As Written in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer
Today is Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The liturgical color of the day is PURPLE
The Psalter
Psalm 136
The One Hundred Thirty Sixth Psalm
Confitemini.
O GIVE thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious: * and his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of all gods: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
O thank the Lord of all lords: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who only doeth great wonders: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who laid out the earth above the waters: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who hath made great lights: * for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule the day: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
The moon and the stars to govern the night: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who smote Egypt, with their firstborn: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
And brought out Israel from among them: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
With a mighty hand and stretched-out arm: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who divided the Red Sea in two parts: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
And made Israel to go through the midst of it: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
But as for Pharaoh and his host, he overthrew them in the Red Sea: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who led his people through the wilderness: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who smote great kings: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
Yea, and slew mighty kings: * for his mercy endureth for ever:
Sihon, king of the Amorites: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
And Og, the king of Bashan: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
And gave away their land for an heritage: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
Even for an heritage unto Israel his servant: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who remembered us when we were in trouble: * for his mercy endureth for ever;
And hath delivered us from our enemies: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the Lord of lords: * for his mercy endureth for ever.
The First Lesson
Joel 2:12-19
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the Lord will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.
The Second Lesson
II Peter 2:1-10a
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government.
The Collect
Sunday Next before Advent
STIR up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people; that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may by thee be plenteously rewarded; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.