Of a Missionary I

Collect:
Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for thy servant N., whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of      . (or to the       people). Raise up, we beseech thee, in this and every land evangelists and heralds of thy kingdom, that thy Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

or the following

Almighty God, who willest to be glorified in thy saints, and didst raise up thy servant N. to be a light in the world; Shine, we pray, in our hearts, that we also in our generation may show forth thy praise, who hast called us out of darkness into thy marvelous light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Isaiah 52:7-10
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!"
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
together they shout for joy.
When the LORD returns to Zion,
they will see it with their own eyes.
Burst into songs of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD will lay bare his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.

Second Lesson: Acts 1:1-9
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

7

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Psalm: 96 or 96:1-7

  1. Sing to the LORD a new song; *
    sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.
  2. Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
    proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.
  3. Declare his glory among the nations *
    and his wonders among all peoples.
  4. For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
    he is more to be feared than all gods.
  5. As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
    but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
  6. Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
    Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!
  7. Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
    ascribe to the LORD honor and power.
  8. Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
    bring offerings and come into his courts.
  9. Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
    let the whole earth tremble before him.
  10. Tell it out among the nations: "The LORD is King! *
    he has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity."
  11. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
    let the sea thunder and all that is in it; *
    let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
  12. Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy
    before the LORD when he comes, *
    when he comes to judge the earth.
  13. He will judge the world with righteousness *
    and the peoples with his truth.

Gospel: Luke 10:1-9
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

"When you enter a house, first say, 'Peace to this house.' If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'"

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Common of Saints