Readings for St. Nicholas

Readings for the Feast of Nicholas
Bishop of Myra
AD 326
Feast Day: December 6

Readings for Episcopal Eucharist

Collects
Let your continual mercy, O Lord, enkindle in your church the never-failing gift of charity, that, following the example of your servant Nicholas of Myra, we may have grace to deal in generosity and love with children and with all who are poor and distressed, and to uphold the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of him who gave his life for us, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever.

Almighty God, who in your love gave to your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

1 John 4:7-14
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Saviour of the world.

Psalm 78:3-7

Attendite, popule

3: That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us, *
we will not hide from their children.
4: We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, *
and the wonderful works he has done.
5: He gave his decrees to Jacob
and established a law for Israel, *
which he commanded them to teach their children;
6: That the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn; *
that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
7: So that they might put their trust in God, *
and not forget the deeds of God,
but keep his commandments.

Psalm 145:8-13

Exaltabo te, Deus

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 splendor of your kingdom.
13: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; *
your dominion endures throughout all ages.

Mark 10:13-16
People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Preface
For the wonderful grace and virtue declared in all thy saints,who have been chosen vessels of thy grace, and the lights of the world in their generations.