ALL SAINTS' DAY YEARS A B C
For use on 1 November if the material for All Saints' Sunday is used on the Sunday.


FIRST READING (Alternative readings)

Either Isaiah 56.3-8

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
3 Do not let the foreigner joined to the LORD say, 'The LORD will surely separate me from his people'; and do not let the eunuch say, 'I am just a dry tree.'
4 For thus says the LORD: To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give, in my house and within my walls, a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant -
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
8 Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

Or 2 Esdras 2.42-48

A reading from the second book of Esdras.
42 I, Ezra, saw on Mount Zion a great multitude that I could not number, and they all were praising the Lord with songs.
43 In their midst was a young man of great stature, taller than any of the others, and on the head of each of them he placed a crown, but he was more exalted than they. And I was held spellbound.
44 Then I asked an angel, 'Who are these, my lord?'
45 He answered and said to me, 'These are they who have put off mortal clothing and have put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God. Now they are being crowned, and receive palms.'
46 Then I said to the angel, 'Who is that young man who is placing crowns on them and putting palms in their hands?'
47 He answered and said to me, 'He is the Son of God, whom they confessed in the world.' So I began to praise those who had stood valiantly for the name of the Lord.
48 Then the angel said to me, 'Go, tell my people how great and many are the wonders of the Lord God that you have seen.'


PSALM Psalm 33.1-5

R The Lord spoke to him face to face [as one speaks to a friend].

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous; it is good for the just to sing praises.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp; play to him upon the psaltery and lyre.
3 Sing for him a new song; sound a fanfare with all your skill upon the trumpet. R
4 For the word of the Lord is right, and all his works are sure.
5 He loves righteousness and justice; the loving-kindness of the Lord fills the whole earth. R


SECOND READING Hebrews 12.18-24

A reading from the letter to the Hebrews.
18 You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom,
19 and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them.
20 (For they could not endure the order that was given, 'If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.'
21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, 'I tremble with fear.')
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.


GOSPEL Matthew 5.1-12

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.'