John Cassian

Holy and Mighty One, whose beloved Son Jesus Christ blessed the pure in heart: We give you thanks for the life and teachings of John Cassian that draw us to a discipline of holy living for the sake of your reign. Call us to turn the gaze of the eyes of our soul always toward you, that we may abide in your love, shown to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit is one God, living and true, to the ages of ages. Amen.


1 I will extol you, my God and King,
   and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you
   and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
   and his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall commend your works to another,
   and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
   and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
   and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
   and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
Psalm 145 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 37:25-36 - 1 Corinthians 2:1-13 - Mark 1:29-45

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
   his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
   let the humble hear and be glad.
3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
   and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
   and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Those who look to him are radiant,
   and their faces shall never be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
   and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
   around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psalm 34 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 37:12-24 - 1 Corinthians 1:20-31 - Mark 1:14-28

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that, following our Savior, we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.


73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;
   give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
   because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
   and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
   according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
   for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
   because they have wronged me with falsehood;
   as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
Psalm 119 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 37:1-11 - 1 Corinthians 1:1-19 - Mark 1:1-13

Ash Wednesday

Let us pray. Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of tenderness and strengthen us to face our mortality, that we may reach with confidence for your mercy; in Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
   according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
   and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
   so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
   and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
   and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Psalm 51 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Amos 5:6-15 - Hebrews 12:1-14 - Luke 18:9-14

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to 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 lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 O God, save me by your name,
   and vindicate me by your might.
2 O God, hear my prayer;
   give ear to the words of my mouth.
3 For strangers have risen against me;
   ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves.
4 Behold, God is my helper;
   the Lord is the upholder of my life.
5 He will return the evil to my enemies;
   in your faithfulness put an end to them.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;
   I will give thanks to your name, O Lord, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble,
   and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
Psalm 54 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 30:1-33 - Philippians 2:1-13 - John 18:28-38

Rasmus Jensen

Most gracious God, we thank you for your servants Rasmus Jensen And all other ministers who have accompanied Christians travelling to distant, desolate, or perilous places, seeking to minister to those they accompanied and to those they met, sharing their hardships in the name of him who humbled himself to share ours, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
   He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
   He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
   I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
   you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
   all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Proverbs 27:1-12 - Philippians 2:1-13 - John 18:15-27

Almighty God, fix our hearts on what is right and true, that we may please you always by observing your will in both word and deed. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.


1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
   Let your ears be attentive
   to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
   O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
   that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
   and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
   more than watchmen for the morning,
   more than watchmen for the morning.
Psalm 130 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 32:22-33:17 - 1 John 3:1-10 - John 10:31-42

Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Father, Son and Holy Spirit bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch this life which You have created, now and forever. Amen.


1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart;
   there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes
   that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.
3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
   he has ceased to act wisely and do good.
4 He plots trouble while on his bed;
   he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.
5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
   your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
   your judgments are like the great deep;
   man and beast you save, O LORD.
Psalm 36 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 32:3-21 - 1 John 2:18-29 - John 10:19-30

Blessed are you, creator of all, to you be praise and glory for ever. As your dawn renews the face of the earth bringing light and life to all creation, may we rejoice in this day you have made; as we wake refreshed from the depths of sleep, open our eyes to behold your presence and strengthen our hands to do your will, that the world may rejoice and give you praise. Amen.


1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
   Who shall dwell on your holy hill?
2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
   and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
   and does no evil to his neighbor,
   nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
   but who honors those who fear the LORD;
   who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
   and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
   He who does these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 31:1-24 - 1 John 2:12-17 - John 7:53-8:11

Cyril and Methodius

Almighty and everlasting God, who by the power of the Holy Spirit moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 Oh sing to the LORD a new song,
   for he has done marvelous things!
   His right hand and his holy arm
   have worked salvation for him.
2 The LORD has made known his salvation;
   he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
   to the house of Israel.
   All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
   break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
   with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
   make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
Psalm 98 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 31:1-24 - 1 John 2:1-11 - John 9:18-41

Priscilla and Aquila

God of grace and might, we praise you for your servants Aquila and Priscilla, to whom you gave gifts to make the good news known. Raise up, we pray, in every country, heralds and evangelists of your kingdom, so that the world may know the immeasurable riches of our Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 Praise the LORD!
   Praise the name of the LORD,
   give praise, O servants of the LORD,
2 who stand 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 to his name, for it is pleasant!
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
   Israel as his own possession.
5 For I know that the LORD is great,
   and that our Lord is above all gods.
6 Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
   in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Psalm 135 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 30:1-24 - 1 John 1:1-10 - John 9:1-17

Almighty God, your beloved Son willingly offered himself to endure the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption: Banish our cowardice and give us courage, we implore you, to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
   according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
   and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions,
   and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
   so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
   and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,
   and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Psalm 51 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 27:46-28:22 - Romans 13:1-14 - John 8:33-47

Philip Jacob Spener

Grant, Lord God, to all who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, that, as we have put away the old life of sin, so we may be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer

1 God is our refuge and strength,
   a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
   though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam,
   though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
   the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
   God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
   he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
   the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 25:19-34 - Hebrews 13:1-16 - John 7:37-52

Feast of the Presentation

Almighty and ever-living God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
   O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD;
   my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3 Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself,
   where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts,
   my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
   ever singing your praise!
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
   in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
6 As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs;
   the early rain also covers it with pools.
Psalm 138 English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Genesis 23:1-20 - Hebrews 11:32-12:2 - John 6:60-71