The Lessons Appointed for Use

on the

First Saturday of Advent

 

 

 

Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26
Matthew 9:35-10:1,5-8
Psalm 147:1-12

Preface of Advent

The Collect

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26

Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you. Though the Lord may give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself any more, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left, your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

He will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and grain, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. On that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures; and the oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat silage, which has been winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water-- on a day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. Moreover the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold, like the light of seven days, on the day when the LORD binds up the injuries of his people, and heals the wounds inflicted by his blow.

The Psalm

Psalm 147:1-12 Page 804, BCP

Laudate Dominum

1
Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!

2
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem; *
he gathers the exiles of Israel.

3
He heals the brokenhearted *
and binds up their wounds.

4
He counts the number of the stars *
and calls them all by their names.

5
Great is our LORD and mighty in power; *
there is no limit to his wisdom.

6
The LORD lifts up the lowly, *
but casts the wicked to the ground.

7
Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; *
make music to our God upon the harp.

8
He covers the heavens with clouds *
and prepares rain for the earth;

9
He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
and green plants to serve mankind.

10
He provides food for flocks and herds *
and for the young ravens when they cry.

11
He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;

12
But the LORD has pleasure in those who fear him, *
in those who await his gracious favor.

Matthew 9:35-10:1,5-8

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, `The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment."


Optional parts of the readings are set off in square brackets.

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.


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