Readings for Sunday, 9/24/23
THE COLLECT
Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things
heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing
away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and
ever. Amen.
FIRST READING: Exodus 16:2-15
2 The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against
Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3The Israelites said to them,
“If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt,
when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you
have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole
assembly with hunger.” 4Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going
to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall
go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them,
whether they will follow my instruction or not. 5On the sixth day,
when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as
they gather on other days.” 6So Moses and Aaron said to all the
Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the Lord who
brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7and in the morning you
shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your
complaining against the Lord. For what are we, that you complain
against us?” 8And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you meat to
eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because
the Lord has heard the complaining that you utter against
him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but” against
the Lord.9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole
congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has
heard your complaining.’”10And as Aaron spoke to the whole
congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness,
and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11The Lord spoke
to Moses and said, 12“I have heard the complaining of the
Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the
morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that
I am the Lord your God.’”
13 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in
the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14When
the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was
a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15When the
Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they
did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that
the Lord has given you to eat.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
PSALM: 105:1-6, 37-45
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name; *
make known his deeds among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, *
and speak of all his marvelous works.
Glory in his holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Search for the Lord and his strength; *
continually seek his face.
Remember the marvels he has done, *
his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
O offspring of Abraham his servant, *
O children of Jacob his chosen.
He led out his people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.
He spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.
They asked, and quails appeared, *
and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
He opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.
For God remembered his holy word *
and Abraham his servant.
So he led forth his people with gladness, *
his chosen with shouts of joy.
He gave his people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others’ toil,
That they might keep his statutes *
and observe his laws.
Hallelujah!
SECOND READING: Philippians 1:21-30
21 For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22 If I am to live in
the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know
which I prefer.23I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is
to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24 but to
remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25 Since I am
convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of
you for your progress and joy in faith,26 so that I may share
abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you
again.
27 Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about
you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving
side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and are in
no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence
of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.
29For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of
believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—30since you
are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that
I still have.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
GOSPEL HYMN: Spirit of God
Spirit of God, un-seen as the wind, gentle as is the dove:
teach us the truth and help us believe, show us the Sa-viour’s love!
- You spoke to us long, long a-go, gave us the writ-ten word; we
read it still, needing its truth, through it God’s voice is heard - With-out your help we fail our Lord, we can-not live his way; we
need your power, we need your strength, following Christ each day
GOSPEL: Matthew 20:1-16
1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out
early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After
agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them
into his vineyard.3When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw
others standing idle in the marketplace; 4and he said to them,
‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’
So they went. 5When he went out again about noon and about
three o’clock, he did the same. 6And about five o’clock he went
out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why
are you standing here idle all day?’ 7They said to him, ‘Because no
one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’
8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his
manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning
with the last and then going to the first.’ 9When those hired about
five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.
10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive
more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And
when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12
saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made
them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the
scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am
doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily
wage? 14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this
last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I
choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am
generous?’ 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last. ”
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ