Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 25:19-27

Verse 19. This is the account of Abraham’s son Isaac. Abraham became the father of Isaac, Verse 20. and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean. Verse 21. Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. Verse 22. But the children inside her struggled with each other, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So Rebekah went to inquire of the LORD, Verse 23. and He declared to her: “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Verse 24. When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. Verse 25. The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau. Verse 26. After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born. Verse 27. When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home.

PSALM

Psalm 45:10-17

Listen, O daughter! Consider and incline your ear: Forget your people and your father’s house,

and the king will desire your beauty; bow to him, for he is your lord.

The Daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; men of wealth will seek your favor.

All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.

In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.

They are led in with joy and gladness; they enter the palace of the king.

Your sons will succeed your fathers; you will make them princes throughout the land.

I will commemorate your name through all generations; therefore the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Zechariah 1:1-6

Verse 1. In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, saying: Verse 2. “The LORD was very angry with your fathers. Verse 3. So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’ Verse 4. Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Turn now from your evil ways and deeds.’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me, declares the LORD. Verse 5. Where are your fathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? Verse 6. But did not My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? They repented and said, ‘Just as the LORD of Hosts purposed to do to us according to our ways and deeds, so He has done to us.’”

PSALM

Psalm 145:8-14

The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.

The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.

All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD, and Your saints will bless You.

They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might,

to make known to men Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His actions.

The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

SECOND READING

Romans 7:1-6

Verse 1. Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has authority over a man only as long as he lives? Verse 2. For instance, a married woman is bound by law to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. Verse 3. So then, if she is joined to another man while her husband is still alive, she is called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from that law and is not an adulteress if she marries another man. Verse 4. Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. Verse 5. For when we lived according to the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, bearing fruit for death. Verse 6. But now, having died to what bound us, we have been released from the law, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.