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Today is the first of the so-called "Silly Sundays" of Pre-Lent. This season has been dropped from modern Prayer Books and Missals, but is still part of the 1962 BCP and is still celebrated here at St. Stephen's.

From now, until Shrove Tuesday, we are preparing for Lent. This is the first Sunday which sees us ceasing the chanting of Alleluias, and instead, we will use another type of chant called a Tract. Either Purple or Green vestments and paraments may be used today, and the other days of Pre-Lent.

There is an interesting contrast between the Epistle and Gospel used today. The former implies that it is never too late to be damned, and the later that it is never too late to be saved.

 

At the Mass

The following is taken from:

The Introit

Antiphon: Psalm 18 The sorrows of death came about me, the pains of hell gat hold upon me: and in my tribulation I made my prayer unto the Lord, and he regarded my supplication out of his holy temple.

Verse: Ibid I will love thee, O Lord my strength: the Lord is my stony rock, my fortress, and my Saviour.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Repeat the Antiphon The sorrows of death ...

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 34-36

The Collect

O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 132-133

The Epistle
1 Corinthians 9. 24.

Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things: now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

1 Corinthians 9.24-27 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Page 133

Gradual

Psalm 9 The Lord will be a refuge in the time of trouble: and they that know thy Name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast never failed them that seek thee. For the poor shall not always be forgotten: the patient abiding of the meek shall not perish for ever: up Lord, and let not man have the upper hand.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 34-36

Tract

Psalm 130 Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord hear my voice. ℣ O let thine ears consider well: the voice of my complaint. ℣ If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it? ℣ For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 34-36

The Gospel
St. Matthew 20. 1.

And Jesus spake unto them another parable, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the good-man of the house, saying, These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way; I will give unto this last even as unto thee. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Matthew 20.1-16 NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages 133-134

The Offertory

Psalm 92 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord: and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most Highest.

The English Gradual: Part II - The Proper, Pages 34-36

At the Offices

Morning Prayer

Psalm(s): 104 Pt 1
First Lesson: Genesis 1.1-2.3
Second Lesson: John 1:1-18 (Year I)
Revelation 21:1-7 (Year II)
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

Evening Prayer

Psalm(s): 80
First Lesson: Genesis 2:4-end
Second Lesson: Revelation 4 (Year I)
Mark 10:1-16 (Year II)
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

For the Ferial Days

  Morning Prayer Evening Prayer
First Lesson Second Lesson First Lesson Second Lesson
Monday Genesis 3 Matthew 15:29-16:12 Genesis 4:1-16 Romans 1
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
Tuesday Genesis 6 Matthew 16:13-end Genesis 7 Romans 2
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
Wednesday Genesis 8:1-14 Matthew 17:1-23 Genesis 8:15-9:17 Romans 3
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
Thursday Genesis 11:1-9,27-12:10 Matthew 17:24-18:14 Genesis 13 Romans 4
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
Friday Genesis 14 Matthew 18:15-end Genesis 15 Romans 5
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV
Saturday Genesis 16 Matthew 19:1-15 Genesis 17:1-22 Romans 6
NIV KJV NRSV NASB RSV NKJV ESV

The Book of Common Prayer (1962), Pages xxi, xxii and xxiii