Full NRSV Sunday texts

Saturday, July 25th, 2026

St James the Apostle - HD (Red)

Readings
JEREMIAH 45:1-5 OR ACTS 11:27-12:3; PSALM 7:1-10; MATTHEW 20:20-28

Collect
Almighty God,
we remember today your servant James,
the first apostle to give his life
for faith in Jesus Christ.
Pour out on all your people
that spirit of self-denying service
which is the mark of true leadership.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the 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
The word that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a scroll at the dictation of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: You said, "Woe is me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest." Thus you shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: I am going to break down what I have built, and pluck up what I have planted - that is, the whole land. And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do you not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the Lord; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go."
JEREMIAH 45:1-5

Or

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS
At that time prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine over all the world; and this took place during the reign of Claudius. The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul. About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. (This was during the festival of Unleavened Bread.)
ACTS 11:27-12:3

Psalm
REFRAIN God is the saviour of the true in heart.

O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me;

Lest like a lion they tear me in pieces and snatch me away with none to deliver me. R

O Lord my God, if I have done these things: if there is any wickedness in my hands,

If I have repaid my friend with evil, or plundered him who without cause is my enemy;

Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, trample my life into the ground, and lay my honour in the dust. R

Stand up, O Lord, in your wrath; rise up against the fury of my enemies.

Awake, O my God, decree justice; let the assembly of the peoples gather round you.

Be seated on your lofty throne, O Most High; O Lord, judge the nations. R

Give judgement for me according to my righteousness, O Lord, and according to my innocence, O Most High.

Let the malice of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; for you test the mind and heart, O righteous God. R
PSALM 7:1-10

Gospel
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons, and kneeling before him, she asked a favour of him. And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom." But Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?" They said to him, "We are able." He said to them, "You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard it, they were angry with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."
MATTHEW 20:20-28

Prayer over the Gifts
Lord God,
today we honour your servant James,
the first apostle to share the cup of suffering and death.
Receive our offering of praise and thanksgiving,
and renew us in the service of your Son Jesus Christ,
who came not to be served but to serve,
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
We ask this in his name.

Prayer After Communion
Father,
we have eaten the bread of your table
and drunk from the cup of your kingdom.
Teach us, we pray, the way of service
that in compassion and humility
we may reflect the glory of Jesus Christ,
the Son of man and Son of God,
our Lord.