Readings

St. Thomas the Apostle

    The Collect of the Day

    Saint Thomas

    December 21

    Everliving God, who strengthened your apostle Thomas with firm and certain faith in your Son’s resurrection: Grant us so perfectly and without doubt to believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord and our God, that our faith may never be found wanting in your sight; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

    First Sunday of Advent

    Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

    Psalms

    23

    Dominus regit meBCP p. 612

    1The Lord is my shepherd; *I shall not be in want.

    2He makes me lie down in green pastures *and leads me beside still waters.

    3He revives my soul *and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

    4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

    5You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

    6Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

    121

    Levavi oculumBCP p. 779

    1I lift up my eyes to the hills; *from where is my help to come?

    2My help comes from the Lord, *the maker of heaven and earth.

    3He will not let your foot be moved *and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.

    4Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *shall neither slumber nor sleep;

    5The Lord himself watches over you; *the Lord is your shade at your right hand,

    6So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *nor the moon by night.

    7The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; *it is he who shall keep you safe.

    8The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *from this time forth for evermore.

    Daily Office Readings

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    1 Peter 1:3-9

    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

    Job 42:1-6

    1 Then Job answered the Lord: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”