The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Almighty God, in choosing the virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son, you made known your gracious regard for the poor, the lowly, and the despised, and you inspired her to visit Elizabeth and assist her in her need: Grant us grace to receive your word in humility, and so to be made one with your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

(revised CSB, SBH, RS, BCP & ELW)

2  Blessed be the name of the Lord

    from this time forth and forevermore!

3  From the rising of the sun to its setting,

     the name of the Lord is to be praised!

4 The Lord is high above all nations,

    and his glory above the heavens!

5  Who is like the Lord our God,

    who is seated on high,

6 who looks far down

    on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust

    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,

8 to make them sit with princes,

    with the princes of his people.

Psalm 113 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Ezekiel 37:21b-28 - 1 John 2:18-29 - Matthew 10:16-23

Father, Your mercies are new every morning.

   Summer and winter, spring and autumn, season after season You renew Your mercy and compassion in my life.  As the seasons change, so I change.  But You never change.  You are merciful to me, even when I am wrong.  Like the father of the prodigal son, You run to meet me.  You are great in mercy, Lord, but I am not.  Help me to be merciful to myself, forgiving myself so that I do not become weighted down with self-pity.  Amen.

(From "Everyday Prayers for Everyday Cares")

1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;

    with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;

    in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

    I have sworn to David my servant:

4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,

    and build your throne for all generations.’”

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,

    your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?

     Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord,

7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,

    and awesome above all who are around him?

Psalm 89 – English Standard Version

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

Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by 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, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 As a deer pants for flowing streams,

    so pants my soul for you, O God.

2  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

   When shall I come and appear before God?

3  My tears have been my food day and night,

   while they say to me all the day long,

    “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember, as I pour out my soul:

   how I would go with the throng

   and lead them in procession to the house of God

   with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival.

5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,

    and why are you in turmoil within me?

   Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,

     my salvation 6 and my God.

Psalm 42 – English Standard 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

Memorial Day

Almighty God, we remember this day the many brave men and women who have given their lives through the history of our country to protect us from danger and harm. We salute all those who served in the military, the police and the fire departments. We also remember all those who sustained injury in mind and/or body in the course of their service.

Help us to remember that your Spirit fills the whole world, from the east to the west, from the desert to the mountains. Blessed are You, O God, for You have given us a share in Your life and You dwell in us and in our midst. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

    From where does my help come?

2  My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

    he who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, he who keeps Israel

    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;

    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6  The sun shall not strike you by day,

    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

    he will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in

    from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 121 – English Standard 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

Bede the Venerable

Heavenly Father, who called your servant Bede, while still a child, to devote his life to your service in the disciplines of religion and scholarship: Grant that as he labored in the Spirit to bring the riches of your truth to his generation, so we, in our various vocations, may strive to make you known in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;

    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!

2 I will open my mouth in a parable;

    I will utter dark sayings from of old,

3 things that we have heard and known,

    that our fathers have told us.

4 We will not hide them from their children,

    but tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,

    and the wonders that he has done.

5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel,

   which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

6 that the next generation might know them,

    the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,

7 so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God,

    but keep his commandments

Psalm 78 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Jeremiah 31:27-34  - Ephesians 5:1-32 - Matthew 9:9-17

Nicholas Copernicus and Johannes Kepler

As the heavens declare your glory, O God, and the firmament shows your handiwork, we bless your Name for the gifts of knowledge and insight you bestowed upon Nicolaus Copernicus and Johannes Kepler; and we pray that you would continue to advance our understanding of your cosmos, for our good and for your glory; through Jesus Christ, the firstborn of all creation, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

    you have established strength because of your foes,

    to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4  what is man that you are mindful of him,

    and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

    and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

     you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

    and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

Psalm 8 – English Standard 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

Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen, Missionary

Almighty God, you planted in your servant Ludwig Nommensen a burning desire to take the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to those who had not heard it, and led him to be an apostle to the Batak people of Sumatra: Give to your church that same spirit and teach us to respect the value of the cultures into which the gospel is brought that your people may rejoice in the diverse cultures into which the gospel is brought that your people may rejoice in the diverse richness of your kingdom; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, Now and forever. Amen 

(Philip H Pfatteicher)

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!

7  Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

     the world and those who dwell in it!

8 Let the rivers clap their hands;

    let the hills sing for joy together

9 before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.

   He will judge the world with righteousness,

   and the peoples with equity.

Psalm 98 – English Standard 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

Helena, Mother of Constantine

Almighty God, who called your servant Helena to an earthly Throne so that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and filled her with zeal for your Church and love for your people; Grant to us your people that we may be fruitful in good works, and steadfast in our faith in you, and finally by your mercy may attain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.

1 Praise the Lord!

   I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,

    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

2 Great are the works of the Lord,

     studied by all who delight in them.

3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,

    and his righteousness endures forever.

4 He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;

    the Lord is gracious and merciful.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;

    all his precepts are trustworthy;

8 they are established forever and ever,

    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

    all those who practice it have a good understanding.

    His praise endures forever!

Psalm 111 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

1 Samuel 16:1-13 - Ephesians 3:14-21 - Matthew 8:18-27

John Eliot, Missionary

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your devout and earnest servant John Eliot, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the native peoples of North America. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

(Book of Common Prayer & Lutheran Book of Worship)

9 We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,

    in the midst of your temple.

10 As your name, O God,

    so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.

   Your right hand is filled with righteousness.

11 Let Mount Zion be glad!

   Let the daughters of Judah rejoice

   because of your judgments!

12 Walk about Zion, go around her,

    number her towers,

13 consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels,

   that you may tell the next generation

14  that this is God, our God forever and ever.

   He will guide us forever.

Psalm 48 – English Standard 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

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 forever. Amen

(from Gregorian Sacramentary)

1 O Lord, our Lord,  how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

   you have established strength because of your foes,

    to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4  what is man that you are mindful of him,

    and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

    and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

     you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

    and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

Psalm 8 – English Standard 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

Rogation Wednesday

Merciful Creator, whose hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(from Book of Common Prayer 1928 and Lutheran Book of Worship)

25 Here is the sea, great and wide,

     which teems with creatures innumerable,

    living things both small and great.

26 There go the ships,

    and Leviathan, which you formed to play in it.

27 These all look to you,

    to give them their food in due season.

28 When you give it to them, they gather it up;

    when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed;

    when you take away their breath, they die

    and return to their dust.

30 When you send forth your Spirit,[b] they are created,

    and you renew the face of the ground.

31 May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

    may the Lord rejoice in his works,

Psalm 104 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)

Leviticus 26:27-42 - Ephesians 1:1-10 - Matthew 22:41-46