GREAT VESPERS

Kathisma Reading: “Blessed is the man…” is sung.

At Psalm 140, In Tone 8

Lead my soul forth from prison* that I may give thanks to Your name.

O Christ, during this spiritual service,* we sing to You these evening prayers,* commemorating the mercy You have shown us* by Your resurrection.

The just shall gather around me* when You have been good to me.

O Lord, O Lord, do not cast us away from Your face;* but in Your kindness have mercy on us* through Your resurrection.

Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord;* O Lord, hear my voice!

Rejoice, O holy Sion,* the Mother of Churches and the dwelling-place of God;* for you were the first to receive the forgiveness of sins* through the resurrection.

Let Your ears be attentive* to the voice of my prayer.

Christ the Word was begotten by God the Father before all ages;* yet in these latter times,* He freely willed to take flesh from the Virgin who did not know man.* By His death on the cross and His resurrection,* He saved mankind from the ancient curse of death.

In Tone 1

If You mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand?* But with You forgiveness is that You may be revered.

Manifestly illumined by the rays of the Spirit,* O divinely revealed Timothy,* you were shown to be a most radiant beacon,* passing over all the earth and enlightening it with grace.* Pray now, that our souls be granted peace* and great mercy.

I have waited for You as You have commanded; my soul patiently relies on Your promise,* for it has trusted in the Lord.

O divinely wise Timothy,* you drank of the torrent of sweetness* and, emulating Christ, with godly wisdom have given drink* to those who fervently desire the understanding of God.* To Him have you now joyously departed,* contemplating the all-radiant glory of the Trinity* and infinitely powerful peace.

From the morning watch until night* let Israel trust in the Lord.

Placing yourself in submission to Paul,* conversing with the Spirit through writing,* you became wholly radiant with light,* a generous husbandman, and an earnest favorite of the Lord,* living in chastity and piety, O divinely wise Timothy;* and you have been vouchsafed crowns of victory* as a lawful athlete.

In Tone 1

For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him there is plentiful redemption;* and He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities.

O most blessed Anastasius, boast of the martyrs,* who achieved splendid victories over falsehood,* you bear in your name a standard of fame,* being borne aloft everywhere as a steadfast victor.* And now do you raise up from sinful falls* those who honor your memory with faith.

Praise the Lord, all the nations;* proclaim His glory, all you people.

O martyr Anastasius,* achieving a splendid victory over falsehood,* you received a twofold crown for your ascetic struggle* and your steadfast contest, and your opposition, even unto death.* And Christ the Master has given you* the ability to work miracles, as is meet.

Strong is the love of the Lord for us;* eternally will His truth endure.

The ends of the world now hymn your miracles,* O wonder-worker Anastasius;* for Christ has adorned you,* rewarding with miracles you who endured tortures for His sake;* and after your death you were counted worthy* of immortal glory and blessedness.

In Tone 8, Glory…

Chosen by God before to be the disciple of the wise Paul,* you learned things divine;* and having lived in goodness and preserved the Faith unadulterated* even unto the shedding of your blood,* you were shown to be a faithful hierarch, O Apostle Timothy.* Therefore, you denounced the idolaters* and, wounded by staves and stones,* received the crown of martyrdom.* Wherefore, O most blessed one, pray for us who celebrate* your most honored memory with faith.

In Tone 8, Now…

Out of his love for mankind* the King of heaven appeared on earth and dwelt with men,* for He assumed a human body from the pure Virgin* and was seen in the flesh He received from her.* He is the One and only God* having two natures but not two persons.* Wherefore we profess and declare the truth* that Christ our God is perfect God and perfect Man.* O Mother, who knew not carnal union,* intercede with Him that He may have mercy on our souls.

Aposticha, In Tone 8

O Jesus, You descended from heaven* so that You might ascend the cross.* O immortal Life, You came to die.* You are the true light to those who live in darkness,* and You are the resurrection of the fallen.* Therefore, O Saviour of all, we glorify You.

The Lord reigns, He is clothed in majesty. * Robed is the Lord, and girt about with strength.

Let us glorify Christ, the Saviour of our Souls* who arose from the dead.* For He took upon himself a soul and a body,* and during His passion He separated the one from the other.* His pure soul went down to conquer Hades,* while His holy body lay uncorrupted in the grave.

For He has made the world firm. * which shall not be moved.

O Christ, we glorify Your resurrection with psalms and hymns.* For by Your victory over death* You delivered us from the sufferings of Hades,* and as God You granted us eternal life and great mercy.

Holiness befits Your house, O Lord, * for length of days.

O Lord of all, Creator of heaven and earth,* You are above all understanding.* Through Your passion on the cross* You freed us from the sufferings of Hades.* And, after condescending to be buried, You arose in glory;* and with Your mighty arm You also raised up Adam.* O most merciful Lord, we glorify You;* for by Your resurrection on the third day* You granted us remission of sins and eternal life.

In Tone 2, Glory…

O Christ, You magnified the power of the precious Cross* in Judea and in Babylon,* for because of it they came to know* the feast of Your life-creating resurrection:* And now the right laudable and glorious athlete Anastasius,* a martyr of countless miracles,* has become for them a liberator* from the captivity of the madness of idolatry,* joining chorus with the angels and praying for our souls.

Now…

We now behold a new wonder,* greater than the wonders of old.* For who has ever known a mother to bear a child without the help of man?* Who has known a mother to hold in her arms the Source of all Creation?* It was God’s own will to be born in this manner;* and you, O most pure Virgin, carried Him as an infant in your arms.* Because of this, you can approach God with the boldness of a mother.* Therefore, we venerate you, and ask you to always beseech Him* to have mercy on us and save our souls.

Troparia, In Tone 8

You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

In Tone 4

Having learned goodness and maintaining continence in all things,* you were divinely arrayed with a good conscience as befits a priest* and you drew ineffable truths from the chosen vessel.* You have kept the faith* and completed a course equal to his, bishop and martyr Timothy.** Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!

In Tone 4, Glory…

Your holy martyr Anastasius, O Lord,* through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God!* For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,* and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.** Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,*and saved our souls from death.

 

SUNDAY MATINS

Usual Beginning; Hexapsalm; Great Litany; God the Lord, Tone 8

Troparia, Tone 8

You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You. (2)

In Tone 4

Having learned goodness and maintaining continence in all things,* you were divinely arrayed with a good conscience as befits a priest* and you drew ineffable truths from the chosen vessel.* You have kept the faith* and completed a course equal to his, bishop and martyr Timothy.** Pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved!

In Tone 4, Glory…

Your holy martyr Anastasius, O Lord,* through his sufferings has received an incorruptible crown from You, our God!* For having Your strength, he laid low his adversaries,* and shattered the powerless boldness of demons.** Through his intercessions, save our souls!

Now…

O Mother of God, the mystery hidden from all eternity* and unknown even to the angels,* was revealed through you to those on earth:* God took on our human nature* and united it to His divine nature in a perfect but unconfused union.* Then, He willingly accepted the cross for our sake* and thereby raised again the first created man,*and saved our souls from death.

Psalter Reading

Stasis I: Psalms 9, 10
Stasis II: Psalms 11, 12, 13
Stasis III: Psalms 14, 15, 16

Small Litany; Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

You the Life of all, did rise from the dead,* and an Angel of light cried out to the women saying:* Cease your tears. Bring the good tidings unto the Apostles.* Cry aloud in hymns that Christ the Lord has arisen* who as God was well-pleased to save mankind.

Arise, O Lord my God, let Your hands be lifted on high;* forget not Your poor to the end.

When You were indeed risen from the tomb* You commanded the holy women to announce the Resurrection to the Apostles, as it is written;* and Peter, having arrived quickly, stood by the grave* and seeing the light in the tomb was frightened,* observing the grave clothes lying therein, without the divine body,* and believing he cried aloud:* Glory be to You O Christ God our Saviour, who has saved us all,* for You are the radiant splendour of the Father.

Glory… Now…

Let us hymn the heavenly gate and ark,* the all-holy mountain, the cloud of light, the heavenly ladder,* the spiritual Paradise, the redemption of Eve,* the great treasure of the world;* because salvation for the world and forgiveness of ancient offences were wrought in her.* Therefore, we cry to her:* Intercede with your own Son and God to grant forgiveness of offences* to those who devoutly worship your most holy Offspring.

Psalter Reading

Stasis I: Psalm 17
Stasis II: Psalms 18, 19, 20
Stasis III: Psalms 21, 22, 23

Small Litany; Sessional Hymn, Tone 8

Mortals have sealed Your tomb, O Saviour* and an Angel has rolled away the stone from the door.* Women saw You risen from the dead,* and announced the good tidings to Your Disciples in Sion:* The life of all has risen and the bonds of death are loosed.* O Lord, glory be to You.

I will confess You, O Lord, with my whole heart,* I will tell of all Your wonders.

The women having brought sweet-smelling burial spices* heard an Angel’s voice coming from the tomb:* Cease your tears and bring joy instead of sorrow.* Wherefore cry aloud in hymns that Christ the Lord is risen,* who as God was well-pleased to save the race of mankind.

Glory… Now…

In you, O Full of grace, does all creation rejoice,* the ranks of Angels and the race of mankind;* O all-hallowed Temple and spiritual Paradise, boast of Virgins.* For from youGod became incarnate* and He who is our God before the ages became a child.* He has made your womb a throne and rendered it wider than the heavens.* In you, O Full of grace, does all creation rejoice;* glory be to you.

Polyeleos; Evlogitaria; Small Litany; Hypakoe, Tone 8

The myrrh-bearing women standing at the tomb of the Giver of life* seeking the immortal Master among the dead;* and having received the glad tidings of joy from the Angel* announced to the Apostles that Christ the Lord is risen,* granting the world great mercy.

Hymn of Ascent, Tone 8

Antiphon 1

From my youth the enemy tempts me, enflaming me with the desire for pleasures;* but placing my trust in You O Lord, I put him to flight.

Let those that hate Sion,* become like grass before it is tilled;* for Christ severs their necks with the sharp blade of torments.

Glory… Now…

By the Holy Spirit all things have life;* Light from Light, eminent God:* we hymn Him* together with the Father and the Word.

Antiphon 2

Let my humble heart be sheltered by the fear of You;* lest it fall away from You by being conceited,* O exceedingly compassionate One.

He who has his hope in the Lord* will not be afraid when the Lord judges all things* with fire and torment.

Glory… Now…

Everyone inspired by the Holy Spirit sees all and foretells,* working the greatest wonders, singing of one God in three Hypostases;* for though the Divinity radiates with triune light,* it rules as one.

Antiphon 3

I have cried to You, O Lord, hearken to me,* bend Your ear to my supplications when I cry to You,* and cleanse me before taking me from this life.

Each and every one who returns to mother earth* will depart to receive torments or rewards* in reward for their life’s actions.

Glory… Now…

Contemplation of God by the Holy Spirit is of a thrice-holy unity;* for the Father is beginningless, from Whom the Son was begotten before time,* and the Spirit equal in essence and majesty,* blazes forth equally from the Father.

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
The Lord will reign forever, Sion’s God, from age to age.
verse: My soul, give praise to the Lord; I will praise the Lord all my days.

Let everything that lives, Tone 8; Gospel: John 21:15-25; Hymn of Resurrection; Psalm 50; Verses at Psalm 50; Canon, Tone 8

Ode 1

Irmos: When the wonder-working rod of Moses* smote the sea with the sign of the cross and divided it,* Pharaoh the charioteer it overthrew in the deep,* but fugitive Israel, fleeing on foot, it saved,* and he raised a glad shout* of praise to God.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

How should we not wonder at the mighty power of Christ’s divinity? Freedom from passions and incorruption to all the faithful flow from his Passion; drop by drop from his holy side a deathless fountain falls; and from the grave comes life unending.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

How beautiful the angel now reveals himself to the women! Bearing the signs of innate and immaterial purity, and in his far-shining form revealing the splendour of the resurrection, he cries: the Lord is risen.

Glory… Now…

Glorious things are spoken of you, O Virgin Mother of God, from generation to generation, for, remaining undefiled, you found room in your womb for God the Word. Therefore, we honour you as our protector after God.

 

Ode 3

Irmos: In the beginning, O Christ, you established the heavens in understanding,* and founded the earth upon the waters:* establish me upon the rock of your commandments,* for none is holy but you, only Lover of man.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The saving suffering of your flesh, O Christ, justified Adam, condemned by the taste of sin; for as the sinless one you were shown in the trial as owing no debt to death.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Jesus , my God, shed the light of his resurrection upon those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death; and by his divinity he bound the strong man and seized all his goods.

Glory… Now…

Higher than Cherubim and Seraphim you are declared to be, Mother of God, for you alone, undefiled, received within your womb the illimitable God. Therefore, all the faithful ever sing to you and bless you.

Ode 4

Irmos: O Lord, you are my strength and my might, you are my God and my joy;* without leaving the deep recesses of the Father, you visited our poverty;* so with Habakkuk the prophet, I cry to you:* Glory to your power, O Lover of man.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Merciful Saviour, you loved me much when I was at enmity with you; in strange self-emptying you came to earth, not rejecting the last recesses of my pride. While remaining still upon the heights of your ineffable glory, you glorified me, formerly so disgraced.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Who is not amazed, O Lord, at seeing death done away through sufferings, corruption take flight through a cross, Hell emptied of its possessions through a death? This is the marvellous work of the divine sovereignty of you, the Crucified One, O Lover of man.

Glory… Now…

Boast of the faithful, Bride unwed, you are the protection and refuge of Christians, city wall and harbour; for you bring our petitions to your Son and save from danger those who acknowledge you in faith and love as the pure Mother of God.

 

Ode 5

Irmos: Why have you thrust me away from the never-setting light of your face,* so that alien darkness has covered me, most wretched one?* Turn me back, I beg you, and direct my ways* to the light of your commandments.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Before your Passion, O Saviour, you allowed yourself to be clothed in the robe of mockery, thus covering the shameful nakedness of man; and to be nailed naked to the cross while putting off the garment of death.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

When you arose from the dust of death, O Christ, you built again my beggared nature and rendered it immortal, revealing once again the kingly image, radiant with the light of incorruption.

Glory… Now…

As you possess a mother’s boldness before your Son, All-pure, do not refuse your far-seeing care for our race, we pray you. For you alone, as Christians, we present to the Lord for gracious favour and propitiation.

 

Ode 6

Irmos: Be merciful to me, O Saviour, for many are my transgressions;* bring me up from the depths of evil, I pray you.* For I have cried out to you,* hear me, O God of my salvation.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Mightily, through a tree, the originating evil overthrew me; uplifted on the cross, O Christ, you cast him down with a greater might, putting him to shame and raising me, the fallen.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Rising from the tomb in compassion you took pity on Zion, by your divine blood bringing about the new in place of the old; and now you reign in her, O Christ, throughout the ages.

Glory… Now…

May we be rescued from all our grievous stumblings by your prayers, pure Mother of God, and may we meet with the divine outshining of the Son of God, ineffably made flesh of you.

 

Kontakion, Tone 6

When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.

 

Ikos

My Saviour, long-suffering, Giver of life, you harrowed the kingdom of Hell and raised the dead; you met the women bringing the myrrh and for sorrow gave them joy; to the apostles you made known the signs of victory, and you shone upon your creation, O Lover of man. The whole world therefore rejoices together in your rising from the dead, O you of many mercies.

 

Ode 7

Irmos: The fire in Babylon once was put to shame by the descent of God* and the young men danced in the furnace,* with joy in their steps, as in a grassy meadow,* and sang: Blessed are you, the God of our fathers.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Your glorious abasement and the divine wealth of your beggary, O Christ, struck the angels with amazement when they saw you nailed to the cross to save those who cry in faith to you: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

By your divine descent the lowest depths were filled with light, and the darkness and torment of former ages driven away. Then those in age-old bonds rose up and cried: Blessed are you, God of our fathers.

Glory… Now…

In accordance with orthodox doctrine, we proclaim you Lord of all, only Father of the one, only-begotten Son, and we know the one true Spirit proceeding from you, one with you in nature and co-eternal.

 

Ode 8

Irmos: The Chaldaean tyrant in fury kindled the furnace sevenfold for those who feared God;* then, as he beheld them saved alive by a mightier power than his, their Creator and Redeemer himself,* he cried: Bless him, young men, praise him, O priests,* highly exalt him, O people, throughout all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The power supremely divine of the Godhead of Jesus has shone out in these things: on the cross he tasted death in the flesh for all men, and he brought to nothing the might of Hell. Bless him without ceasing, young men, praise him, O priests, highly exalt him, O people, throughout all the ages.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

The crucified one arose, the boastful and vainglorious fell, the fallen and the broken are restored, corruption is banished, incorruption has blossomed, for death is swallowed up by life. Bless him, young men, praise him, O priests, highly exalt him, O people, throughout all the ages.

Glory… Now…

Godhead of threefold light, in single radiance shining from one three-personed nature, Begetter without beginning, Word of the Father’s nature and Spirit consubstantial, co-reigning: bless him, young men, praise him, O priests, exalt him, O people, throughout all the ages.

 

Magnificat

 

Ode 9

Irmos: Heaven is amazed and the ends of the earth stricken with fear* that your womb is become wider than the heavens, and God is seen bodily by men.* Therefore, O Mother of God* the ranks of angels and of men magnify you.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

Word of God, simple in your nature divine and unoriginate, by giving existence to flesh and assuming it to yourself you became compound: suffering as a man you remained beyond suffering as God. Therefore, we magnify you in the two natures, indivisible and yet without confusion.

Glory to your holy Resurrection, O Lord.

O Most High, according to the divine essence you are ever one with God as your Father; but when you took the nature of man, coming down to your servants and rising from the tomb, you made him, who is by nature God and Lord, by grace Father of those born of the earth. You with him we magnify.

Glory… Now…

O Virgin Mother of God, you are seen beyond nature bearing in the body that good Word which the Father as the One Good uttered from his heart before all ages. And we understand him now as being beyond the body, yet clothed with a body

 

Small Litany; Holy is the Lord; Hymn of Light

After His resurrection the Lord asked Peter three times:* Do you love Me?* Then the Lord set Peter as a shepherd over His sheep.* When Peter saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following Him,* he asked the Lord: What about him?* And the Lord said: If I want him to wait until I come again,* what is that to you, O Peter, my beloved?

Glory… Now…

What an awesome mystery; what a dazzling wonder!* Death has been abolished completely by death.* O Word, Who then will not praise,* and who will not glorify Your resurrection?* Who will not praise the Theotokos* who gave birth to You in the flesh and in purity?* Therefore, by her prayers, save us all from Hades.

Praises; Stichera of the Praises, Tone 8

O Lord, though You stood before the judgment seat* being judged by Pilate,* yet You were seated with the Father* and were not absent from Your throne.* And risen from the dead You freed the world from slavery to the stranger,* as You are full of compassionate pity and love for mankind.

O Lord, the Jews laid You as a corpse in a grave,* and soldiers guarded You as a sleeping king* sealing You with a seal as if a treasury of life;* but You arose* and grant incorruption to our souls.

O Lord, You have given us Your Cross as a weapon against the devil;* for he quakes and trembles, unable to contemplate Your power;* for raised the dead and abolished death:* wherefore we worship Your Burial and Your Rising.

Your Angel, O Lord, having proclaimed Your Resurrection,* filled the guards with fear,* but he cried to the women saying: Why do you seek the living among the dead?* Being God He is risen* granting life to the whole world.’

You endured the Cross, O You who are impassible in Your Divinity,* to free us from slavery to the enemy* and You accepted burial for three days, making us immortal,* and granting life unto us through Your Resurrection,* O Christ God, Lover of mankind.

O Christ, I worship, I glorify, and I praise Your Resurrection from the tomb,* through which You delivered us from the unbreakable bonds of Hades* and as God granted the world eternal life and great mercy.

The Lawless men, watching over Your grave* which had received life, sealed it;* but You, as the immortal and all-powerful God,* arose on the third day.

When You entered the gates of Hades, O Lord, and shattered them,* the prisoners therein cried aloud:* Who is this? for He has not been condemned to the lowest parts of the earth,* but has torn down the prisons of death as if a tent,* we received Him as One mortal, and we tremble before Him as God.* O All-powerful Saviour have mercy on us.

In Tone 8, Glory…

When You showed Yourself to the disciples* after Your resurrection, O Saviour,* You appointed Simon to watch over Your sheep* as a recompense for His love;* You asked him to tend the flock with care.* You said to him: If you love Me, O Peter,* feed my lambs and feed my sheep.* But at once he inquired concerning the other disciple,* revealing him to be the beloved.* Therefore, by the intercession of both, O Christ,* keep Your flock from the ravaging wolves.

In Tone 2, Now…

You are truly most blessed, O virgin Mother of God.* Through the One who was incarnate of you,* Hades was chained, Adam revived, the curse wiped out,* Eve set free, Death put to death,* and we ourselves were brought back to life.* That is why we cry out in praise;* Blessed are You, O Christ our God,* who finds in this your good pleasure. Glory to You!

Great Doxology; Trisagion Prayers; Troparion, Tone 2

You came forth from death, destroying the eternal bonds of Hades, O Lord.* You broke the curse of Death* and thus delivered us from the snares of the Evil One.* Then You appeared to your apostles and sent them forth to preach,* and through them You have bestowed your peace upon all the world,* for You alone are rich in mercy.

Insistent Litany; Litany of Supplication; Great Dismissal

 

DIVINE LITURGY

Troparia and Kontakia

Troparion, Tone 8: You came down from on high, O Merciful One,* and accepted three days of burial* to free us from our sufferings.* O Lord, our life and our resurrection,* glory be to You.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

Kontakion, Tone 8: When You rose from the tomb,* You also raised the dead and resurrected Adam.* Eve exults in Your resurrection,* and the ends of the world celebrate Your rising from the dead,* O most merciful One.

Now and for ever and ever. Amen.

Theotokion, Tone 8: To you, O Mother of God,* the invincible leader,* we, your servants, ascribe these victory hymns* in thanksgiving for our deliverance from evil.* With your invincible power free us from all dangers* that we may cry out to you:* “Hail, O bride, and pure Virgin!”

Prokeimenon, Tone 8
Pray and give thanks to the Lord our God.
verse: In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel. (Psalm 75:12,2)

Epistle: 1 Timothy 4:9-15 NRSV)
Timothy my son, the saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. These are the things you must insist on and teach. Let no one despise your youth, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I arrive, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.

Alleluia, Tone 8
verse: Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.
verse: Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms. (Psalm 94:1,2)

Gospel: Luke 19:1-10 (NRSV)
At that time Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

Communion Hymn
Praise the Lord from the heavens;* praise Him in the highest.* Alleluia, alleluia,* alleluia. (Psalm 148:1)