Awesome God, your everlasting love and mercy given so freely to me and others is reason to rejoice. Forgive me my rebellious ways and cancel the punishment I deserve. I pray today for the multitudes who have not heard your message. Help me reflect your love to others through my life that they may repent and turn to you. Amen.
(From "Daily Texts")

1 I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life— when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house with blameless heart.
3 I will set before my eyes no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me.
4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure.
6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless will minister to me.
Psalm 101 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 21:30-22:6 – 1 Timothy 4:1-16 – Matthew 13:24-30

Eternal God, my life moves from dawn to dusk in the twinkling of an eye, but your love endures forever, and so I praise you every day. Give me words of praise and thanksgiving. Inspire in me the deeds of generosity, so that through me others will find the healing welcome of your grace and will praise your name. Amen.
(From "Daily Texts")

1 Praise awaits you, O God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 O you who hear prayer,
to you all men will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.
5 You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness,
O God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
having armed yourself with strength,
Psalm 65 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 17:1-20 – 1 Timothy 3:1-16 – Matthew 12:43-50

Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peacefully ordered bu your providence; and that your church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

1 May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us.
2 May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.
3 May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
4 Let the whole world sing for joy,
because you govern the nations with justice
and guide the people of the whole world.
5 May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you
Psalm 67 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 15:16-33 – 1 Timothy 1:18-2:15 – Matthew 12:33-42

Show us your mercy, O Lord; And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world; For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care; And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.
source: Book of Common Prayer 1979

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.
2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.
5 May the LORD bless you from Zion
all the days of your life;
may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem,
6 and may you live to see your children's children.
Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 128 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 7:1-27 – 1 John 5:13-21 – Matthew 11:25-30

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love, and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things.
- Ignatius of Loyola

1 How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
4 my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the LORD,
for he has been good to me.
Psalm 13 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 6:1-19 – 1 John 5:1-12 – Matthew 11:16-24

O Lord, in Whom is our hope, remove far from us, we pray Thee, empty hopes and presumptuous confidence. Make our hearts so right with Thy most holy and loving heart, that hoping in Thee we may do good; until that day when faith and hope shall be abolished by sight and possession, and love shall be all in all.
- Christina G. Rossetti (1830-1895)

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise the name of the LORD;
praise him, you servants of the LORD,
2 you who minister in the house of the LORD,
in the courts of the house of our God.
3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob to be his own,
Israel to be his treasured possession.
5 I know that the LORD is great,
that our Lord is greater than all gods
Psalm 135 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 4:1-27 – 1 John 4:7-21 – Matthew 11:7-15

Almighty and Merciful God, in your goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with free hearts those things which belong to your purpose; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever Amen
(From the Gelasian Sacramentary)

1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you whose throne is in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us,
for we have endured much contempt.
4 We have endured much ridicule from the proud,
much contempt from the arrogant.
Psalm 123 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Proverbs 3:11-20 – 1 John 3:18-4:6 – Matthew 11:1-6

Lord, put courage into my heart, and take away all that may hinder me serving you.
Free my tongue to proclaim your goodness, that all may understand me.
Give me friends to advise and help me, that by working together our efforts may bear abundant fruit.
And, above all, let me constantly remember that all my actions are in vain unless they are guided by your hand.
From the Royal Military College of Canada

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Ezekiel 39:21-29 – 1 John 3:1-10 – Matthew 10:24-33

Good morning, Lord. As my first talk with You today, I want to thank You for giving me another day. I don't know what it holds, but I am thankful that I have another opportunity to live for You.
Later I'll bring to You those specific needs that arise each day. I will speak the names of people who need Your special touch. Now, however, I give You thanks and I praise You. More than anything else, I want to acknowledge who You are and not just what You have done. You are the reason I get up each morning. Amen.
(From "Prayers & Promises")

1 The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory.
Psalm 97 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Ezekiel 37:21-28 – 1 John 2:18-29 – Matthew 10:16-23

Thank you, awesome God, for another beautiful day, truly a gift. Help me forget and forgive the pain of yesterday and go on today, praising your name and deeds so that others may see you as our caring Redeemer; in Jesus' precious name. Amen.
(From "Daily Texts")

1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank,
bearing fruit each season.
Their leaves never wither,
and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 1 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Ezekiel 34:1-16 – 1 John 2:12-17 – Matthew 10:5-15

O God, the maker of the universe, by whose command the course of the world proceeds; be present, in your goodness, to our prayers, and allow in our time the tranquility of peace; that we may with unceasing exultation rejoice in giving praise to your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(From the Gelasian Sacramentary)

1 My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
2 Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
3 I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
4 For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth.
6 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
Psalm 108 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Ezekiel 33:21-33 – 1 John 2:1-11 – Matthew 9:35-10:4

Remember, O Lord, what you have wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as you have called us to your service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
(From the Leonine Sacramentary)

1 O God, do not keep silent;
be not quiet, O God, be not still.
2 See how your enemies are astir,
how your foes rear their heads.
16 Cover their faces with shame
so that men will seek your name, O LORD.
17 May they ever be ashamed and dismayed;
may they perish in disgrace.
18 Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD—
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.
Psalm 83 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Ezekiel 33:1-11 – 1 John 1:1-10 – Matthew 9:27-34

Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you
in the way you will and not as I choose.
Let me die to myself so that I may serve you;
let me live to you who are life itself.
Amen.
- Teresa of Avila

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Psalm 113 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Zechariah 4:1-14 – Ephesians 4:17-32 – Matthew 9:1-8

O Loving Father, grant that your Church, being gathered by your Holy Spirit, may be dedicated more fully to your service, and live united in love according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
(from the Verona Sacramentary)

11 Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
13 O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Psalm 9 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Isaiah 4:2-6 – Ephesians 4:1-16 – Matthew 8:28-34

Almighty and merciful God, send forth the Holy Spirit upon your Church to make us the temple where your glory dwells; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
(from the Roman Sacramentary)

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God;
let me tell you what he has done for me.
17 I cried out to him with my mouth;
his praise was on my tongue.
18 If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened;
19 but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.
20 Praise be to God,
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
Psalm 66 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
1 Samuel 16:1-13a – Ephesians 3:14-21 – Matthew 8:18-27

Let the power of your Holy Spirit come upon up , O Lord, that we may be strengthened to keep your will faithfully in mind and to enact it in lives of loving obedience; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
(from the Roman Sacramentary)

11 All you who fear the Lord, trust the Lord!
He is your helper and your shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the people of Israel
and bless the priests, the descendants of Aaron.
13 He will bless those who fear the Lord,
both great and lowly.
14 May the Lord richly bless
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 115 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Joshua 1:1-9 – Ephesians 3:1-13 – Matthew 8:5-17

O God, by the resurrection of your Son you have given us a new birth into eternal life: Lift our hearts to our Savior, who is seated at your right hand, so that, when he comes again, we who have been reborn in Baptism may be so clothed in a glorious immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
(from the Gelesian Sacramentary)

4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,
human beings that you should care for them?[c]
5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God[d]
and crowned them[e] with glory and honor.
6 You gave them charge of everything you made,
putting all things under their authority—
7 the flocks and the herds
and all the wild animals,
8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,
and everything that swims the ocean currents.
9 O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!
Psalm 8 New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
1 Samuel 2:1-10 – Ephesians 2:1-10 – Matthew 7:22-27

– Ascension Day

Almighty God, on this day you took your only-begotten Son beyond our sight into heaven, exalting our human nature and promising us a share of your eternal splendor: Confirm our hope and lead us after him into the new creation where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
(from Gregorian Sacramentary)

15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains;
rugged are the mountains of Bashan.
16 Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the LORD himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended on high,
you led captives in your train;
you received gifts from men,
even from the rebellious—
that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 68 New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading):
Daniel 7:9-14 – Hebrews 2:5-18 – Matthew 28:16-20