The Collect

ALMIGHTY Father, who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

First Lesson 

Isaiah 43:1–12

The Lesson is written in the 43rd chapter of the Book of Isaiah the Prophet, beginning at the 1st verse.

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, that I am God. 

Here endeth the Lesson

Psalm 103 

1 PRAISE the LORD, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name. 

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits: 

3 Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities; 

4 Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness; 

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, * making thee young and lusty as an eagle. 

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment * for all them that are oppressed with wrong. 

7 He showed his ways unto Moses, * his works unto the children of Israel. 

8 The LORD is full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, and of great goodness. 

9 He will not alway be chiding; * neither keepeth he his anger for ever. 

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; * nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses. 

11 For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth; * so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him. 

12 Look how wide also the east is from the west; * so far hath he set our sins from us. 

13 Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; * even so is the LORD merciful unto them that fear him. 

14 For he knoweth whereof we are made; * he remembereth that we are but dust. 

15 The days of man are but as grass; * for he flourisheth as a flower of the field. 

16 For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone; * and the place thereof shall know it no more. 

17 But the merciful goodness of the LORD endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him; * and his righteousness upon children's children; 

18 Even upon such as keep his covenant, * and think upon his commandments to do them. 

19 The LORD hath prepared his seat in heaven, * and his kingdom ruleth over all. 

20 O praise the LORD, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word. 

21 O praise the LORD, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure. 

22 O speak good of the LORD, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: * praise thou the LORD, O my soul. 

Epistle 

1 St. John v. 4. 

(The Epistle is written in the 5th chapter of the 1st Epistle of Saint John, beginning at the 4th verse.) 

WHATSOEVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 

Here endeth the Epistle.

GOSPEL

St. John xx. 19. 

THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord. Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost: whosesoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins ye retain, they are retained.