The Lessons

Psalm 19

⁽¹⁾ The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. ⁽²⁾ Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. ⁽³⁾ There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. ⁽⁴⁾ Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

⁽⁵⁾ which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. ⁽⁶⁾ It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. ⁽⁷⁾ The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁽⁸⁾ The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

⁽⁹⁾ The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. ⁽¹⁰⁾ They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. ⁽¹¹⁾ By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. ⁽¹²⁾ Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

⁽¹³⁾ Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression. ⁽¹⁴⁾ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Isaiah Chapter 45

⁽¹⁸⁾ For this is what the LORD says-- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-- he says: 'I am the LORD, and there is no other. ⁽¹⁹⁾ I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness; I have not said to Jacob's descendants, 'Seek me in vain.' I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right. ⁽²⁰⁾ Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. ⁽²¹⁾ Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

⁽²²⁾ Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. ⁽²³⁾ By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. ⁽²⁴⁾ They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'' All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. ⁽²⁵⁾ But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Philippians Chapter 3

⁽⁴⁾ though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁽⁵⁾ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁽⁶⁾ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. ⁽⁷⁾ But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

⁽⁸⁾ What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁽⁹⁾ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. ⁽¹⁰⁾ I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ⁽¹¹⁾ and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

?A canticle is a hymn, or other Christian song of praise with lyrics taken from biblical texts

The Canticles

The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
  He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
  He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
  He descended to the dead.
  On the third day he rose again.
  He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
  He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
  the holy catholic Church,
  the communion of saints,
  the forgiveness of sins,
  the resurrection of the body,
  and the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven,
  hallowed be thy Name,
  thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
  on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
  And forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
  but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
  and the power, and the glory,
  forever and ever. Amen.

Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be thy Name,
  your kingdom come, your will be done,
  on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
  Forgive us our sins,
  as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
  and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
  and the glory are yours,
  now and forever and ever. Amen.

Show us your mercy, O Lord;
And grant us your salvation.
Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
Let your people sing with joy.
Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
For only in you can we live in safety.
Lord, keep this nation under your care;
And guide us in the way of justice and truth.
Let your way be known upon earth;
Your saving health among all nations.
Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Create in us clean hearts, O God;
And sustain us by your Holy Spirit.

Save your people, Lord, and bless your inheritance;
Govern and uphold them, now and always.
Day by day we bless you;
We praise your name forever.
Lord, keep us from all sin today;
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your love and mercy;
For we put our trust in you.
In you, Lord, is our hope;
And we shall never hope in vain.

The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

A Prayer of Saint Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.