Church of the Epiphany

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Collect

Third Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

Exodus 3:1-15
¹Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. ²And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. ³Then Moses said, "I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn." ⁴So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." ⁵Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground." ⁶Moreover He said, "I am the God of your father-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. ⁷And the LORD said: "I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. ⁸So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites. ⁹Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt." ¹¹But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" ¹²So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain." ¹³Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" ¹⁴And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" ¹⁵Moreover God said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.' -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 103

^{Benedic, anima mea}
¹Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
     and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
²Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
     and forget not all his benefits.
³He forgives all your sins *
     and heals all your infirmities;
⁴He redeems your life from the grave *
     and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
⁵He satisfies you with good things, *
     and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
⁶The LORD executes righteousness *
     and judgment for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made his ways known to Moses *
     and his works to the children of Israel.
⁸The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, *
     slow to anger and of great kindness.
⁹He will not always accuse us, *
     nor will he keep his anger for ever.
¹⁰He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *
     nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
     so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
¹²As far as the east is from the west, *
     so far has he removed our sins from us.
¹³As a father cares for his children, *
     so does the LORD care for those who fear him.
¹⁴For he himself knows whereof we are made; *
     he remembers that we are but dust.
¹⁵Our days are like the grass; *
     we flourish like a flower of the field;
¹⁶When the wind goes over it, it is gone, *
     and its place shall know it no more.
¹⁷But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever on those
     who fear him, *
     and his righteousness on children's children;
¹⁸On those who keep his covenant *
     and remember his commandments and do them.
¹⁹The LORD has set his throne in heaven, *
     and his kingship has dominion over all.
²⁰Bless the LORD, you angels of his,
     you mighty ones who do his bidding, *
     and hearken to the voice of his word.
²¹Bless the LORD, all you his hosts, *
     you ministers of his who do his will.
²²Bless the LORD, all you works of his,
     in all places of his dominion; *
     bless the LORD, O my soul.

- OR -

Psalm 103:1-11

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
     and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
²Bless the LORD, O my soul, *
     and forget not all his benefits.
³He forgives all your sins *
     and heals all your infirmities;
⁴He redeems your life from the grave *
     and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
⁵He satisfies you with good things, *
     and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
⁶The LORD executes righteousness *
     and judgment for all who are oppressed.
⁷He made his ways known to Moses *
     and his works to the children of Israel.
⁸The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, *
     slow to anger and of great kindness.
⁹He will not always accuse us, *
     nor will he keep his anger for ever.
¹⁰He has not dealt with us according to our sins, *
     nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth, *
     so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 10:1-13
¹Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, ²all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. ⁵But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. ⁶Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. ⁷And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." ⁸Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; ⁹nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; ¹⁰nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. ¹¹Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹²Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. ¹³No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 13:1-9
¹There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ²And Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? ³I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. ⁴Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish." ⁶He also spoke this parable: "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. ⁷Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?' ⁸But he answered and said to him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.'" -- NKJV

Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Collect

First Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

Deuteronomy 26:(1-4)5-11
(¹ "When you come into the land which the LORD your God gives you for an inheritance, and have taken possession of it, and live in it, ² you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place which the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. ³ And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, `I declare this day to the LORD your God that I have come into the land which the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' ⁴ Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand, and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. )⁵ "And you shall make response before the LORD your God, `A wandering Aramean was my father; and he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number; and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. ⁶ And the Egyptians treated us harshly, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage. ⁷ Then we cried to the LORD the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice, and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression; ⁸ and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror, with signs and wonders; ⁹ and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰ And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which thou, O LORD, hast given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God, and worship before the LORD your God; ¹¹ and you shall rejoice in all the good which the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

Psalm

Psalm 91

^{Qui habitat}
¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
     abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
²He shall say to the LORD,
     "You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
     my God in whom I put my trust."
³He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
     and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴He shall cover you with his pinions,
     and you shall find refuge under his wings; *
     his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler.
⁵You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
     nor of the arrow that flies by day;
⁶Of the plague that stalks in the darkness, *
     nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day.
⁷A thousand shall fall at your side
     and ten thousand at your right hand, *
     but it shall not come near you.
⁸Your eyes have only to behold *
     to see the reward of the wicked.
⁹Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
     and the Most High your habitation,
¹⁰There shall no evil happen to you, *
     neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
¹¹For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
     to keep you in all your ways.
¹²They shall bear you in their hands, *
     lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
     you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
     under your feet.
¹⁴Because he is bound to me in love,
     therefore will I deliver him; *
     I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
¹⁵He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
     I am with him in trouble;
     I will rescue him and bring him to honour.
¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him, *
     show him my salvation.

- OR -

Psalm 91:9-15

⁹Because you have made the LORD your refuge, *
     and the Most High your habitation,
¹⁰There shall no evil happen to you, *
     neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
¹¹For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
     to keep you in all your ways.
¹²They shall bear you in their hands, *
     lest you dash your foot against a stone.
¹³You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
     you shall trample the young lion and the serpent
     under your feet.
¹⁴Because he is bound to me in love,
     therefore will I deliver him; *
     I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
¹⁵He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
     I am with him in trouble;
     I will rescue him and bring him to honour.

New Testament Reading

Romans 10:(5-8)9-13
(⁵ Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. ⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ or "Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸ But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); )⁹ because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. ¹¹ The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his riches upon all who call upon him. ¹³ For, "every one who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved."

Gospel Reading

Luke 4:1-13
¹ And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit ² for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry. ³ The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." ⁴ And Jesus answered him, "It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone.'" ⁵ And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, ⁶ and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. ⁷ If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours." ⁸ And Jesus answered him, "It is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'" ⁹ And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; ¹⁰ for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,' ¹¹ and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'" ¹² And Jesus answered him, "It is said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" ¹³ And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Friday, February 8, 2013

The Collect

Last Sunday in Epiphany
O God, who before the passion of thy only-begotten Son didst reveal his glory upon the holy mount: Grant unto us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; 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 Epiphany

Old Testament Reading

Exodus 34:29-35
²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. ³⁰And when Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. ³²And afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him in Mount Sinai. ³³And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; ³⁴but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, ³⁵the people of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone; and Moses would put the veil upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

Psalm

Psalm 99

^{Dominus regnavit}
¹The LORD is King;
     let the people tremble; *
     he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
     let the earth shake.
²The LORD is great in Zion; *
     he is high above all peoples.
³Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
     he is the Holy One.
⁴"O mighty King, lover of justice,
     you have established equity; *
     you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."
⁵Proclaim the greatness of the LORD our God
     and fall down before his footstool; *
     he is the Holy One.
⁶Moses and Aaron among his priests,
     and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
     they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
⁷He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
     they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
⁸"O LORD our God, you answered them indeed; *
     you were a God who forgave them,
     yet punished them for their evil deeds."
⁹Proclaim the greatness of the LORD our God
     and worship him upon his holy hill; *
     for the LORD our God is the Holy One.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 12:27-13:13
12:²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. 13:¹ If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. ⁴ Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; ⁵ it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. ¹³ So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Gospel Reading

Luke 9:28-36
²⁸ Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ And as he was praying, the appearance of his countenance was altered, and his raiment became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with him, Moses and Eli'jah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³² Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. ³³ And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Eli'jah"--not knowing what he said. ³⁴ As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" ³⁶ And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silence and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

The Collect

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and in our time grant us thy peace; 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 Epiphany, or of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Jeremiah 1:4-10
⁴Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵" Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." ⁶Then said I: " Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." ⁷But the LORD said to me: " Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD. ⁹Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: " Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 71:1-17

¹In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; *
     let me never be ashamed.
²In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
     incline your ear to me and save me.
³Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
     you are my crag and my stronghold.
⁴Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
     from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
⁵For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
     my confidence since I was young.
⁶I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
     from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
     my praise shall be always of you.
⁷I have become a portent to many; *
     but you are my refuge and my strength.
⁸Let my mouth be full of your praise *
     and your glory all the day long.
⁹Do not cast me off in my old age; *
     forsake me not when my strength fails.
¹⁰For my enemies are talking against me, *
     and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.
¹¹They say, "God has forsaken him;
     go after him and seize him; *
     because there is none who will save."
¹²O God, be not far from me; *
     come quickly to help me, O my God.
¹³Let those who set themselves against me be put to shame and
     be disgraced; *
     let those who seek to do me evil be covered with scorn
     and reproach.
¹⁴But I shall always wait in patience, *
     and shall praise you more and more.
¹⁵My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
     and saving deeds all day long; *
     though I cannot know the number of them.
¹⁶I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord GOD; *
     I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
¹⁷O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
     and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.

- OR -

Psalm 71:1-6,15-17

¹In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; *
     let me never be ashamed.
²In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
     incline your ear to me and save me.
³Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
     you are my crag and my stronghold.
⁴Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
     from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
⁵For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
     my confidence since I was young.
⁶I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
     from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
     my praise shall be always of you.
¹⁵My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
     and saving deeds all day long; *
     though I cannot know the number of them.
¹⁶I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord GOD; *
     I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
¹⁷O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
     and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 14:12-20
¹²Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. ¹³Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. ²⁰Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 4:21-32
²¹And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." ²²So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" ²³He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'" ²⁴Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. ²⁵But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; ²⁶but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. ²⁷And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." ²⁸So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, ²⁹and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. ³⁰Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. ³¹Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. ³²And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. -- NKJV

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The Collect

Third Sunday after the Epiphany
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Epiphany, or of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Nehemiah 8:2-10
²So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. ³Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ⁴So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose; and beside him, at his right hand, stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah; and at his left hand Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. ⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. Then all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. ⁷Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. ⁸So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. ⁹And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep." For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 113

^{Laudate, pueri}
¹Hallelujah!
     Give praise, you servants of the LORD; *
     praise the Name of the LORD.
²Let the Name of the LORD be blessed, *
     from this time forth for evermore.
³From the rising of the sun to its going down *
     let the Name of the LORD be praised.
⁴The LORD is high above all nations, *
     and his glory above the heavens.
⁵Who is like the LORD our God, who sits enthroned on high, *
     but stoops to behold the heavens and the earth?
⁶He takes up the weak out of the dust *
     and lifts up the poor from the ashes.
⁷He sets them with the princes, *
     with the princes of his people.
⁸He makes the woman of a childless house *
     to be a joyful mother of children.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-27
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. ¹⁴For in fact the body is not one member but many. ¹⁵If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²²No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. ²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 4:14-21
¹⁴Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. ¹⁶So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. ¹⁷And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ¹⁸" The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; ¹⁹To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." ²⁰Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." -- NKJV

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Collect

The Epiphany
O God, who by the leading of a star didst manifest thy only-begotten Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know thee now by faith, to thy presence, where we may behold thy glory face to face; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Epiphany

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 60:1-6,9
¹Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. ²For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. ³The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. ⁴" Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. ⁵Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. ⁶The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD. ⁹Surely the coastlands shall wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish will come first, To bring your sons from afar, Their silver and their gold with them, To the name of the LORD your God, And to the Holy One of Israel, Because He has glorified you. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 72

^{Deus, judicium}
¹Give the King your justice, O God, *
     and your righteousness to the King's son;
²That he may rule your people righteously *
     and the poor with justice.
³That the mountains may bring prosperity to the people, *
     and the little hills bring righteousness.
⁴He shall defend the needy among the people; *
     he shall rescue the poor and crush the oppressor.
⁵He shall live as long as the sun and moon endure, *
     from one generation to another.
⁶He shall come down like rain upon the mown field, *
     like showers that water the earth.
⁷In his time shall the righteous flourish; *
     there shall be abundance of peace till the moon shall
     be no more.
⁸He shall rule from sea to sea, *
     and from the River to the ends of the earth.
⁹His foes shall bow down before him, *
     and his enemies lick the dust.
¹⁰The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, *
     and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
¹¹All kings shall bow down before him, *
     and all the nations do him service.
¹²For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
     and the oppressed who has no helper.
¹³He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; *
     he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
¹⁴He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, *
     and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
¹⁵Long may he live!
     and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; *
     may prayer be made for him always,
     and may they bless him all the day long.
¹⁶May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
     growing thick even on the hilltops; *
     may its fruit flourish like Lebanon,
     and its grain like grass upon the earth.
¹⁷May his Name remain for ever
     and be established as long as the sun endures; *
     may all the nations bless themselves in him and
     call him blessed.
¹⁸Blessed be the Lord GOD, the God of Israel, *
     who alone does wondrous deeds!
¹⁹And blessed be his glorious Name for ever! *
     and may all the earth be filled with his glory.
     Amen. Amen.

- OR -

Psalm 72:1-2,10-17

¹Give the King your justice, O God, *
     and your righteousness to the King's son;
²That he may rule your people righteously *
     and the poor with justice.
¹⁰The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall pay tribute, *
     and the kings of Arabia and Saba offer gifts.
¹¹All kings shall bow down before him, *
     and all the nations do him service.
¹²For he shall deliver the poor who cries out in distress, *
     and the oppressed who has no helper.
¹³He shall have pity on the lowly and poor; *
     he shall preserve the lives of the needy.
¹⁴He shall redeem their lives from oppression and violence, *
     and dear shall their blood be in his sight.
¹⁵Long may he live!
     and may there be given to him gold from Arabia; *
     may prayer be made for him always,
     and may they bless him all the day long.
¹⁶May there be abundance of grain on the earth,
     growing thick even on the hilltops; *
     may its fruit flourish like Lebanon,
     and its grain like grass upon the earth.
¹⁷May his Name remain for ever
     and be established as long as the sun endures; *
     may all the nations bless themselves in him and
     call him blessed.

New Testament Reading

Ephesians 3:1-12
¹For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles- ²if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ³how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. ⁸To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Matthew 2:1-12
¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶' But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" ⁷Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." ⁹When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. -- NKJV

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Collect

First Sunday after Christmas Day
Almighty God, who hast poured upon us the new light of thine incarnate Word: Grant that the same light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Incarnation

Old Testament Reading

Isaiah 61:10-62:3
61:¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations. 62:¹ For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her vindication goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. ² The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will give. ³ You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

Psalm

Psalm 147

^{Laudate Domi}
¹Hallelujah!
     How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
     how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
²The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
     he gathers the exiles of Israel.
³He heals the brokenhearted *
     and binds up their wounds.
⁴He counts the number of the stars *
     and calls them all by their names.
⁵Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
     there is no limit to his wisdom.
⁶The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
     but casts the wicked to the ground.
⁷Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
     make music to our God upon the harp.
⁸He covers the heavens with clouds *
     and prepares rain for the earth;
⁹He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
     and green plants to serve mankind.
¹⁰He provides food for flocks and herds *
     and for the young ravens when they cry.
¹¹He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
     he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
¹²But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
     in those who await his gracious favour.
¹³Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
     praise your God, O Zion;
¹⁴For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
     he has blessed your children within you.
¹⁵He has established peace on your borders; *
     he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
¹⁶He sends out his command to the earth, *
     and his word runs very swiftly.
¹⁷He gives snow like wool; *
     he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
¹⁸He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
     who can stand against his cold?
¹⁹He sends forth his word and melts them; *
     he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
²⁰He declares his word to Jacob, *
     his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
²¹He has not done so to any other nation; *
     to them he has not revealed his judgments.
     Hallelujah!

- OR -

Psalm 147:13-21

¹³Worship the LORD, O Jerusalem; *
     praise your God, O Zion;
¹⁴For he has strengthened the bars of your gates; *
     he has blessed your children within you.
¹⁵He has established peace on your borders; *
     he satisfies you with the finest wheat.
¹⁶He sends out his command to the earth, *
     and his word runs very swiftly.
¹⁷He gives snow like wool; *
     he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
¹⁸He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *
     who can stand against his cold?
¹⁹He sends forth his word and melts them; *
     he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.
²⁰He declares his word to Jacob, *
     his statutes and his judgments to Israel.
²¹He has not done so to any other nation; *
     to them he has not revealed his judgments.
     Hallelujah!

New Testament Reading

Galatians 3:23-25
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; - AND -

Galatians 4:4-7
⁴ But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" ⁷ So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

Gospel Reading

John 1:1-18
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God; ³ all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. ⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. ⁹ The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. ¹¹ He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. ¹² But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. ¹⁵ (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") ¹⁶ And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

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