Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-19
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 5 Before I formed
thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. 7
But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to
all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt
speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver
thee, saith the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my
mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy
mouth. 10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the
kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw
down, to build, and to plant.
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Readings
2nd Lesson
Luke 1:57
57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and
she brought forth a son. 58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how
the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her. 59
And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the
child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60
And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called
by this name. 62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have
him called. 63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His
name is John. And they marvelled all. 64 And his mouth was opened
immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. 65
And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings
were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66 And all
they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner
of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. 67 And
his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied,
saying, 68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and
redeemed his people, 69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David; 70 As he spake by the mouth of his
holy prophets, which have been since the world began: 71 That we should
be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; 72 To
perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy
covenant; 73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74 That he
would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies might serve him without fear, 75 In holiness and righteousness
before him, all the days of our life. 76 And thou, child, shalt be
called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of
the Lord to prepare his ways; 77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his
people by the remission of their sins, 78 Through the tender mercy of
our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, 79 To give
light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide
our feet into the way of peace. 80 And the child grew, and waxed strong
in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto
Israel.
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1st Lesson
Isaiah 35
1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and
the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom
abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon
shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall
see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen
ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are
of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with
vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then
the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be
unstopped. 6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of
the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams
in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the
thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each
lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be
there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the
unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring
men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor
any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but
the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall
return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their
heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall
flee away.
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2nd Lesson
1 Thessalonians 5:12-23
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you,
and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them
very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among
yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly,
comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that
which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice
evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for
this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not
the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the
very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
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Third Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Sunday
1st Lesson
Nahum 1:3-8, 15
3 The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all
acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the
storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 4 He rebuketh the sea,
and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and
Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. 5 The mountains quake at
him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea,
the world, and all that dwell therein. 6 Who can stand before his
indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury
is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. 7 The
Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them
that trust in him. 8 But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter
end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.
15 Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform
thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly
cut off.
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2nd Lesson
1 Corinthians 9:7-23
7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a
vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock,
and eateth not of the milk of the flock? 8 Say I these things as a man?
or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of
Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the
corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our
sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth
should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be
partaker of his hope. 11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is
it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? 12 If others be
partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we
have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder
the gospel of Christ. 13 Do ye not know that they which minister about
holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the
altar are partakers with the altar? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained
that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 15 But I
have used none of these things: neither have I written these things,
that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die,
than that any man should make my glorying void. 16 For though I preach
the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me;
yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this
thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation
of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily
that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without
charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free
from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain
the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the
Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might
gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as
without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to
Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak
became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to
all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the
gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
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1st Lesson
Isaiah 26:1-11
1 In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a
strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open
ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may
enter in. 3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on
thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for
in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: 5 For he bringeth down them
that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low,
even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust. 6 The foot shall
tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy. 7
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the
path of the just. 8 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we
waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the
remembrance of thee. 9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night;
yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy
judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness. 10 Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not
learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly,
and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. 11 Lord, when thy hand is
lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for
their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour
them.
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2nd Lesson
Matthew 9:35—10:15
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw
the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they
fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then
saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the
labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he
will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them
power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve
apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew
his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip,
and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of
Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the
Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 These twelve
Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the
Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet
staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11 And into whatsoever
city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there
abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be
not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not
receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or
city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It
shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of
judgment, than for that city.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Monday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 29:1-4, 9-14
1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to
year; let them kill sacrifices. 2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there
shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel. 3 And I
will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with
a mount, and I will raise forts against thee. 4 And thou shalt be
brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be
low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a
familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of
the dust.
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken,
but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. 10 For the
Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed
your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. 11
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is
sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I
pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12 And the book is
delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee:
and he saith, I am not learned. 13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as
this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour
me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me
is taught by the precept of men: 14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to
do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a
wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the
understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 5:1-20
1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country
of the Gadarenes. 2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately
there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 Who had
his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with
chains: 4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains,
and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken
in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5 And always, night and day,
he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself
with stones. 6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped
him, 7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with
thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that
thou torment me not. 8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou
unclean spirit. 9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered,
saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10 And he besought him much
that he would not send them away out of the country. 11 Now there was
there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12 And all
the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may
enter into them. 13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean
spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently
down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and
were choked in the sea. 14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it
in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was
that was done. 15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed
with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his
right mind: and they were afraid. 16 And they that saw it told them how
it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning
the swine. 17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with
the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus
suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell
them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had
compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in
Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did
marvel.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Monday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 29:15
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord,
and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who
knoweth us? 16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be
esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made
it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it,
He had no understanding? 17 Is it not yet a very little while, and
Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field
shall be esteemed as a forest? 18 And in that day shall the deaf hear
the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of
obscurity, and out of darkness. 19 The meek also shall increase their
joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of
Israel. 20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is
consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off: 21 That make a
man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in
the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. 22 Therefore
thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of
Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax
pale. 23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the
midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of
Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel. 24 They also that erred in
spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn
doctrine.
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2nd Lesson
Revelations 18:11
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for
no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold,
and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and
purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner
vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of
brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments,
and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and
beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of
men. 14 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from
thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from
thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these
things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear
of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 And saying, Alas, alas, that
great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and
decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so
great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the
company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar
off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What
city is like unto this great city! 19 And they cast dust on their heads,
and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city,
wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her
costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. 20 Rejoice over her,
thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you
on her. 21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone,
and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great
city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And
the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters,
shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever
craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a
millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a
candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the
bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for
thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were
all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and
of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Tuesday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 30:8-17
8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: 9 That this is a
rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law
of the Lord: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets,
Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy
deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause
the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith
the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in
oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this
iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a
high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall
break it as the breaking of the potter's vessel that is broken in
pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the
bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water
withal out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of
Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in
confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 16 But ye said, No;
for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride
upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. 17 One
thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye
flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an
ensign on an hill.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 5:21
21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side,
much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 22 And,
behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name;
and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 23 And besought him greatly,
saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee,
come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall
live. 24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and
thronged him. 25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve
years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent
all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his
garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be
whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and
she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 30 And Jesus,
immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned
him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his
disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and
sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about to see her
that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing and trembling,
knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told
him all the truth. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath
made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. 35 While he
yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain
which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any
further? 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith
unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And he
suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the
brother of James. 38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the
synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado,
and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. 40 And they laughed him
to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the
mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where
the damsel was lying. 41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said
unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto
thee, arise. 42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she
was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great
astonishment. 43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know
it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.
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The Third Sunday after Advent
Evening
Prayer
Tuesday
2nd Lesson
Isaiah 30:18-26
18 And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto
you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you:
for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for
him. 19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep
no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry;
when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. 20 And though the Lord give
you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not
thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see
thy teachers: 21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying,
This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when
ye turn to the left. 22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven
images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou
shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get
thee hence. 23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt
sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it
shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large
pastures. 24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground
shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and
with the fan. 25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon
every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great
slaughter, when the towers fall. 26 Moreover the light of the moon shall
be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold,
as the light of seven days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the
breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 19:1-16
1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in
heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power,
unto the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for
he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her
fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a
voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his
servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as
it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters,
and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord
God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour
to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made
herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in
fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of
saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called
unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are
the true sayings of God. 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And
he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy
brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the
testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11 And I saw heaven
opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called
Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and
he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was
clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word
of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white
horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth
goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he
shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the
fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and
on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Wednesday
1st Lesson
Jeremiah 23:9-15
9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my
bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath
overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land
mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their
course is evil, and their force is not right. 11 For both prophet and
priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness,
saith the Lord. 12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery
ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I
will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the
Lord. 13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they
prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. 14 I have seen
also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit
adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers,
that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me
as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. 15 Therefore thus
saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed
them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the
prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.
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2nd Lesson
Luke 12:35-48
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 36 And ye
yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return
from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto
him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he
cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird
himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and
serve them. 38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the
third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 39 And this
know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief
would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be
broken through. 40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh
at an hour when ye think not. 41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord,
speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? 42 And the Lord
said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall
make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due
season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler
over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My
lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and
maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that
servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour
when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him
his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his
lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his
will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and
did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes.
For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to
whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Wednesday
1st Lesson
Jeremiah 23:16-22
16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the
prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision
of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say
still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have
peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of
his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who hath stood in the
counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath
marked his word, and heard it? 19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is
gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously
upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord shall not return,
until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his
heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. 21 I have not
sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they
prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my
people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their
evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
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2nd Lesson
Matthew 28:16
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain
where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they
worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Thursday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 32:1-4, 15-20
1 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule
in judgment. 2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and
a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the
shadow of a great rock in a weary land. 3 And the eyes of them that see
shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. 4 The
heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the
stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly.
15 Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the
wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a
forest. 16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and
righteousness remain in the fruitful field. 17 And the work of
righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness
and assurance for ever. 18 And my people shall dwell in a peaceable
habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places; 19 When
it shall hail, coming down on the forest; and the city shall be low in a
low place. 20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth
thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
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2nd Lesson
Mark 6:1-16
1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his
disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to
teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying,
From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is
given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and
Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And
they were offended at him. 4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not
without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in
his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid
his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 6 And he marvelled
because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages,
teaching.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Thursday
1st Lesson
Isaiah 33:1-10
1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest
treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou
shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an
end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee. 2 O
Lord, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm
every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble. 3 At the noise
of the tumult the people fled; at the lifting up of thyself the nations
were scattered. 4 And your spoil shall be gathered like the gathering of
the caterpillar: as the running to and fro of locusts shall he run upon
them. 5 The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled
Zion with judgment and righteousness. 6 And wisdom and knowledge shall
be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of
the Lord is his treasure. 7 Behold, their valiant ones shall cry
without: the ambassadors of peace shall weep bitterly. 8 The highways
lie waste, the wayfaring man ceaseth: he hath broken the covenant, he
hath despised the cities, he regardeth no man. 9 The earth mourneth and
languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed and hewn down: Sharon is like a
wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off their fruits. 10 Now will I
rise, saith the Lord; now will I be exalted; now will I lift up
myself.
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2nd Lesson
Revelation 20:1-6
1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the
dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a
thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up,
and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more,
till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be
loosed a little season. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and
judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were
beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which
had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received
his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and
reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived
not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first
resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first
resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand
years.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Friday
1st Lesson
Jeremiah 23:23-32
23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? 24 Can
any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the
Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. 25 I have heard
what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have
dreamed, I have dreamed. 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the
prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of
their own heart; 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by
their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their
fathers have forgotten my name for Baal. 28 The prophet that hath a
dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my
word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. 29 Is
not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that
breaketh the rock in pieces? 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the
prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his
neighbour. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that
use their tongues, and say, He saith. 32 Behold, I am against them that
prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my
people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them
not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at
all, saith the Lord.
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2nd Lesson
2 Corinthians 5:5
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also
hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore we are always
confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are
absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to
be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present
or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are
made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your
consciences. 12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give
you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer
them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13 For whether we be
beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your
cause. 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge,
that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for
all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves,
but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore
henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known
Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are
passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of
God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given
to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ,
reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then
we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we
pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made
him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Friday
1st Lesson
Jeremiah 26:1-7, 10-15
1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king
of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus saith the Lord;
Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak unto all the cities of
Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I
command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 3 If so be they
will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me
of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of
their doings. 4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; If ye
will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto
you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a
curse to all the nations of the earth. 7 So the priests and the prophets
and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of
the Lord.
10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up
from the king's house unto the house of the Lord, and sat down in the
entry of the new gate of the Lord's house. 11 Then spake the priests and
the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is
worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have
heard with your ears. 12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to
all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house
and against this city all the words that ye have heard. 13 Therefore now
amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your
God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced
against you. 14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as
seemeth good and meet unto you. 15 But know ye for certain, that if ye
put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves,
and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the
Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
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2nd Lesson
2 Timothy 3:14—4:8
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast
been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15 And that
from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make
thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works.
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke,
exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come
when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they
shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work
of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 6 For I am now ready
to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me
only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Morning
Prayer
Saturday
1st Lesson
Malachi 2:1-9
1 And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If ye will
not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my
name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I
will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye
do not lay it to heart. 3 Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread
dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall
take you away with it. 4 And ye shall know that I have sent this
commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the
Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave
them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before
my name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found
in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many
away from iniquity. 7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and
they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the
Lord of hosts. 8 But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many
to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the
Lord of hosts. 9 Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base
before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have
been partial in the law.
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2nd Lesson
Matthew 9:35—10:15
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in
their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing
every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw
the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they
fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then
saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the
labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he
will send forth labourers into his harvest.
1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them
power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner
of sickness and all manner of disease. 2 Now the names of the twelve
apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew
his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip,
and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of
Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the
Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. 5 These twelve
Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the
Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And as ye go, preach,
saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the
lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely
give. 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10
Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet
staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. 11 And into whatsoever
city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there
abide till ye go thence. 12 And when ye come into an house, salute it.
13 And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be
not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whosoever shall not
receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or
city, shake off the dust of your feet. 15 Verily I say unto you, It
shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of
judgment, than for that city.
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The Third Sunday in Advent
Evening
Prayer
Saturday
1st Lesson
Malachi 3:1-6
1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way
before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his
temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold,
he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. 2 But who may abide the day of
his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a
refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3 And he shall sit as a refiner
and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge
them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering
in righteousness. 4 Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be
pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness
against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false
swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the
widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his
right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. 6 For I am the Lord, I
change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
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