Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, November-03-2013 All Saints Day (All Saints Day is Observed today and takes precedence over the Regular Sunday)

The Collect

All Saints Day
Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen
Preface of All Saints

Old Testament Reading

Ecclesiasticus 44:1-10,13-14
¹ Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers in their generations. ² The Lord apportioned to them great glory, his majesty from the beginning. ³ There were those who ruled in their kingdoms, and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and proclaiming prophecies; ⁴ leaders of the people in their deliberations and in understanding of learning for the people, wise in their words of instruction; ⁵ those who composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing; ⁶ rich men furnished with resources, living peaceably in their habitations-- ⁷ all these were honored in their generations, and were the glory of their times. ⁸ There are some of them who have left a name, so that men declare their praise. ⁹ And there are some who have no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived; they have become as though they had not been born, and so have their children after them. ¹⁰ But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten; ¹³ Their posterity will continue for ever, and their glory will not be blotted out. ¹⁴ Their bodies were buried in peace, and their name lives to all generations. -- RSV

Psalm

Psalm 149

Cantate Domino
1Hallelujah!
     Sing to the LORD a new song; *
     sing his praise in the congregation of the faithful.
2Let Israel rejoice in his Maker; *
     let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3Let them praise his Name in the dance; *
     let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
4For the LORD takes pleasure in his people *
     and adorns the poor with victory.
5Let the faithful rejoice in triumph; *
     let them be joyful on their beds.
6Let the praises of God be in their throat *
     and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7To wreak vengeance on the nations *
     and punishment on the peoples;
8To bind their kings in chains *
     and their nobles with links of iron;
9To inflict on them the judgment decreed; *
     this is glory for all his faithful people.
     Hallelujah!

New Testament Reading

Revelation 7:2-4,9-17
² Then I saw another angel ascend from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, ³ saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads." ⁴ And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand sealed, out of every tribe of the sons of Israel, ⁹ After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb!" ¹¹ And all the angels stood round the throne and round the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God for ever and ever! Amen." ¹³ Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and whence have they come?" ¹⁴ I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. ¹⁵ Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night within his temple; and he who sits upon the throne will shelter them with his presence. ¹⁶ They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. ¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Gospel Reading

Matthew 5:1-12
¹ Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: ³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. ⁷ "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.