The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of
The First Book of Common Prayer
Observed on a weekday following the Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:38-42
John 4:21-24
Psalm 96:1-9 or
Psalm 33:1-5,20-21

Preface of Pentecost

Almighty and everliving God, whose servant Thomas Cranmer, with others, restored the language of the people in the prayers of your Church: Make us always thankful for this heritage; and help us so to pray in the Spirit and with the understanding, that we may worthily magnify your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Acts 2:38-42

Peter said to the crowd, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Psalm 96 or 96:1-9 Page 725, BCP

Cantate Domino

1

Sing to the LORD a new song; *
sing to the LORD, all the whole earth.

2

Sing to the LORD and bless his Name; *
proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day.

3

Declare his glory among the nations *
and his wonders among all peoples.

4

For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised; *
he is more to be feared than all gods.

5

As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; *
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

6

Oh, the majesty and magnificence of his presence! *
Oh, the power and the splendor of his sanctuary!

7

Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples; *
ascribe to the LORD honor and power.

8

Ascribe to the LORD the honor due his Name; *
bring offerings and come into his courts.

9

Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; *
let the whole earth tremble before him.

or

Psalm 33:1-5,20-21 Page 626, BCP

Exultate, justi

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.

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.

John 4:21-24

Jesus said to the woman at the well, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Collects, Psalms and Canticles are from the Book of Common Prayer, 1979.

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