Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
COLLECT
O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant
that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may
have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
OLD TESTAMENT: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and
all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from
there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who is
enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and
brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and
Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and
Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing
before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and
tambourines and castanets and cymbals. So, David went and brought up the
ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing;
and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed
an ox and a fatling. David danced before the Lord with all his might; David
was girded with a linen ephod. So, David and all the house of Israel brought up
the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. As the
ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked
out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD;
and she despised him in her heart. They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set
it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered
burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. When David had
finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed
the people in the name of the LORD of hosts, and distributed food among all the
people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of
bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back
to their homes.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
PSALM: Psalm 24
Domini est terra
1 The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, *
the world and all who dwell therein.
2 For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3 “Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
and who can stand in his holy place?”
4 “Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a
fraud.
5 They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
and a just reward from the God of their salvation.”
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
8 “Who is this King of glory?” *
“The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.”
9 Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
and the King of glory shall come in.
10 “Who is he, this King of glory?” *
“The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory.”
THE EPISTLE A Reading from: Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in
Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us
in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before
him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ,
according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace
that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption
through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of
his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made
known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set
forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an
inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who
accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were
the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him
you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation,
and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy
Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own
people, to the praise of his glory.
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 6:14-29
King Herod heard of Jesus and his disciples, for Jesus’ name had become
known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead;
and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is
Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But
when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in
prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had
married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have
your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to
kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a
righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was
greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came
when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and
for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced,
she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for
whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her,
“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went
out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of
John the baptizer.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I
want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king
was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not
want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders
to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his
head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a
tomb.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord People: Praise to you, Lord Christ