Simon and Jude
Simon and Jude were named among the twelve apostles in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Simon is called ‘the Zealot’, probably because he belonged to a nationalist resistance movement opposing the Roman occupation forces. There is no indication in the gospels whether Simon moved from the Zealot party to be a follower of Christ or, on the other hand, if after the resurrection he became a supporter of that group, seeing it as a response to God’s call to proclaim the kingdom. Luke describes Jude as the son of James, while the Letter of Jude has him as the brother of James, neither of which negates the other. It seems he is the same person as Thaddæus, which may have been a last name. Owing to the similarity of his name to that of Judas Iscariot, Jude was rarely invoked in prayer and it seems likely that because of this, interceding through him was seen as a final resort when all else failed. He became known, therefore, as the patron saint of lost causes. The two apostles are joined together on this day because a church, which had recently acquired their relics, was dedicated to their memory in Rome in the seventh century. EH
Antiphon
Ant. My eyes are forever turned towards the Lord; *
for he shall release my feet from the snare; look upon
me and have mercy on me, for I am abandoned and destitute.
V. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. *
I n you, O my God, I have trusted;
let me not be put to shame; *
let not my enemies exult over me.
Let none who hope in you be put to shame; *
but shamed are those who wantonly break faith. Psalm 25
God of everlasting love,
through your Word you made all things
in heaven and on earth;
you have opened to us the path from death to life.
Listen to the song of the universe,
the hymn of resurrection sung by your church,
and give us your blessing;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCW
Music: https://tinyurl.com/ycn4djk5
O Lord, open my lips.
And my mouth will declare your praise.
Make haste, O God, to deliver me;
make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Praise to you, O Christ, Alleluia!
HYMN: The New English Hymnal, © 1985
Tune: Tantum ergo https://tinyurl.com/2swj5ncb
1 Lord of all the saints, we praise thee
For those two apostles blest,
Whom this day thy people honour,
Who on earth thy name confest:
Serving here the Christ who called them
They have gained the promised rest.
2 Unto heaven’s splendour raisèd,
There made perfect by thy grace,
They, by angel hosts surrounded,
Ever see their Father’s face,
Where the sons of exultation
Sound from all the ransomed race.
3 Simon, may thy zeal inflame us
Christ our Lord to serve with might;
Blessèd Jude, thou true disciple,
We thy faithfulness recite:
May God grant us grace to follow
Till, with thee, faith ends in light.
4 Glory be to God the Father,
Glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit,
Ever Three and even One,
One in love and one in splendour,
While unending ages run. Amen.
PSALMS
Psalm 136 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y7f3bagv)
1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is gracious *
and his mercy endureth for ever.
2 O give thanks unto the God of all gods *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
3 O thank the Lord of all lords *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
4 Who only doeth great wonders *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
5 Who by his excellent wisdom made the heavens *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
6 Who laid out the earth above the waters *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
7 Who hath made great lights *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
8 The sun to rule the day *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
9 The moon and the stars to govern the night *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
10 Who smote Egypt with their first-born *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
11 And brought out Israel from among them *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
12 With a mighty hand, and stretched out arm *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
13 Who divided the Red sea in two parts *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
14 And made Israel to go through the midst of it *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
15 But as for Pharaoh and his host, he overthrew them in the Red sea *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
16 Who led his people through the wilderness *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
17 Who smote great kings *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
18 Yea, and slew mighty kings *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
19 Sehon king of the Amorites *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
20 And Og the king of Basan *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
21 And gave away their land for an heritage *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
22 Even for an heritage unto Israel his servant *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
23 Who remembered us when we were in trouble *
for his mercy endureth for ever;
24 And hath delivered us from our enemies *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
25 Who giveth food to all flesh *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
27 O give thanks unto the Lord of lords *
for his mercy endureth for ever.
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.
Psalm 137 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/yd8m98dk)
1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept *
when we remembered thee, O Sion.
2 As for our harps, we hanged them up *
upon the trees that are therein.
3 For they that led us away captive required of us then a song, and melody, in our heaviness *
Sing us one of the songs of Sion.
4 How shall we sing the Lord’s song *
in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem *
let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth *
yea if I prefer not Jerusalem in my mirth.
7 Remember the children of Edom, O Lord, in the day of Jerusalem *
how they said, Down with it, down with it, even to the ground.
8 O daughter of Babylon, wasted with misery *
yea, happy shall he be that rewardeth thee, as thou hast served us.
9 Blessed shall he be that taketh thy children *
and throweth them against the stones.
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.
Psalm 138 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/y85o6fdm)
1 I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, with my whole heart *
even before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy Name,
because of thy loving-kindness and truth *
for thou hast magnified thy Name, and thy Word, above all things.
3 When I called upon thee, thou heardest me *
and enduedst my soul with much strength.
4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord *
for they have heard the words of thy mouth.
5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord *
that great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly *
as for the proud, he beholdeth them afar off.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh me *
thou shalt stretch forth thy hand upon the furiousness of mine enemies,
and thy right hand shall save me.
8 The Lord shall make good his loving-kindness toward me *
yea, thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever;
despise not then the works of thine own hands.
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.
Psalm 136 (LSB Tone J: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-136-LSB.mp3
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,*
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,*
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 to him who alone does great wonders,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
17 to him who struck down great kings,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,*
for his steadfast love endures forever.
23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,*
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,*
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,*
for his steadfast love endures forever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Psalm 137 (Selah Ray Songs)
1 By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
2 On the willows there
we hung up our lyres.
3 For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song
in a foreign land?
5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
let my right hand forget its skill!
6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth,
if I do not remember you,
if I do not set Jerusalem
above my highest joy!
7 Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites
the day of Jerusalem,
how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,
down to its foundations!”
8 O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed,
blessed shall he be who repays you
with what you have done to us!
9 Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones
and dashes them against the rock!
Psalm 138 (LSB Tone C https://tinyurl.com/8ca427za)
1 I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;*
before the gods I sing your praise
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name
for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,*
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;*
my strength of soul you increased.
4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,*
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,*
for great is the glory of the LORD.
6 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,*
but the haughty he knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;*
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;*
your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
PRAYER
Compassionate God,
you look with favor upon the lowly.
Keep us safe in the midst of trouble,
make known your love in our words and deeds,
and bring us to new life
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. BCW2018
THE WORD OF GOD
READING: 1 Kings 18:30-46
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come closer to me,” and all the people came closer to him. First he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down; Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name”; with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar, large enough to contain two measures of seed. Next he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. Again he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time, so that the water ran all around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
At the time of the offering of the oblation, the prophet Elijah came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your bidding. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust and even licked up the water that was in the trench. When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord indeed is God; the Lord indeed is God.” Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” Then they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon and killed them there.
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of rushing rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” He went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” Then he said, “Go again seven times.” At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ ” In a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind; there was a heavy rain. Ahab rode off and went to Jezreel. But the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran in front of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
HYMN: John Newton
Tune: Uffingham
1 Does it not grief and wonder move,
To think of Israel’s dreadful fall,
Who needed miracles to prove,
Whether the Lord was God or Baal.
2 Methinks I see Elijah stand,
His features glow with love and zeal,
In faith and pray’r he lifts his hand,
And makes to heav’n his great appeal.
3 O God if I thy servant am,
If ’tis thy message fills my heart,
Now glorify thy holy name,
And shew this people who thou art.
4 He spoke, and lo! a sudden flame,
Consum’d the wood, the dust, the stone,
The people struck, at once proclaim,
“The Lord is God, the Lord alone.”
5 Like him we mourn an awful day,
When more for Baal than God appear,
Like him, believers, let us pray,
And may the God of Isr’el hear.
6 Lord if thy servant speaks the truth,
If he indeed is sent by thee,
Confirm the word to all our youth,
And let them thy salvation see.
7 Now may the spirit’s holy fire,
Pierce ev’ry heart that hears thy word,
Consume each hurtful vain desire,
And make them know, thou art the Lord.
READING: Jude 1-4, 17-25
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ:
May mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.
Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once and for all handed on to the saints. For certain intruders have stolen in among you, people who long ago were designated for this condemnation as ungodly, who pervert the grace of our God into debauchery and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
But you, beloved, must remember the words previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, indulging their own ungodly lusts.” It is these worldly people, devoid of the Spirit, who are causing divisions. But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
HYMN: John Newton
Tune: Bryn Calfaria https://tinyurl.com/yc4skck9
1 Day of judgment! Day of wonders!
Hark! the trumpet’s awful sound,
louder than a thousand thunders,
shakes the vast creation round.
How the summons
will the sinner’s heart confound!
2 See the Judge, our nature wearing,
clothed in majesty divine;
you who long for his appearing
then shall say, “This God is mine!”
Gracious Savior,
own me in that day as thine.
3 At his call the dead awaken,
rise to life from earth and sea;
all the pow’rs of nature, shaken
by his looks, prepare to flee.
Careless sinner,
what will then become of thee?
4 But to those who have confessed,
loved and served the Lord below,
he will say, “Come near, ye blessed,
see the kingdom I bestow;
you forever
shall my love and glory know.”
READING: Luke 13:22-30
Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. Once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then in reply he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and take their places at the banquet in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
CANTICLE Te Deum
(Chant by Joe Cox: https://tinyurl.com/ybzyundx)
We praise thee, O God; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee, the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud,
the Heavens and all the Powers therein.
To thee Cherubim and Seraphim continually do cry:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of thy glory.
The glorious company of the apostles praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise thee.
The noble army of martyrs praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world
doth acknowledge thee,
the Father, of an infinite majesty,
thine adorable, true, and only Son,
also the Holy Ghost the Comforter.
Thou art the King of glory, O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man,
thou didst humble thyself to be born of a Virgin.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death,
thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come to be our judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants,
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy saints,
in glory everlasting.
THE PRAYERS COS, alt.
Gracious God,
rejoicing in your blessings,
trusting in your loving care for all,
we bring you our prayers for the world.
We pray for the created world:
for those who rebuild
where things have been destroyed;
for those who fight hunger, poverty, and disease;
for those who have power
to bring change for the better and to renew hope.
In the life of our world
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for our country:
for those who frame our laws
and shape our common life;
for those who keep the peace
and administer justice;
for those who teach,
those who heal,
all who serve the community.
In the life of our land
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for people in need:
those for whom life is a bitter struggle;
those whose lives are clouded
by death or loss,
by pain or disability,
by discouragement or fear,
by shame or rejection.
In the lives of those in need
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for those
in the circle of friendship and love around us:
children and parents;
sisters and brothers;
friends and neighbours;
and for those especially in our thoughts today.
In the lives of those we love
your kingdom come, O Lord.
We pray for the Church
in its stand with the poor,
in its love for the outcast and the ashamed,
in its service to the sick and the neglected,
in its proclamation of the Gospel,
in this land, in this place.
In the life of your Church
your kingdom come, O Lord.
(Plainsong: https://tinyurl.com/ahnrtv59)ELW
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;
and 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.
Lover of the hidden,
hope of the lost cause;
you called Simon and Jude
to share the work of witness
and to spend their life
without honour or glory:
we thank you for all the saints
whose lives are unknown
but whose faith moved mountains
and soared on Spirit’s wings;
through Jesus Christ, whose name is salvation. Amen. PIC
Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14
BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.
BCW2018 Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 2018
EH Exciting Holiness, Ed. Brother Tristram SSF © European Province of the Society of Saint Francis, 1997
ELW The Lord’s Prayer is from Setting Five in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
PIC Prayers for An Inclusive Church, Steven Shakespeare
COS Common Order, © 1994 Church of Scotland
The three main scripture readings are © 2011 Common English Bible.
The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language versions of Psalms 136 and 138 are in the version used in Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition Concordia Publishing House, and are from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg. Psalm 137 is from the English Standard Version as recorded for the Selay Ray Psalms YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@SelahRayPsalms
Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.
Compilation © 2026 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.
