated over her;
    they mocked at her downfall.

8 Jerusalem sinned grievously;
    therefore she became filthy;
all who honored her despise her,
    for they have seen her nakedness;
she herself groans
    and turns her face away.

9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts;
    she took no thought of her future;
therefore her fall is terrible;
    she has no comforter.
“O Lord, behold my affliction,
    for the enemy has triumphed!”

10 The enemy has stretched out his hands
    over all her precious things;
for she has seen the nations
    enter her sanctuary,
those whom you forbade
    to enter your congregation.

11 All her people groan
    as they search for bread;
they trade their treasures for food
    to revive their strength.
“Look, O Lord, and see,
    for I am despised.”

12 “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?
    Look and see
if there is any sorrow like my sorrow,
    which was brought upon me,
which the Lord inflicted
    on the day of his fierce anger.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

1 Corinthians 15:41-50

English Standard Version

41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

Matthew 11:25-30

English Standard Version

25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.[a] 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be To God.

The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Surely, it is God who saves me; *

I will trust in him and not be afraid.

For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *

and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *

from the springs of salvation.

And on that day you shall say, *

Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;

Make his deeds known among the peoples; *

see that they remember that his Name is exalted.

Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *

and this is known in all the world.

Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *

for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Amen.

The Prayers

Leader: Hear our cry, O God.

People: And listen to our prayer.

Leader: Let us pray. 

Officiant and People 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Suffrages A

V. Show us your mercy, O Lord; 

R. And grant us your salvation. 

V. Clothe your ministers with righteousness; 

R. Let your people sing with joy. 

V. Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; 

R. For only in you can we live in safety. 

V. Lord, keep this nation under your care; 

R. And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 

V. Let your way be known upon earth; 

R. Your saving health among all nations. 

V. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; 

R. Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. 

V. Create in us clean hearts, O God; 

R. And sustain us with your Holy Spirit. 

The Collects

Proper 24

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Grace (Tuesday)

Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Intercessions

Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for others. 

Personal intercessions and thanksgivings may follow. 

Some things to pray for: 

• The Universal Church, its members, and its mission

• The Nation and all in authority 

• The welfare of the world and the local community  

• Those who suffer and those in any trouble  

• The departed (with commemoration of a saint when appropriate) 

This prayer for mission may be used to conclude the intercessions. 

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of St. Chrysostom 

Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. 

The Dismissal

Then may be said 

Let us bless the Lord. 

Thanks be to God. 

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13

Guided Lectio Divina exercise based on the Epistle Reading from Sunday's Lectionary for Proper 24.

1. Opening Greeting

Today’s reading comes from Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy, chapter 3, verses 14 through 17. As we begin, take a deep breath. Become aware that you are in the presence of the living God — the One who speaks still, through the written Word and by His Spirit.

2. First Reading – Lectio

Listen now to the Word of God.

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”
— 2 Timothy 3:14–17 (NRSV)

(A short pause for silence)

As you listen, notice what word or phrase stands out to you — perhaps continue, sacred writings, or equipped for every good work. Let that phrase settle in your heart.

3. Reflection – Meditatio

Paul writes these words near the end of his life, passing the torch of faith to Timothy. It is both a personal exhortation and a timeless invitation. “Continue,” he says — keep going in what you have learned.

Faith is not a flash of inspiration but a lifelong apprenticeship. Timothy’s faith was nurtured by family and Scripture — by a living tradition that shaped him from childhood. For us too, Scripture is not merely information; it is formation. Through it, God breathes His own life into us.

Notice that Paul doesn’t describe Scripture as a weapon but as a teacher — instructing, correcting, and training. The Spirit uses these sacred words to make us fit for every good work: patient in suffering, humble in success, steadfast in prayer.

Perhaps today God is reminding you to continue — to stay rooted in the Word even when the world feels unstable, to let it reform your habits and hopes.

What part of your life most needs to be shaped by God’s Word this week?

4. Second Reading & Prayer – Oratio

Hear the passage once more.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

(Silence)

Let us pray.

Gracious Lord, You have given us Your Word as breath and light.
When we are weary, let it strengthen us.
When we are proud, let it humble us.
When we are lost, let it guide us home.
Teach us not only to read Scripture but to be read by it — that through Your Spirit we may be formed into the likeness of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

5. Silent Contemplation – Contemplatio

Take a moment now to rest in silence.

Let the Word dwell richly in you — beyond thought, beyond words.

(30–60 seconds of silence)

6. The Weekly Collect – Proper 24 (BCP 1979)

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ You have revealed Your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of Your mercy, that Your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of Your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

7. Closing Blessing or Benediction

As you go into the week ahead, may the God who inspired the Scriptures inspire your steps — that you may continue in what you have learned and be equipped for every good work.

Go in peace.