Peter and Paul, Apostles and Martyrs    

Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

(BCP & LBW)

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.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!

     Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

9 Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,

    for those who fear him have no lack!

Psalm 34 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Numbers 20:1-13 - Romans 5:12-21 - Matthew 20:29-34

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, Theologian

Almighty God, who upheld your servant Irenaeus with strength to maintain the truth against every blast of vain doctrine: Keep us, we pray, steadfast in your true religion, that in constancy and peace we may walk in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

(Lesser Feasts and Fasts)

8  Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,

    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;

    but let them not turn back to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,

    that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

     righteousness and peace kiss each other.

11 Faithfulness springs up from the ground,

    and righteousness looks down from the sky.

12 Yes, the Lord will give what is good,

    and our land will yield its increase.

13 Righteousness will go before him

    and make his footsteps a way.

Psalm 85 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Numbers 17:1-11 - Romans 5:1-11 - Matthew 20:17-28

Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, Theologian

Heavenly Father, whose servant Cyril steadfastly proclaimed your Son Jesus Christ to be one person, fully God and fully man: Keep us, we pray, constant in faith and worship;  through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

89 Forever, O Lord, your word

    is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91 By your appointment they stand this day,

    for all things are your servants.

92 If your law had not been my delight,

    I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts,

    for by them you have given me life.

94 I am yours; save me,

     for I have sought your precepts.

Psalm 119 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Numbers 16:36-50 - Romans 4:1-12 - Matthew 20:1-16

Compassionate God, from far and near you gather your Church into one. Safeguard the unity of your flock through the teaching of Christ the Shepherd,  that all your scattered children may find in him the guidance and nourishment they seek. 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

6  My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you

  from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep at the roar of your waterfalls;

   all your breakers and your waves have gone over me.

8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,

    and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?

   Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me,

   while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?”

11  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 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)

Numbers 16:20-35 - Romans 4:1-12 - Matthew 19:23-30

The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

Almighty God, through the preaching of your servants, the blessed Reformers, you have caused the light of the Gospel to shine forth: Grant, we pray, that, knowing its saving power, we may faithfully guard and defend it against all enemies, and joyfully proclaim it to the salvation of souls and the glory of your holy name: through your son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God , now and forever. Amen

(Service Book and Hymnal)

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)

Numbers 16:1-19 - Romans 3:21-31 - Matthew 19:13-22

Alban

Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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)

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 - Galatians 3:15-22 - Matthew 14:22-36

O God, you inspire the hearts of the faithful with a single longing. Grant that your people may love what you command and desire what you promise, so that, amid the uncertain things of this world, our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found. 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 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?

    Do you judge people with equity?

2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,

    and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;

    from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.

4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,

    like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,

5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer,

    however skillful the enchanter may be.

6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;

    Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!

7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;

    when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short

Psalm 58 – New International Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 3:16-4:3 - Galatians 3:1-14 - Matthew 14:1-12

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

     ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

    bring an offering, and come into his courts!

9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

     tremble before him, all the earth!

10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

    Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;

    he will judge the peoples with equity.”

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

    let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

12 let the field exult, and everything in it!

   Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

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

   He will judge the world in righteousness,

    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Psalm 96 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15 - Galatians 2:11-21 - Matthew 14:1-12

O God, you show the light of your truth to those who stray, that they may return to the right path. Grant that all who profess the Christian faith may reject whatever is contrary to the gospel and follow the way that leads to you. We make our prayer 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 Save, O Lord, for the godly one is gone;

    for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.

2 Everyone utters lies to his neighbor;

    with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.

3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

    the tongue that makes great boasts,

4 those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail,

    our lips are with us; who is master over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,

     I will now arise,” says the Lord;

    “I will place him in the safety for which he longs.”

6  The words of the Lord are pure words,

    like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,

    purified seven times.

7 You, O Lord, will keep them;

    you will guard us from this generation forever.

Psalm 12 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 2:16-26 - Galatians 1:18-2:10 - Matthew 13:53-58

Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ and make yourself our guest. Amid the cares of our daily lives, make us attentive to your voice and alert to your presence, that we may treasure your word above all else. 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 For God alone my soul waits in silence;

    from him comes my salvation.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man to batter him,

    like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?

4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.

    They take pleasure in falsehood.

    They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,

    for my hope is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation,

    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;

    my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

Psalm 62 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ecclesiastes 2:1-15 - Galatians 1:1-17 - Matthew 13:44-52

Evelyn Underhill

O God, Origin, Sustainer, and End of all your creatures: Grant that your Church, taught by your servant Evelyn Underhill, guarded evermore by your power, and guided by your Spirit into the light of truth, may continually offer to you all glory and thanksgiving, and attain with your saints to the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have promised us by our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. 

Amen.

3  Trust in the Lord, and do good;

     dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

4  Delight yourself in the Lord,

    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5  Commit your way to the Lord;

     trust in him, and he will act.

6  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

    and your justice as the noonday.

32 The wicked watches for the righteous

    and seeks to put him to death.

33 The Lord will not abandon him to his power

    or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

Psalm 37 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Commemoration for the Day

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

Wisdom 7:24-8:1 - 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 - John 4:19-24

Basil the Great

Almighty God, who has revealed to your Church your eternal Being of glorious majesty and perfect love as one God in Trinity of Persons: Give us grace that, like your bishop Basil of Caesarea, we may continue steadfast in the confession of this faith, and constant in our worship of you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; who live and reign for ever and ever.

 Amen.

97 Oh how I love your law!

    It is my meditation all the day.

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

    for it is ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,

    for your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the aged,[a]

    for I keep your precepts.

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,

    in order to keep your word.

102 I do not turn aside from your rules,

    for you have taught me.

Psalm 119 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Commemoration for the Day

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

Ezekiel 22:23-30 - 1 Corinthians 2:6-13 - Matthew 13:31-35