The Book of Common Prayer Part 31

THE COLLECT.

Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Jer. xxiii. 5.

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Therefore behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; but, The Lord liveth, which brought up, and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north-country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

THE GOSPEL. St John vi. 5.

When Jesus then lift up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? (And this he said to prove him; for he himself knew what he would do.) Philip answered him, Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley-loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much gra.s.s in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes, as much as they would. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that Prophet that should come into the world.

_If there be any more Sundays before Advent Sunday, the Service of some of those Sundays that were omitted after the Epiphany shall be taken in to supply so many as are here wanting. And if there be fewer, the overplus may be omitted: Provided that this last Collect, Epistle, and Gospel shall always be used upon the Sunday next before Advent_.

| THE SEPTEMBER EMBER DAYS | | _The second Ember Collect in the Book of Common Prayer may be_ | _used with the Collect of the day_.

| | FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts xx. 28.

| | Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over | the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the | church of G.o.d, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I | know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in | among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall | men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after | them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the s.p.a.ce of three | years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And | now, brethren, I commend you to G.o.d, and to the word of his grace, | which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance | among all them which are sanctified. I have coveted no man's | silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these | hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were | with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye | ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord | Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

| | THE GOSPEL. St John x. 1.

| | Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the | door into the sheep-fold, but climbeth up some other way, the | same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door | is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the | sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and | leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he | goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his | voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from | him; for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake | Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were | which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, | Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

| All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the | sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter | in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

| The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to | destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they | might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good | shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an | hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, | seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth; and | the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling | fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the | sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known | of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: | and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, | which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they | shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one | shepherd.

| | _Or_ St John xxi. 15.

| | Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou | me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest | that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith | to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou | me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love | thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the | third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was | grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou | me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou | knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

| Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou | girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when | thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and | another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest | not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify | G.o.d. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

| Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved | following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, | Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith | to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, | If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

| Follow thou me.

SAINT ANDREW'S DAY

_November_ 30.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty G.o.d, who didst give such grace unto thy holy Apostle Saint Andrew, that he readily obeyed the calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him without delay: Grant unto us all, that we, being called by thy holy word, may forthwith give up ourselves obediently to fulfil thy holy commandments; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Rom. x. 9.

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that G.o.d hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him, in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the Gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. iv. 18.

Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, (for they were fishers;) and he saith unto them, Follow me; and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

SAINT THOMAS THE APOSTLE _December_ 21.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty and ever-living G.o.d, who for the more confirmation of the faith didst suffer thy holy Apostle Thomas to be doubtful in thy Son's resurrection: Grant us so perfectly, and without all doubt, to believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, that our faith in thy sight may never be reproved. Hear us, O Lord, through the same Jesus Christ, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and for evermore. _Amen_.

THE EPISTLE. Ephes. ii. 19.

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of G.o.d; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord; in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of G.o.d through the Spirit,

THE GOSPEL. St John xx. 24. Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord, and my G.o.d.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of G.o.d; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL _January_ 25.

THE COLLECT.

O G.o.d, who, through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Saint Paul, hast caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world: Grant, we beseech thee, that we, having his wonderful conversion in remembrance, may shew forth our thankfulness unto thee for the same, by following the holy doctrine which he taught; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts ix. 1.

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, and desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And, as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the p.r.i.c.ks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth, and when his eyes were opened he saw no man; but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for behold, he prayeth, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias, coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem; and here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way; for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: for I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and, putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord, (even Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou earnest,) hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of G.o.d.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said, Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

THE GOSPEL. St Matth. xix. 27.

Peter answered and said unto Jesus, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last, and the last shall be first.

THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE,

COMMONLY CALLED THE PURIFICATION OF

SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN _February_ 2.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty and everliving G.o.d, we humbly beseech thy Majesty, that, as thy only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in substance of our flesh, so we may be presented unto thee with pure and clean hearts, by the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

_Amen_.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Mal. iii. 1.

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple; even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgement, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

THE GOSPEL. St Luke ii. 22.

And when the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) and to offer a sacrifice, according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed G.o.d, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And there was one Anna a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity: and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years; which departed not from the temple, but served G.o.d with fastings and prayers night and day.

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of G.o.d was upon him.

SAINT MATTHIAS'S DAY _February_ 24.

THE COLLECT.

Almighty G.o.d, who into the place of the traitor Judas didst choose thy faithful servant Matthias to be of the number of the twelve Apostles: Grant that thy Church, being alway preserved from false Apostles, may be ordered and guided by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. _Amen_.

FOR THE EPISTLE. Acts i. 15.