Join Us this Sunday, December 10th, for Our Holy Eucharist Service in Celebration of the Second Sunday of Advent. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and See the Light of Peace, with the Second Candle of Advent.

The Collect:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

¹ You have been gracious to your land, O Lord, *
       you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
² You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
       and blotted out all their sins.
⁸ I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, *
       for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
       and to those who turn their hearts to him.
⁹ Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
       that his glory may dwell in our land.
¹⁰ Mercy and truth have met together; *
       righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
¹¹ Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
       and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
¹² The Lord will indeed grant prosperity, *
       and our land will yield its increase.
¹³ Righteousness shall go before him, *
       and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

¹The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

²As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, 

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
³the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

⁴John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. ⁸I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Join Us this Sunday for Our Holy Eucharist Service in Celebration of the First Sunday of Advent. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and See the Light of Hope, with the First Candle of Advent.

The Collect:

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18

¹ Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
       shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
² In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
       stir up your strength and come to help us.
³ Restore us, O God of hosts; *
       show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
⁴ O Lord God of hosts, *
       how long will you be angered
       despite the prayers of your people?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
       you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
⁶ You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
       and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts; *
       show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
¹⁶ Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
       the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
¹⁷ And so will we never turn away from you; *
       give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
¹⁸ Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; *
       show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Gospel: Mark 13:24-37

²⁴“But in those days, after that suffering, 

the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

²⁶Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. ²⁷Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

²⁸“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³²“But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 25th, for our Holy Eucharist Service in Celebration of Christ the King and of Diaconal Ministry. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. We are Celebrating the Ministry of our retiring Deacon, Deacon Peggy. After the Service, we will be having a Special Salad Luncheon, hosted by the Women of the ECW. Come and Celebrate Christ the King Sunday and the Years of Compassionate Ministry, of Our Beloved Deacon, Deacon Peggy.

The Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 100

¹ Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
       serve the Lord with gladness
       and come before his presence with a song.
² Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
       he himself has made us, and we are his;
       we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
³ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
  go into his courts with praise; *
       give thanks to him and call upon his Name.
⁴ For the Lord is good;
  his mercy is everlasting; *
       and his faithfulness endures from age to age.

Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46

³¹“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴²for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’⁴⁵Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Come and Join Us this Wednesday Evening, November 22nd, for our Holy Eucharist Thanksgiving Eve Service. Our Service begins at 7:00 PM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ With Us Thanksgiving Eve.

The Collect:
Almighty and gracious Father, we give thee thanks for the fruits of the earth in their season and for the labors of those who harvest them. Make us, we beseech thee, faithful stewards of thy great bounty, for the provision of our necessities and the relief of all who are in need, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

¹¹ On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. ¹²As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, ¹³they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ ¹⁴When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. ¹⁵Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. ¹⁶He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? ¹⁸Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ ¹⁹Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 19th, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 123

¹ To you I lift up my eyes, *
       to you enthroned in the heavens.
² As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
       and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
³ So our eyes look to the Lord our God, *
       until he show us his mercy.
⁴ Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, *
       for we have had more than enough of contempt,
⁵ Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
       and of the derision of the proud.

Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30

¹⁴“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; ¹⁵to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.¹⁶The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. ¹⁷In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. ¹⁸But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ ²¹His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ ²²And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ ²³His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’²⁴Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest.²⁸So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.²⁹For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ³⁰As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 12th, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 78:1-7

¹ Hear my teaching, O my people; *
       incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
² I will open my mouth in a parable; *
       I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
³ That which we have heard and known,
  and what our forefathers have told us, *
       we will not hide from their children.
⁴ We will recount to generations to come
  the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord, *
       and the wonderful works he has done.
⁵ He gave his decrees to Jacob
  and established a law for Israel, *
       which he commanded them to teach their children;
⁶ That the generations to come might know,
  and the children yet unborn; *
       that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
⁷ So that they might put their trust in God, *
       and not forget the deeds of God,
       but keep his commandments;

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13

¹“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps.⁸The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, November 5th, for our Holy Eucharist Service in Celebration of All Saints Sunday. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. We will have a couple of special selections of music by our Choir, during our Service. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared
for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you
and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting.

Psalm 34:1-10, 22

1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord;
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord;
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant,
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him,
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger,
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants,
and none will be punished who trust in him.

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

¹ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. ²Then 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. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 29th, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

¹ Lord, you have been our refuge *
       from one generation to another
.² Before the mountains were brought forth,
  or the land and the earth were born, *
       from age to age you are God.
³ You turn us back to the dust and say, *
      “Go back, O child of earth.”
⁴ For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past *
       and like a watch in the night.
⁵ You sweep us away like a dream; *
       we fade away suddenly like the grass.
⁶ In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
       in the evening it is dried up and withered.
¹³ Return, O Lord; how long will you tarry? *
       be gracious to your servants.
¹⁴ Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
       so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
¹⁵ Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
       and the years in which we suffered adversity.
¹⁶ Show your servants your works *
       and your splendor to their children.
¹⁷ May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us; *
       prosper the work of our hands;
       prosper our handiwork.

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-46

³⁴When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, ³⁵and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”³⁷He said to him, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

⁴¹Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: ⁴²“What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” ⁴³He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying, ⁴⁴‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? ⁴⁵If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” ⁴⁶No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 22nd, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

The Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Psalm: Psalm 99

¹ The Lord is King;
  let the people tremble; *
       he is enthroned upon the cherubim;
       let the earth shake.
² The Lord is great in Zion; *
       he is high above all peoples.
³ Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; *
       he is the Holy One.
⁴ “O mighty King, lover of justice,
  you have established equity; *
       you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.”
⁵ Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
  and fall down before his footstool; *
       he is the Holy One.
⁶ Moses and Aaron among his priests,
  and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, *
       they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
⁷ He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
       they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
⁸ O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; *
       you were a God who forgave them,
       yet punished them for their evil deeds.
⁹ Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God
  and worship him upon his holy hill; *
       for the Lord our God is the Holy One.

Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22

¹⁵Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said.¹⁶So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. ¹⁷Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” ¹⁸But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? ¹⁹Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. ²⁰Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” ²¹They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”²²When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

Come and Join Us this Sunday, October 1st, for our Holy Eucharist Service. Our Service begins at 9:30 AM. For those of you who are joining us from Home, please join us via the Church’s Zoom Link or on our Facebook Page. Also, after the Service at 12 Noon, we will be having the Blessing of the Animals Service outside. Please bring your Pet or a Picture of them, to be Blessed in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi. Come and Celebrate Christ with Us this Sunday.

Psalm: Psalm 19

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God, *
       and the firmament shows his handiwork.
² One day tells its tale to another, *
       and one night imparts knowledge to another.
³ Although they have no words or language, *
       and their voices are not heard,
⁴ Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
       and their message to the ends of the world.
⁵ In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
       it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
       it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
⁶ It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
  and runs about to the end of it again; *
       nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
⁷ The law of the Lord is perfect
  and revives the soul; *
       the testimony of the Lord is sure
       and gives wisdom to the innocent.
⁸ The statutes of the Lord are just
  and rejoice the heart; *
       the commandment of the Lord is clear
       and gives light to the eyes.
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean
  and endures for ever; *
       the judgments of the Lord are true
       and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
   more than much fine gold, *
       sweeter far than honey,
       than honey in the comb.
¹¹ By them also is your servant enlightened, *
       and in keeping them there is great reward.
¹² Who can tell how often he offends? *
       cleanse me from my secret faults.
¹³ Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
   let them not get dominion over me; *
       then shall I be whole and sound,
       and innocent of a great offense.
¹⁴ Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
   heart be acceptable in your sight, *
       O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-46

³³“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.³⁴When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. ³⁵But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. ³⁷Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” ³⁹So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” ⁴²Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’? ⁴³Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. ⁴⁴The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.” ⁴⁵When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.