“Rejoice always,” begins the reading from First Thessalonians. Isaiah and the psalmist make clear that God is turning our mourning into laughter and shouts of joy. “All God’s children got a robe,” go the words of the spiritual. It is not so much a stately, formal, pressed outfit as it is a set of party clothes, clothes that make us feel happy just to put on. We receive that robe in baptism, and in worship we gather for a foretaste of God’s party.
PRAYER:
Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
READINGS:
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28
This Weeks Readings
| Monday | 1 Kings 18:1-18 Ephesians 6:10-17 | Psalm 125 |
| Tuesday | 2 Kings 2:9-22 Acts 3:17-4:4 | Psalm 125 |
| Wednesday | Malachi 3:16-4:6 Mark 9:9-13 | Psalm 125 |
| Thursday | 2 Samuel 6:1-11 Hebrews 1:1-4 | Psalm 89:1-4,19-26 |
| Friday | Psalm 96 Zephaniah 3:8-13 Romans 10:5-13 | Psalm 89:1-4,19-26 |
| Saturday | Psalm 96 Zephaniah 3:14-20 | Psalm 89:1-4,19-26 |
