Opening Sentence: Pentecost
The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:20
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 earth is the Lord's for he made it: 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 earth is the Lord's for he made it: Come let us adore him. Alleluia.
Psalm 89
Part I Misericordias Domini
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
2 Kings 17:24-41 (NRSV)
24 The king of Assyria brought people from
Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them
in the cities of Samaria in place of the people of Israel; they
took possession of Samaria, and settled in its cities. 25 When
they first settled there, they did not worship the LORD; therefore
the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. 26
So the king of Assyria was told, "The nations that you have
carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the
law of the god of the land; therefore he has sent lions among
them; they are killing them, because they do not know the law
of the god of the land." 27 Then the king of Assyria commanded,
"Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from
there; let him go and live there, and teach them the law of the
god of the land." 28 So one of the priests whom they had
carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel; he taught
them how they should worship the LORD.
29 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in
the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had
made, every nation in the cities in which they lived; 30 the
people of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the people of Cuth made
Nergal, the people of Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made
Nibhaz and Tartak; the Sepharvites burned their children in the
fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 32
They also worshiped the LORD and appointed from among themselves
all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed
for them in the shrines of the high places. 33 So they worshiped
the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the
nations from among whom they had been carried away. 34 To this
day they continue to practice their former customs.
They do not worship the LORD and they do not follow the statutes
or the ordinances or the law or the commandment that the LORD
commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. 35 The
LORD had made a covenant with them and commanded them, "You
shall not worship other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve
them or sacrifice to them, 36 but you shall worship the LORD,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and
with an outstretched arm; you shall bow yourselves to him, and
to him you shall sacrifice. 37 The statutes and the ordinances
and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall
always be careful to observe. You shall not worship other gods;
38 you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you.
You shall not worship other gods, 39 but you shall worship the
LORD your God; he will deliver you out of the hand of all your
enemies." 40 They would not listen, however, but they continued
to practice their former custom.
41 So these nations worshiped the LORD, but also served their
carved images; to this day their children and their children's
children continue to do as their ancestors did.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle 9 The First Song of Isaiah
Ecce, Deus Isaiah 12:2-6
Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold
and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water
with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say,
*
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the
peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord,
for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion,
ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
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.
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 7:25-31 (NRSV)
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 26 I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that. 29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Matthew 6:25-34 (NRSV)
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or
about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food,
and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the
air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet
your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than
they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to
your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider
the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor
spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not
clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass
of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into
the oven, will he not much more clothe you-you of little faith?
31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What
will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' 32 For it is the Gentiles
who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father
knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for
the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things
will be given to you as well.
34 "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring
worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Canticle 19 The Song of the Redeemed
Magna et mirabilia Revelation 15:3-4
O ruler of the universe, Lord God,
great deeds are they that you have done, *
surpassing human understanding.
Your ways are ways of righteousness and truth, *
O King of all the ages
Who can fail to do you homage, Lord
and sing the praises of your Name
for you only are the Holy One.
All nations will draw near and
fall down before you
because your just and holy works have been revealed.
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.
On this day also departed the blessed Theognosta. She lived in the days of the righteous Emperors Honorius and Arcadius.
One day an envoy came with gifts from the King of India to the two Emperors. On their way back they met a virgin named Theognosta holding a book which she was reading. They seized her and took her with them to their country and made her the head of the King's attendants and his wives. One day, the son of the King became very sick. She held him in her arms and made the sign of the Cross over him and he recovered at once. This news spread throughout that land and from that day she was set free.
It also happened that the King went to war. There came upon him and his army thick clouds and fog. Knowing of the sign of the Cross which Theognosta used to make, the King made the sign of the Cross over the winds and it became clear again, and with the sign of the Cross he vanquished his enemies.
When the King returned home from the war, he bowed down at the feet of the Saint, and asked her for the holy baptism for himself and for the people of his city. She told them that it was not for her to baptize. They sent to Emperor Honorius, informed him of their acceptance of the faith and asked him to send a priest to baptize them. He sent to them a priest who was a saintly anchorite, baptized them all and gave them the Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The virgin rejoiced for his coming and they blessed each other. She built a convent for herself and for many virgins who desired to be nuns.
When the priest returned to the Emperor and related to him how the people of the city entered into the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Emperor rejoiced exceedingly. The Emperor then agreed with the Archbishop to promote the priest to a bishop and to send him back to them, and they rejoiced greatly.
There they had built a big church and they needed pillars. There was a temple for idols which had pillars so they took them to build the church. The rest of the people of the city joined the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The virgin St. Theognosta rejoiced for all that had happened and later departed in the convent.
The Monk Chariton the Confessor suffered at Iconium during the time of one of the persecutions against Christians under either the emperor Galerius (305-311), Maximian (305-311) or Licinius (311-324). The grace-bearing example of the holy First-Martyress Thekla (commemorated 24 September) encouraged him in his confessor's deed -- she being a native of his city, whose memory he in particular deeply venerated. Saint Chariton bravely denounced the pagan gods and staunchly confessed faith in the One True God -- Christ the Saviour. The holy Confessor underwent fierce tortures but, through the Providence of God, he remained alive. When the persecution abated, the saint was set free from imprisonment and he dedicated all his life to the service of the Lord. Journeying to Jerusalem on pilgrimage to the holy places, he fell into the hands of robbers. They tied him and threw him in a cave, intending later to kill him, and they themselves hastened off on business. In expectation of death the saint prayed heatedly, he gave thanks to God and entreated him to do with him according to His will. At this time a snake crawled into the cave and began to drink wine from a vessel setting there, poisoning it with its deadly venom. Having returned to the cave, the robbers drank the poisoned wine and they all perished. The Monk Chariton, giving thanks to God, began asceticising at the place of his miraculous rescue. The plundered gold of the robbers he distributed to the poor, and in the monastery -- in the robbers cave he built a church, around which in time there formed a monastery -- the reknown Tharan Laura in Palestine. The Monk Chariton compiled a strict ustav [rule] for his monastery. Yearning for solitude, the monk went farther into the wilderness, but there also he did not reject those who besought his spiritual guidance, and he founded yet two more monasteries -- the Jerichon and the Tree-branched, named the "Palm Laura". At the end of his life the Monk Chariton asceticised in a cave on an hill, nearby the Tree-branched monastery, but he did not cease guidance with all three of the monasteries founded by him. By tradition, the Monk Chariton compiled the office of taking monastic vows. The Monk Chariton the Confessor died in extreme old age and was buried, in accord with his last-wishes, in the Tharan monastery in the church, built on the spot of the robbers cave.
The Sobor [Assemblage] of Monastic Fathers, venerated in the Nearer Caves (of the Monk Antonii), is celebrated now on 28 September. This general commemoration previously was on the first Saturday after the Leave-taking of the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, i.e. after 21 September. The establishing of the celebration of the general commemoration of the Monastics, venerated in the Antoniev Cave -- on the Saturday after the Leave-taking of the feast of the Exaltation of the Venerable Cross -- dates to the year 1670. During the restoration of the Caves, damaged by an earthquake, some of the relics of the ancient ascetics were uncovered and a temple built in honour of the Exaltation of the Venerable Cross.
In 1760 a stone church in honour of the Exaltation of the Venerable Cross was built over the Caves. In 1886 under the Kiev metropolitan Platon, the celebration of the memory of the Sobor [Assemblage] of the Nearer Caves was moved to 28 September, in conjunction with the celebrating on 28 August of the memory of the Assemblage [Sobor] of the Saints of the Farther Caves. Two canons to the Monastic Fathers, venerated in the Nearer Caves, are known: the first, compiled by the priest-monk Meletii the Orphan (inscribed in the Kiev Akathistnik of 1764). The second, found in the services to the Pechersk monastics, was compiled by Sainted Dimitrii of Rostov.
The Sobor [Assemblage] of the Monastic Fathers of the Nearer Caves includes (in parenthesis is given the day of individual memory, wherein also is located an account about the life of the saint):
The Monk Antonii (Anthony) the First-Founder (commemorated 10 July); the Monk Prokhor the Wonderworker, named the Weed-eater (commemorated 10 February); the Monk John the Faster (commemorated 7 December); the Monastic Juliania the Maiden, Princess of Ol'shansk (commemorated 6 July); the MonkMartyrs Vasilii (Basil) and Feodor (Theodore) (commemorated 11 August); the Monk Polykarp, Archmandrite of Pechersk (commemorated 24 July); the Monk Varlaam, Hegumen of Perchersk (commemorated 19 November); the Monk Damian the Presbyter and Healer (commemorated 5 October); the Monk Nikodom the Prosphora-maker (commemorated 31 October); the Monk Lavrentii [Lawrence] the Hermit, Bishop of Turov (commemorated 29 January); the Monk Afanasii (Athanasii) the Hermit (commemorated 2 December); the Monk Erasm the Black-Garbed (commemorated 24 February); the Monk Luke, Steward of Pechersk (commemorated 6 November); the Monk Agapit, Gratuitous Physician (commemorated 1 June); Monks Theophil the Exact-Sighted and John the God-pleasing, within a single Coffin (commemorated 29 December); the Monk Nektarii the Obedient (commemorated 29 November); the Monk Grigorii (Gregory) the Iconographer (commemorated 8 August); the PriestMartyr Kuksha, Enlightener of the Vyati (commemorated 27 August); Monk Aleksii (Alexei) the Hermit (commemorated 24 April); Monk Savva the God-pleasing (commemorated 24 April); Monk Sergei the Obedient (commemorated 7 October); the Monk Mekurii, Bishop of Smolensk (commemorated 7 August); the Monk Pimen the MuchSick (commemorated 7 August); the Monk Nestor the Chronicler (commemorated 27 October); the MonkMartyr Evstratii (commemorated 28 March); Monk Elladii the Hermit (commemorated 4 October); Monk Jeremiah the Perspicacious (commemorated 5 October); MonkMartyr Moisei (Moses) the Ugrian (Hungarian) (commemorated 26 July); Monk John the MuchSuffering (commemorated 18 July); Monk Mark the Grave-digger (commemorated 29 December); the Monk Nikola Svyatosha, Prince of Chernigov (commemorated 14 October); Martyr Grigorii (Gregory) the Wonderworker (commemorated 8 January); Monk Onysim the Hermit (commemorated 4 October and 21 July); Monk Matfei (Matthew) the Perspicacious (commemorated 5 October); Monk Isaiah the Wonderworker (commemorated 15 May); Monk Avramii (Abraham) the WorkLover (commemorated 21 August); Monk Nyphont, Bishop of Novgorod (commemorated 8 April); Monk Syl'vester the Wonderworker (commemorated 2 January); Monk Pimen the Faster (commemorated 27 August); the Monk Onuphrii the Silent (commemorated 21 July); Monk Anatolii the Hermit (commemorated 3 July); the Monk Alypii the Iconographer (commemorated 17 August); Monk Sisoi the Hermit (commemorated 24 October); Monk Theophil the Hermit (commemorated 24 October); Monk Aretha the Hermit (commemorated 24 October); Monk Spiridon the Prosphora-maker (commemorated 31 October); the Monk Onysiphor the Confessor (commemorated 9 November); Monk Simon, Bishop of Suzdal' (commemorated 10 May); the Monk Nikon, Hegumen of Pechersk (commemorated 23 March); Monk Theophan the Faster (commemorated 11 October); the Monk Makarii (commemorated 19 January); MonkMartyr Anastasii the Deacon (commemorated 22 January); Twelve Greek Master Architects of the Kievo-Pechersk Great Church in honour of the Uspenie (Dormition) of the MostHoly Mother of God (commemorated 14 February); Monk Avramii (Abraham) the Hermit (commemorated 29 October); Monk Isaakii (Isaac) the Hermit (commemorated 14 February); Martyr John the Infant (commemorated in common with the 14,000 Infants killed at Bethlehem by Herod on 29 December); Monk Ilya of Murom (commemorated 19 December); Monk Nikon the Lean (commemorated 11 December); Monk Ephrem, Bishop of Pereyaslavl' (commemorated 28 January); Monk Tito the PriestMonk (commemorated 27 February).
Besides these enumerated Saints, amidst the Pechersk Monastics are known 30 Saints of God, of whom were preserved myrh-bearing heads. In the Service to the Monastic Fathers of the Nearer Caves on 28 September are mentioned also: the Monk Ephrem the Priest (ode 9) -- about whom the priestmonk Afanasii Kal'pophyisky wrote in 1638, that his undecayed body, dressing in priestly vestments, lay opposite the relics of the Monk Ilya of Murom; and about the Monk Evstathii, formerly in the world a goldsmith (ode 8).
In the Canon of Meletii the Orphan also is mentioned: Sainted Dionisii, Archbishop of Suzdal' (commemorated 26 June and also 15 October). The sainted-hierarch was detained by the Lithuanian prince at Kiev upon his elevation by Constantinople to the dignity of Metropolitan of Moscow. He died on 15 October 1384 and was placed in the Antoniev Cave.
Besides the Monks mentioned in the Services, the priestmonk Afanasii Kal'pophyisky in hi Manuscript of 1638 indicated yet more Saints, whose uncovered relics they venerated: the Monk Ieronym, Hermit and Wonderworker; the Monk Meladii, holy Elder and Wonderworker; the Monk Pergii, holy Elder; the Monk Pavel (Paul) -- a monk of Wondrous Obedience.
In the old hand-written Kalendars are preserved the names of priests: the Monk Meletii, the Monk Serapion, the Monk Philaret, the Monk Peter.
In one of the branches of the Nearer Caves was discovered on 24 May 1853 an inscription on the crypts from the XI Century: "Lord, preserve as Thy servants Theodosii and Theophil, many years"; "Grave of the Cave-Dweller Ivan -- here lived and is now Ivan the sinner"; on an oak-board: "Ivan the Cave-Dweller." Thus were revealed names of the new Pechersk Fathers: Theophil, Theodosii and John.
There is also a commemoration in common of the Monastics of the Nearer Caves together with the Monastics of the Farther Caves -- on the 2nd Sunday of Great Lent, when there is celebrated the Sobor (Assemblage) of all the Monastic Fathers of Kievo-Pechersk. The Canon of the Priestmonk Meletii the Orphan enters into the Service of that feastday (the Service to the Pechersk Monastic Fathers and to all the Saints, illumined in Little Russia, inscribed from Akathists with a Canon. Kiev, in the typography of the Kievo-Pechersk Uspenie Lavra, 1866).
Without doubt, far from all the names of the Kievo-Pechersk Monastic Fathers are known. In the in-common Commemoration of the Sobor (Assemblage) are glorified all the Fathers, illumined by ascetic deeds in the Caves. In the ikos of the Service of 28 September it speaks thus about this: "The praises to all those, whomever do be Thy Saints, O Blessed One, do reckon them multiplied more than the very sands. But Thyself, O Master Christ, having counted out the stars and named all named, grant them our prayers..."
Monk Khariton of Syanzhemsk: On this day is celebrated the memory of the monk because of his same-name in common with the Monk Chariton the Confessor. The account about him is located under 11 April -- the day of his repose.
The Monk Irodion of Iloezersk and Novgorod, was a disciple of the Monk Kornilii of Komel'sk (+19 May 1537). After the death of his preceptor, he settled at Iloezersk -- 20 kilometers from Belozersk, and there on a peninsula he built himself a cell and established a church in honour of the Nativity of the MostHoly Mother of God, marking the beginning of the Iloezersk Ozadsk monastery. The monk was strict at fasting, he spent the nights at prayer and every Saturday he communed the Holy Mysteries. An Angel announced to the monk about the proximity of his end. He died a schema-monk on 28 September 1541 and was buried in the chapel built by him.
The first icon of the Monk Irodion was written after his appearance to a certain Sophonii. Sophonii, impiously having thrust his staff in at the grave of the monk, was struck blind, but by prayer to the saint he received back his sight.
A Short Life of the Monk Irodion was written by the archimandrite Mitrophan of Belozersk monastery, who in 1653, with the blessing of the Novgorod metropolitan (afterwards patriarch) Nikon, witnessed to a miracle worked from the relics of the Monk Irodion. There was then established a celebration to his memory. At the place of the chapel of the Monk Irodion was erected a church in honour of the Nativity of the MostHoly Mother of God together with a chapel in the name of the Monk Irodion of Iloezersk.
The Holy Prophet Baruch was an inseparable companion, disciple, friend and scribe of the great Prophet Jeremiah (commemorated 1 May). He wrote down an entire scroll of his prophetic sayings and read them to the people in the Jerusalem Temple. Together with his teacher, Saint Baruch grievously bewailed the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnessar, and he taught and censured the Jews, and he suffered from them spite and vexation. He was a witness of how they killed the holy Prophet Jeremiah with stones, and gave over his body to burial.
After the martyr's death of the Prophet Jeremiah, Saint Baruch lived a short while and died in Egypt, in the VI Century before the Birth of Christ. The holy Prophet Baruch prophesied about the return of the Jews from the Babylonian Captivity and about the desolation of Babylon. He clearly prophesied about the coming into the world of the Son of God, Who would "dwell with mankind". His prophecy begins with the words: "This is our God, and naught else doth compare with Him" (Bar 3:36-38, 4:1-5).
The Book of the Prophet Baruch is regarded as uncanonical and is annexed to the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. On the eve of the Nativity of Christ from it are read paroemi [Old Testament readings], expressed as prophecy from Jeremiah.
The Holy Martyrs Alexander, Altheos, Zosima, Mark the Shepherd, Nikon, Neonos, Iliodoros and others suffered for the confession of the Christian faith in various places of Asia Minor during the reign of Diocletian (284-305). Saint Mark, a shepherd, was arrested for his open confession of the Christian faith in the surroundings of Pisidian Antioch. The 30 soldiers guarding him were converted by Saint Mark, and they were beheaded at Nicea, but Saint Mark was sentenced to tortures. For the preparation of the instruments of torture they summoned three brother blacksmiths from the settlement of Katalitea, or Kalitea -- Alexander, Altheos and Zosima, but the iron did not melt down and fuse, and the hands of the blacksmiths grew numb. Hearing a voice, summoning them to suffer together with Saint Mark, the brothers believed in Christ. After fierce torture they poured in their throats molten tin (+28 September). After torture they beheaded Saint Mark at Claudiopolis. When they carried the head of the holy martyr into the pagan temple of Artemis, all the idols fell down and smashed. The witnesses of this miracle -- Nikon, Neonos, Iliodoros, maidens and lads -- believed in Christ, confessed their faith and died martyrs at Maromilium.
The Holy Nobleborn Prince Vyacheslav of the Czechs was a grandson of the holy Martyress and Princess Liudmila (commemorated 16 September), and he was raised by her in deep piety. He began to rule at age 18 after the death of his father prince Bratislav (+920). In spite of his youthful age, he ruled wisely and justly and concerned himself much about the Christian enlightenment of the people. The holy prince was a widely educated man, and he studied in the Latin and Greek languages. Saint Vyacheslav was peace-loving. He built and embellished churches, and in the Czech capital Prague he raised up a magnificent church in the name of Saint Vitus, and he had respect for the clergy. Envious nobles decided to murder the saint and at first to incite his mother against him, and later to urge his younger brother, Boleslav, to occupy the princely throne. Boleslav invited his brother to the dedication of a church, and then asked him to tarry and stay for still another day. In spite of the warnings of his servants, the holy prince refused to believe in a conspiracy and exposed his life to the will of God. On the following day, 28 September 935, when the nobleborn Vyacheslav went to matins, he was wickedly murdered at the doors of the church by his own brother by birth and that one's servants. His body was stabbed and thrown down without burial. The mother, hearing about the murder of her son, found and placed him in a recently consecrated church at the princely court. They were not able to wash off the blood splashed on the church doors, but after 3 days it disappeared by itself. Repenting himself, the perpetrator of the fratricide transferred the relics of Saint Vyacheslav to Prague, where they were placed in the church of Saint Vitus, which the martyr himself had constructed (the transfer of the relics of Saint Vyacheslav is celebrated on 4 March). The memory of the Nobleborn Prince Vyacheslav is honoured from of old in the Russian Orthodox Church. (There exists conjecture, that the death of the saint occurred instead in the year 929).
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 21
O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen.
World Cycle of Prayer
We pray for the people of Lebanon.
Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer
We pray for our sisters and brothers, members of the Christian Reformed Church.
For All Sorts and Conditions
O God, the creator and preserver of all, we humbly beseech you for all sorts and conditions of people; that you would be pleased to make your ways known unto them, your saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for your holy Church universal; that it may be so guided and governed by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any ways afflicted or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please you to comfort and relieve them according to their several necessities, giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
For the Poor and Neglected
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget: the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For Those Who Live Alone
Almighty God, whose Son had nowhere to lay his head: Grant that those who live alone may not be lonely in their solitude, but that, following in his steps, they may find fulfillment in loving you and their neighbors; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Prayer Attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of 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.May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Romans 15:13