St. James, the Elder

Today the holy Church commemorates St. James, brother of St. John, and son of Zebedee. We were blessed to commemorate St. James with new red paraments (Pr. Curtis' mother is the best thing going when it comes to paraments) and Vespers and the Divine Service:

By All Your Saints in Warfare

By all Your saints in warfare,
For all Your saints at rest,
Your holy name, O Jesus,
Forevermore be blest!
For You have won the battle
That they might wear the crown;
And now they shine in glory
Reflected from Your throne!

For him, O Lord, we praise You,
Who fell to Herod’s sword.
He drank Your cup of suff’ring
And thus fulfilled Your word.
Lord, curb our vain impatience
For glory and for gain,
And nerve us for such suff’rings
As glorify Your name.

Then let us praise the Father
And worship God the Son
And sing to God the Spirit,
Eternal Three in One,
Till all the ransomed number
Fall down before the throne,
Ascribing pow’r and glory
And praise to God alone.

Acts 11:27-12:5 / Romans 8:28-39 / Mark 10:35-45

O gracious God, Your servant and apostle James was the first among the Twelve to suffer martyrdom for the name of Jesus Christ. Pour out upon the leaders of Your Church the spirit of self-denying service that they may forsake all false and passing allurements and follow Christ alone; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, for You have mightily governed and protected Your holy Church, in which the blessed apostles and evangelists proclaimed Your divine and saving Gospel. Therefore with patriarchs and prophets, apostles and evangelists, with Your servant James and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying: "Holy, holy, holy..."