to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all people of the earth:
who is worth to be praised and exalted for ever.
O people of God bless the Lord:
bless the Lord you priests of the Lord,
Bless the Lord you servants of the Lord:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
Bless the Lord all you of upright spirit:
bless the Lord you that are holy and humble in heart.
Bless the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit:
who is worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
let us pray with one heart and mind.
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever. Amen.
I will tell of all your marvellous works.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will make music to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies are driven back,
they stumble and perish at your presence.
4 For you have maintained my right and my cause;
you sat on your throne giving righteous judgement.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 The enemy was utterly laid waste.
You uprooted their cities;
their very memory has perished.
7 But the Lord shall endure for ever;
he has made fast his throne for judgement.
8 For he shall rule the world with righteousness
and govern the peoples with equity.
9 Then will the Lord be a refuge for the oppressed,
a refuge in the time of trouble.
10 And those who know your name will put their trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never failed those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord who dwells in Zion;
declare among the peoples the things he has done.
12 The avenger of blood has remembered them;
he did not forget the cry of the oppressed.
13 Have mercy upon me, O Lord;
consider the trouble I suffer from those who hate me,
you that lift me up from the gates of death;
14 That I may tell all your praises in the gates of the city of Zion
and rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations shall sink into the pit of their making
and in the snare which they set will their own foot be taken.
16 The Lord makes himself known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are snared in the works of their own hands.
17 They shall return to the land of darkness,
all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten
and the hope of the poor shall not perish for ever.
19 Arise, O Lord, and let not mortals have the upper hand;
let the nations be judged before your face.
20 Put them in fear, O Lord,
that the nations may know themselves to be but mortal.
Why hide yourself in time of trouble?
2 The wicked in their pride persecute the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes they have devised.
3 The wicked boast of their hearts desire;
the covetous curse and revile the Lord.
4 The wicked in their arrogance say, God will not avenge it;
in all their scheming God counts for nothing.
5 They are stubborn in all their ways,
for your judgements are far above out of their sight;
they scoff at all their adversaries.
6 They say in their heart, I shall not be shaken;
no harm shall ever happen to me.
7 Their mouth is full of cursing, deceit and fraud;
under their tongue lie mischief and wrong.
8 They lurk in the outskirts
and in dark alleys they murder the innocent;
their eyes are ever watching for the helpless.
9 They lie in wait, like a lion in his den;
they lie in wait to seize the poor;
they seize the poor when they get them into their net.
10 The innocent are broken and humbled before them;
the helpless fall before their power.
11 They say in their heart, God has forgotten;
he hides his face away; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O Lord God, and lift up your hand;
forget not the poor.
13 Why should the wicked be scornful of God?
Why should they say in their hearts, You will not avenge it?
14 Surely, you behold trouble and misery;
you see it and take it into your own hand.
15 The helpless commit themselves to you,
for you are the helper of the orphan.
16 Break the power of the wicked and malicious;
search out their wickedness until you find none.
17 The Lord shall reign for ever and ever;
the nations shall perish from his land.
18 Lord, you will hear the desire of the poor;
you will incline your ear to the fullness of their heart,
19 To give justice to the orphan and oppressed,
so that people are no longer driven in terror from the land.
Isaiah 44:24–45:13 (Listen)
24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
who formed you from the womb:
“I am the LORD, who made all things,
who alone stretched out the heavens,
who spread out the earth by myself,
25 who frustrates the signs of liars
and makes fools of diviners,
who turns wise men back
and makes their knowledge foolish,
26 who confirms the word of his servant
and fulfills the counsel of his messengers,
who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’
and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built,
and I will raise up their ruins’;
27 who says to the deep, ‘Be dry;
I will dry up your rivers’;
28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,
and he shall fulfill all my purpose’;
saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’
and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
Cyrus, God’s Instrument
45:1 Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped,
to subdue nations before him
and to loose the belts of kings,
to open doors before him
that gates may not be closed:
2 “I will go before you
and level the exalted places,1
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
3 I will give you the treasures of darkness
and the hoards in secret places,
that you may know that it is I, the LORD,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
4 For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I name you, though you do not know me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is no other,
besides me there is no God;
I equip you, though you do not know me,
6 that people may know, from the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is none besides me;
I am the LORD, and there is no other.
7 I form light and create darkness;
I make well-being and create calamity;
I am the LORD, who does all these things.
8 “Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down righteousness;
let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit;
let the earth cause them both to sprout;
I the LORD have created it.
9 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’
or ‘Your work has no handles’?
10 Woe to him who says to a father, ‘What are you begetting?’
or to a woman, ‘With what are you in labor?’”
11 Thus says the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
“Ask me of things to come;
will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?2
12 I made the earth
and created man on it;
it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,
and I commanded all their host.
13 I have stirred him up in righteousness,
and I will make all his ways level;
he shall build my city
and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,”
says the LORD of hosts.
Footnotes
[1] 45:2
[2] 45:11
(ESV)
Revelation 22:6–21 (Listen)
Jesus Is Coming
6 And he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.”
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
8 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, 9 but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
10 And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. 11 Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”
12 “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
14 Blessed are those who wash their robes,1 so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. 15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.2 Amen.
(ESV)
and bear much fruit to your glory.
the first-born of all creation.
For in him all things were created:
in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
All things were created through him and for him:
his is before all things
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the Church:
he is the beginning, the first-born form the dead.
For it pleases God that in him
all fullness should dwell:
and through him all things be reconciled to himself.
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.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
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.
loving shepherd of your people,
we thank you for your servant N,
who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock;
and we pray that we may follow the good of his example
and grow into the fullness of the stature
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
we thank you for your servant N,
whom you called to bring the gospel
to the people of...(to the...people):
raise up in this and every land
evangelists and heralds of your loving reign,
so that the whole world may know
the unsearchable riches of our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.
therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
He shall refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name's sake.
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 comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence
of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Let us pray with one heart and mind.
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.
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 Lords 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.
Isaiah 29:15–24 (Listen)
15 Ah, you who hide deep from the LORD your counsel,
whose deeds are in the dark,
and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?”
16 You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
“He did not make me”;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
“He has no understanding”?
17 Is it not yet a very little while
until Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field,
and the fruitful field shall be regarded as a forest?
18 In that day the deaf shall hear
the words of a book,
and out of their gloom and darkness
the eyes of the blind shall see.
19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the LORD,
and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the ruthless shall come to nothing
and the scoffer cease,
and all who watch to do evil shall be cut off,
21 who by a word make a man out to be an offender,
and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate,
and with an empty plea turn aside him who is in the right.
22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob:
“Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.
23 For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
24 And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”
(ESV)
Matthew 13:44–58 (Listen)
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
The Parable of the Net
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
New and Old Treasures
51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
(ESV)
and bear much fruit to your glory.
so let us celebrate the feast,
Now with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ once raised from the dead dies no more:
death has no more dominion over him.
In dying, he died to sin once for all:
in living, he lives to God.
See yourselves, therefor, as dead to sin:
and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
the first fruits of those who sleep.
For since by one man came death:
by another has come also the resurrection of the dead,
For as in Adam all die:
even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Christ have mercy Lord have mercy.
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.
loving shepherd of your people,
we thank you for your servant N,
who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock;
and we pray that we may follow the good of his example
and grow into the fullness of the stature
of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
we thank you for your servant N,
whom you called to bring the gospel
to the people of...(to the...people):
raise up in this and every land
evangelists and heralds of your loving reign,
so that the whole world may know
the unsearchable riches of our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
And also with you.
Let us praise the Lord.
Thanks be to God.