David of Wales, Bishop, c. 544

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, who didst call thy servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of thy mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the Gospel of Christ, we may, with him, praise thee both here on earth and also in thy everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, who called your servant David to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales: Mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the Gospel of Christ, we may, with him, praise you both here on earth and also in your everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: 1 Thessalonians 2:7b–12

⁷though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. ⁸So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

⁹You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. ¹⁰You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was towards you believers. ¹¹As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, ¹²urging and encouraging you and pleading that you should lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Psalm: Psalm 16

¹ Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
       I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord,
       my good above all other.”
² All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
       upon those who are noble among the people.
³ But those who run after other gods *
       shall have their troubles multiplied.
⁴ Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
       nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.

⁵ O LORD, you are my portion and my cup; *
       it is you who uphold my lot.
⁶ My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
       indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
⁷ I will bless the LORD who gives me counsel; *
       my heart teaches me, night after night.
⁸ I have set the LORD always before me; *
       because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
⁹ My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
       my body also shall rest in hope.
¹⁰ For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
       nor let your holy one see the Pit.
¹¹ You will show me the path of life; *
       in your presence there is fullness of joy,
       and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.

Gospel: Mark 4:26-29

²⁶ He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. ²⁸The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. ²⁹But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

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