Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
   let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
   incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
   to which I may continually come;
   you have given the command to save me,
   for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
   from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
   my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
   you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
   My praise is continually of you.
Psalm 71 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
2 Samuel 14:1-20 - Acts 21:1-14 - Mark 10:1-16

Dominic, Preacher, Friar 1221


O God of the prophets, who opened the eyes of your servant Dominic to perceive a famine of hearing the word of the Lord, and moved him, and those he drew about him, to satisfy that hunger with sound preaching and fervent devotion: Make your Church, dear Lord, in this and every age, attentive to the hungers of the world, and quick to respond in love to those who are perishing; 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)

4 Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
   he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
   who conducts his affairs with justice.
6 For the righteous will never be moved;
   he will be remembered forever.
7 He is not afraid of bad news;
   his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
8 His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
   until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
9 He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
   his righteousness endures forever; his horn is exalted in honor.
Psalm 98 – English Standard Version

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

2 Samuel 13:23-39 - Acts 20:17-38 - Mark 9:42-50

Albrecht Dürer, 1528; Matthias Grünewald, 1529; Lucas Cranach The Elder, 1553


We give thanks to you, O Lord, for the vision and skill of Albrecht Dürer, Matthias Grünewald and Lucas Cranach the Elder, whose artistic depictions helped the peoples of their age understand the full suffering and glory of your incarnate Son; and we pray that their work may strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and the mystery of the Holy Trinity; for you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer)

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)
2 Samuel 12:1-14 - Acts 19:21-41 - Mark 9:14-29

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer)

1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;
   let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
   let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the LORD is a great God,
   and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
   the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
   and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
   let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
   and we are the people of his pasture,
   and the sheep of his hand.
Psalm 95 – English Standard Version

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

2 Samuel 11:1-27 - Acts 19:11-20 - Mark 9:2-13

We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise you for these good gifts, and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of your abundant creation, to the honor and glory of your Name, now and for ever. Amen.


1 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
   or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
   meditating on it day and night.
3 They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season.
   Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
4 But not the wicked!
   They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
5 They will be condemned at the time of judgment.
   Sinners will have no place among the godly.
6 For the Lord watches over the path of the godly,
   but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 1 – New Living Translation

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

2 Samuel 9:1-13 - Acts 19:1-10 - Mark 8:34-9:1

Eternal God, the refuge and help of all your children, we praise you for all you have given us, for all you have done for us, for all that you are to us. In our weakness, you are our strength, in our darkness, you are light, in our sorrow you are comfort and peace We cannot number your blessings, we cannot declare your love: For all your blessings we bless you. May we live as in your presence, and love the things that you love, and serve you in our daily lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

St. Boniface
1 Praise the Lord!
    Let all that I am praise the Lord.
2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
   I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
3 Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
   there is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
   and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper,
   whose hope is in the Lord their God.
6 He made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and everything in them.
   He keeps every promise forever.
 Psalm 146 – New Living Translation

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
2 Samuel 7:18-29 - Acts 18:12-28 - Mark 8:22-33

Joseph of Arimathaea


Merciful God, whose servant Joseph of Arimathaea with reverence and godly fear prepared the body of our Lord and Savior for burial, and laid it in his own tomb: Grant to us, your faithful people, grace and courage to love and serve Jesus with sincere devotion all the days of our 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)

5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
   you hold my lot.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
   in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
   because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
   my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
     or let your holy one see corruption.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
     in your presence there is fullness of joy;
     at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary
(click on underlined link to go directly to the reading)
2 Samuel 7:1-17 - Acts 18:1-11 - Mark 8:11-21