The Feast of St. James the Greater, July 25, falls on Sunday this year and appropriately replaces the Trinity VIII propers.

The excesses of James' medieval cult, especially the indulgenced pilgrimage to Compostela, were a favorite target of Luther - but that should not diminish our joy in God's gift of James. Rather, it should be all the moor (ha!) reason for us to celebrate this early martyr and Son of Thunder.

Here is a link

to a Roman Catholic explanation of the legend and day of James the Greater that is interesting - and demonstrates that many of the abuses that Luther pointed out are, sadly, still a part of Roman piety. But this link also includes a couple of great recipes for your Feast day lunch.

Finally, here are the propers as listed in the

Daily Divine Service Book: A Lutheran Daily Missal

(2011 - we hope). The bracketed propers are in conformity with LSB, the unbracketed propers are the older, traditional propers.

+HRC

St. James the Elder, Apostle 

July 25

Double Second Class – Red Vestments – Apostles’ Preface

Beginning of the Divine Service: turn to (A) p. STARTOFDS

Antiphon:

How precious also are thy thóughts unto mé, O God! * how gréat is the súm of them!

(Psalm 139: 17)

Psalm:

O LORD, thou hast seárched me, and knówn me. * Thou knowest my sitting dówn and my rísing up.

Glory be to the Fáther and tó the Son * and tó the Hóly Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and éver sháll be, * wórld without énd. Amen.

(Psalm 139: 1-2a)

[Introit]

[Antiphon:

I will speak of thy testimonies álso befóre kings, * and will nót be a-shamed. (Psalm 119: 46)

Psalm:

I will sing of the mercies of the LÓRD for éver: * with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all génerátions.

And the heavens shall praise thy wónders, O LORD: * thy faithfulness also in the congregátion óf the saints.

Bless-ed is the people that knów the jóyful sound: * they shall walk, O LORD, in the líght of thy cóuntenance.

In thy name shall théy rejoice áll the day: * and in thy righteousness shall they bé exálted.

Glory be to the Fáther and tó the Son * and tó the Hóly Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now, and éver sháll be, * wórld without énd. Amen.

(Psalm 89: 1, 5, 15-16)]

Turn to (C) p. KYRIE

(D) Collect of the Day

Grant, O Lord, that, as Thine Apostle Saint James readily obeyed the calling of Thy Son Jèsus Christ : we may by Thy grace be enabled to forsake all worldly and carnal affectiòns, and to follow Him alone; who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Hòly Ghost : ever one God, world without end. Amen. 

[(E) The First Lesson: Acts 11: 27 – 12: 5]

[For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel]. 

(F) Gradual

Thou mayest make prínces in áll the earth. * I will make thy name to be remembered in áll

generátions

Instead of thy fathers shall bé thy chíldren, * therefore shall the people praise thee for éver and

éver. (Psalm 45: 16-17) 

[Gradual]

[How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

(Romans 10: 15b, 18b)] 

(G) The Epistle Lesson: I Corinthians 4: 9-15

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

[The Epistle Lesson: Romans 8: 28-39]

[And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.] 

(H) The Verse

Állelúia.*Állelúia.

Grace is poured ínto thy lips: * therefore God hath bléssed thee for éver. (Psalm 45: 2b)

[The Verse]

[The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, bút to mínister,* and to give his life a ránsom for mány. (Mark 10:45)]

Turn to (I) p. GOSPELPREP

(J) The Holy Gospel: Matthew 20: 20-23

Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

[The Holy Gospel: Mark 10: 35-45]

[And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. 36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you? 37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. 38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? 39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.]