Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Teacher

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.

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

    but I consider your testimonies.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,

    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

                         

Psalm 119 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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1 Samuel 8:1-22 – Acts 6:15-7:16  - Luke 22:24-30

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

5 By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness,

    O God of our salvation,

    the hope of all the ends of the earth

    and of the farthest seas;

9 You visit the earth and water it;

    you greatly enrich it;

    the river of God is full of water;

    you provide their grain,

    for so you have prepared it.

10 You water its furrows abundantly,

    settling its ridges,

    softening it with showers,

    and blessing its growth.

11 You crown the year with your bounty;

    your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow,

    the hills gird themselves with joy,

13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks,

    the valleys deck themselves with grain,

    they shout and sing together for joy.

                         

Psalm 65 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Samuel 7:2-17 – Acts 6:1-15 - Luke 22:14-23

Philipp Melanchthon

Almighty, eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth and man, together with thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy Word and Image, and with thy Holy Spirit: Have mercy upon us and forgive us our sins for thy Son's sake, whom thou has made our Mediator according to thy wonderful counsels, and do thou guide and sanctify us by thy Holy Spirit, who has poured out upon the apostles. Grant that we may truly know and praise thee throughout eternity! Amen.

Philipp Melanchthon

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 Samuel 6:1-16 – Acts 5:27-42 - Luke 21:37-22:13

The Nativity of John the Baptist

Almighty God, by whose providence your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Savior by preaching repentance: Make us so to follow his teaching and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and, following his example, constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth's sake; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

1 O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!

    Give ear to my voice when I call to you!

2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,

    and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;

    keep watch over the door of my lips!

4 Do not let my heart incline to any evil,

    to busy myself with wicked deeds

    in company with men who work iniquity,

    and let me not eat of their delicacies!

5 Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;

    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;

    let my head not refuse it.

   Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.

8 But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;

    in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!

9 Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me

    and from the snares of evildoers!

                         

Psalm 141 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

Malachi 3:1-4 – Acts 13:14-26 - Luke 1:57-80

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

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)

1 Samuel 3: 1-21 – Acts 2:37-47 - Luke 21:5-19

Let your tireless grace accompany us, Lord God, let it go before us and follow after, that we may never slacken in our resolve to pursue the practice of good works. 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 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,

    who walks in his ways!

2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;

    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;

   your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

    who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!

    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

    all the days of your life!

6 May you see your children's children!

    Peace be upon Israel!

                         

Psalm 128 – English Standard Version

Readings for today from the Daily Lectionary

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

1 Samuel 2:27-36  – Acts 2:22-36 - Luke 20:41-21:4

 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 for ever 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)

1 Samuel 2:12-26  – Acts 2:1-21 - Luke 20:27-40