Proper 19
week of the Sunday closest to September 14

Collect:
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Exodus 32:1,7-14
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him."

7Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'

"I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."

But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.'" Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Second Lesson: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: 51:1-11(12-18)

1. Have mercy on me, O God, according to your
   loving-kindness; *
   in your great compassion blot out my offenses.
2. Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
   and cleanse me from my sin.
3. For I know my transgressions, *
   and my sin is ever before me.
4. Against you only have I sinned *
   and done what is evil in your sight.
5. And so you are justified when you speak *
   and upright in your judgment.
6. Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
   a sinner from my mother's womb.
7. For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
   and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
8. Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
   wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9. Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
   that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10. Hide your face from my sins *
    and blot out all my iniquities.
11. Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
    and renew a right spirit within me.
12. Cast me not away from your presence *
    and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13. Give me the joy of your saving help again *
    and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14. I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
    and sinners shall return to you.
15. Deliver me from death, O God, *
    and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
    O God of my salvation.
16. Open my lips, O Lord, *
    and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17. Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
    but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
18. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.]

Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

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

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore