Kal for Easter

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FOR EASTER (THE MIDNIGHT CELEBRATION, OR VIGIL)

Let us hear the record of God's saving deeds in history, how he saved his people in ages past; and let us pray that our God will bring each of us to the fullness of redemption.

READING: Genesis 1:1-2:2 (The story of Creation)

PSALM 33:1-11 ("By the word of the LORD were the heavens made")

O God, who hast wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Genesis 7:1-5,11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13 (The Flood)

PSALM 46 ("God is our refuge and strength...though the mountains be cast into the depths of the sea")

Almighty God, who hast placed in the heavens the sign of thy covenant with all living things: Grant that we who are born again of water and the Spirit may worthily offer to thee our sacrifice of thanksgiving; through Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, who placed in the heavens the sign of your covenant with all living things: Grant that we who are born again of water and the Spirit may worthily offer to you our sacrifice of thanksgiving; through Christ our Lord.

READING: Genesis 22:1-18 (Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac)

PSALM 16 ("Thou wilt not abandon me to the grave...Thou wilt show me the path of life.)

God and Father of all believers, for the glory of thy Name multiply, by thy life-giving power, the number of thy children; that thy Church may rejoice to see fulfilled thy promise to our father Abraham; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God and Father of all believers, for the glory of your Name multiply, by the grace of the Paschal Sacrament, the number of your children; that your Church may rejoice to see fulfilled your promise to our father Abraham; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Exodus 14:10-15:1 (Israel's deliverance at the Red Sea)

CANTICLE: Exodus 15:1-6,11-13,17-18 ("The LORD is my refuge and strength, and is become my salvation.")

O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, who by the power of thy mighty arm didst deliver thy chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be for us a sign of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God, whose wonderful deeds of old shine forth even to our own day, who by the power of your mighty arm delivered your chosen people from slavery under Pharaoh, to be for us a sign of the salvation of all nations by the water of Baptism: Grant that all the peoples of the earth may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham, and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Isaiah 4:2-6 (God's presence in a renewed land)

PSALM 122 ("I was glad when they said unto me: Let us go to the house of the LORD.")

O God, who didst lead thine ancient people with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Grant that we, who serve thee now on earth, may come to the joy of that heavenly Jerusalem, where all tears are wiped away, and where thy saints forever sing thy praises; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God, who led your ancient people with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Grant that we, who serve you now on earth, may come to the joy of that heavenly Jerusalem, where all tears are wiped away, and where your saints forever sing your praises; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Isaiah 55:1-11 (Salvation offered freely to all)

CANTICLE: Isaiah 12:2-6 ("You shall draw water with rejoicing from the springs of salvation.")

O God, who hast created all things by thy Word, and who dost renew the earth by thy Spirit: Give now the water of life to those who thirst for thee, that they may bring forth abundant fruit in thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God, you have created all things by thy Word, and you renew the earth by your Spirit: Give now the water of life to those who thirst for you, that they may bring forth abundant fruit in your glorious kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Ezekiel 36:24-38) (A new heart and a new spirit)

PSALM 42:1-7 (As the deer desireth the waterbrook, so longeth my soul after thee, O God.)

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant unto all who are reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body, that what they profess by their faith, they may also show forth in their lives ; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who are reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (The valley of dry bones)

PSALM 30 ("Thou has turned my heaviness into joy.")

Almighty God, who by the Passover of thy Son hast brought us out of sin unto righteousness and out of death into life: Grant to those who are sealed by thy Holy Spirit the will and the power to proclaim thee to all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, who by the Passover of your Son brought us out of sin into righteousness and out of death into life: Grant to those who are sealed by your Holy Spirit the will and the power to proclaim you to all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

READING: Zephaniah 3:12-20 (The gathering of God's people)

PSALM 98 ("Let the hills rejoice before the LORD, for he cometh to judge the earth.")

O God of unchangeable power and eternal might: Look favorably upon thy whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of thy providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

O God of unchangeable power and eternal might: Look favorably upon your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

EPISTLE: Romans 6:3-11 (By baptism we participate in the death and resurrection of Christ, being freed from sin and raised to newness of life.)

PSALM 114 ("When Israel came out of Egypt....")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 28:1-10 (The Resurrection)

O God, who didst make this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in thy Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship thee in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

O God, who made this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in your Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

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EASTER DAY (THE EARLY SERVICE)

PRAYERS (traditional language) O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by thy life-giving Spirit; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end.

PRAYERS (contemporary language) O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection, through thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit ever, one God, world without end.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: One of the Old Testament Lessons from the Vigil

PSALM 114 ("When Israel came out of Egypt....")

EPISTLE: Romans 6:3-11 (By baptism we participate in the death and resurrection of Christ, being freed from sin and raised to newness of life.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 28:1-10 (The women at the tomb; the risen Christ appears to them.)

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EASTER DAY (THE PRINCIPAL SERVICE)

NOTE: The portion of Psalm 118 used in today's readings is an alternate Psalm for all of the seven days following.

NOTE: The normal practice on weekdays is to have, in addition to the Holy Gospel and the Psalm, one other reading, usually from an Epistle. The normal practice on Sundays and other major feast days is to have two additional two readings, one from the Old Testament and the other from an Epistle. However, beginning with the principal service of Easter Day, and continuing on all Sundays through Pentecost, as well as on the Feast of the Ascension, the New Lectionary provides three readings in addition to the Holy Gospel and the Psalm: one from the Old Testament, one from the Book of Acts, and one from an Epistle or from the Book of Revelation. It is customary to omit one of these three, at the discretion of the reader. However, those using the readings for private devotion and study will perhaps choose to read them all.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Exodus 14:10-14,21-25;15:20-21 (The LORD delivers the people of Israel at the Red Sea.)

SECOND READING: Acts 10:34-43 (Peter preaches the Resurrection to Cornelius and his companions)

PSALM 118:14-29 (or 118:14-17,22-24) (a processional hymn, a festal song of deliverance from death)

EPISTLE: Colossians 3:1-4 ("Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:1-18 (or John 20:1-10) (Mary Magdalene at the tomb, Peter and John(?) at the tomb, (the risen Christ appears to Mary Magdalene))

THE HOLY GOSPEL (an alternate reading): Matthew 28:1-10 (The women at the tomb; the risen Christ appears to them.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Isaiah 25:6-9 (The LORD will destroy all death and sorrow.)

SECOND READING: Acts 10:34-43 (Peter preaches the Resurrection to Cornelius and his companions)

PSALM 118:14-29 (or 118:14-17,22-24) (a processional hymn, a festal song of deliverance from death)

EPISTLE: Colossians 3:1-4 ("Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 16:1-8 (The women at the tomb)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Isaiah 51:9-11 (The LORD as the Great Deliverer of His people.)

SECOND READING: Acts 10:34-43 (Peter preaches the Resurrection to Cornelius and his companions)

PSALM 118:14-29 (or 118:14-17,22-24) (a processional hymn, a festal song of deliverance from death)

EPISTLE: Colossians 3:1-4 ("Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:1-10 (The women at the tomb)

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EASTER DAY (THE EVENING SERVICE)

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Daniel 12:1-3 (Daniel, in a vision, is told of the resurrection of the dead.)

SECOND READING: Acts 5:29a,30-32 (The apostles speak to the high priest and those with him, testifying to the resurrection of Christ.)

PSALM 114 ("When Israel came out of Egypt...")

ALTERNATE PSALM 136 (The LORD delivers His people and smites their enemies.)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8 ("Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35 (The risen Christ appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.)

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RESURRECTION HOMILY by John Chrysostom, bishop (345-407)

Let all pious people and all lovers of God rejoice in the splendor of this feast; let the wise servants blissfully enter into the joy of their Lord; let those who have borne the burden of Lent now receive their pay, and those who have toiled since the first hour, let them now receive their due reward; let any who came after the third hour be grateful to join in the feast, and those who may have come after the sixth, let them not be afraid of being too late; for God is gracious and receives the last even as the first. God gives rest to them who come on the eleventh hour as well as to them who have toiled since the first: yes, God has pity on the last and serves the first; God rewards the one and praises the effort. Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord. You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today. The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet. The calf is a fatted one: let no one go away hungry. All of you enjoy the banquet of faith; all of you receive the riches of his goodness. Let no one grieve over his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed; let none weep over their sins, for pardon has shone from the grave; let no one fear death, for the death of our Savior has set us free: He has destroyed it by enduring it, He has despoiled Hades by going down into its kingdom, He has angered it by allowing it to taste of his flesh. When Isaias foresaw all this, he cried out: "O Hades, you have been angered by encountering Him in the nether world." Hades is angered because frustrated, it is angered because it has been mocked, it is angered because it has been destroyed, it is angered because it has been reduced to naught, it is angered because it is now captive. It seized a body, and, lo! it encountered heaven; it seized the visible, and was overcome by the invisible. O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

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POEM: What follows is an Easter poem, written in the sixteenth century by an outstanding Scottish poet. If your sixteenth century Scottish is not up to par, do not delete. A translation of sorts follows, but is intended as an aid to reading (not a substitute for reading) the original. My hope is that you will use the "translation" to make sure you understand the meaning of the original, and will then read the original, preferably aloud. I think you will find it has more impact than any translation I could provide.

The one thing that you need to know immediately is that the letter "3" is often pronounced "g". More later.

On the Resurrection of Christ William Dunbar, 1460-1529 (?)

Done is a battell on the dragon blak; Our campioun Chryst coufoundit hes his force: The 3ettis of hell ar brokin with a crak, The signe triumphall rasit is of the croce, The divillis trymmillis with hiddous voce, The saulis ar borrowit and to the bliss can go, Chryst with his blud our ransonis dois indoce: SURREXIT DOMINUS DE SEPULCHRO.

Dungin is the deidly dragon Lucifer, The crewall serpent with the mortall stang, The auld keen tegir with his teith on char Quhilk in a wait hes lyne for us so lang Thinking to grip us in his clowis strang: The merciful lord wald nocht that it wer so; He maid him for to fel3e of that fang: SURREXIT DOMINUS DE SEPULCHRO.

He for our saik that sufferit to be slane And lyk a lamb in sacrifice wes dicht Is like a lyone rissin up agane And as a gyane raxit him on hicht; Sprungin is Aurora radius and bricht, On loft is gone the glorious Appollo, The blissful day depairtit fro the nycht: SURREXIT DOMINUS DE SEPULCHRO.

The grit victour agane is rissin on hicht That for our querrell to the deth was woundit; The sone that wox all paill now schynis bricht, And dirknes clerit, our fayth is now refoundit; The knell of mercy fra the hevin is soundit, The Cristin ar deliverit of their wo, The Jowis and thair errour ar confoundit: SURREXIT DOMINUS DE SEPULCHRO.

The fo is chasit, the battell is done ceis, The presone brokin, the jevellouris fleit and flemit; The weir is gon, confermit is the peis, The fetteris lowsit and the dungeoun temit, The ransoun maid, the presoneris redemit; The feild is win, ourcumin is the fo, Dispulit of the tresur that he 3emit: SURREXIT DOMINUS DE SEPULCHRO.

That was the original: now the "translation."

The battle against the black dragon is done, Our champion, Christ, has confounded his force: The gates of hell are broken with a crack, The triumphant sign of the cross is raised. The devils shriek with hideous voice, The souls are reclaimed and can go to bliss, Christ with his blood our indentures does endorse.* (see NOTE) THE LORD IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.

The deadly dragon Satan is beaten, The cruel serpent with the mortal sting, The old sharp tiger with his teeth ajar Which has lain in wait for us so long Hoping to grip us in his strong claws: The merciful Lord willed that it not be so. He made him fall short of his prey, THE LORD IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.

He who for our sake endured being slain And like a lamb in sacrifice was prepared Is risen up again like a lion And, like a giant, stretches himself on the height; The Dawn is breaking, radiant and bright, Aloft is gone the glorious Sun, The blissful day comes forth from (realms of) night, THE LORD IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.

The great victor has risen again on high Who in our quarrell (on our behalf) was wounded to the death; The sun that grew all pale now shines bright, And darkness clears up, our faith is now re-established; The signal-bell of mercy resounds from Heaven, The Christians are delivered from their woe, The Jews and their error are brought to confusion, THE LORD IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.

The foe is chased, the battle is ceased, The prison broken, the jailors fled and banished; The war is gone, the peace is confirmed, The fetters unlocked and the dungeon emptied, The ransom paid, the prisoners delivered, The field is won, the foe is overcome, Despoiled of the treasure that he guarded: THE LORD IS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE.

* NOTE: Instead of "Christ with his blood our indentures does endorse," we might say: "Christ takes the papers documenting our bondage and writes PAID IN FULL on the back with his own blood." The word "indoce" = "endorse" = "write or mark on the back." A dorsal fin is the fin on a fish's back. "Dosey-Do" is a square-dance step that puts two dancers back to back. The term comes from the French "dos-a-dos" which means "back-to-back," as opposed to "vis-a-vis," meaning "face-to-face."

And now a comment on the letter "3," or "yogh," which is found in older English and Scottish, but is not used today. (Aren't you glad you have a language buff on the list?) It is written like a "z" with a curved tail down below the line, as in the "z" of an old German typeface. It is often hand-written with the tail sweeping off to the right. Priscilla Tolkien says that on one occasion her father, J R R Tolkien, was talking with some friends in a bar in Ireland, and said, "The tail of a properly written yogh goes off like this!" He made a dramatic sweep with his hand and struck the nose of the man next to him, a complete stranger. He turned to the man and said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I hope you are not hurt, I was just explaining that the tail of a yogh goes off like this." He then hit the man in the nose again. Fortunately, according to Miss Tolkien, the Irish find it quite reasonable that scholars should be a little crazy, and the man was quite understanding. In modern English, a word formerly written with a yogh is now usually written with a "g" or a "gh" or a "y". Those of you who know a little German will have noticed that German "g" often corresponds to English "y". Thus TAG = "day," WEG = "way," and HEILIG = "holy." You will see the mediaeval author "Geoffrey de Layamon" with his name so written in most books, but if the reference is by a scholar and the typesetting facilities permit, it may appear as "Geoffrey de La3amon." When you see a "gh" in modern English, there is a chance that it was once written with a yogh. (Second guess would be "ch" as in "licht" and words rhyming with it above.) The original sound of the yogh is, I believe, something like the German "ch" in "Bach," only voiced (pronounced with the voicebox vibrating.). Try the "g" in "cigar" pronounced Spanish style. When we stopped using this sound in English, the pronunciation of words with "gh" went off in all directions, to the despair of persons learning English spelling.

I welcome and expect comments by way of amplification and correction from listmembers who know Scottish, or who know old spelling and linguistics.

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The following poem will probably puzzle some readers, who will ask: "Is the writer defending paganism, or saying that all religions are basically alike, or equally true?"

No, he isn't. He does, however, believe that God has revealed himself, or some aspects of himself, in the world which he has created (see Romans 1:20 or Psalms 19:1). Pagan religions are full of stories of gods or goddesses who die in the fall and return to life in the spring, stories clearly based on the annual cycle of the death and resurrection of plant life. This in its turn is a partial statement of God's nature as revealed more fully in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The theme of death and renewed life is found in paganism because it is found in Nature, and it is found in Nature because it is found in the God who created Nature. It is a real, though dim and unfocused, glimpse of the truth fully revealed in Jesus. Therefore, when we find pagans worshipping the forces of Nature as symbolized or personified in dying and rising gods or goddesses, our proper response is that of Paul to the Athenians (Acts 17:23): "The God whom you worship without full understanding, we now declare to you!"

For an expansion of this idea, see the novel, THE GREATER TRUMPS, by the author of the poem.

And, by the way, "Cybele" is pronounced SIB-e-lee.

ODE FOR EASTER MORNING

Wake, wake, my Thought! the year's delight is born; Hark, the young loves within the valley sing! Long since thy peers, the Church, the Earth, this morn Were out to hail a gladness named of Spring. Who shall be earliest there? O happy race, Begun in winter of a three-days' gloom To end beside what doubly-hallowed place Of the full garner and the empty tomb! Up, dear sluggard! blessing trine, Religion's and the earth's and thine, Sang my spirit out to play; Up, my sweet, keep holiday!

Ere the Mass grew, how many a shepherd priest, Singing his ritual o'er a pile of sods, Led forth his migrant people on such feast In sacrifices to forgotten gods: His people, lost long ere thy slumber broke To a like knowledge of immortal needs; Enough if thou with thy great Sister woke, That youngest, truest, gladdest of the creeds! Up, the Church long since is out And her quick feet go about To the tomb! no more delay, Up, my sweet, keep holiday!

Thou didst not hear the lions of Cybele Roaring their salutation to her Love, Nor feel the high trees shaking over thee When he from death ascended; she above Bowed down, his Mother and his Paramour, Unto that resurrection, while her train Of Syrian pontiffs sang their tale that hour: "Hail, Attis born! Hail, Attis born again!" Hear thou only from thy lord The new tale of an Adored Seen of us in happy play; Up, my sweet, keep holiday!

Thou didst not hear waking Adonis' name Shrieked from a whirl of timbrelled ecstasy As to him his diviner leman came, Descending with her wanton company; Nor any voice call: "Now hath Isis found Her dead lord's limbs the new rice-stalks among; Now great Osiris wakens from his swound!" The gods are born again; the gods are young! Thou wast sleeping when they passed; Now thy time is come at last. Christendom is out to play. Up, my sweet, keep holiday!

Is it a diverse deity they praise? Or with translation diverse to each tongue Hail they one god of rice and corn and maize, Convents and kisses? Hark, another song Now with those past processions doth accord; These resurrections Easter doth renew! Who is that God, that lover, that dead lord? Who is that mother? that beloved, who? Still must thou thyself bedeck, Silver chain about thy neck, Brooch and clasps? No more delay, Up, my sweet, keep holiday!

Love is arisen: his Mother greets her Son; Spring knows itself to be but only He! The glad Church does with the glad tidings run,-- O let me find my upper room in thee, Thou everlasting Easter! what a stone Of bare negation hast thou rolled away! Now breaks the Dawn whose twilight thou hast shown! True is thy possibility of Day! Till thy mouth and hands be kissed, Lent within me doth resist Songs of Easter; come away Up, my sweet, keep holiday!

Up, more than our earth feels the arising God! Up, more than his own Mother greets the Son! From his eternal death and period Love is eternally anew begun; Such wonder of renewal as all lives Do now in sod or song or spirit prove, God in himself eternally contrives, And Love is rapt upon the birth of Love! Thou, till Love hath kissed thee, be Never touched or kissed of me! Is it he that makes delay, He, that is our holiday?

Now thy dressing time is done Thy adornments all put on; Lace the last shoe; forth to play, Out, my sweet, keep holiday!

(by Charles Walter Stansby Williams (abridged), from POEMS OF CONFORMITY, Oxford University Press, 1917)

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MONDAY IN EASTER WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with reverence the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Acts 2:14,22b-32 (Peter preaches the Resurrection to the crowd assembled at Pentecost.)

PSALM 16:8-11 ("Thou dost not give me up to Sheol, or let thy godly one see the Pit." Applied to Jesus in Acts 2:25-28)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 28:9-15 (Jesus meets the women coming from the tomb; the guards are told to say that the body was stolen.)

REMARK: Today's readings all touch on the empty tomb as evidence. Peter quotes from Psalm 16, and remarks that David is not talking about himself, since David's tomb is not empty. He does not mention, what his hearers presumably already know, that the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth is indeed empty, and that the official explanations for this are implausible. Incidentally, the traditional site of the Upper Room and the traditional site of the tomb of David are immediately adjacent. If these traditions are correct (which is problematical), then when Peter said of David, "His tomb is with us to this day," he could have pointed dramatically to the structure, or even pounded with his fist on the very wall of the building.

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TUESDAY IN EASTER WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, who by the glorious resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ hast destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Acts 2:36-41 (Of those who hear Peter preach at Pentecost, about three thousand receive the message, and are baptized.)

PSALM 33:18-22 ("The eye of the LORD is on those who revere him...that he may deliver their soul from death.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:11-18 (The risen Lord shows Himself to Mary Magdalene.)

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WEDNESDAY IN EASTER WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Acts 3:1-10 (Peter and John heal a lame man in the Temple, in the name of Jesus.)

PSALM 105:1-8 (Remember the wonderful works that he has done.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35 (The risen Lord shows Himself on the road to Emmaus.)

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THURSDAY IN EASTER WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Acts 3:11-26 (A crowd gathers after Peter and John have healed a lame man, and Peter preaches to them about the power of the risen Christ.)

PSALM 8 (or 114) (Thou has put all things under his feet.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:36b-48 (The risen Lord shows Himself to His disciples.)

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FRIDAY IN EASTER WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty Father, who hast given thy only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the same Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Acts 4:1-12 (Peter and John are arrested by the rulers, and speak to them about the risen Christ.)

PSALM 116:1-8 ("Thou hast delivered my soul from death.... I walk before the LORD in the land of the living.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 21:1-14 (The risen Lord shows Himself on the shore of the Lake of Galilee.)

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SATURDAY IN EASTER WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) We thank thee, heavenly Father, for that thou hast delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and hast brought us into the kingdom of thy Son; and we pray that, as by his death he hath recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to joys eternal; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

FOR ALL YEARS

FIRST READING: Acts 4:13-21 (Peter and John are commanded not to speak about Jesus. They reply: "We must obey God rather than man.")

PSALM 118:14-18 (or 118:19-24) ("I shall not die but live, and declare the works of the LORD.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 16:9-15,20 (The risen Lord sends his followers out to preach the Gospel to the whole world.)

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FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (THE DAY) SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER (THE SEASON)

PRAYERS (traditional language) Everliving God, who didst strengthen thine apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in thy Son's resurrections: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in thy sight; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYERS (contemporary language) Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in your Son's resurrections: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Genesis 8:6-16;9:8-16 (God brings Noah and his family out of the ark, and establishes a covenant with them.)

SECOND READING: Acts 2:14a,22-32 (The apostles, defying the authorities, fearlessly proclaim the Risen Lord)

PSALM 111 (He has sent redemption to his people; he has established his covenent forever.)

EPISTLE: 1 Peter 1:3-9 (God cleanses us from the corruption of this world, and calls us to a new way of life.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19-31 (Jesus appears to His disciples, Thomas being absent; and a week later appears again and removes Thomas's doubts.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Isaiah 26:2-9,19 (Praise to the LORD, who delivers us, who casts down our oppressors, who raises the dead to life.)

SECOND READING: Acts 3:12a,13-15,17-26 (Peter preaches the risen Christ as the fulfilment of God's promises in the prophets.)

PSALM 111 (He has sent redemption to his people; he has established his covenent forever.)

EPISTLE: 1 John 5:1-6 (The children of God are those who love and obey God, and love the children of God, and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the chosen one, who came by water and blood.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19-31 (Jesus appears to His disciples, Thomas being absent; and a week later appears again and removes Thomas's doubts.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Job 42:1-6 (Job beholds the LORD, and yields to Him in submission and trust.)

SECOND READING: Acts 5:12a,17-22,25-29 (The apostles, defying the authorities, fearlessly proclaim the Risen Lord)

PSALM 111 (He has sent redemption to his people; he has established his covenent forever.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 1:1-19 (John, exiled on Patmos, beholds in a vision the heavenly glory of the risen and ascended Christ.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19-31 (Jesus appears to His disciples, Thomas being absent; and a week later appears again and removes Thomas's doubts.)

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These things did Thomas count as real: The warmth of blood, the chill of steel, The grain of wood, the heft of stone, The last frail twitch of blood and bone.

His brittle certainties denied That one could live when one had died, Until his fingers read like Braille The markings of the spear and nail.

May we, O God, by grace believe And, in believing, still receive The Christ Who held His raw palms out And beckoned Thomas from his doubt.

Thomas H. Troeger, 1984 Psalter Hymnal of the Christian Reformed Church

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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (THE DAY) THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (THE SEASON)

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:1-12 (God speaks to His people, promising to be with them and to care for them; He calls them to be His witnessesto the world.)

SECOND READING: Acts 2:14a,36-47 (Peter preached at Pentecost the Good News of the Resurrection; three thousand listeners believed and were baptized; "and they continued in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayer.")

PSALM 116 (thanksgiving for deliverance from death)

EPISTLE: 1 Peter 1:17-23 (Remember with awe and wonder how great a price was paid for your salvation.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35 (The risen Lord reveals Himself to two of his followers on the road to Emmaus.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Micah 4:1-5 (The day is coming when all nations shall worship the LORD.)

SECOND READING: Acts 4:5-12 (Peter and John speak boldly to the high priest and his council, preaching Jesus as the only source of healing and wholeness.)

PSALM 98 (or 98:1-5) (All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.)

EPISTLE: 1 John 1:1--2:2 (God is light, and calls us to walk with Him in light; and His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:36b-48 (Jesus appears to His disciples, opens their minds to the Scriptures and the prophecies about Himself, and says, "You are my witnesses.")

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 32:36-41 (The prophet Jeremiah, having spoken of doom and judgement against Israel, is now given the promise of a time of deliverance and of a new relationship between God and His people.)

SECOND READING: Acts 9:1-19a (Paul, formerly an enemy of the Christians, is converted, eventually to become the great preacher of the Christian gospel to the non-Jewish peoples of the then-known world.)

PSALM 33 (A song of praise to the Lord who creastes the world and rules with justice.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 5:6-14 (A heavenly vision of Jesus as the Lamb that was slain.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 21:1-14 (The risen Lord appears to his disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, where He shares a meal with them.)

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THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (THE DAY) FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (THE SEASON)

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calleth us each by name, and follow where he doth lead; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Nehemiah 9:6-15 (Ezra remembers how God called Abraham, and provided for the Israelites in the desert.)

SECOND READING: Acts 6:1-9; 7:2a,51-60 (Stephen, preaching the Gospel boldly and being stoned to death for it, serves to remind us that the call to follow Christ is a call to commitment, even to death.)

PSALM 23 ("The LORD is my shepherd.")

EPISTLE: 1 Peter 2:19-25 (When we suffer unjustly at the hands of others, let us remember that we are the followers of One who suffered unjustly, and who bore it patiently, without resentment.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 10:1-10 (Jesus describes himslf as the Good Shepherd, whom the sheep know and follow; He also calls Himself the Door, the only lawful entry to the sheepfold.

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 34:1-10 (The LORD rebukes the faithless shepherds who have been set to care for His people Israel, for they have not done so. Therefore, the LORD Himself will be the shepherd of Israel.)

SECOND READING: Acts 4:23-37 or 32-37 (The community of believers put their trust in God, and found the threat of persecution a cause for rejoicing. They regarded themselves as a family, and readily shared their goods with other Christians in need.)

PSALM 23 (or 100) ("The LORD is my shepherd.")

EPISTLE: 1 John 3:1-8 (Those who are Christ's no longer live in sin. Their destiny is to be like Christ.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 10:11-16 (Jesus says: "False shepherds flee when the wolf comes. I am the good shepherd, and the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.")

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Numbers 27:12-23 (Joshua is chosen to succeed Moses as the leader and shepherd of the people of Israel.)

SECOND READING: Acts 13:15-16,26-33 (Paul, while on an early missionary journey, preaches to the Jews and other worshippers of God living in Gentile lands.)

PSALM 100 (A song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, who is steadfast in love and faithfulness.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 7:9-17 (a vision of those who have survived great tribulation and now worship before the throne of God and the Lamb)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 10:22-30 (Jesus speaks to those who do not believe in Him and then tells of his sheep who belong to Him forever)

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FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (THE DAY) FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (THE SEASON)

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty god, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leadeth to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty god, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 6:20-25 (God, who showed His love for His people by delivering them from Egypt, continued to show His love by giving them the Law, a blessing to those who live by it.)

SECOND READING: Acts 17:1-15 (Paul and Silas preached at Thessalonika and Berea, proclaiming Jesus as the fulfilment of the promises of the Hebrew Scriptures. Many believed.)

PSALM 66:1-12 (Praise to God for His blessings, in particular for the deliverance of Israel at the Red Sea.)

EPISTLE: 1 PETER 2:1-10 (Christ, the stone the builders rejected, has become the cornerstone. You, who were once outcasts, have been made the people of God, and are stones of which the living Temple of God is made.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 14:1-14 (Jesus said: I go to prepare a place for you. No one comes to the Father except through me. He who has seen me has seen the Father.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 4:32-40 (The LORD has delivered you from bondage, and made you His own people.)

SECOND READING: Acts 8:26-40 (Philip the Deacon preaches to an Ethiopian who is reading the prophet Isaiah, and tells him that the prophecy is fulfilled in Christ.)

PSALM 66:1-11 (or 66:1-8) (Behold the acts of God, terrifying in their might and majesty, but a source of dilverance to his people.)

EPISTLE: 1 John 3:(14-17)18-24 (Those who abide in God are those who keep His commandments, which are to believe in His Son Jesus Christ, and to love one another.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 14:15-21 (Jesus, after the Last Supper, promises the Holy Spirit to His disciples.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18 (The people of Israel are called to lives of justice and love--to be holy because the LORD their God is holy.)

SECOND READING: Acts 13:44-52 (Paul and Barnabas preach to a mixed audience of Jews and Gentiles, and are more favorably received, by and large, by the latter.)

PSALM 145 (A hymn of praise to God for His goodness and abundant mercy from generation to generation.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 19:1,4-9 (John the Visionary hears great joy in heaven and foresees the majestic marriage supper of the Lamb.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 13:31-35 (Jesus, on the night before His death, tells His disciples: "Love one another as I have loved you.")

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FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (THE DAY) SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (THE SEASON)

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, who have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Isaiah 41:17-20 (For the sake of the needy, the LORD will turn the wilderness into a garden.)

SECOND READING: Acts 17:22-31 (Paul preaches in Athens to the Council of the Areopagus. "God has revealed Himself, from the beginning through nature, and now through Christ.")

PSALM 148 (an invitation to all persons and all created things to join in praising the LORD)

EPISTLE: 1 Peter 3: 8-18 (Be gentle and loving to all. If you suffer for doing well, remember that your Master did likewise.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 15:1-8 (Jesus said: "I am the Vine, you are the branches. You live and bear fruit only if you remain in me, and I in you.")

FROM A SERMON ON THE EPISTLE by Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784

Finally, be ye all of one mind, compassionate, loving the brethren, with tender hearts and humble spirits. (1 Peter 3:8)

"Be ye all of one mind." By the union of minds which the Apostle recommends, it must be supposed that he means, not speculative, but practical union; not similitude of opinions, but similitude of virtues. In religious opinions, if there was then any disagreement, they [the new converts to whom St Peter was writing his Epistle] then had living authority, to which they might have recourse; and their business was probably, at that time, more to defend their common faith against the heathen, than to debate any subtleties of opinion among themselves. But there are innumerable questions, in which vanity or interest engages mankind, which have little connection with their eternal interest, and yet often inflame the passions, and produce dislike and malevolence. Sects in philosophy, and factions in the state, easily excite mutual contempt, or mutual hatred. He whose opinions are censured, feels the reputation of his understanding injured; he whose party is opposed, finds his influence resisted, and perhaps his power, or his profit, in danger of diminution. It could not be the intention of St Peter, that all men should think alike, either of the operations of nature, or the transactions of the state; but that those who thought differently, should live in peace; that contradiction should not exasperate the disputants, or that the heat should end with the controversy, and that the opposition of party (for there must sometimes be) should not canker the private thoughts, or raise personal hatred or insidious enmity. He required that they should be all of one MORAL mind, that they should all wish and promote the happiness of each other, that the danger of a Christian should be a common cause, and that no one should wish for advantage, by the miscarriage of another. To suppose that there should, in any community, be no difference of opinion, is to suppose all, of whom the community consists, to be wise alike, which cannot happen; or that the understanding of one part is submitted to that of another, which however would not produce uniformity of opinion, but only of profession; and is, in important questions, contrary to that sincerity and integrity, which truth requires; and an infraction of that liberty, which reason allows. But that men of different opinions should live at peace, is the true effect of that humility which makes each esteem others better than himself, and of that moderation which reason approves and charity commends. Be ye therefore all of one mind, let charity be the predominant and universal principle that pervades your lives, and regulates your actions.

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Isaiah 45:11-13,18-19 (The LORD is not a being of darkness, secrecy, and chaos. He formed the earth to be a dwelling place, and has openly declared His ways.)

SECOND READING: Acts 11:19-30 (At Antioch, Christian missionaries began to preach to Gentiles as well as Jews, and many believed.)

Psalm 33 (or 33:1-8,18-22) (Rejoice in the LORD, the upright, who created the world by his command. He is the steadfast help of those who trust him.)

EPISTLE: 1 John 4:7-21 (We love because He first loved us. If anyone does not love his brother, whom he has seen, how can he love God, whom he has not seen?)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 15:9-17 (Jesus said: "As the Father love me, so I love you. As I love you, you are to love one another.")

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Joel 2:21-27 (The prophet, having spoken of plague and famine, now pictures a time of great abundance and gladness.)

SECOND READING: Acts 14:8-18 (Paul and Barnabas, preaching in a pagan city in Asia Minor, heal a crippled man, and have to persuade the local populace not to worship them as gods.)

PSALM 67 (A prayer for God's graciousness and saving power, and a bidding of praise for the Lord's justice and bounty.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 21:22--22:5 (John the Visionary describes the heavenly Jerusalem, the paradise of God.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 14:23-39 (Our Lord promises His disciples that, when He has gone, He will send the Holy Spirit to be with them always.)

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FOR ROGATION MONDAY (for fruitful seasons)

In Burgundy in the fifth century, there was a severe earthquake on Ascension Thursday. For some years after, Christians in that area offered special prayers against earthquakes on the three days preceding Ascension Thursday. As the fear of another earthquake became less urgent, the prayers were broadened to apply to natural disasters in general, and then became prayers for good weather and good crops that year. The custom of offering such prayers spread throughout Western Europe. In many areas the Rogation days, as they were called (meaning days of making request), were observed by processions that compassed the parish ("beating the bounds"), blessing the fields.

Because our society is less directly involved with agriculture than it once was, many recent Rogation Day prayers are less exclusively weather-oriented than the older ones.

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that thy gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who constantly receive all good things from thy hand, may always give thee thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 11:10-15 (The LORD promises the Israelites good weather, timely rainfall, and abundant harvest in the land that will be theirs, provided that they serve Him faithfully.)

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Ezekiel 47:6-12 (Ezekiel, in a vision, beholds a river that teems with an abundance of fish for food, and the banks are lined with pleasant trees.)

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Jeremiah 14:1-9 (A lament: the land is desolate for lack of water. The prophet begs the LORD to forgive the sins of the people and restore them to favor.)

PSALM 147 (or 147:1-13) ("SIng to the LORD with thanksgiving.... He makes grass to grow upon the mountains.... He provides foor for flocks and herds.... He gives his statures and judgements to Israel.")

EPISTLE: Romans 8:18-25 (God is about to liberate, not only us, but the entire universe.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 4:26-32 (Jesus said: The kingdom of God is like a tiny buried seed which mysteriously sprouts into a great plant.)

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FOR ROGATION TUESDAY (for commerce and industry)

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with thy people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to thy will; and give us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ in his earthly life shared our toil and hallowed our labor: Be present with your people where they work; make those who carry on the industries and commerce of this land responsive to your will; and give us all a pride in what we do, and a just return for our labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING: Ecclesiasticus 38:27-32 ("Every carpenter and workmaster that laboreth night and day, and they that give themselves to conterfeit imagery, and watch to finish a work; The smith also sitting by the anvil, and considering the iron work, he setteth his mind to finish his work and watcheth to polish it perfectly. So doth the potter sitting at his work, and turning the wheel about with his feet, who is always carefully set at his work, and maketh all his work by number. All these trust to their hands, and every one is wise in his work. Without these cannot a city be inhabited, and they shall not dwell where the will nor go up and down. They shall not be sought for in public council, nor sit high in the congregation; But they will maintain the state of the world, and all their desire is in the work of their craft.

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Proverbs 27:23-27 (Take care of your cattle and your cattle will take care of you.)

PSALM 107:1-9 ("Oh that men would praise the LORD c c d e f f e for His goodness unto men. c c d e d d c Forth He sends his saving word, c e g g a a g and from shades of death abhorred c e g g a a g (Oh that men would praise the LORD!) c c d e f f e lifts them up to life again.") c d e d c B c

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 3:10-14 (Let each man take care how he builds, for at the end, all work will be examined and tested.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 6:19-24 (Store your treasures in heaven. You cannot give both God and money your ultimate allegiance.)

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FOR ROGATION WEDNESDAY (for stewardship of creation)

PRAYER (traditional language) O Merciful Creator, whose hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us, we beseech thee, ever thankful for thy loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of thy bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O Merciful Creator, whose hand is open wide to satisfy the needs of every living creature: Make us always thankful for your loving providence; and grant that we, remembering the account that we must one day give, may be faithful stewards of your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING: Job 38:1-11,16-18 (The LORD said to Job: "How well do you comprehend the universe?")

PSALM 104:25-37 (or 104:1,13-15,25-32) (Praise to the LORD, who made and cares for all things. Hymn: "Oh, worship the King, all glorious above," preferably to the tune "Old 104th")

EPISTLE: 1 Timothy 6:7-10,17-19 (Avoid avarice and the obsession with piling up wealth.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 12:13-21 (How foolish is the man who thinks of nothing but material wealth (which he must one day lose) and not of values which endure.)

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ASCENSION DAY

PRAYERS (traditional language) O Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abideth with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

PRAYERS (contemporary language) Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Daniel 7:9-14 (In a vision, Daniel sees the Eternal on a throne, and the Son of Man comes before him, and is given everlasting kingship over all nations.)

SECOND READING: Acts 1:1-11 (In the opening passage of the books of Acts, the author summarizes the post-resurrection events of the Lord's earthly life, his final instructions to His disciples, and His ascension into heaven.)

PSALM 110 (A song for the king who is called to sit and rule at the Lord's right hand.)

EPISTLE: Ephesians 1:15-23 (Paul gives thanks for the faith and love of the Christians to whom he is writing, and prays that they may know the power of God Who has raised and enthroned Jesus far above all earthly and heavenly dominions.)

GRADUAL (introduces the Holy Gospel) Alleluia! Alleluia! God is gone up with a shout, G A AG G G A AG G G G G G G G c

and the LORD with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia! G E G G G G G G c G G A A G

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:49-53 (Jesus promises His followers the Holy Spirit. He blesses them and is parted from them. They await with joy the fulfilling of His promise.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 1:3-5a,15-22,26-28 (In captivity in Babylon, the prophet Ezekiel has a vision of the LORD, enthroned upon four cherubim.)

PSALM 110 (A song for the king who is called to sit and rule at the Lord's right hand.)

GRADUAL (introduces the Holy Gospel) Alleluia! Alleluia! God is gone up with a shout, G A AG G G A AG G G G G G G G c

and the LORD with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia! G E G G G G G G c G G A A G

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:49-53 (Jesus promises His followers the Holy Spirit. He blesses them and is parted from them. They await with joy the fulfilling of His promise.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: 2 Kings 2:1-15 (The prophet Elijah is caught up to heaven in a fiery chariot, but the spirit that had rested on him is bestowed upon his disciple Elisha.)

PSALM 110 (A song for the king who is called to sit and rule at the Lord's right hand.)

ALTERNATE PSALM 47 ("Clap your hands, all you peoples. Shout to God with a cry of joy. God is gone up with a shout, and the LORD with the sound of the trumpet. God reigns over the nations. God sits upon His holy throne.")

GRADUAL (introduces the Holy Gospel) Alleluia! Alleluia! God is gone up with a shout, G A AG G G A AG G G G G G G G c and the LORD with the sound of the trumpet. Alleluia! G E G G G G G G c G G A A G

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:49-53 (Jesus promises His followers the Holy Spirit. He blesses them and is parted from them. They await with joy the fulfilling of His promise.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL (an alternate reading): Mark 16:9-15,19-20 (The risen Lord sends his followers out to preach the Gospel to the whole world. He ascends to the right hand of God, and they go out to preach.)

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FOR ASCENSIONTIDE

Thy glory, O Jesus, filleth the world. Thou art ascended into heaven, but thy spirit is among us, and thy heart is with us. Thou hast not forsaken the earth. Thy charge is here, and the pledge of thy love in the ministry of thy apostles. Thy Church is the temple even here upon earth wherein thou dwellest. How sweet it is to see the communion between thee and thy Church. Thou mighty master of all the apostles, thou living root of all our confidence, to thee be glory for evermore.

Thomas Traherne, CENTURIES OF MEDITATION (1637-1674)

FOR ASCENSIONTIDE

See the Conqueror mounts in triumph; c BA G c | d cd e c See the King in royal state, f ed e dc | Bc dB c - Riding on the clouds, his chariot, c BA G c | d cd e c To his heavenly palace gate. f ed e dc | Bc dB c - Hark! the choirs of angel voices c de f e | d p d d Joyful alleluias sing, d ef g c | d cB A G And the portals high are lifted c BA G c | d cd e c To receive the heavenly King. f ed e dc | Bc dB c -

He who on the cross did suffer, He who from the grave arose, He has vanquished sin and Satan; He by death has spoiled his foes. While he lifts his hands in blessing, He is parted from his friends; While their eager eyes behold him, He upon the clouds ascends.

Thou hast raised our human nature On the clouds to God's right hand. There we rest in heavenly places, There with thee in glory stand. Jesus reigns, adored by angels; Man with God is on the throne. Mighty Lord, in thine ascension We by faith behold our own.

Words in 1862 by Christopher Wordsworth (1807-1885) Tune IN BABILONE from OUDE EN NIEUWE HOLLANTSE BOERENLITIES EN CONTRADANSEU, 1710 (see, for example the Episcopal Hymnal).

HYMN FOR ASCENSIONTIDE

There the glorious triumph waits; Lift your heads, eternal gates! Wide unfold the radiant scene, Take the King of glory in!

See! he lifts his hands above; See! he shows the prints of love: Hark! his gracious lips bestow Blessings on his church below.

Lord beyond our mortal sight, Raise our hearts to reach thy height, There thy face unclouded see, Find our heaven of heavens in thee.

Words in 1739 by Charles Wesley (1707-1788). Tune LLANFAIR, by Robert Williams (1781-1821). With this tune, an "Alleluia" should be added at the end of each line.

HYMN Rise, glorious Conqueror, rise C E C G -A G Into thy native skies; G B G d -e d Assume thy right: c B A G - - And where in many a fold G E F G -A G The clouds are backward rolled, G E F G -A G Enter the gates of gold G c d e -f e And reign in light. d c B c - -

Victor o'er death and hell! Cherubic legions swell Thy radiant train. Praises all heaven inspire; Each angel sweeps his lyre, And waves his wings of fire -- Thou Lamb once slain!

Enter, Incarnate God. c c d B -c d No feet but thine have trod e e f e -d c The serpent down. d c B c - - Blow the full trumpets, blow! g g g g -f e Wider yon portals throw! f f f f -e d Savior, triumphant go e fe dc e -f g And take thy crown. af e d c - -

Lion of Judah, hail! And let thy name prevail From age to age. Lord of the rolling years, Claim for thine own the spheres, For thou hast bought with tears Thy heritage!

Yet, who are these behind, In numbers more than mind Can count or say, Clothed in immortal stoles, Illumining the poles, A galaxy of souls, In white array?

And then was heard afar Star aswering to star: "Lo, these have come, Followers of Him, who gave His life, their lives to save; And now their plams they wave, Brought safely home."

NOTE: The words I find attributed to "Brydges," about whom I have no further information. The preferred tune is "Dort", which I have written beside the first stanza. Another possibility is "God Save the Queen", which has the same rhythm, and which I have written beside the third stanza (capital letters are notes an octave lower than small ones).

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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER (THE DAY) SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (THE SEASON) THE SUNDAY AFTER ASCENSION DAY

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, the King of glory, who have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 39:21-29 (God, having punished Israel, will restore her in the sight of all the nations.)

SECOND READING: Acts 1:8-14 (Having seen their Lord ascending into heaven, the disciples wait in Jerusalem for His promised gift of the Holy Spirit.)

PSALM 68:1-20 (A psalm of praise to God for delivering the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, and saving them from their enemies. God is King for ever.)

EPISTLE: 1 Peter 4:12-19 (Be ready to face trials and suffering, walking in the footsteps of Christ.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 17:1-11 (Jesus prays as He and His disciples approach Gethsemane. He speaks of returning to the heavenly glory that was His before the beginning of time.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Exodus 28:1-4,9-10,29-30 (A description of the robes to be worn by the High Priest.)

SECOND READING: Acts 1:15-26 (After the Ascension, but before Pentecost, the followers of Jesus gather and, at the instance of Peter, choose Matthias to be a member of the Twelve as a successor to Judas.)

PSALM 68:1-20 ("Thou art ascended on high: thou hast led captivity captive, and taken tribute from thine enemies.")

EPISTLE: 1 John 5:9-15 ("He who believes on the Son has life.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 17:11b-19 (Jesus, on the night before the Crucifixion, prays for his disciples, that they may be one, and that they may be sanctified in the truth.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: 1 Samuel 12:19-24 (The people of Israel acknowledge that they have done wrong in demanding an earthly king for their ruler. They ask Samuel to pray for them. Samuel promises his continued prayers and that all will be well if they will worship the Lord faithfully.)

SECOND READING: Acts 16:16-34 (Paul and Silas, preaching in Philippi, heal a slave girl who is possessed. They are arrested and imprisoned, but the prison is broken open by an earthquake. They take the occasion to preach the gospel to the jailer and his family.)

PSALM 68:1-20 (A psalm of praise to God for delivering the people of Israel out of bondage in Egypt, and saving them from their enemies. God is King for ever.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20 (John the Visionary completes his message with a promise of the return of the Lord Jesus to judge and save.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 17:20-26 (Jesus prays for those who believe in Him, and those who will come to do so, that they all may be one.)

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VIGIL OF PENTECOST

(NOTE: One of the prayers for the Day of Pentecost may be used instead of the prayer following)

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, the King of Glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven: We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless, but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Savior Christ is gone before; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, the King of Glory, who have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

FIRST READING: Genesis 11:1-9 (The Tower of Babel: those who formerly could converse now speak different languages, and so community is lost.)

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Exodus 19:1-9a,16-20a; 20:18-20 (At Mount Sinai, at the time of Pentecost, God speaks to the newly delivered people of Israel out of a cloud, with thunder, and declares that He has chosen them as His special people.)

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (The LORD shows Ezekiel a valley of dry bones, which are then given flesh and restored to life through the activity of the Spirit.)

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Joel 2:28-32 (A prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit. Peter quotes this on Pentecost (Acts 2:17-21))

PSALM 33:12-22 ("Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD.")

EPISTLE: Romans 8:14-17,22-27 (The Spirit within us testifies that we are the children of God, and prays on our behalf.)

ALTERNATIVE TO THE EPISTLE: Acts 2:1-11 (On Pentecost, the Spirit descends, the disciples praise God in many tongues, and the hearers are amazed.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 7:37-39a (Jesus speaks of the Spirit as a fountain of water within the believer.)

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THE DAY OF PENTECOST: WHITSUNDAY (PRINCIPAL SERVICE)

PRAYERS (traditional language) O God, who as on this day didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, end evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Almighty God, who as on this day didst open the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of thy Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever

PRAYERS (contemporary language) O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, end always to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Almighty God, who on this day opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING (Year A): Ezekiel 11:17-20 (God promises to restore Israel, both materially and spiritually)

FIRST READING (Year B): Isaiah 44:1-8 (God speaks of a day when He will pour out His Spirit upon the household of Israel.)

FIRST READING (Year C): Joel 2:28-32 (The prophet foresees a day when the Lord will pour forth the Spirit on all peoples creating prophecies, dreams, and visions.)

SECOND READING: Acts 2:1-11 (The story of the Holy Spirit filintg the apostles and empowering them to share the message of the gospel with peoples of different languages.)

PSALM 104:24-end (The Psalmist describes the wonders of the world created and renewed by the Spirit of God.)

ALTERNATE PSALM 33:12-15,18-22 ("Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and shield.")

EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 (Christians are all of one body, and are inspired by the same Spirit, which is manifested in a variety of gifts and forms of service.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19-23 (An appearance of the risen Lord in which He bestows the Holy Spirit on His disciples.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL (an alternate reading): John 14:8-17 (On the night before He suffered, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit from heaven.)

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FROM A SERMON ON PENTECOST BY BEDE

Behold how the Jewish feast of the Law is a foreshadowing of our feast today. When the children of Israel had been freed from slavery in Egypt by the offering of the paschal lamb, they journeyed through the desert toward the Promised Land, and they reached Mount Sinai. On the fiftieth day after the Passover, the LORD descended upon the mountain in fire, and with the sound of a trumpet and with thunder and lightning, He gave them the ten commandments of the Law. As a memorial of the giving of the Law, He decreed an annual feast on that day, an offering of the first-fruits, in the form of two loaves of bread, made from the first grain of the new harvest, which were to be brought to the altar. We already know that the Passover Lamb and the deliverance from Egypt foreshadow the death of Christ and our deliverance from sin, as it is written: "Christ our Passover Lamb is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor 5:7). He is the true Lamb Who has taken away the sins of the world (John 1:29), Who has redeemed us from the slavery of sin at the price of His blood, and by the example of His resurrection has shown us the hope of life and everlasting liberty. The Law was given on the fiftieth day after the slaying of the lamb, when the LORD descended upon the mountain in fire; likewise on the fiftieth day after the resurrection of our Redeemer, which is today, the grace of the Holy Spirit, descending in the outward appearance of fire, was given to the disciples as they were assembled in the upper room.

The height of the mountain, and the elevation of the upper room, both indicate the sublimity of the commands and of the gifts. At the sealing of the first covenant, the people remained at the base of the mountain, a handful of elders went partway up, and only Moses ascended to the summit. At the sealing of the second covenenant, the whole community of God's people was gathered at the summit, in the upper room. For the observance of the Law was given to only one nation -- "He hath not dealt so with any nation, neither have the heathen knowledge of His Law" (Psalm 147:20) -- but the gifts of the Spirit to the Church are for the proclaiming of the Gospel to every living person on the face of the earth -- "The LORD's name is praised from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same" Malachi 1:11.

On the Jewish feast of Pentecost, there were to be offered to the LORD every year in perpetuity two loaves of bread, the first-fruits of the new harvest. So at the descent of the Spirit the Gospel was preached with power, and on that day many heard and believed and were baptized, and from men of every nation under heaven about three thousand souls were added to the Church, the first fruits of the new covenant. So every year on the feast of Pentecost, the Church baptizes, and so offers to the LORD an offering of the first-fruits of the redeemed from the face of the earth, an offering of both Jews and gentiles, as tokened by the two loaves.

Observe how the Law was given to the people of Israel on the fiftieth day of their journey to the Land of Rest that was promised to them in Canaan. So likewise, the grace of the Spirit was given to the people of the new covenant on the fiftieth day, that we might perceive that our journey is directed toward that Heavenly Country that is our Eternal Rest, our place of deep and abiding satisfaction. In the law, the fiftieth year was ordered to be called the Year of Jubilee. During that year, all debts were to be cancelled, all slaves to be set free, the very beasts of burden to be eased from their yokes, and the year given over to celebrating the Divine praises. Therefore, by this number is rightly indicated the tranquillity of that greatest peace when, at the sound of the trumpet, the dead shall be raised imperishable, and we shall all be changed into glory. Then, when we are freed from every yoke of sin, and our debts, that is to say, our faults -- have all been forgiven and cancelled, the entire company of the people of God will give themselves over to contemplating the Heavenly Vision, and the command of the LORD will be fulfilled: "Be still, and know that I am God."

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MEDITATION ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR PENTECOST

I adore Thee, my Lord, and God, the Eternal Paraclete, co-equal with the Father and the Son. I adore Thee as the Life of all that live. Through Thee the whole material Universe hangs together and consists, remains in its place, and moves internally in the order and reciprocity of its several parts. Through Thee the earth was brought into its present state, and was matured through its six days to be a habitation for man. Through Thee, all trees, herbs, fruits thrive and are perfected. Through Thee, spring comes after winter and renews all things. That wonderful and beautiful, that irresistible burst into life again, in spite of all obstacles, that awful triumph of nature, is but Thy glorious Presence.

Through Thee the many tribes of brute animals live day by day drawing in their breath from Thee. Thou art the life of the whole creation, O Eternal Paraclete -- and if of this animal and material framework, how much more of the world of spirits! Through Thee, Almighty Lord, the angels and saints sing Thee praises in heaven. Through Thee our own dead souls are quickened to serve Thee. From Thee is every good thought and desire, every good purpose, every good effort, every good success. It is by Thee that sinners are turned into saints. It is by Thee the Church is refreshed and strengthened, and champions start forth,and martyrs are carried on to their crown. I praise and adore Thee, my Sovereign Lord God, the Holy Ghost.

I adore Thee, O dread Lord, for what Thou hast done for my soul. I acknowledge and feel, not only as a matter of faith but of experience, that I cannot have one good thought or do one good act without Thee. I know, that if I attempt anything good in my own strength, I shall to a certainty fail. I have bitter experience of this. My God, I am only safe when Thou dost breathe upon me. If Thou withdraw Thy breath, forthwith my three mortal enemies rush on me and overcome me. I am as weak as water, I am utterly impotent without Thee. The minute Thou dost cease to act in me, I begin to languish, to gasp, and to faint away. Of my good desires, whatever they may be, of my good aims and aspirations, attempts, successes, habits, practices, Thou art the sole cause and present continual source. I have nothing but what I have received, and I protest now in Thy presence, O Sovereign Paraclete, that I have nothing to glory in, and everything to be humbled at.

O my dear Lord, how merciful Thou hast been to me. When I was young, Thou didst put into my heart a special devotion to Thee. Thou hast taken me up in my youth, and in my age Thou wilt not forsake me. Not for my merit, but from Thy free and bountiful love Thou didst put good resolutions into me when I was young, and didst turn me to Thee. Thou wilt never forsake me. O keep me from lukewarmness and sloth. O my dear Lord, lead me forward from strength to strength, gently, sweetly, tenderly, lovingly, powerfully, effectually, remembering my fretfulness and feebleness, till Thou bringest me into Thy heaven. John H Newman, MEDITATIONS AND DEVOTIONS

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MONDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) Send, we beseech thee, Almighty God, thy Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to thy will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the same Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, world without end.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty God, we ask you to send your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that he may direct and rule us according to your will, comfort us in all our afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.

FIRST READING: Acts 10:34-48 (Peter preaches the Gospel to Cornelius and his house, who receive the Holy Spirit and are baptized.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 3:16-21 (Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about God's offer of salvation through his Son.)

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TUESDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) Grant, we beseech thee, merciful God, that thy Church, being gathered together in unity by thy Holy Spirit, may manifest thy power among all peoples, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Grant, we beseech you, merciful God, that your Church, being gathered together in unity by your Holy Spirit, may manifest your power among all peoples, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FIRST READING: Acts 8:14-17 (Peter and John lay their hands on the Samaritan converts, who receive the Holy Spirit.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 10:1-10 (Jesus speaks of himself as the shepherd of his sheep, and the door of the sheepfold.)

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WEDNESDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK -- EMBER DAY

For those to be ordained

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who of thy divine providence hast appointed various orders in thy Church: Give thy grace, we humbly beseech thee, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for thy people; and so fill them with the truth of thy doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before thee, to the glory of thy great Name and for the benefit of thy holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty God, the giver of all good gifts, who in your divine providence have appointed various orders in your Church: Give your grace, we humbly pray, to all who are [now] called to any office and ministry for your people; and so fill them with the truth of your doctrine and clothe them with holiness of life, that they may faithfully serve before you, to the glory of your great Name and for the benefit of your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 3:17--4:6 (The Spirit dwelling in us conforms us to the image of Christ.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 4:16-21 (Jesus, at Nazareth, applies to himself the words of Isaiah: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me....")

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THURSDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, who as at this time didst teach the hearts of thy faithful people, by sending to them the light of thy Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people, by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a sound judgement in all things, and always to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

EPISTLE: Romans 8:1-11 ("The law of the Spirit of life in Christ has made me free from the law of sin and death.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 16:12-15 (Jesus speaks of the Spirit as the guide to truth.)

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FRIDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK -- EMBER DAY

For the choice of fit persons for the ministry

PRAYER (traditional language) O God, who didst lead thy holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that thy Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of thy kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Spirit, one God, for ever for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) O God, who led your holy apostles to ordain ministers in every place: Grant that your Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, may choose suitable persons for the ministry of Word and Sacrament, and may uphold them in their work for the extension of your kingdom; through him who is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever for ever.

EPISTLE: Titus 3:4-8 (God saves us by the washing of rebirth and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 28:16-20 (The risen Christ sends his disciples forth to preach and to baptize, promising to be with them always.)

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SATURDAY IN WHITSUN WEEK -- EMBER DAY

For all Christians in their vocation

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before thee for all members of thy holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and godly serve thee; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers, which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

EPISTLE: Ephesians 2:13-22 (Christ reconciles in his own body both Jew and Greek, to God and to each other.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19-23 (The risen Lord appears to his disciples and tells them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.")

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FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST: TRINITY SUNDAY

Many Christians observe the first Sunday after Pentecost as a feast in honor of the Holy Trinity.

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty and everlasting God, who hast given unto us thy servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of thy Divine Majesty to worship the Unity: We beseech thee that thou wouldst keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see thee in thy one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit livest and reignest, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty and everlasting God, who have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Genesis 1:1--2:3 (The Creation Hymn. God, by His Word and His Spirit, brings into being the whole created universe, and makes man, male and female, in His own image.)

PSALM 150 ("Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!")

EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14 ("May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 28:16-20 (Jesus said: "Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. I am with you to the end of the age.")

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Exodus 3:1-6 (God speaks to Moses out of a burning bush, saying, "I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.")

PSALM 93 (or the Canticle "Benedictus es, Domine") (The LORD is King. No earthquake, no typhoon can shake His throne. He reigns in holiness forever.)

EPISTLE: Romans 8:12-17 (The Spirit makes us sons of God, and fellow heirs with Christ, called to share His sufferings and His glory.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 3:1-16 (Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, about rebirth through the action of the Spirit, and eternal life through faith in the Son of Man, who is also the Son of God.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Isaiah 6:1-8 (Isaiah in a vision beholds the Lord and receives his prophetic commission. The earthly temple becomes an icon for the temple in heaven. Isaiah is purged of his guilt and sin and responds to the Lord's call. The church hears in the "Thrice Holy" song of the seraphim an anticipation of its praise of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.)

PSALM 29 (or the Canticle "Benedictus es, Domine") (The majesty of God is described in the likeness of a mighty thunderstorm.)

FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 4:1-11 (In this reading John describes his vision of worship in heaven. Caught up by the Spirit, John beholds the magnificence of the glory of God and hears God's praise. Heavenly beings sing "Holy, Holy, Holy" to the sovereign Lord and confess the majesty of the Creator of all things.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 16:5-15 (Jesus promises to his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit who will guide them into all truth. The Spirit will make known things that are to come, and will glorifiy Jesus in that everything declared by the Spirit will be received from Jesus. All that the Father has belongs to Jesus. The Spirit, then, reveals Jesus who himself has made the Father known.

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FOR THE FEAST OF THE HOLY TRINITY

Children of men, lift up your hearts. Laud and magnify God, the everlasting Wisdom, the holy, undivided and adorable Trinity. Praise Him that He hath made man in His own image, a maker and craftsman like Himself, a little mirror of His triune majesty. For every work of creation is threefold, an earthly trinity to match the heavenly. First: there is the Creative Idea; passionless, timeless, beholding the whole work complete at once, the end in the beginning; and this is the image of the Father. Second: there is the Creative Energy, begotten of that Idea, working in time from the beginning to the end, with sweat and passion, being incarnate in the bonds of matter; and this is the image of the Word. Third: there is the Creative Power, the meaning of the work and its reponse in the lively soul; and this is the image of the indwelling Spirit. And these three are one, each equally in itself the whole work, whereof none can exist without other; and this is the image of the Trinity. Behold, then, and honor, all beautiful work of the craftsman, imagined by men's minds, built by the labor of men's hands, working with power upon the souls of men, image of the everlasting Trinity, God's witness in world and time. And whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

(Dorothy L Sayers, THE ZEAL OF THY HOUSE)

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CORPUS CHRISTI THE FEAST OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night before He was handed over to suffering and death, instituted the Sacrament of His Body and Blood. We remember that institution on its anniversary, the Thursday before Easter, called Maundy Thursday. However, at that time we see the Institution of the Sacrament chiefly as an event in the hours leading up to the Crucifixion. Today, nine weeks later, on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, we pause to give thanks for the Sacrament as Our Lord's abiding presence among us, His gracious invitation to be united in love with Him and with each other as we gather around the holy banquet which He has provided for us, a foretaste of the Heavenly Feast.

(NOTE: "Corpus Christi" is Latin for "The Body of Christ.")

FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (God fed his people in the wilderness with manna from heaven, that they might learn to trust Him alone.)

PSALM 34 ("Oh, taste, and see how gracious the LORD is.")

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 10:1-4,16-17 (As God fed His people in the wilderness, so He feeds the Church today. In the one loaf, we are all made one body.)

ALTERNATE EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 (The Sacrament comes to us from Jesus Christ Himself. We must therefore partake of it with reverence and in a suitable manner.)

ALTERNATE FOR THE EPISTLE: Revelation 19:1-2a,4-9 ("Happy are they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!")

THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 6:47-58 (Jesus said: "I am the bread of life.")

PRAYER (traditional language) God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament hath left unto us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of His body and blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of His body and blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

HYMNS IN HONOR OF THE SACRAMENT

I come with joy to meet my Lord, G | c - c | d e g | c - c | A G forgiven, loved, and free, G | c - c | d e g | g - - | - - in awe and wonder to recall g | a - g | e -f g | c - c | A G his life laid down for me. G | c - e | f e d | c - - | - -

I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ's communion bread.

As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends. That love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends.

And thus with joy we meet our Lord. His presence, always near, is in such friendship better known: we see and praise him here.

Together met, together bound, we'll go our different ways, and as his people in the world, we'll live and speak his praise.

Father, we thank thee who hast planted c - A G c c d f e - d - thy holy Name with our hearts. g - e e c f e - d - c - - - Knowledge and faith and life immortal c - A G c c d f e - d - Jesus thy Son to us imparts. g - f e d c c B c - - - Thou, Lord, didst make all for thy g - g f e - d - c B A - G - pleasure, didst give us food for all our days, G - c c B A c - d - e - - - giving in Christ the Bread eternal; c - c d e c f f e - d - thine is the power, be thine the praise.g - f e d c c B c - - -

Watch o'er thy Church, O Lord, in mercy, save it from evil, guard it still, perfect it in thy love, unite it, cleansed and conformed unto thy will. As grain, once scattered on the hillsides, was in this broken bread made one, so from all lands thy Church be gathered into thy kingdom by thy Son.

Words: from the DIDACHE, c. 110, tr. F Bland Tucker (1895-1984) Tune: RENDEZ A DIEU, from THE GENEVA PSALTER (Bourgeois, 1510-1561).

Look, Father, look on his annointed face, and only look on us as found in him; look not on our misusings of thy grace, our prayer so languid, and our faith so dim: for lo! between our sins and their reward, we set the passion of thy Son our Lord.

And then, for those, our dearest and our best, by this prevailing presence we appeal; O fold them closer to thy mercy's breast! O do thine utmost for their soul's true weal! From tainting mischief keep them pure and clear, and crown thy gifts with strength to persevere.

And so we come: O draw us to thy feet, most patient Saviour, who canst love us still! And by this food, so awesome and so sweet, deliver us from every touch of ill: in thine own service make us glad and free, and grant us nevermore to part from thee.

Words: William Bright (1824-1901) Tune: UNDE ET MEMORES, William Henry Monk (1823-1889)

[NOTE: R = F sharp -- the scale is C (P) D (Q) E F (R) G (S) A (T) B c]