Herman of Alaska

The Collect

Holy God, we bless your Name for Herman, joyful North Star of Christ’s Church, who brought the Good News of Christ’s love to your people in Alaska; and we pray that, following his example and admonition, we may love you, God, above all; through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, throughout all ages. Amen.

Old Testament

Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 1:1–10

All wisdom is from the Lord,
and with him it remains for ever.

The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,
and the days of eternity—who can count them?

The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,
the abyss, and wisdom—who can search them out?

Wisdom was created before all other things,
and prudent understanding from eternity.

The root of wisdom—to whom has it been revealed?
Her subtleties—who knows them?

There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,
seated upon his throne—the Lord.

It is he who created her;
he saw her and took her measure;
he poured her out upon all his works,

upon all the living according to his gift;
he lavished her upon those who love him.

The Response

Psalm 148:7–14

Laudate Dominum/p>

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *
you sea-monsters and all deeps;

8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *
tempestuous wind, doing his will;

9 Mountains and all hills, *
fruit trees and all cedars;

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *
creeping things and winged birds;

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *
princes and all rulers of the world;

12 Young men and maidens, *
old and young together.

13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *
for his Name only is exalted,
his splendor is over earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up strength for his people
and praise for all his loyal servants, *
the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Hallelujah!

The Epistle

2 Timothy 1:3–7

I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

The Gospel

Luke 9:46–48

An argument arose among the disciples as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.”

The Lessons Appointed for Use on
the Feast of