The Lessons

Mark Chapter 4

⁽¹⁾ Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water's edge. ⁽²⁾ He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: ⁽³⁾ Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁽⁴⁾ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.

⁽⁵⁾ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁽⁶⁾ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁽⁷⁾ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁽⁸⁾ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.'

⁽⁹⁾ Then Jesus said, 'He who has ears to hear, let him hear.' ⁽¹⁰⁾ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ⁽¹¹⁾ He told them, 'The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ⁽¹²⁾ so that, ''they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!''

⁽¹³⁾ Then Jesus said to them, 'Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? ⁽¹⁴⁾ The farmer sows the word. ⁽¹⁵⁾ Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. ⁽¹⁶⁾ Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.

⁽¹⁷⁾ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ⁽¹⁸⁾ Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ⁽¹⁹⁾ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. ⁽²⁰⁾ Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop-- thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 66

⁽¹⁾ Shout with joy to God, all the earth! ⁽²⁾ Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! ⁽³⁾ Say to God, 'How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. ⁽⁴⁾ All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.' Selah

⁽⁵⁾ Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! ⁽⁶⁾ He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot-- come, let us rejoice in him. ⁽⁷⁾ He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations-- let not the rebellious rise up against him. Selah ⁽⁸⁾ Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard;

⁽⁹⁾ he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. ⁽¹⁰⁾ For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. ⁽¹¹⁾ You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. ⁽¹²⁾ You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

⁽¹³⁾ I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you-- ⁽¹⁴⁾ vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. ⁽¹⁵⁾ I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. Selah ⁽¹⁶⁾ Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.

⁽¹⁷⁾ I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. ⁽¹⁸⁾ If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; ⁽¹⁹⁾ but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. ⁽²⁰⁾ Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love 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⁾ May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, Selah ⁽²⁾ that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. ⁽³⁾ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. ⁽⁴⁾ May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah

⁽⁵⁾ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. ⁽⁶⁾ Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us. ⁽⁷⁾ God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will 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⁾ He then said to me: 'Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. ⁽⁵⁾ You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language, but to the house of Israel-- ⁽⁶⁾ not to many peoples of obscure speech and difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. ⁽⁷⁾ But the house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate.

⁽⁸⁾ But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. ⁽⁹⁾ I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house.' ⁽¹⁰⁾ And he said to me, 'Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. ⁽¹¹⁾ Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says,' whether they listen or fail to listen.'

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Acts Chapter 10

⁽³⁴⁾ Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ⁽³⁵⁾ but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. ⁽³⁶⁾ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ⁽³⁷⁾ You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached;

⁽³⁸⁾ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. ⁽³⁹⁾ We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, ⁽⁴⁰⁾ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁽⁴¹⁾ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen-- by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁽⁴²⁾ He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁽⁴³⁾ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.' ⁽⁴⁴⁾ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

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.