Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLLECT
O God, you have taught us to keep all your commandments by loving you and our
neighbor: Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to you
with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your
bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who
led out Israel and brought it in. The LORD said to you: It is you who shall be
shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” So, all the
elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant
with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over
Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty
years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at
Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the
city all around from the Millo inwards. And David became greater and greater,
for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
PSALM: Psalm 48
Magnus Dominus
1 Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised; *
in the city of our God is his holy hill.
2 Beautiful and lofty, the joy of all the earth, is the hill of Zion, *
the very center of the world and the city of the great King.
3 God is in her citadels; *
he is known to be her sure refuge.
4 Behold, the kings of the earth assembled *
and marched forward together.
5 They looked and were astounded; *
they retreated and fled in terror.
6 Trembling seized them there; *
they writhed like a woman in childbirth, like ships of the sea when
the east wind shatters them.
7 As we have heard, so have we seen,
in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God; *
God has established her for ever.
8 We have waited in silence on your loving-kindness, O God, *
in the midst of your temple.
9 Your praise, like your Name, O God, reaches to the world’s end; *
your right hand is full of justice.
10 Let Mount Zion be glad and the cities of Judah rejoice, *
because of your judgments.
11 Make the circuit of Zion; walk round about her; *
count the number of her towers.
12 Consider well her bulwarks; examine her strongholds; *
that you may tell those who come after.
13 This God is our God for ever and ever; *
he shall be our guide for evermore.
THE EPISTLE
A Reading from: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third
heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.
And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not
know; God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not
to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will
boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I
wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain
from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard
from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations.
Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh,
a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three
times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to
me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of
Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults,
hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I
am weak, then I am strong.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
GOSPEL HYMN: Come Holy Spirit, Heavenly Dove
- Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly dove with all thy quickening powers;
kindle a flame of sacred love in these cold hearts of ours. - See how we trifle here below, fond of the earthly toys:
our souls how heavenly they go, to reach eternal joys. - In vain we tune our formal songs, in vain we strive to rise:
hosannas languish on our tongues, and our devotion dies. - Come, Holy Spirit, heavenly Dove, with all thy quickening powers;
come shed abroad a Savior’s love, and that shall kindle ours.
The Holy GOSPEL of our Lord Jesus Christ according to:
Mark 6:1-13
Jesus came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath
he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded.
They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been
given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this
the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and
Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their
hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” And he could
do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people
and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and
began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean
spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no
bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on
two tunics. He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you
leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you,
as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against
them.” So, they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out
many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ