The Thirteenth Wednesday After Pentecost
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and for ever. Amen.
Come, let us worship God our King.
Come, let us worship Christ, our King and our God.
Come, let us worship Christ among us, our King and our God.
Holy God,
holy and mighty,
holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us. (3x)
Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Open my lips, O Lord, *
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence *
and take not your holy Spirit from me.
Give me the joy of your saving help again *
and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 45
Eructavit cor meum
My heart is stirring with a noble song; let me recite what I have fashioned for the king; my tongue shall be the pen of a skilled writer.
You are the fairest of men; grace flows from your lips, because God has blessed you for ever.
Strap your sword upon your thigh, O mighty warrior, in your pride and in your majesty.
Ride out and conquer in the cause of truth and for the sake of justice.
Your right hand will show you marvelous things; your arrows are very sharp, O mighty warrior.
The peoples are falling at your feet, and the king’s enemies are losing heart.
Your throne, O God, endures for ever and ever, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom; you love righteousness and hate iniquity.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
All your garments are fragrant with myrrh, aloes, and cassia, and the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad.
Kings’ daughters stand among the ladies of the court; on your right hand is the queen, adorned with the gold of Ophir.
“Hear, O daughter; consider and listen closely; forget your people and your father’s house.
The king will have pleasure in your beauty; he is your master; therefore do him honor.
The people of Tyre are here with a gift; the rich among the people seek your favor."
All glorious is the princess as she enters; her gown is cloth-of-gold.
In embroidered apparel she is brought to the king; after her the bridesmaids follow in procession.
With joy and gladness they are brought, and enter into the palace of the king.
“In place of fathers, O king, you shall have sons; you shall make them princes over all the earth.
I will make your name to be remembered from one generation to another; therefore nations will praise you for ever and ever.”
Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7
English Standard Version
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
Look at what is before your eyes. If anyone is confident that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just as he is Christ's, so also are we.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks Be to God
Mark 3:20-27
English Standard Version
Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”
And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks Be to God
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
In God's presence, think through the day ahead:
the work you will do, the people you will encounter,
the dangers or uncertainties you face,
the possibilities for joy and acts of kindness,
any particular resolutions you need to renew,
consider what might draw you from the love of God and neighbor,
the opportunities you will have to know and serve God and to grow in virtue,
remember those closest to you and all for whom you have agreed to pray,
ask God's blessings, guidance, and strength in all that lies before you.
Gather up these thoughts and reflections in the words
Our Savior taught us to say:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
Glory be to the + Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
now and always and forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy! (3x)
God, be gracious to us and bless us and shine Your countenance upon us and have mercy on us.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!
The Father+ is my hope; the Son, my refuge; the Holy Spirit, my protection:
All-Holy Trinity, glory to You!
Amen!