Church of the Epiphany

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Collect

Proper 7
O Lord, we beseech thee, make us have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy Name, for thou never failest to help and govern those whom thou hast set upon the sure foundation of thy loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Zechariah 12:8-10
⁸ On that day the LORD will put a shield about the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, at their head. ⁹ And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. ¹⁰ "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a first-born. - AND -

Zechariah 13:1
¹ "On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.

Psalm

Psalm 63:1-8

¹O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *
     my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
     as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
²Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *
     that I might behold your power and your glory.
³For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *
     my lips shall give you praise.
⁴So will I bless you as long as I live *
     and lift up my hands in your Name.
⁵My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *
     and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
⁶When I remember you upon my bed, *
     and meditate on you in the night watches.
⁷For you have been my helper, *
     and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
⁸My soul clings to you; *
     your right hand holds me fast.

New Testament Reading

Galatians 3:23-29
²³ Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. ²⁴ So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian; ²⁶ for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

Gospel Reading

Luke 9:18-24
¹⁸ Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?" ¹⁹ And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen." ²⁰ And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God." ²¹ But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, ²² saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." ²³ And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.

Saturday, June 15, 2013

The Collect

Proper 6
Keep, O Lord, we beseech thee, thy household the Church in thy steadfast faith and love, that by the help of thy grace we may proclaim thy truth with boldness, and minister thy justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

2 Samuel 11:26-12:10
11:²⁶ When the wife of Uri'ah heard that Uri'ah her husband was dead, she made lamentation for her husband. ²⁷ And when the mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife, and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD. 12:¹ And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, "There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had very many flocks and herds; ³ but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his morsel, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. ⁴ Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb, and prepared it for the man who had come to him." ⁵ Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, "As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; ⁶ and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity." ⁷ Nathan said to David, "You are the man. Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, `I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul; ⁸ and I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your bosom, and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah; and if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. ⁹ Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have smitten Uri'ah the Hittite with the sword, and have taken his wife to be your wife, and have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. ¹⁰ Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me, and have taken the wife of Uri'ah the Hittite to be your wife.' - AND -

2 Samuel 12:13-15
¹³ David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child that is born to you shall die." ¹⁵ Then Nathan went to his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uri'ah's wife bore to David, and it became sick.

Psalm

Psalm 32

^{Beati quorum}
¹Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
     and whose sin is put away!
²Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, *
     and in whose spirit there is no guile!
³While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
     because of my groaning all day long.
⁴For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
     my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
     and did not conceal my guilt.
⁶I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." *
     Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
⁷Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of
     trouble; *
     when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
⁸You 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.
¹⁰Do 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."
¹¹Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
     but mercy embraces those who trust in the LORD.
¹²Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the LORD; *
     shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

- OR -

Psalm 32:1-8

¹Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
     and whose sin is put away!
²Happy are they to whom the LORD imputes no guilt, *
     and in whose spirit there is no guile!
³While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
     because of my groaning all day long.
⁴For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
     my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
     and did not conceal my guilt.
⁶I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD." *
     Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
⁷Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of
     trouble; *
     when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
⁸You are my hiding-place;
     you preserve me from trouble; *
     you surround me with shouts of deliverance.

New Testament Reading

Galatians 2:11-21
¹¹ But when Cephas came to Antioch I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, he ate with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. ¹³ And with him the rest of the Jews acted insincerely, so that even Barnabas was carried away by their insincerity. ¹⁴ But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, "If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?" ¹⁵ We ourselves, who are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners, ¹⁶ yet who know that a man is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of the law, because by works of the law shall no one be justified. ¹⁷ But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we ourselves were found to be sinners, is Christ then an agent of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ But if I build up again those things which I tore down, then I prove myself a transgressor. ¹⁹ For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. ²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹ I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification were through the law, then Christ died to no purpose.

Gospel Reading

Luke 7:36-50
³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house, and took his place at table. ³⁷ And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, ³⁸ and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." ⁴⁰ And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "What is it, Teacher?" ⁴¹ "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?" ⁴³ Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." ⁴⁸ And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." ⁴⁹ Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Thursday, June 6, 2013

The Collect

Proper 5
O God, from whom all good doth come: Grant that by thy inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

1 Kings 17:17-24
¹⁷ After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. ¹⁸ And she said to Eli'jah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to cause the death of my son!" ¹⁹ And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her bosom, and carried him up into the upper chamber, where he lodged, and laid him upon his own bed. ²⁰ And he cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, hast thou brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?" ²¹ Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's soul come into him again." ²² And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Eli'jah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived. ²³ And Eli'jah took the child, and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house, and delivered him to his mother; and Eli'jah said, "See, your son lives." ²⁴ And the woman said to Eli'jah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."

Psalm

Psalm 30

^{Exaltabo te, Domine}
¹I will exalt you, O LORD,
     because you have lifted me up *
     and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
²O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *
     and you restored me to health.
³You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *
     you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
⁴Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *
     give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
⁵For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
     his favor for a lifetime.
⁶Weeping may spend the night, *
     but joy comes in the morning.
⁷While I felt secure, I said,
     "I shall never be disturbed. *
     You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as
     the mountains."
⁸Then you hid your face, *
     and I was filled with fear.
⁹I 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?
¹¹Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; *
     O LORD, be my helper."
¹²You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
     you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
¹³Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
     O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

- OR -

Psalm 30:1-6,12-13

¹I will exalt you, O LORD,
     because you have lifted me up *
     and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
²O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *
     and you restored me to health.
³You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *
     you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
⁴Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *
     give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
⁵For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
     his favor for a lifetime.
⁶Weeping may spend the night, *
     but joy comes in the morning.
¹²You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
     you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
¹³Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
     O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

New Testament Reading

Galatians 1:11-24
¹¹ For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not man's gospel. ¹² For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹³ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; ¹⁴ and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. ¹⁵ But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, ¹⁶ was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, ¹⁷ nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. ¹⁸ Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. ²⁰ (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) ²¹ Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cili'cia. ²² And I was still not known by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea; ²³ they only heard it said, "He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.

Gospel Reading

Luke 7:11-17
¹¹ Soon afterward he went to a city called Na'in, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a large crowd from the city was with her. ¹³ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." ¹⁴ And he came and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." ¹⁵ And the dead man sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother. ¹⁶ Fear seized them all; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" ¹⁷ And this report concerning him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Saturday, June 1, 2013

The Collect

Proper 4
O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth: We humbly beseech thee to put away from us all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

1 Kings 8:22-23,27-30,41-43
²²Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; ²³and he said: "LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. ²⁷"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! ²⁸Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: ²⁹that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, 'My name shall be there,' that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. ³⁰And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. ⁴¹"Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name's sake ⁴²(for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, ⁴³hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 96

^{Cantate Domino}
¹Sing to the LORD a new song; *
     sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.
²Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
     proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
³Declare his glory among the nations *
     and his wonders among all peoples.
⁴For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
     he is more to be feared than all gods.
⁵As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
     but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
⁶Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
     Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
⁷Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
     ascribe to the LORD honor and power.
⁸Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
     bring offerings and come into his courts.
⁹Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
     let the whole earth tremble before him.
¹⁰Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is King! *
     he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
     he will judge the peoples with equity."
¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
     let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
     let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
¹²Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
     before the LORD when he comes, *
     when he comes to judge the earth.
¹³He will judge the world with righteousness *
     and the peoples with his truth.

- OR -

Psalm 96:1-9

¹Sing to the LORD a new song; *
     sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.
²Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
     proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
³Declare his glory among the nations *
     and his wonders among all peoples.
⁴For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
     he is more to be feared than all gods.
⁵As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
     but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
⁶Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
     Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
⁷Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
     ascribe to the LORD honor and power.
⁸Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
     bring offerings and come into his courts.
⁹Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
     let the whole earth tremble before him.

New Testament Reading

Galatians 1:1-10
¹Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), ²and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: ³Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ⁶I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, ⁷which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. ⁸But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. ⁹As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. ¹⁰For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 7:1-10
¹Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. ²And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. ³So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. ⁴And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, ⁵"for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." ⁶Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. ⁷Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." ⁹When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!" ¹⁰And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. -- NKJV

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Collect

First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of thy Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see thee in thy one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Trinity Sunday

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 6:1-8
¹In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. ²Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. ³And one cried to another and said: " Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" ⁴And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. ⁵So I said: " Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." ⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. ⁷And he touched my mouth with it, and said: " Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged." ⁸Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: " Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me." -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 29

^{Afferte Domino}
¹Ascribe to the LORD, you gods, *
     ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
²Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his Name; *
     worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
³The voice of the LORD is upon the waters;
     the God of glory thunders; *
     the LORD is upon the mighty waters.
⁴The voice of the LORD is a powerful voice; *
     the voice of the LORD is a voice of splendour.
⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the cedar trees; *
     the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
⁶He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
     and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
⁷The voice of the LORD splits the flames of fire;
     the voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; *
     the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
⁸The voice of the LORD makes the oak trees writhe *
     and strips the forests bare.
⁹And in the temple of the LORD *
     all are crying, "Glory!"
¹⁰The LORD sits enthroned above the flood; *
     the LORD sits enthroned as King for evermore.
¹¹The LORD shall give strength to his people; *
     the LORD shall give his people the blessing of peace.

New Testament Reading

Revelation 4:1-11
¹After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." ²Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. ³And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. ⁴Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. ⁶Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. ⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: " Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" ⁹Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ¹¹" You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 16:(5-11)12-15
(⁵"But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' ⁶But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ⁹of sin, because they do not believe in Me; ¹⁰of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; ¹¹of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. )¹²"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. ¹⁴He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. -- NKJV

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The Collect

The Day of Pentecost
Almighty God, who on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen -or this-
O God, who on this day didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen
Preface of Pentecost

Old Testament Reading

Acts 2:1-11
¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs-we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." -- NKJV - OR -

Joel 2:28-32
²⁸" And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. ²⁹And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. ³⁰" And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. ³¹The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. ³²And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 104:25-37

²⁵O LORD, how manifold are your works! *
     in wisdom you have made them all;
     the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁶Yonder is the great and wide sea
     with its living things too many to number, *
     creatures both small and great.
²⁷There move the ships,
     and there is that Leviathan, *
     which you have made for the sport of it.
²⁸All of them look to you *
     to give them their food in due season.
²⁹You give it to them; they gather it; *
     you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
³⁰You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
     you take away their breath,
     and they die and return to their dust.
³¹You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
     and so you renew the face of the earth.
³²May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; *
     may the LORD rejoice in all his works.
³³He looks at the earth and it trembles; *
     he touches the mountains and they smoke.
³⁴I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; *
     I will praise my God while I have my being.
³⁵May these words of mine please him; *
     I will rejoice in the LORD.
³⁶Let sinners be consumed out of the earth, *
     and the wicked be no more.
³⁷Bless the LORD, O my soul. *
     Hallelujah!

- OR -

Psalm 104:25-32

²⁵O LORD, how manifold are your works! *
     in wisdom you have made them all;
     the earth is full of your creatures.
²⁶Yonder is the great and wide sea
     with its living things too many to number, *
     creatures both small and great.
²⁷There move the ships,
     and there is that Leviathan, *
     which you have made for the sport of it.
²⁸All of them look to you *
     to give them their food in due season.
²⁹You give it to them; they gather it; *
     you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.
³⁰You hide your face, and they are terrified; *
     you take away their breath,
     and they die and return to their dust.
³¹You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
     and so you renew the face of the earth.
³²May the glory of the LORD endure for ever; *
     may the LORD rejoice in all his works.

- OR -

Psalm 33:12-15,18-22

¹²Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! *
     happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
¹³The LORD looks down from heaven, *
     and beholds all the people in the world.
¹⁴From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
     on all who dwell on the earth.
¹⁵He fashions all the hearts of them *
     and understands all their works.
¹⁸Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, *
     on those who wait upon his love,
¹⁹To pluck their lives from death, *
     and to feed them in time of famine.
²⁰Our soul waits for the LORD; *
     he is our help and our shield.
²¹Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
     for in his holy Name we put our trust.
²²Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, *
     as we have put our trust in you.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 12:4-13
⁴There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. ¹²For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. -- NKJV - OR -

Acts 2:1-11
¹When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ²And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. ⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. ⁷Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? ⁸And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, ¹¹Cretans and Arabs-we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 20:19-23
¹⁹Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." ²⁰When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." ²²And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." -- NKJV - OR -

John 14:8-17
⁸Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." ⁹Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? ¹⁰Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. ¹¹Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. ¹²"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. ¹³And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. ¹⁵"If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- ¹⁷the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. -- NKJV

Saturday, May 11, 2013

The Collect

Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us to the same place where our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen
Preface of the Ascension

Old Testament Reading

Acts 16:16-34
¹⁶Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. ¹⁷This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation." ¹⁸And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. ¹⁹But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. ²⁰And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; ²¹and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe." ²²Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. ²⁴Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. ²⁵But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed. ²⁷And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. ²⁸But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." ²⁹Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" ³¹So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. ³³And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 97

^{Dominus regnavit}
¹The LORD is King;
     let the earth rejoice; *
     let the multitude of the isles be glad.
²Clouds and darkness are round about him, *
     righteousness and justice are the foundations of his throne.
³A fire goes before him *
     and burns up his enemies on every side.
⁴His lightnings light up the world; *
     the earth sees it and is afraid.
⁵The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, *
     at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.
⁶The heavens declare his righteousness, *
     and all the peoples see his glory.
⁷Confounded be all who worship carved images
     and delight in false gods! *
     Bow down before him, all you gods.
⁸Zion hears and is glad, and the cities of Judah rejoice, *
     because of your judgments, O LORD.
⁹For you are the LORD,
     most high over all the earth; *
     you are exalted far above all gods.
¹⁰The LORD loves those who hate evil; *
     he preserves the lives of his saints
     and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

New Testament Reading

Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20
¹²"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ¹³I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." ¹⁴Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁶"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." ¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. ²⁰He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 17:20-26
²⁰"I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²²And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. ²⁴"Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." -- NKJV

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