God's love has been poured into our hearts,
through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1
Romans 5:3
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of God's Marvellous Acts
I will sing a new hymn to my God:
O Lord you are great and marvellous,
you are marvellous in your strength, invincible.
Let the whole creation serve you:
for you spoke and all things came to be;
You sent out your Spirit and it formed them:
no one can resist your voice.
Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths:
rocks melt like wax at your presence;
But to those who revere you:
you still show mercy.
O Lord you are great and marvellous,
you are marvellous in your strength, invincible.
Let the whole creation serve you:
for you spoke and all things came to be;
You sent out your Spirit and it formed them:
no one can resist your voice.
Mountains and seas are stirred to their depths:
rocks melt like wax at your presence;
But to those who revere you:
you still show mercy.
Judith 16:13-15
3 The Opening Prayer
The night has passed and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom then shall I fear? •
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh, •
they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not be afraid, •
and though there rise up war against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord
and that alone I seek: •
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
5 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord •
and to seek his will in his temple.
6 For in the day of trouble
he shall hide me in his shelter; •
in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
and set me high upon a rock.
7 And now shall he lift up my head •
above my enemies round about me;
8 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
with great gladness; •
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
9 Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; •
have mercy upon me and answer me.
10 My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ •
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
11 Hide not your face from me, •
nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
12 You have been my helper; •
leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
13 Though my father and my mother forsake me, •
the Lord will take me up.
14 Teach me your way, O Lord; •
lead me on a level path,
because of those who lie in wait for me.
15 Deliver me not into the will of my adversaries, •
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and those who breathe out violence.
16 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord •
in the land of the living.
17 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and he shall comfort your heart; •
wait patiently for the Lord.
whom then shall I fear? •
The Lord is the strength of my life;
of whom then shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes,
came upon me to eat up my flesh, •
they stumbled and fell.
3 Though a host encamp against me,
my heart shall not be afraid, •
and though there rise up war against me,
yet will I put my trust in him.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord
and that alone I seek: •
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
5 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord •
and to seek his will in his temple.
6 For in the day of trouble
he shall hide me in his shelter; •
in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
and set me high upon a rock.
7 And now shall he lift up my head •
above my enemies round about me;
8 Therefore will I offer in his dwelling an oblation
with great gladness; •
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
9 Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call; •
have mercy upon me and answer me.
10 My heart tells of your word, ‘Seek my face.’ •
Your face, Lord, will I seek.
11 Hide not your face from me, •
nor cast your servant away in displeasure.
12 You have been my helper; •
leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
13 Though my father and my mother forsake me, •
the Lord will take me up.
14 Teach me your way, O Lord; •
lead me on a level path,
because of those who lie in wait for me.
15 Deliver me not into the will of my adversaries, •
for false witnesses have risen up against me,
and those who breathe out violence.
16 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord •
in the land of the living.
17 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and he shall comfort your heart; •
wait patiently for the Lord.
1 I will exalt you, O Lord,
because you have raised me up •
and have not let my foes triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried out to you •
and you have healed me.
3 You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; •
you restored me to life from among those that go down to the Pit.
4 Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; •
give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye,
his favour for a lifetime. •
Heaviness may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning.
6 In my prosperity I said,
‘I shall never be moved. •
You, Lord, of your goodness,
have made my hill so strong.’
7 Then you hid your face from me •
and I was utterly dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cried; •
to the Lord I made my supplication:
9 ‘What profit is there in my blood,
if I go down to the Pit? •
Will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
10 ‘Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; •
O Lord, be my helper.’
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; •
you have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
12 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; •
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
because you have raised me up •
and have not let my foes triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried out to you •
and you have healed me.
3 You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; •
you restored me to life from among those that go down to the Pit.
4 Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; •
give thanks to his holy name.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye,
his favour for a lifetime. •
Heaviness may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning.
6 In my prosperity I said,
‘I shall never be moved. •
You, Lord, of your goodness,
have made my hill so strong.’
7 Then you hid your face from me •
and I was utterly dismayed.
8 To you, O Lord, I cried; •
to the Lord I made my supplication:
9 ‘What profit is there in my blood,
if I go down to the Pit? •
Will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
10 ‘Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; •
O Lord, be my helper.’
11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; •
you have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
12 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; •
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
Creator Spirit, Advocate promised by our Lord Jesus: increase our faith and help us to walk in the light of your presence, to the glory of God the Father; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
Joshua 7:1–15 (Listen)
Israel Defeated at Ai
7:1 But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.
2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” And the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.” 4 So about three thousand men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai, 5 and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! 9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”
The Sin of Achan
10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings. 12 Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction.1 I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. 13 Get up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, “There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you.” 14 In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man. 15 And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.’”
Footnotes
[1] 7:12
(ESV)
Luke 10:25–37 (Listen)
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii1 and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”
Footnotes
[1] 10:35
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song of Isaiah
'Behold, God is my salvation:,
I will trust and will not be afraid;
'For the Lord God is my strength and my song:
and has become my salvation.'
With joy you will draw water:
from the wells of salvation.
On that day you will say:
'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
'Make known his deeds among the nations:
proclaim that his name is exalted.
'Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:
let this be known in all the world.
'Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:
for great in your midst in the Holy One of Israel.'
I will trust and will not be afraid;
'For the Lord God is my strength and my song:
and has become my salvation.'
With joy you will draw water:
from the wells of salvation.
On that day you will say:
'Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name;
'Make known his deeds among the nations:
proclaim that his name is exalted.
'Sing God's praises, who has triumphed gloriously:
let this be known in all the world.
'Shout and sing for joy, you that dwell in Zion:
for great in your midst in the Holy One of Israel.'
Isaiah 12:2-6
8 The Apostles' Creed may be said
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
9 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
10 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today 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 for ever. Amen.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today 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 for ever. Amen.
Faithful God,
you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses:
grant that we,
encouraged by the example of your servant N,
may persevere in running the race that is set before us,
until at last with him/her we may attain to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfector of our faith,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses:
grant that we,
encouraged by the example of your servant N,
may persevere in running the race that is set before us,
until at last with him/her we may attain to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfector of our faith,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God,
by whose grace your servant N
became a burning and a shining light in your Church:
grant that we also may be aflame
with the spirit of love and discipleship,
and walk before you as children of light;
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.
by whose grace your servant N
became a burning and a shining light in your Church:
grant that we also may be aflame
with the spirit of love and discipleship,
and walk before you as children of light;
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.
Almighty God,
who gave to your servant N special gifts of grace
to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus:
grant that, enlightened by this teaching,
we may know you, the one true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
who gave to your servant N special gifts of grace
to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus:
grant that, enlightened by this teaching,
we may know you, the one true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
11 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
12 The Morning Collect
Eternal God and Father, by whose power we are created and by whose love we are redeemed; guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves to your service, and live this day in love to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
13
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. May we rekindle the gift of God within us. Amen.
see 2 Timothy 1:6-7
1
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
Glory to God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
2 The Opening Canticle, A Song of Hope
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me:
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted. The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted:
to proclaim liberty for the captives,
and release for those in prison,
To comfort all who mourn:
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning:
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called tress of righteousness:
planted for the glory of the Lord.
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good tidings to the afflicted. The Lord has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted:
to proclaim liberty for the captives,
and release for those in prison,
To comfort all who mourn:
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning:
a garment of splendour for the heavy heart.
They shall be called tress of righteousness:
planted for the glory of the Lord.
3 The Opening Prayer
The day is now passed and the night is at hand.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
Silence may be kept
Father of lights, receive the prayer and praise we offer you as our evening sacrifice; make us a light for all the world, delivered by your goodness from all the works of darkness; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
4 The Psalms as appointed. A pause is observed after each
1 Give judgement for me, O Lord,
for I have walked with integrity; •
I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
2 Test me, O Lord, and try me; •
examine my heart and my mind.
3 For your love is before my eyes; •
I have walked in your truth.
4 I have not joined the company of the false, •
nor consorted with the deceitful.
5 I hate the gathering of evildoers •
and I will not sit down with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, •
that I may go about your altar,
7 To make heard the voice of thanksgiving •
and tell of all your wonderful deeds.
8 Lord, I love the house of your habitation •
and the place where your glory abides.
9 Sweep me not away with sinners, •
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10 Whose hands are full of wicked schemes •
and their right hand full of bribes.
11 As for me, I will walk with integrity; •
redeem me, Lord, and be merciful to me.
12 My foot stands firm; •
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
for I have walked with integrity; •
I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
2 Test me, O Lord, and try me; •
examine my heart and my mind.
3 For your love is before my eyes; •
I have walked in your truth.
4 I have not joined the company of the false, •
nor consorted with the deceitful.
5 I hate the gathering of evildoers •
and I will not sit down with the wicked.
6 I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, •
that I may go about your altar,
7 To make heard the voice of thanksgiving •
and tell of all your wonderful deeds.
8 Lord, I love the house of your habitation •
and the place where your glory abides.
9 Sweep me not away with sinners, •
nor my life with the bloodthirsty,
10 Whose hands are full of wicked schemes •
and their right hand full of bribes.
11 As for me, I will walk with integrity; •
redeem me, Lord, and be merciful to me.
12 My foot stands firm; •
in the great congregation I will bless the Lord.
1 To you I call, O Lord my rock;
be not deaf to my cry, •
lest, if you do not hear me,
I become like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, •
when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
3 Do not snatch me away with the wicked,
with the evildoers, •
who speak peaceably with their neighbours,
while malice is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to their deeds •
and according to the wickedness of their devices.
5 Reward them according to the work of their hands •
and pay them their just deserts.
6 They take no heed of the Lord’s doings,
nor of the works of his hands; •
therefore shall he break them down
and not build them up.
7 Blessed be the Lord, •
for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
8 The Lord is my strength and my shield; •
my heart has trusted in him and I am helped;
9 Therefore my heart dances for joy •
and in my song will I praise him.
10 The Lord is the strength of his people, •
a safe refuge for his anointed.
11 Save your people and bless your inheritance; •
shepherd them and carry them for ever.
be not deaf to my cry, •
lest, if you do not hear me,
I become like those who go down to the Pit.
2 Hear the voice of my prayer when I cry out to you, •
when I lift up my hands to your holy of holies.
3 Do not snatch me away with the wicked,
with the evildoers, •
who speak peaceably with their neighbours,
while malice is in their hearts.
4 Repay them according to their deeds •
and according to the wickedness of their devices.
5 Reward them according to the work of their hands •
and pay them their just deserts.
6 They take no heed of the Lord’s doings,
nor of the works of his hands; •
therefore shall he break them down
and not build them up.
7 Blessed be the Lord, •
for he has heard the voice of my prayer.
8 The Lord is my strength and my shield; •
my heart has trusted in him and I am helped;
9 Therefore my heart dances for joy •
and in my song will I praise him.
10 The Lord is the strength of his people, •
a safe refuge for his anointed.
11 Save your people and bless your inheritance; •
shepherd them and carry them for ever.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, you powers of heaven, •
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; •
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; •
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation; •
the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; •
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf •
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord splits the flash of lightning;
the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; •
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe
and strips the forests bare; •
in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’
9 The Lord sits enthroned above the water flood; •
the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
10 The Lord shall give strength to his people; •
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name; •
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; •
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation; •
the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; •
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf •
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord splits the flash of lightning;
the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; •
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe
and strips the forests bare; •
in his temple all cry, ‘Glory!’
9 The Lord sits enthroned above the water flood; •
the Lord sits enthroned as king for evermore.
10 The Lord shall give strength to his people; •
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
5 At the end of the (last) pause there may follow
God who wonderfully created us and even more wonderfully restored our humanity: strengthen us by your Holy Spirit to triumph over suffering and death, and grant us eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
6 One or two Readings from the Bible as appointed
2 Chronicles 26:1–21 (Listen)
Uzziah Reigns in Judah
26:1 And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. 4 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
6 He went out and made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the Angle, and fortified them. 10 And he built towers in the wilderness and cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s commanders. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers’ houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.
Uzziah’s Pride and Punishment
16 But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy1 broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him. 21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s household, governing the people of the land.
Footnotes
[1] 26:19
(ESV)
Romans 4:1–12 (Listen)
Abraham Justified by Faith
4:1 What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in1 him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
and whose sins are covered;
8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
9 Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. 11 He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, 12 and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.
Footnotes
[1] 4:5
(ESV)
The reading may be followed by a period of silence for reflection, a hymn or
May your word live in us
and bear much fruit to your glory.
and bear much fruit to your glory.
7 The Canticle, A Song of God's Children
In Christ Jesus, the life-giving law of the Spirit:
has set us free from the law of sin and death.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God:
it is the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba!' Father.
The Spirit bears witness
that we are God's Children:
and if God's children, then heirs of God.
We are heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ:
If we share his sufferings now
we shall be glorified with him hereafter.
These sufferings that we now endure:
are not worth comparing
with the glory that shall be revealed.
For the creation waits with eager longing:
for the revealing of the children of God.
has set us free from the law of sin and death.
All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God:
it is the Spirit that enables us to cry, 'Abba!' Father.
The Spirit bears witness
that we are God's Children:
and if God's children, then heirs of God.
We are heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ:
If we share his sufferings now
we shall be glorified with him hereafter.
These sufferings that we now endure:
are not worth comparing
with the glory that shall be revealed.
For the creation waits with eager longing:
for the revealing of the children of God.
Romans 8:2, 14, 15b-19
8 The Prayers
Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
9 The Lord's Prayer and the Collect of the Day
Our Father in heaven
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today 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 for ever. Amen.
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today 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 for ever. Amen.
Faithful God,
you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses:
grant that we,
encouraged by the example of your servant N,
may persevere in running the race that is set before us,
until at last with him/her we may attain to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfector of our faith,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses:
grant that we,
encouraged by the example of your servant N,
may persevere in running the race that is set before us,
until at last with him/her we may attain to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfector of our faith,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
O God,
by whose grace your servant N
became a burning and a shining light in your Church:
grant that we also may be aflame
with the spirit of love and discipleship,
and walk before you as children of light;
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.
by whose grace your servant N
became a burning and a shining light in your Church:
grant that we also may be aflame
with the spirit of love and discipleship,
and walk before you as children of light;
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.
Almighty God,
who gave to your servant N special gifts of grace
to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus:
grant that, enlightened by this teaching,
we may know you, the one true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
who gave to your servant N special gifts of grace
to understand and teach the truth in Christ Jesus:
grant that, enlightened by this teaching,
we may know you, the one true God,
and Jesus Christ whom you have sent;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
10 Intercessions and Thanksgivings may be made according to local custom and need.
11 The Evening Collect
Lighten our darkness, Lord, we pray: and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
12
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Amen.
Hebrews 12:1