Full NRSV Sunday texts

The Holy Innocents (Or Dec 28) OR Feria in Christmastide (if The Holy Innocents observed in December) (White)

Friday, January 11^th, 2019

Readings
JEREMIAH 31:15?ô?ç??17 OR REVELATION 21:1?ô?ç??7; PSALM 124; MATTHEW 2:13?ô?ç??18

Collect
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
whose children suffered at the hands of Herod,
receive, we pray, all innocent victims
into the arms of your mercy.
By your great might frustrate all evil designs
and establish your reign of justice, love, and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

First Reading
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH
Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more. Thus says the Lord: Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for there is a reward for your work, says the Lord: they shall come back from the land of the enemy; there is hope for your future, says the Lord: your children shall come back to their own country.
JEREMIAH 31:15?ô?ç??17

Or
A READING FROM THE REVELATION TO JOHN
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ?ô?ç?úSee, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.?ô?ç?ý And the one who was seated on the throne said, ?ô?ç?úSee I am making all things new.?ô?ç?ý Also he said, ?ô?ç?úWrite this, for these words are trustworthy and true.?ô?ç?ý Then he said to me, ?ô?ç?úIt is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
REVELATION 21:1?ô?ç??7

Psalm
PSALM
Refrain We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 1If the Lord had not been on our side, let Israel now say; 2If the Lord had not been on our side, when enemies rose up against us; 3Then would they have swallowed us up alive in their fierce anger toward us; R 4Then would the waters have overwhelmed us and the torrent gone over us; 5Then would the raging waters have gone right over us. R 6Blessed be the Lord! he has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth. 7We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. R
PSALM 124

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Now after the wise men had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ?ô?ç?úGet up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.?ô?ç?ý Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ?ô?ç?úOut of Egypt I have called my son.?ô?ç?ý When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ?ô?ç?úA voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.?ô?ç?ý
MATTHEW 2:13?ô?ç??18

Prayer over the Gifts
Merciful God,
accept all we offer you this day.
Preserve your people from cruelty
and indifference to violence,
that the weak may always be defended
from the tyranny of the strong.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer After Communion
Eternal God,
comfort of the afflicted and healer of the broken,
you have fed us this day at the table of life and hope.
Teach us the ways of gentleness and peace,
that all the world may acknowledge
the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.