18 October

18 October
Luke the Evangelist

Festival

Readings

First Evening Prayer

Psalm 33

1	Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous;* it is good for the just to sing praises.
2	Praise the LORD with the harp;* play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
3	Sing for him a new song;* sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet.
4	For the word of the LORD is right,* and all his works are sure.
5	He loves righteousness and justice;* the loving-kindness of the LORD fills the whole earth.
6	By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,* by the breath of his mouth all the heavenly hosts.
7	He gathers up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin* and stores up the depths of the sea.
8	Let all the earth fear the LORD;* let all who dwell in the world stand in awe of him.
9	For he spoke, and it came to pass;* he commanded, and it stood fast.
10	The LORD brings the will of the nations to naught;* he thwarts the designs of the peoples.
11	But the LORD's will stands fast for ever,* and the designs of his heart from age to age.
12	Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD!* happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13	The LORD looks down from heaven,* and beholds all the people in the world.
14	From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze* on all who dwell on the earth.
15	He fashions all the hearts of them* and understands all their works.
16	There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army;* a strong man is not delivered by great strength.
17	The horse is a vain hope for deliverance;* for all its strength it cannot save.
18	Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him,* on those who wait upon his love,
19	To pluck their lives from death,* and to feed them in time of famine.
20	Our soul waits for the LORD;* he is our help and our shield.
21	Indeed, our heart rejoices in him,* for in his holy name we put our trust.
22	Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us,* as we have put our trust in you.

Isaiah 61:1-6

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; but you shall be called priests of the LORD, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory.

2 Timothy 3:10-17

Now you have observed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and suffering the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the LORD rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. But wicked people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

Morning Prayer

Psalm 145

1	I will exalt you, O God my King,* and bless your name for ever and ever.
2	Every day will I bless you* and praise your name for ever and ever.
3	Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;* there is no end to his greatness.
4	One generation shall praise your works to another* and shall declare your power.
5	I will ponder the glorious splendour of your majesty* and all your marvellous works.
6	They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts,* and I will tell of your greatness.
7	They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness;* they shall sing of your righteous deeds.
8	The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,* slow to anger and of great kindness.
9	The LORD is loving to everyone* and his compassion is over all his works.
10	All your works praise you, O LORD,* and your faithful servants bless you.
11	They make known the glory of your kingdom* and speak of your power;
12	That the peoples may know of your power* and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
13	Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;* your dominion endures throughout all ages.
14	The LORD is faithful in all his words* and merciful in all his deeds.
15	The LORD upholds all those who fall;* he lifts up those who are bowed down.
16	The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD,* and you give them their food in due season.
17	You open wide your hand* and satisfy the needs of every living creature.
18	The LORD is righteous in all his ways* and loving in all his works.
19	The LORD is near to those who call upon him,* to all who call upon him faithfully.
20	He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;* he hears their cry and helps them.
21	The LORD preserves all those who love him,* but he destroys all the wicked.
22	My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD;* let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Isaiah 55

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Luke 1:1-4

Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

Evening Prayer

Psalm 103

1	Bless the LORD, O my soul,* and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2	Bless the LORD, O my soul,* and forget not all his benefits.
3	He forgives all your sins* and heals all your infirmities;
4	He redeems your life from the grave* and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
5	He satisfies you with good things,* and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
6	The LORD executes righteousness* and judgement for all who are oppressed.
7	He made his ways known to Moses* and his works to the children of Israel.
8	The LORD is full of compassion and mercy,* slow to anger and of great kindness.
9	He will not always accuse us,* nor will he keep his anger for ever.
10	He has not dealt with us according to our sins,* nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
11	For as the heavens are high above the earth,* so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
12	As far as the east is from the west,* so far has he removed our sins from us.
13	As a father cares for his children,* so does the LORD care for those who fear him.
14	For he himself knows whereof we are made;* he remembers that we are but dust.
15	Our days are like the grass;* we flourish like a flower of the field;
16	When the wind goes over it, it is gone,* and its place shall know it no more.
17	But the merciful goodness of the LORD endures for ever on those who fear him,* and his righteousness on children's children;
18	On those who keep his covenant* and remember his commandments and do them.
19	The LORD has set his throne in heaven,* and his kingship has dominion over all.
20	Bless the LORD, you angels of his, you mighty ones who do his bidding,* and hearken to the voice of his word.
21	Bless the LORD, all you his hosts,* you ministers of his who do his will.
22	Bless the LORD, all you works of his, in all places of his dominion;* bless the LORD, O my soul.

Ecclesiasticus 38:1-14

Honour physicians for their services,
   for the Lord created them;
for their gift of healing comes from the most High,
   and they are rewarded by the king.
The skill of physicians makes them distinguished,
   and in the presence of the great they are admired.
The Lord created medicines out of the earth,
   and the sensible will not despise them.
Was not water made sweet with a tree
   in order that its power might be known?
And he gave skill to human beings
   that he might be glorified in his marvellous works.
By them the physician heals and takes away pain;
   the pharmacist makes a mixture from them.
God's works will never be finished;
   and from him health spreads over all the earth.

My child, when you are ill, do not delay,
   but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you.
Give up your faults and direct your hands rightly,
   and cleanse your heart from all sin.
Offer a sweet-smelling sacrifice,
      and a memorial portion of choice flour,
   and pour oil on your offering, as much as you can afford.
Then give the physician his place, for the Lord created him;
   do not let him leave you, for you need him.
There may come a time when
      recovery lies in the hands of physicians,
   for they too pray to the Lord.
that he grant them success in diagnosis
   and in healing, for the sake of preserving life.

Colossians 4:7-18

Tychicus will tell you all the news about me; he is a beloved brother, a faithful minister, and a fellow servant in the Lord. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts; he is coming with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here. Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, as does Mark the cousin of Barnabas, concerning whom you have received instructions--if he comes to you, welcome him. And Jesus who is called Justus greets you. These are the only ones of the circumcision among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills. For I testify for him that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, "See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord." I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.

The Eucharist

Isaiah 35:3-6

Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you."

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

Acts 16:6-12a

Paul and Timothy went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony.

Psalm 147:1-7

1	Alleluia! How good it is to sing praises to our God!* how pleasant it is to honour him with praise!
2	The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;* he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3	He heals the brokenhearted* and binds up their wounds.
4	He counts the number of the stars* and calls them all by their names.
5	Great is our LORD and mighty in power;* there is no limit to his wisdom.
6	The LORD lifts up the lowly,* but casts the wicked to the ground.
7	Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;* make music to our God upon the harp.

2 Timothy 4:5-17

As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.

At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.