Matthias the Apostle

O Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of 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)

Proverbs 3:11-20 – 1 John 3:18-4:6 – John 11:17-29

O God, the strength of all who hope in you, accept our earnest prayer. And since without you we are weak and certain to fall, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you in desire and in deed. 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 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—

    let Israel now say—

2 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,

    yet they have not prevailed against me.

3 The plowers plowed upon my back;

    they made long their furrows.”

4 The Lord is righteous;

    he has cut the cords of the wicked.

5 May all who hate Zion

    be put to shame and turned backward!

6 Let them be like the grass on the housetops,

    which withers before it grows up,

7 with which the reaper does not fill his hand

    nor the binder of sheaves his arms,

8 nor do those who pass by say,

    “The blessing of the Lord be upon you!

    We bless you in the name of the Lord!”

Psalm 129 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Genesis 32:22-33:17 – 1 John 3:1-10 – John 10:31-42

Rasmus Jensen

Most gracious God, we thank you for your servants Rasmus Jensen And all other ministers who have accompanied Christians travelling to distant, desolate, or perilous places, seeking to minister to those they accompanied and to those they met, sharing their hardships in the name of him who humbled himself to share ours, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

   He leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul.

   He leads me in paths of righteousness

   for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley

   of the shadow of death,

   I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

   your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

   in the presence of my enemies;

   you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

   all the days of my life,

   and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Genesis 32:3-21 – 1 John 2:18-29 – John 10:19-30

O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, enfold us in your gracious care and mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide, we may use wisely the gifts of this passing world and fix our hearts even now on those which last for ever. 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 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?

    How long will you hide your face from me?

2 How long must I take counsel in my soul

    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?

    How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;

    light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death,

4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,”

    lest my foes rejoice because I am shaken.

5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love;

    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

6 I will sing to the Lord,

    because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Psalm 13 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Genesis 31:25-50 – 1 John 2:12-17 – John 10:1-18

Martin Luther

O God, our refuge and our strength, who raised up your servant Martin Luther to reform and renew your Church in the light of your word: Defend and purify the Church in our own day and grant that, through faith, we may boldly proclaim the riches of your grace, which you have made known in Jesus Christ our Savior, who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen

(From Lesser Feasts and Fasts)

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.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how he has brought desolations on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;

    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

    he burns the chariots with fire.

10 “Be still, and know that I am God.

    I will be exalted among the nations,

    I will be exalted in the earth!”

11 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)

Genesis 31:1-24 – 1 John 2:1-11 – John 9:18-41

Almighty God, whose unfailing providence rules all things both in heaven and on earth, listen to the cry of your people and guide in your peace the course of our days. 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 To you I lift up my eyes,

    O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

2 Behold, as the eyes of servants

    look to the hand of their master,

as the eyes of a maidservant

    to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God,

    till he has mercy upon us.

3 Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us,

    for we have had more than enough of contempt.

4 Our soul has had more than enough

    of the scorn of those who are at ease,

    of the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 123 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Genesis 30:1-24 – 1 John 1:1-10 – John 9:1-17

Cyril and Methodius

Almighty and everlasting God, who by the power of the Holy Spirit moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,

    for he has done marvelous things!

    His right hand and his holy arm

    have worked salvation for him.

2 The Lord has made known his salvation;

    he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.

3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness

    to the house of Israel.

    All the ends of the earth have seen

    the salvation of our God.

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!

Psalm 98 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Genesis 27:46-28:4,10-22 – Romans 13:1-14 – John 8:33-47