The Lessons Appointed for Use on the Feast of
Anna Julia Haywood Cooper
Educator, 1964 February 28

Proverbs 9:1-6
Luke 4:14-21
Psalm 119:33-40

The Preface of a Saint (3)

Almighty God, you inspired your servant Anna Julia Haywood Cooper with the love of learning and the skill of teaching: Enlighten us more and more through the discipline of learning, and deepen our commitment to the education of all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Proverbs 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house,

she has hewn her seven pillars.

She has slaughtered her animals,

she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls

from the highest places in the town,

"You that are simple, turn in here!"

To those without sense she says,

"Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed."

Psalm 119:33-40 Page 766, BCP

Legem pone

33

Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, *
and I shall keep it to the end.

34

Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *
I shall keep it with all my heart.

35

Make me go in the path of your commandments, *
for that is my desire.

36

Incline my heart to your decrees *
and not to unjust gain.

37

Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *
give me life in your ways.

38

Fulfill your promise to your servant, *
which you make to those who fear you.

39

Turn away the reproach which I dread, *
because your judgments are good.

40

Behold, I long for your commandments; *
in your righteousness preserve my life.

Luke 4:14-21

Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to let the oppressed go free,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

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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