Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Joel 2:23-32

Verse 23. Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. Verse 24. The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil. Verse 25. I will repay you for the years eaten by locusts — the swarming locust, the young locust, the destroying locust, and the devouring locust — My great army that I sent against you. Verse 26. You will have plenty to eat, until you are satisfied. You will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you. My people will never again be put to shame. Verse 27. Then you will know that I am present in Israel and that I am the LORD your God, and there is no other. My people will never again be put to shame. Verse 28. And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Verse 29. Even on My menservants and maidservants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. Verse 30. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. Verse 31. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. Verse 32. And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has promised, among the remnant called by the LORD.[’’]

PSALM

Psalm 65

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song. Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion; to You our vows will be fulfilled.

O You who listen to prayer, all people will come to You.

When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.

Blessed is the one You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts! We are filled with the goodness of Your house, the holiness of Your temple.

With awesome deeds of righteousness You answer us, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

You formed the mountains by Your power, having girded Yourself with might.

You stilled the roaring of the seas, the pounding of their waves, and the tumult of the nations.

Those who live far away fear Your wonders; You make the dawn and sunset shout for joy.

You attend to the earth and water it; with abundance You enrich it. The streams of God are full of water, for You prepare our grain by providing for the earth.

You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth.

You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your paths overflow with plenty.

The pastures of the wilderness overflow; the hills are robed with joy.

The pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys are decked with grain. They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Sirach 35:12-17

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22

Verse 7. Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You. Verse 8. O Hope of Israel, its Savior in times of distress, why are You like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays but a night? Verse 9. Why are You like a man taken by surprise, like a warrior powerless to save? Yet You are among us, O LORD, and we are called by Your name. Do not forsake us! Verse 10. This is what the LORD says about this people: “Truly they love to wander; they have not restrained their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; He will now remember their iniquity and punish them for their sins.” Verse 19. Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror. Verse 20. We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the guilt of our fathers; indeed, we have sinned against You. Verse 21. For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it. Verse 22. Can the worthless idols of the nations bring rain? Do the skies alone send showers? Is this not by You, O LORD our God? So we put our hope in You, for You have done all these things.

PSALM

Psalm 84:1-7

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts!

My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she places her young near Your altars, O LORD of Hosts, my King and my God.

How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You.

Blessed are those whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; even the autumn rain covers it with pools.

They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion.

SECOND READING

2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18

Verse 6. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. Verse 7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Verse 8. From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing. Verse 16. At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them. Verse 17. But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. Verse 18. And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL

Luke 18:9-14

Verse 9. To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable: Verse 10. “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Verse 11. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men — swindlers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. Verse 12. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ Verse 13. But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ Verse 14. I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”