Go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin.
Augustin Tünger in “Facetiae,” published in the 15th century: St. Peter Pays the Temple Tax
Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling. Psalm 43:3
INVITATORY AND PSALTER
O God, make speed to save us.
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.
Hymn: Light of the World
Phos hilaron
Light of the world in grace and beauty,
Mirror of God’s eternal face,
Transparent flame of love’s free duty,
You bring salvation to our race.
Now, as we see the lights of evening,
We raise our voice in hymns of praise;
Worthy are you of endless blessing,
Sun of our night, lamp of our days.
Psalm 78:40-72
How often the people disobeyed him in the wilderness *
and offended him in the desert!
Again and again they tempted God *
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
They did not remember his power *
in the day when he ransomed them from the enemy;
How he wrought his signs in Egypt *
and his omens in the field of Zoan.
He turned their rivers into blood, *
so that they could not drink of their streams.
He sent swarms of flies among them, which ate them up, *
and frogs, which destroyed them.
He gave their crops to the caterpillar, *
the fruit of their toil to the locust.
He killed their vines with hail *
and their sycamores with frost.
He delivered their cattle to hailstones *
and their livestock to hot thunderbolts.
He poured out upon them his blazing anger: *
fury, indignation, and distress,
a troop of destroying angels.
He gave full rein to his anger;
he did not spare their souls from death; *
but delivered their lives to the plague.
He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, *
the flower of manhood in the dwellings of Ham.
He led out his people like sheep *
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
He led them to safety, and they were not afraid; *
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
He brought them to his holy land, *
the mountain his right hand had won.
He drove out the Canaanites before them
and apportioned an inheritance to them by lot; *
he made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.
But they tested the Most High God, and defied him, *
and did not keep his commandments.
They turned away and were disloyal like their fathers; *
they were undependable like a warped bow.
They grieved him with their hill-altars *
they provoked his displeasure with their idols.
When God heard this, he was angry *
and utterly rejected Israel.
He forsook the shrine at Shiloh, *
the tabernacle where he had lived among his people.
He delivered the ark into captivity, *
his glory into the adversary’s hand.
He gave his people to the sword *
and was angered against his inheritance.
The fire consumed their young men; *
there were no wedding songs for their maidens.
Their priests fell by the sword, *
and their widows made no lamentation.
Then the LORD woke as though from sleep, *
like a warrior refreshed with wine.
He struck his enemies on the backside *
and put them to perpetual shame.
He rejected the tent of Joseph *
and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
He chose instead the tribe of Judah *
and Mount Zion, which he loved.
He built his sanctuary like the heights of heaven, *
like the earth which he founded for ever.
He chose David his servant, *
and took him away from the sheepfolds.
He brought him from following the ewes, *
to be a shepherd over Jacob his people
and over Israel his inheritance.
So he shepherded them with a faithful and true heart *
and guided them with the skillfulness of his hands.
Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
THE LESSON
Matthew 17:22-27 (NRSV)
As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.” And they were greatly distressed. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes, he does.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke of it first, asking, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their children or from others?” When Peter said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the children are free. However, so that we do not give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook; take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a coin; take that and give it to them for you and me.”
Canticle: The Song of Mary
Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in you, O God my Savior, *
for you have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,
and holy is your Name.
You have mercy on those who fear you *
from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm, *
and scattered the proud in their conceit,
Casting down the mighty from their thrones, *
and lifting up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things, *
and sent the rich away empty.
You have come to the help of your servant Israel, *
for you have remembered your promise of mercy,
The promise made to our forebears, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.
That this evening may be holy, good, and peaceful,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That your holy angels may lead us in paths of peace and goodwill,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be pardoned and forgiven for our sins and offenses,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That there may be peace to your Church and to the whole world,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may depart this life in your faith and fear,
and not be condemned before the great judgment seat of Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
That we may be bound together by your Holy Spirit
in the communion of all your saints,
entrusting one another and all our life to Christ,
We entreat you, O Lord.
Blueberries ready for picking at Driving Wind Farm in Indianapolis, run by a Church of Christ minister and his sons, one of whom is also a minister. The farm is surrounded by strip malls and housing developments. (Jeff Swiatek/The Indianapolis Star)
Collect of the Day: Proper 6
Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
For the Future of the Human Race
O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your purposes for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Mission
O God, you manifest in your servants the signs of your presence: Send forth upon us the Spirit of love, that in companionship with one another your abounding grace may increase among us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.++
