Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 45:16-28

Verse 16. When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Verse 17. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. Verse 18. Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’ Verse 19. You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back. Verse 20. But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’” Verse 21. So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. Verse 22. He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes. Verse 23. And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey. Verse 24. Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!” Verse 25. So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. Verse 26. “Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. Verse 27. However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived. Verse 28. “Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

PSALM

Psalm 130

A song of ascents. Out of the depths I cry to You, O LORD!

O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.

If You, O LORD, kept track of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand?

But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared.

I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning— more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.

And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 66:18-23

Verse 18. “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. Verse 19. I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations — to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations. Verse 20. And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” Verse 21. “And I will select some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD. Verse 22. “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” “so your descendants and your name will endure. Verse 23. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 87

A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains.

The LORD loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.

Glorious things are ascribed to you, O city of God.

“I will mention Rahab and Babylon among those who know Me — along with Philistia, Tyre, and Cush — when I say, ‘This one was born in Zion.’”

And it will be said of Zion: “This one and that one were born in her, and the Most High Himself will establish her.”

The LORD will record in the register of the peoples: “This one was born in Zion.”

Singers and pipers will proclaim, “All my springs of joy are in You.”

SECOND READING

Matthew 8:1-13

Verse 1. When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him. Verse 2. Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Verse 3. Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Verse 4. Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.” Verse 5. When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came and pleaded with Him, Verse 6. “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.” Verse 7. “I will go and heal him,” Jesus replied. Verse 8. The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Verse 9. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” Verse 10. When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Verse 11. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Verse 12. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Verse 13. Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.