Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Kings 2:1-18

Verse 1. Shortly before the LORD took Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal, Verse 2. and Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. Verse 3. Then the sons of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” Verse 4. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. Verse 5. Then the sons of the prophets at Jericho came up to Elisha and said, “Do you know that the LORD will take your master away from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied. “Do not speak of it.” Verse 6. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.” But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Verse 7. Then a company of fifty of the sons of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing Elijah and Elisha as the two of them stood by the Jordan. Verse 8. And Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the waters, which parted to the right and to the left, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground. Verse 9. After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken away from you?” “Please, let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. Verse 10. “You have requested a difficult thing,” said Elijah. “Nevertheless, if you see me as I am taken from you, it will be yours. But if not, then it will not be so.” Verse 11. As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. Verse 12. As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two. Verse 13. Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Verse 14. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the waters. “Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” he asked. And when he had struck the waters, they parted to the right and to the left, and Elisha crossed over. Verse 15. When the sons of the prophets who were watching him from Jericho saw what had happened, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed down to the ground before him. Verse 16. “Look now,” they said to Elisha, “we your servants have fifty valiant men. Please let them go and search for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has taken him up and put him on one of the mountains or in one of the valleys.” “Do not send them,” Elisha replied. Verse 17. But when they pressed him to the point of embarrassment, he said, “Send them.” And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find Elijah. Verse 18. When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, “Didn’t I tell you not to go?”

PSALM

Psalm 77

For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God; I cried aloud to God to hear me.

In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.

I remembered You, O God, and I groaned; I mused and my spirit grew faint.

You have kept my eyes from closing; I am too troubled to speak.

I considered the days of old, the years long in the past.

At night I remembered my song; in my heart I mused, and my spirit pondered:

“Will the Lord spurn us forever and never show His favor again?

Is His loving devotion gone forever? Has His promise failed for all time?

Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has His anger shut off His compassion?”

So I said, “I am grieved that the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old.

I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is so great as our God?

You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength among the peoples.

With power You redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph.

The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You and swirled; even the depths were shaken.

The clouds poured down water; the skies resounded with thunder; Your arrows flashed back and forth.

Your thunder resounded in the whirlwind; the lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.

Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, but Your footprints were not to be found.

You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Genesis 50:22-26

Verse 22. Now Joseph and his father’s household remained in Egypt, and Joseph lived to the age of 110. Verse 23. He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees. Verse 24. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Verse 25. And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” Verse 26. So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt.

PSALM

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!

It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron’s beard over the collar of his robes.

It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the LORD has bestowed the blessing of life forevermore.

SECOND READING

Mark 11:20-25

Verse 20. As they were walking back in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered from its roots. Verse 21. Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.” Verse 22. “Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. Verse 23. “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. Verse 24. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Verse 25. And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well. ”