Opening Sentence: Pentecost

The hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship him. John 4:23

Confession

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

Invitatory

Lord, open our lips.

And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord renews the face of the earth: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

Venite Psalm 95:1-7

Come let us sing to the Lord; *
let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *
and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *
and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *
Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

Antiphon

Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord renews the face of the earth: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.

Psalm 61 Exaudi, Deus

1

Hear my cry, O God, *
and listen to my prayer.

2

I call upon you from the ends of the earth
with heaviness in my heart; *
set me upon the rock that is higher than I.

3

For you have been my refuge, *
a strong tower against the enemy.

4

I will dwell in your house for ever; *
I will take refuge under the cover of your wings.

5

For you, O God, have heard my vows; *
you have granted me the heritage of those who fear your Name.

6

Add length of days to the king's life; *
let his years extend over many generations.

7

Let him sit enthroned before God for ever; *
bid love and faithfulness watch over him.

8

So will I always sing the praise of your Name, *
and day by day I will fulfill my vows.

Psalm 62 Nonne Deo?

1

For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
from him comes my salvation.

2

He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.

3

How long will you assail me to crush me,
all of you together, *
as if you were a leaning fence, a toppling wall?

4

They seek only to bring me down from my place of honor; *
lies are their chief delight.

5

They bless with their lips, *
but in their hearts they curse.

6

For God alone my soul in silence waits; *
truly, my hope is in him.

7

He alone is my rock and my salvation, *
my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

8

In God is my safety and my honor; *
God is my strong rock and my refuge.

9

Put your trust in him always, O people, *
pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

10

Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath, *
even those of low estate cannot be trusted.

11

On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *
all of them together.

12

Put no trust in extortion;
in robbery take no empty pride; *
though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

13

God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *
that power belongs to God.

14

Steadfast love is yours, O Lord, *
for you repay everyone according to his deeds.

Gloria Patri

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Old Testament Lesson

Ecclus. 43:1-22 (NRSV)

Sir 43:1 (NRSV) The pride of the higher realms is the clear vault of the sky, as glorious to behold as the sight of the heavens. 2 The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises what a marvelous instrument it is, the work of the Most High. 3 At noon it parches the land, and who can withstand its burning heat? 4 A man tending {Other ancient authorities read [blowing upon] } a furnace works in burning heat, but three times as hot is the sun scorching the mountains; it breathes out fiery vapors, and its bright rays blind the eyes. 5 Great is the Lord who made it; at his orders it hurries on its course. 6 It is the moon that marks the changing seasons, {Heb: Meaning of Gk uncertain} governing the times, their everlasting sign. 7 From the moon comes the sign for festal days, a light that wanes when it completes its course. 8 The new moon, as its name suggests, renews itself; {Heb: Gk [The month is named after the moon] } how marvelous it is in this change, a beacon to the hosts on high, shining in the vault of the heavens! 9 The glory of the stars is the beauty of heaven, a glittering array in the heights of the Lord. 10 On the orders of the Holy One they stand in their appointed places; they never relax in their watches. 11 Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it; it is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. 12 It encircles the sky with its glorious arc; the hands of the Most High have stretched it out. 13 By his command he sends the driving snow and speeds the lightnings of his judgment. 14 Therefore the storehouses are opened, and the clouds fly out like birds. 15 In his majesty he gives the clouds their strength, and the hailstones are broken in pieces. 16 {17a}The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth; {16}when he appears, the mountains shake. At his will the south wind blows; 17 {17b}so do the storm from the north and the whirlwind. He scatters the snow like birds flying down, and its descent is like locusts alighting. 18 The eye is dazzled by the beauty of its whiteness, and the mind is amazed as it falls. 19 He pours frost over the earth like salt, and icicles form like pointed thorns. 20 The cold north wind blows, and ice freezes on the water; it settles on every pool of water, and the water puts it on like a breastplate. 21 He consumes the mountains and burns up the wilderness, and withers the tender grass like fire. 22 A mist quickly heals all things; the falling dew gives refreshment from the heat.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Canticle 13 Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34
Benedictus es, Domine

Glory to you, Lord God of our fathers; *
you are worthy of praise; glory to you.

Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you in the splendor of your temple; *
on the throne of your majesty, glory to you.

Glory to you, seated between the Cherubim; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

Glory to you, beholding the depths; *
in the high vault of heaven, glory to you.

Glory to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *
we will praise you and highly exalt you for ever.

New Testament Lesson

Rev. 14:14-15:8 (NRSV)

14Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand! 15Another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to the one who sat on the cloud, 'Use your sickle and reap, for the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.' 16So the one who sat on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped. 17Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18Then another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over fire, and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, 'Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.' 19So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and gathered the vintage of the earth, and he threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the wine press, as high as a horse's bridle, for a distance of about two hundred miles.

Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is ended. 2And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. 3And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: 'Great and amazing are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, King of the nations! 4Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your judgments have been revealed.'

5 After this I looked, and the temple of the tent of witness in heaven was opened, 6and out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, robed in pure bright linen, with golden sashes across their chests. 7Then one of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever; 8and the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were ended.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Gospel

Luke 13:1-9 (NRSV)

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2He asked them, 'Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them-do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.'

6 Then he told this parable: 'A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the gardener, "See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?" 8He replied, "Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down."'

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Canticle 18 A Song to the Lamb
Dignus es Revelation 4:11, 5:9-10, 13

Splendor and honor and kingly power *
are yours by right, O Lord our God,

For you created everything that is, *
and by your will they were created and have their being;

And yours by right, O Lamb that was slain, *
for with your blood you have redeemed for God,

From every family, language, people, and nation, *
a kingdom of priests to serve our God.

And so, to him who sits upon the throne, *
and to Christ the Lamb,

Be worship and praise, dominion and splendor, *
for ever and for ever more.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

• Departure of the Righteous Abba Hilarion the Anchorite
• Martyrdom of Saints Paul, Longinus and Deenah (Zaina)

The divine zeal moved him to learn the Christian sciences. He asked for the books of the church and read them and Abba Alexandros the Patriarch explained to him what was difficult for him to understand. He did not hesitate to believe in the Lord Jesus, and the Patriarch baptized him and he gained the divine Grace.

He stayed with the Patriarch for a short time, then he went to St. Anthony. When he saw St. Anthony, he marvelled at his profound reverence and his shining face through the grace of the Holy Spirit. His heart was deeply moved and he desired to join the monastic life. He took off his worldly clothes and put on the garb of monasticism and started practising its works with diligent devotion, using St. Anthony as an example.

After a while, he heard that his parents had died so he went back to his city, took whatever they had left and gave it to the poor and needy. Then he entered one of the monasteries of Syria and followed the path of asceticism with great devotion. He used to fast for a whole week, eating vegetables and herbs. God enlightened his mind and gave him the gift of prophecy and of performing miracles.

After a period of time St. Epiphanius became a monk in the same monastery, and the abbot of the monastery assigned him to St. Hilarion. St. Hilarion taught him the ways of the monastic life and the doctrines of the church and prophesied that he would become the Bishop of Cyprus.

The days of this father amounted to eighty years: ten years were spent in the house of his parents, seven years in the City of Alexandria and 63 years in worship. He pleased God and departed in a good old age. John Chrysostom (the Golden Mouth) praised him in some of his articles and St. Basil mentioned him in some of his homilies.

Apostles' Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the 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.

The Lord's Prayer

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.

Suffrages A

Show us your mercy, O Lord;

And grant us your salvation.

Clothe your ministers with righteousness;

Let your people sing with joy.

Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;

For only in you can we live in safety.

Lord, keep this nation under your care;

And guide us in the way of justice and truth.

Let your way be known upon earth;

Your saving health among all nations.

Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;

Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.

Create in us clean hearts, O God;

And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

Collect of the Day: Pentecost, proper 26

Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance

Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Mission

World Cycle of Prayer

We pray for the people of Sri Lanka.

Ceylon Sri Lanka Page

Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer

We pray for our sisters and brothers, members of the National Baptist Church.

The National Baptist Church

For the Human Family

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Prisons and Correctional Institutions

Lord Jesus, for our sake you were condemned as a criminal: Visit our jails and prisons with your pity and judgment. Remember all prisoners, and bring the guilty to repentance and amendment of life according to your will, and give them hope for their future. When any are held unjustly, bring them release; forgive us, and teach us to improve our justice. Remember those who work in these institutions; keep them humane and compassionate; and save them from becoming brutal or callous. And since what we do for those in prison, O Lord, we do for you, constrain us to improve their lot. All this we ask for your mercy's sake. Amen.

For the Victims of Addiction

Blessed Lord, you ministered to all who came to you: Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who care for them, give patient understanding and persevering love. Amen.

A Prayer of Self-Dedication

General Thanksgiving

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.

Benediction

Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia.