The Lessons

Mark Chapter 4

⁽¹⁾ And again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. ⁽²⁾ Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching: ⁽³⁾ Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. ⁽⁴⁾ And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

⁽⁵⁾ Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. ⁽⁶⁾ But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. ⁽⁷⁾ And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. ⁽⁸⁾ But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.'

⁽⁹⁾ And He said to them, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear!' ⁽¹⁰⁾ But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. ⁽¹¹⁾ And He said to them, 'To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, ⁽¹²⁾ so that 'Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.' '

⁽¹³⁾ And He said to them, 'Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ⁽¹⁴⁾ The sower sows the word. ⁽¹⁵⁾ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ⁽¹⁶⁾ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

⁽¹⁷⁾ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word's sake, immediately they stumble. ⁽¹⁸⁾ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ⁽¹⁹⁾ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ⁽²⁰⁾ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 66

⁽¹⁾ Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! ⁽²⁾ Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. ⁽³⁾ Say to God, 'How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. ⁽⁴⁾ All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.' Selah

⁽⁵⁾ Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. ⁽⁶⁾ He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him. ⁽⁷⁾ He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah ⁽⁸⁾ Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

⁽⁹⁾ Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. ⁽¹⁰⁾ For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. ⁽¹¹⁾ You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. ⁽¹²⁾ You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

⁽¹³⁾ I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, ⁽¹⁴⁾ Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. ⁽¹⁵⁾ I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah ⁽¹⁶⁾ Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul.

⁽¹⁷⁾ I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. ⁽¹⁸⁾ If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear. ⁽¹⁹⁾ But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. ⁽²⁰⁾ Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

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.

Psalm 67

⁽¹⁾ God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. Selah ⁽²⁾ That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. ⁽³⁾ Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. ⁽⁴⁾ Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah

⁽⁵⁾ Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. ⁽⁶⁾ Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. ⁽⁷⁾ God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

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.

Ezekiel Chapter 3

⁽⁴⁾ Then He said to me: 'Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. ⁽⁵⁾ For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, ⁽⁶⁾ not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. ⁽⁷⁾ But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted.

⁽⁸⁾ Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. ⁽⁹⁾ Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.' ⁽¹⁰⁾ Moreover He said to me: 'Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. ⁽¹¹⁾ And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Acts Chapter 10

⁽³⁴⁾ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ⁽³⁵⁾ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. ⁽³⁶⁾ The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all -- ⁽³⁷⁾ that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached:

⁽³⁸⁾ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. ⁽³⁹⁾ And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. ⁽⁴⁰⁾ Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, ⁽⁴¹⁾ not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.

⁽⁴²⁾ And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. ⁽⁴³⁾ To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.' ⁽⁴⁴⁾ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

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.