Merciful God, you willed that by the grace of adoption we should become children of light; grant that we not be cloaked in the darkness of error but rather stand forth in the splendour of truth. 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 Make haste, O God, to deliver me!

    O Lord, make haste to help me!

2 Let them be put to shame and confusion

    who seek my life!

Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor

    who delight in my hurt!

3 Let them turn back because of their shame

    who say, “Aha, Aha!”

4 May all who seek you

    rejoice and be glad in you!

May those who love your salvation

    say evermore, “God is great!”

5 But I am poor and needy;

    hasten to me, O God!

You are my help and my deliverer;

    O Lord, do not delay!

Psalm 70 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Isaiah 24:14-23 – 1 Peter 3:13-4:6 – Matthew 20:17-28

Thanksgiving Day

Heavenly Father, on Thanksgiving Day we bow our hearts to You and pray. We give You thanks for all You've done especially for the gift of Jesus, Your Son. For beauty in nature, Your glory we see for joy and health, friends and family, For daily provision, Your mercy and care these are the blessings You graciously share. So today we offer this response of praise with a promise to follow You all of our days. Amen

--Mary Fairchild

1   Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!

2   Serve the Lord with gladness!

    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!

    It is he who made us, and we are his;

    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

    and his courts with praise!

    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;

    his steadfast love endures forever,

    and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Deuteronomy 26:1-11 – Philippians 4:4-9 – John 6:25-35

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 for ever and ever. Amen

46 How long, O Lord? Will you hide yourself forever?

    How long will your wrath burn like fire?

47 Remember how short my time is!

    For what vanity you have created all the children of man!

48 What man can live and never see death?

    Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah

49 Lord, where is your steadfast love of old,

    which by your faithfulness you swore to David?

50 Remember, O Lord, how your servants are mocked,

    and how I bear in my heart the insults of all the many nations,

51 with which your enemies mock, O Lord,

    with which they mock the footsteps of your anointed.

52 Blessed be the Lord forever!

   Amen and Amen.

Psalm 89 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Obadiah 15-21 – 1 Peter 1:13-25 – Matthew 19:23-30

Almighty and merciful God, drive from us whatever things are harmful and make us ready in both body and mind to accomplish your will in perfect freedom. 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

17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,

    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me,

    until I proclaim your might to another generation,

    your power to all those to come.

19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens.

    You who have done great things, O God, who is like you?

20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities

    will revive me again;

    from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again.

21 You will increase my greatness

    and comfort me again.

22 I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God;

    I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you;

    my soul also, which you have redeemed.

24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,

    for they have been put to shame and disappointed

    who sought to do me hurt.

Psalm 71 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Nahum 1:1-13 – 1 Peter 1:13-25 – Matthew 19:13-22

Isaac Watts

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

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

Joel 3:1-2, 9-17 – 1 Peter 1:1-12 – Matthew 19:1-12

C S Lewis

O God of searing truth and surpassing beauty, we give you thanks for Clive Staples Lewis whose sanctified imagination lights fires of faith in young and old alike; Surprise us also with your joy and draw us into that new and abundant life which is ours in Christ Jesus, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!

2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

    you discern my thoughts from afar.

3 You search out my path and my lying down

    and are acquainted with all my ways.

4 Even before a word is on my tongue,

    behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

5 You hem me in, behind and before,

    and lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

    it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?

    Or where shall I flee from your presence?

8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

9 If I take the wings of the morning

    and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 even there your hand shall lead me,

    and your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 139 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Maccabees 4:36-59 – Revelation 22:6-13 – Matthew 18:10-20

Sovereign God, we have no father but you, no teacher but Christ. Conform our lives to the faith we profess, preserve us from arrogance and pride, and teach us in Christ the greatness of humility and service. 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 forever and ever. Amen

1 Declare me innocent, O Lord,

    for I have acted with integrity;

    I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.

2 Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.

    Test my motives and my heart.

3 For I am always aware of your unfailing love,

    and I have lived according to your truth.

4 I do not spend time with liars

    or go along with hypocrites.

5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,

    and I refuse to join in with the wicked.

6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.

    I come to your altar, O Lord,

7 singing a song of thanksgiving

    and telling of all your wonders.

Psalm 26 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Maccabees 4:1-25 – Revelation 21:22-22:5 – Matthew 18:1-9

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 forever. 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;

    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

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

1 Maccabees 3:42-60 – Revelation 21:9-21 – Matthew 17:22-27

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

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

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

1 Maccabees 3:25-41 – Revelation 21:1-8 – Matthew 17:14-21

Hilda of Whitby

O God of peace, by whose grace the abbess Hilda was endowed with gifts of justice, prudence, and strength to rule as a wise mother over the nuns and monks of her household, and to become a trusted and reconciling friend to leaders of the Church: Give us the grace to respect and love our fellow Christians with whom we disagree, that our common life may be enriched and your gracious will be done, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

1 I was glad when they said to me,

    “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

2 Our feet have been standing

    within your gates, O Jerusalem!

3 Jerusalem—built as a city

    that is bound firmly together,

4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord,

   as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

5 There thrones for judgment were set,

    the thrones of the house of David.

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

    “May they be secure who love you!

7 Peace be within your walls

    and security within your towers!”

8 For my brothers and companions' sake

    I will say, “Peace be within you!”

9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,

    I will seek your good.

Psalm 122 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Maccabees 3:1-24 – Revelation 20:7-15 – Matthew 17:1-13

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 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul,

    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,

2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;

    they have fitted their arrow to the string

    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

3 if the foundations are destroyed,

    what can the righteous do?”

4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord's throne is in heaven;

    his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

5 The Lord tests the righteous,

    but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

6 Let him rain coals on the wicked;

    fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds;

    the upright shall behold his face.

Psalm 11 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Maccabees 1:41-63 – Revelation 19:11-16 – Matthew 16:13-20

God of power, who raised up a fallen world through the lowliness of your Son, grant to your faithful people a holy joy, so that those whom you have rescued from the slavery of sin may delight in the happiness that never ends. 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 Sing aloud to God our strength;

    shout for joy to the God of Jacob!

2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,

    the sweet lyre with the harp.

3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,

    at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,

    a rule[b] of the God of Jacob.

8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god among you;

    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God,

    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

Psalm 81 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Maccabees 1:1-28 – Revelation 19:1-10 – Matthew 16:1-12

God of the living, in whose image we have been formed with imperishable life as our destiny,

dispel from your people the fear of death and awaken within us the faith that saves. Bid us rise from the death of sin to take our place in the new creation. 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 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

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

Nehemiah 7:73-8:18 – Revelation 18:21-24 – Matthew 15:29-39

Martin of Tours

Lord God of hosts, who clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy steps, that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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)

Nehemiah 9:1-25 – Revelation 18:1-8 – Matthew 15:1-20

John Christian Frederick Heyer, 1873

Almighty and everlasting God, you blessed your servant John Christian Frederick Heyer with a passion for the gospel, inexhaustible energy, and a keen awareness of the need of the world for your saving word: Ever give to your church such clear minded and dauntless servants who rejoice to spend themselves in your service, that your people may be fed with living food and know the inexhaustible riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

(Philip H. Pfatteicher)

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)

Ezra 7:27-28,8:21-36 – Revelation 15:1-8 – Matthew 14:13-21

Willibrord of Utrecht

O Lord our God, who call whom you will and send them where you choose: We thank you for sending your servant Willibrord to be an apostle to the Low Countries, to turn them from the worship of idols to serve you, the living God; and we entreat you to preserve us from the temptation to exchange the perfect freedom of your service for servitude to false gods and to idols of our own devising; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song;

    sing to the Lord, all the earth!

2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

    tell of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his glory among the nations,

    his marvelous works among all the peoples!

4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

    he is to be feared above all gods.

5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,

    but the Lord made the heavens.

6 Splendor and majesty are before him;

    strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

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

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Psalm 96 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Ezra 7:1-26 – Revelation 14:1-13 – Matthew 14:1-12

William Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury

O God of light and love, you illumined your Church through the witness of your servant William Temple: Inspire us, we pray, by his teaching and example, that we may rejoice with courage, confidence and faith in the Word made flesh, and may be led to establish that city which has justice for its foundation and love for its law; through Jesus Christ, the light of the world, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for 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.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,

    sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts I get understanding;

    therefore I hate every false way.

Psalm 119 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Nehemiah 13:4-22 – Revelation 12:1-12 – Matthew 13:53-58

Zechariah and Elizabeth, Parents of John the Baptist

Almighty and Everlasting God, by whose grace Elizabeth and Zechariah, parents of the forerunner of your Son, Christ our Lord, were righteous before you and walked blameless in all your commandments: Grant, we pray, that, after their example , we may so faithfully serve you in this life  that at the last we may receive  the crown of righteousness which you, the righteous judge , will give  to all those who truly love you ; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

    for he has visited and redeemed his people

69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

    in the house of his servant David,

70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness

    and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Luke 1 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Nehemiah 12:27-31,42-47 – Revelation 11:1-19 – Matthew 13:44-52

Richard Hooker

O God of truth and peace, who raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

(Lesser Feasts and Fasts)

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.

32The 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 32 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Nehemiah 6:1-19 – Revelation 10:1-11 – Matthew 13:36-43

The Feast of All Saints

O Almighty God, who have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those indescribable joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

1 Praise the Lord!

  Sing to the Lord a new song,

    his praise in the assembly of the godly!

2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;

    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

3 Let them praise his name with dancing,

    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;

    he adorns the humble with salvation.

5 Let the godly exult in glory;

    let them sing for joy on their beds.

9 This is honor for all his godly ones.

   Praise the Lord!

Psalm 149 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Nehemiah 2:1-20 – Revelation 6:12-7:4 – Matthew 13:24-30