Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Exodus 23:10-13

Verse 10. For six years you are to sow your land and gather its produce, Verse 11. but in the seventh year you must let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat from the field and the wild animals may consume what they leave. Do the same with your vineyard and olive grove. Verse 12. For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the son of your maidservant may be refreshed, as well as the foreign resident. Verse 13. Pay close attention to everything I have said to you. You must not invoke the names of other gods; they must not be heard on your lips.

PSALM

Psalm 19

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.

Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard,

their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens He has pitched a tent for the sun.

Like a bridegroom emerging from his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course,

it rises at one end of the heavens and runs its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart; the commandments of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them indeed Your servant is warned; in keeping them is great reward.

Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.

Keep Your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless and cleansed of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 6:1-10

Verse 1. “Run for cover, O sons of Benjamin; flee from Jerusalem! Sound the ram’s horn in Tekoa; send up a signal over Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms from the north, even great destruction. Verse 2. Though she is beautiful and delicate, I will destroy the Daughter of Zion. Verse 3. Shepherds and their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents all around her, each tending his own portion: Verse 4. ‘Prepare for battle against her; rise up, let us attack at noon. Woe to us, for the daylight is fading; the evening shadows grow long. Verse 5. Rise up, let us attack by night and destroy her fortresses!’” Verse 6. For this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Cut down the trees and raise a siege ramp against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; there is nothing but oppression in her midst. Verse 7. As a well gushes its water, so she pours out her evil. Violence and destruction resound in her; sickness and wounds are ever before Me. Verse 8. Be forewarned, O Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you; I will make you a desolation, a land without inhabitant.” Verse 9. This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches.” Verse 10. To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

PSALM

Psalm 80:7-15

Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

You uprooted a vine from Egypt; You drove out the nations and transplanted it.

You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.

The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches.

It sent out its branches to the Sea, and its shoots toward the River.

Why have You broken down its walls, so that all who pass by pick its fruit?

The boar from the forest ravages it, and the creatures of the field feed upon it.

Return, O God of Hosts, we pray! Look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine—

the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself.

SECOND READING

John 7:40-52

Verse 40. On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Verse 41. Others declared, “This is the Christ.” But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? Verse 42. Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived? ” Verse 43. So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus. Verse 44. Some of them wanted to seize Him, but no one laid a hand on Him. Verse 45. Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?” Verse 46. “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered. Verse 47. “Have you also been deceived?” replied the Pharisees. Verse 48. “Have any of the rulers or Pharisees believed in Him? Verse 49. But this crowd that does not know the law— they are under a curse.” Verse 50. Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who himself was one of them, asked, Verse 51. “Does our law convict a man without first hearing from him to determine what he has done?” Verse 52. “Aren’t you also from Galilee?” they replied. “Look into it, and you will see that no prophet comes out of Galilee.”