Andrew the Apostle

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give unto us, who are called by your Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen

1 The heavens declare the glory of God,

    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

2 Day to day pours out speech,

    and night to night reveals knowledge.

3 There is no speech, nor are there words,

    whose voice is not heard.

4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,

    and their words to the end of the world.

   In them he has set a tent for the sun,

5  which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,

    and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.

6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,

    and its circuit to the end of them,

    and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 19 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Zechariah 14:1-11 - Romans 15:7-13 - Luke 19:28-40

God our Redeemer, in Jesus, your promised Messiah, you crushed the power of Satan. Sustain your Church in the struggle against evil, that, hearing your word and doing your will, we may be fashioned into a household of true disciples who share in the victory of the cross. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.  Amen

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!

   Praise your God, O Zion!

13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

   he blesses your children within you.

14 He makes peace in your borders;

   he fills you with the finest of the wheat.

15 He sends out his command to the earth;

   his word runs swiftly.

19 He declares his word to Jacob,

   his statutes and rules to Israel.

20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;

   they do not know his rules.

   Praise the Lord!

Psalm 147 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Zechariah 13:1-9 - Ephesians 1:15-23 - Luke 19:11-27

Living God, you sent your Son among us to reveal your wisdom and make known your ways. Increase our faith, that we may confess Jesus as your Son, take up his work on earth, and trust his promise to sustain the Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

1 Remember, O Lord, in David's favor,

    all the hardships he endured,

2 how he swore to the Lord

    and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,

3 “I will not enter my house

    or get into my bed,

4 I will not give sleep to my eyes

    or slumber to my eyelids,

5 until I find a place for the Lord,

    a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;

    we found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;

    let us worship at his footstool!”

Psalm 132 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Zechariah 12:1-10 - Ephesians 1:3-14 - Luke 19:1-10

Your sovereign rule, O God, draws near to us in the person of Jesus your Son. Your word summons us to faith; your power transforms our lives. Free us to follow in Christ’s footsteps, so that neither human loyalty nor earthly attachment may hold us back from answering your call. 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

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Zechariah 11:4-17 - 1 Corinthians 3:10-23 - Luke 18:31-43

Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven with hymns and spiritual songs of praise: Give us the wings of faith to behold the joyful glory of your saints, and to be so strengthened by the vigorous poetry of your servant Isaac Watts that we may faithfully walk in the path you have set before us and at last, through your grace, possess the land of pure delight opened to us by 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)

1 My heart is steadfast, O God!

    I will sing and make melody with all my being!

2 Awake, O harp and lyre!

    I will awake the dawn!

3 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

    I will sing praises to you among the nations.

4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;

    your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!

    Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 That your beloved ones may be delivered,

    give salvation by your right hand and answer me!

Psalm 108 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Zechariah 10:1-12 - Galatians 6:1-10 - Luke 18:15-30

Thanksgiving Day / C. S. Lewis

Almighty and gracious Father, we give you thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we pray, faithful stewards of your great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,

    we were like those who dream.

2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

    and our tongue with shouts of joy;

    then they said among the nations,

    “The Lord has done great things for them.”

3 The Lord has done great things for us;

    we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,

    like streams in the Negeb!

5 Those who sow in tears

    shall reap with shouts of joy!

6 He who goes out weeping, earing the seed for sowing,

   shall come home with shouts of joy, ringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 126 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Malachi 2:1-16 - James 4:13-5:6 - Luke 17:20-37

O God, protector of the poor and defender of the just, in your kingdom the last become first, the gentle are strong, and the lowly exalted. Give us wisdom from above, that we may find in your servant Jesus the pattern of true discipleship and the grace to persevere in following him, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen

1 I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

    to you, O Lord, I will make music.

2 I will ponder the way that is blameless.

    Oh when will you come to me?

    I will walk with integrity of heart

    within my house;

3 I will not set before my eyes

    anything that is worthless.

    I hate the work of those who fall away;

    it shall not cling to me.

4 A perverse heart shall be far from me;

    I will know nothing of evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly

    I will destroy.

   Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart

    I will not endure.

6 I will look with favor on the faithful in the land,

    that they may dwell with me;

    he who walks in the way that is blameless

    shall minister to me.

Psalm 101 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Malachi 1:1,6-14 - James 3:13-4:12 - Luke 17:11-19

Edmund of East Anglia

O God of ineffable mercy, who gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his people by nobly dying for your Name: Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith, with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

1 O Lord, in your strength the king rejoices,

    and in your salvation how greatly he exults!

2 You have given him his heart's desire

    and have not withheld the request of his lips.

3 For you meet him with rich blessings;

    you set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

4 He asked life of you; you gave it to him,

    length of days forever and ever.

5 His glory is great through your salvation;

    splendor and majesty you bestow on him.

6 For you make him most blessed forever;[a]

    you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

7 For the king trusts in the Lord,

    and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be moved.

Psalm 21 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Habakkuk 3:1–18 - James 3:1–12 - Luke 17:1–10

Mechtild of Magdeburg, Mechtild of Hackeborn, Gertrude the Great - Renewers of the Church

On this day three German mystics and spiritual writers are commemorated together. In the late thirteenth century, the convent of Helfta in Saxony, Germany was a center of female mysticism. This convent produced a number of well-known mystics in the latter part of the century. This sort of mystical community of women was especially prevalent in Germany, and continued well into the fourteenth century.

Eternal God of fire and mercy, you have filled the hearts of your servants throughout the ages with visions of love and splendor: Bring your light, we pray, into the darkness of our hearts that we may know the joy of your presence and the power of your grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

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

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Habakkuk 2:1–4, 9–20 - James 2:14–26 - Luke 16:19–31

Margaret, Queen of Scotland (1093)

O God, who called your servant Margaret to an earthly throne that she might advance your heavenly kingdom, and gave her zeal for your church and love for your people: Mercifully grant that we who commemorate her this day may be fruitful in good works, and attain to the glorious crown of your saints; though Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

1 Praise the Lord!

   How joyful are those who fear the Lord

    and delight in obeying his commands.

2 Their children will be successful everywhere;

    an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

3 They themselves will be wealthy,

    and their good deeds will last forever.

4 Light shines in the darkness for the godly.

    They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.

5 Good comes to those who lend money generously

    and conduct their business fairly.

6 Such people will not be overcome by evil.

    Those who are righteous will be long remembered.

7 They do not fear bad news;

    they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Psalm 112 – New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Joel 2:28—3:8 - James 1:16–27 - Luke 16:1–9

From our earliest days, O God, you call us by name. Make our ears attentive to your voice, our spirits eager to respond, that, having heard you in Jesus your anointed one, we may draw others to be his disciples. 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 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

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Joel 2:21–27 - Revelation 19:11–21 - Luke 15:1–10

God of the heavens, God of the earth, all creation awaits your gift of new life. Prepare our hearts to receive the word of your Son, that his gospel may grow within us and yield a harvest that is a hundredfold. 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 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,

   which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

   so the LORD surrounds his people,

   from this time forth and forevermore.

3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest

   on the land allotted to the righteous,

   lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.

4 Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,

   and to those who are upright in their hearts!

5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways

   the LORD will lead away with evildoers!

   Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 125 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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Joel 2:12–19 - Revelation 19:11–21 - Luke 15:1–10

Almighty God, whose Son, Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with your people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce  of this land responsive to your will; and give us all a pride in what we do and a just return for our labor; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever

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

The readings for today from the Daily Lectionary follow. Simply click on the link to go directly to the reading

Joel 2:3-11 - Revelation 19:1-10 - Luke 14:25-35