Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, November-08-2015
Proper 27

The Collect

Proper 27
O God, whose blessed Son was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant us, we beseech thee, that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that, when he shall appear again with power and great glory, we may be made like unto him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where with thee, O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, he liveth and reigneth ever, one God, world without end. Amen

Old Testament Reading

1 Kings 17:8-16
⁸ Then the word of the LORD came to him, ⁹ "Arise, go to Zar'ephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you." ¹⁰ So he arose and went to Zar'ephath; and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, "Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink." ¹¹ And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." ¹² And she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a cruse; and now, I am gathering a couple of sticks, that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." ¹³ And Eli'jah said to her, "Fear not; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make for yourself and your son. ¹⁴ For thus says the LORD the God of Israel, `The jar of meal shall not be spent, and the cruse of oil shall not fail, until the day that the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'" ¹⁵ And she went and did as Eli'jah said; and she, and he, and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶ The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke by Eli'jah.

Psalm

Psalm 146

Lauda, anima mea
1Hallelujah!
     Praise the LORD, O my soul! *
     I will praise the LORD as long as I live;
     I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.
2Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
     for there is no help in them.
3When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
     and in that day their thoughts perish.
4Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
     whose hope is in the LORD their God;
5Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
     who keeps his promise for ever;
6Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
     and food to those who hunger.
7The LORD sets the prisoners free;
     the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *
     the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
8The LORD loves the righteous;
     the LORD cares for the stranger; *
     he sustains the orphan and widow,
     but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9The LORD shall reign for ever, *
     your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
     Hallelujah!

- OR -
Psalm 146:4-9

4Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
     whose hope is in the LORD their God;
5Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
     who keeps his promise for ever;
6Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
     and food to those who hunger.
7The LORD sets the prisoners free;
     the LORD opens the eyes of the blind; *
     the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
8The LORD loves the righteous;
     the LORD cares for the stranger; *
     he sustains the orphan and widow,
     but frustrates the way of the wicked.
9The LORD shall reign for ever, *
     your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
     Hallelujah!

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 9:24-28
²⁴ For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. ²⁵ Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the Holy Place yearly with blood not his own; ²⁶ for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as it is appointed for men to die once, and after that comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Gospel Reading

Mark 12:38-44
³⁸ And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places ³⁹ and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, ⁴⁰ who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation." ⁴¹ And he sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the multitude putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. ⁴² And a poor widow came, and put in two copper coins, which make a penny. ⁴³ And he called his disciples to him, and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. ⁴⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole living."

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, October-11-2015
Proper 23

The Collect

Proper 23
Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Amos 5:6-7,10-15
⁶ Seek the LORD and live, lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel, ⁷ O you who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth! ¹⁰ They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth. ¹¹ Therefore because you trample upon the poor and take from him exactions of wheat, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not dwell in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. ¹² For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins--you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and turn aside the needy in the gate. ¹³ Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. ¹⁴ Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. ¹⁵ Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Psalm

Psalm 90

Domine, refugium
1Lord, you have been our refuge *
     from one generation to another.
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
     or the land and the earth were born, *
     from age to age you are God.
3You turn us back to the dust and say, *
     "Go back, O child of earth."
4For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday
     when it is past *
     and like a watch in the night.
5You sweep us away like a dream; *
     we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
     in the evening it is dried up and withered.
7For we consume away in your displeasure; *
     we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
8Our iniquities you have set before you, *
     and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
9When you are angry, all our days are gone; *
     we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10The span of our life is seventy years,
     perhaps in strength even eighty; *
     yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow,
     for they pass away quickly and we are gone.
11Who regards the power of your wrath? *
     who rightly fears your indignation?
12So teach us to number our days *
     that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
13Return, O LORD; how long will you tarry? *
     be gracious to your servants.
14Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *
     so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.
15Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *
     and the years in which we suffered adversity.
16Show your servants your works *
     and your splendor to their children.
17May the graciousness of the LORD our God be upon us; *
     prosper the work of our hands;
     prosper our handiwork.

- OR -
Psalm 90:1-8,12

1Lord, you have been our refuge *
     from one generation to another.
2Before the mountains were brought forth,
     or the land and the earth were born, *
     from age to age you are God.
3You turn us back to the dust and say, *
     "Go back, O child of earth."
4For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday
     when it is past *
     and like a watch in the night.
5You sweep us away like a dream; *
     we fade away suddenly like the grass.
6In the morning it is green and flourishes; *
     in the evening it is dried up and withered.
7For we consume away in your displeasure; *
     we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.
8Our iniquities you have set before you, *
     and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.
12So teach us to number our days *
     that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 3:1-6
¹ Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. ² He was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in God's house. ³ Yet Jesus has been counted worthy of as much more glory than Moses as the builder of a house has more honor than the house. ⁴ (For every house is built by some one, but the builder of all things is God.) ⁵ Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, ⁶ but Christ was faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if we hold fast our confidence and pride in our hope.

Gospel Reading

Mark 10:17-27(28-31)
¹⁷ And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" ¹⁸ And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" ²⁰ And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." ²¹ And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." ²² At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. ²³ And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" ²⁴ And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." ²⁶ And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." (²⁸ Peter began to say to him, "Lo, we have left everything and followed you." ²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, ³⁰ who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many that are first will be last, and the last first." )

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, October-04-2015
Proper 22

The Collect

Proper 22
Almighty and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Genesis 2:18-24
¹⁸ Then the LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him." ¹⁹ So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him. ²¹ So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; ²² and the rib which the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." ²⁴ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Psalm

Psalm 8

Domine, Dominus noster
1O LORD our Governor, *
     how exalted is your Name in all the world!
2Out of the mouths of infants and children *
     your majesty is praised above the heavens.
3You have set up a stronghold against your adversaries, *
     to quell the enemy and the avenger.
4When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, *
     the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
5What is man that you should be mindful of him? *
     the son of man that you should seek him out?
6You have made him but little lower than the angels; *
     you adorn him with glory and honour;
7You give him mastery over the works of your hands; *
     you put all things under his feet:
8All sheep and oxen, *
     even the wild beasts of the field,
9The birds of the air, the fish of the sea, *
     and whatsoever walks in the paths of the sea.
10O LORD our Governor, *
     how exalted is your Name in all the world!

- OR -
Psalm 128

Beati omnes
1Happy are they all who fear the LORD, *
     and who follow in his ways!
2You shall eat the fruit of your labor; *
     happiness and prosperity shall be yours.
3Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, *
     your children like olive shoots round about your table.
4The man who fears the LORD *
     shall thus indeed be blessed.
5The LORD bless you from Zion, *
     and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days
     of your life.
6May you live to see your children's children; *
     may peace be upon Israel.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 2:(1-8)9-18
(¹ Therefore we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ² For if the message declared by angels was valid and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³ how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him, ⁴ while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his own will. ⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶ It has been testified somewhere, "What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that thou carest for him? ⁷ Thou didst make him for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honor, ⁸ putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. )⁹ But we see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for every one. ¹⁰ For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹ For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying, "I will proclaim thy name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee." ¹³ And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." ¹⁴ Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage. ¹⁶ For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with the descendants of Abraham. ¹⁷ Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

Gospel Reading

Mark 10:2-16
² And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" ³ He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" ⁴ They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." ⁵ But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. ⁶ But from the beginning of creation, `God made them male and female.' <sup>7</sup> `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, ⁸ and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two but one flesh. ⁹ What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder." ¹⁰ And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. ¹¹ And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; ¹² and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery." ¹³ And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." ¹⁶ And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, July-05-2015
Proper 9

The Collect

Proper 9
O God, who hast taught us to keep all thy commandments by loving thee and our neighbor: Grant us the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that we may be devoted to thee with our whole heart, and united to one another with pure affection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Ezekiel 2:1-7
¹ And he said to me, "Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak with you." ² And when he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me upon my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. ³ And he said to me, "Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels, who have rebelled against me; they and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. ⁴ The people also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them; and you shall say to them, `Thus says the Lord GOD.' ⁵ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that there has been a prophet among them. ⁶ And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit upon scorpions; be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house.

Psalm

Psalm 123

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

New Testament Reading

2 Corinthians 12:2-10
² I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³ And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- ⁴ and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵ On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶ Though if I wish to boast, I shall not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷ And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸ Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; ⁹ but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Gospel Reading

Mark 6:1-6
¹ He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. ² And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! ³ Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. ⁴ And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." ⁵ And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, June-14-2015
Proper 6

The Collect

Proper 6
Keep, O Lord, we beseech thee, thy household the Church in thy steadfast faith and love, that by the help of thy grace we may proclaim thy truth with boldness, and minister thy justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Ezekiel 31:1-6,10-14
¹ In the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came to me: ² "Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude: "Whom are you like in your greatness? ³ Behold, I will liken you to a cedar in Lebanon, with fair branches and forest shade, and of great height, its top among the clouds. ⁴ The waters nourished it, the deep made it grow tall, making its rivers flow round the place of its planting, sending forth its streams to all the trees of the forest. ⁵ So it towered high above all the trees of the forest; its boughs grew large and its branches long, from abundant water in its shoots. ⁶ All the birds of the air made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; and under its shadow dwelt all great nations. ¹⁰ "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it towered high and set its top among the clouds, and its heart was proud of its height, ¹¹ I will give it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations; he shall surely deal with it as its wickedness deserves. I have cast it out. ¹² Foreigners, the most terrible of the nations, will cut it down and leave it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches will fall, and its boughs will lie broken in all the watercourses of the land; and all the peoples of the earth will go from its shadow and leave it. ¹³ Upon its ruin will dwell all the birds of the air, and upon its branches will be all the beasts of the field. ¹⁴ All this is in order that no trees by the waters may grow to lofty height or set their tops among the clouds, and that no trees that drink water may reach up to them in height; for they are all given over to death, to the nether world among mortal men, with those who go down to the Pit.

Psalm

Psalm 92

Bonum est confiteri
1It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, *
     and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
2To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning *
     and of your faithfulness in the night season;
3On the psaltery, and on the lyre, *
     and to the melody of the harp.
4For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; *
     and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
5LORD, how great are your works! *
     your thoughts are very deep.
6The dullard does not know,
     nor does the fool understand, *
     that though the wicked grow like weeds,
     and all the workers of iniquity flourish,
7They flourish only to be destroyed for ever; *
     but you, O LORD, are exalted for evermore.
8For lo, your enemies, O LORD,
     lo, your enemies shall perish, *
     and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
9But my horn you have exalted like the horns of wild bulls; *
     I am anointed with fresh oil.
10My eyes also gloat over my enemies, *
     and my ears rejoice to hear the doom of the wicked who
     rise up against me.
11The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, *
     and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
12Those who are planted in the house of the LORD *
     shall flourish in the courts of our God;
13They shall still bear fruit in old age; *
     they shall be green and succulent;
14That they may show how upright the LORD is, *
     my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

- OR -
Psalm 92:1-4,11-14

1It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD, *
     and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High;
2To tell of your loving-kindness early in the morning *
     and of your faithfulness in the night season;
3On the psaltery, and on the lyre, *
     and to the melody of the harp.
4For you have made me glad by your acts, O LORD; *
     and I shout for joy because of the works of your hands.
11The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, *
     and shall spread abroad like a cedar of Lebanon.
12Those who are planted in the house of the LORD *
     shall flourish in the courts of our God;
13They shall still bear fruit in old age; *
     they shall be green and succulent;
14That they may show how upright the LORD is, *
     my Rock, in whom there is no fault.

New Testament Reading

2 Corinthians 5:1-10
¹ For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² Here indeed we groan, and long to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ so that by putting it on we may not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are still in this tent, we sigh with anxiety; not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ⁶ So we are always of good courage; we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. ⁹ So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good or evil, according to what he has done in the body.

Gospel Reading

Mark 4:26-34
²⁶ And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed upon the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he knows not how. ²⁸ The earth produces of itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. ²⁹ But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come." ³⁰ And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? ³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; ³² yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." ³³ With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; ³⁴ he did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, April-19-2015
Third Sunday of Easter

The Collect

Third Sunday of Easter
O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Acts 4:5-12
⁵ On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. ¹¹ This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." - OR -
Micah 4:1-5
¹ It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, ² and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. ³ He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide for strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more; ⁴ but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. ⁵ For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

Psalm

Psalm 98

Cantate Domino
1Sing to the LORD a new song, *
     for he has done marvelous things.
2With his right hand and his holy arm *
     has he won for himself the victory.
3The LORD has made known his victory; *
     his righteousness has he openly shown in
     the sight of the nations.
4He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to
     the house of Israel, *
     and all the ends of the earth have seen the
     victory of our God.
5Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
6Sing to the LORD with the harp, *
     with the harp and the voice of song.
7With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
     shout with joy before the King, the LORD.
8Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
     the lands and those who dwell therein.
9Let the rivers clap their hands, *
     and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD,
     when he comes to judge the earth.
10In righteousness shall he judge the world *
     and the peoples with equity.
11Light has sprung up for the righteous, *
     and joyful gladness for those who are truehearted.
12Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, *
     and give thanks to his holy Name.

- OR -
Psalm 98:1-5

1Sing to the LORD a new song, *
     for he has done marvelous things.
2With his right hand and his holy arm *
     has he won for himself the victory.
3The LORD has made known his victory; *
     his righteousness has he openly shown in
     the sight of the nations.
4He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to
     the house of Israel, *
     and all the ends of the earth have seen the
     victory of our God.
5Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; *
     lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

New Testament Reading

1 John 1:1-2:2
1:¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- ² the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- ³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:¹ My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ² and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.  

Gospel Reading

Luke 24:36-48
³⁶ As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them. ⁴⁴ Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, April-12-2015
Second Sunday of Easter

The Collect

Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
 

Old Testament Reading

Acts 3:12-15,17-26
¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁷ "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. ²² Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. <sup>23</sup> And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' <sup>24</sup> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. <sup>25</sup> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness." - OR -
Isaiah 26:2-9,19
² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. ³ Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. ⁴ Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. ⁵ For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. ⁶ The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy." ⁷ The way of the righteous is level; thou dost make smooth the path of the righteous. ⁸ In the path of thy judgments, O LORD, we wait for thee; thy memorial name is the desire of our soul. ⁹ My soul yearns for thee in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. ¹⁹ Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For thy dew is a dew of light, and on the land of the shades thou wilt let it fall.

Psalm

Psalm 111

Confitebor tibi
1Hallelujah!
     I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, *
     in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.
2Great are the deeds of the LORD! *
     they are studied by all who delight in them.
3His work is full of majesty and splendor, *
     and his righteousness endures for ever.
4He makes his marvelous works to be remembered; *
     the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5He gives food to those who fear him; *
     he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6He has shown his people the power of his works *
     in giving them the lands of the nations.
7The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; *
     all his commandments are sure.
8They stand fast for ever and ever, *
     because they are done in truth and equity.
9He sent redemption to his people;
     he commanded his covenant for ever; *
     holy and awesome is his Name.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; *
     those who act accordingly have a good understanding;
     his praise endures for ever.

- OR -
Psalm 118:19-24

19Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
     I will enter them;
     I will offer thanks to the LORD.
20"This is the gate of the LORD; *
     he who is righteous may enter."
21I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
     and have become my salvation.
22The same stone which the builders rejected *
     has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the LORD'S doing, *
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24On this day the LORD has acted; *
     we will rejoice and be glad in it.

New Testament Reading

1 John 5:1-6
¹ Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶ This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. - OR -
Acts 3:12-15,17-26
¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁷ "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. ²² Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. <sup>23</sup> And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' <sup>24</sup> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. <sup>25</sup> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."

Gospel Reading

John 20:19-31
¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." ²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." ²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." ²⁸ Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." ³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
 

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
April-05-2015
Easter Day

The Collect

 

Easter Day
O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Acts 10:34-43
³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

- OR -

Isaiah 25:6-9
⁶ On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. ⁷ And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. ⁸ He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. ⁹ It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Psalm

 

Psalm 118:14-29

14The LORD is my strength and my song, *
     and he has become my salvation.
15There is a sound of exultation and victory *
     in the tents of the righteous:
16"The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
     the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
     the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
17I shall not die, but live, *
     and declare the works of the LORD.
18The LORD has punished me sorely, *
     but he did not hand me over to death.
19Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
     I will enter them;
     I will offer thanks to the LORD.
20"This is the gate of the LORD; *
     he who is righteous may enter."
21I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
     and have become my salvation.
22The same stone which the builders rejected *
     has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the LORD'S doing, *
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24On this day the LORD has acted; *
     we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25Hosanna, LORD, hosanna! *
     LORD, send us now success.
26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
     we bless you from the house of the LORD.
27God is the LORD; he has shined upon us; *
     form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28"You are my God, and I will thank you; *
     you are my God, and I will exalt you."
29Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
     his mercy endures for ever.

- OR -

Psalm 118:14-17,22-24

14The LORD is my strength and my song, *
     and he has become my salvation.
15There is a sound of exultation and victory *
     in the tents of the righteous:
16"The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
     the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
     the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
17I shall not die, but live, *
     and declare the works of the LORD.
22The same stone which the builders rejected *
     has become the chief cornerstone.
23This is the LORD'S doing, *
     and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24On this day the LORD has acted; *
     we will rejoice and be glad in it.

New Testament Reading

 

Colossians 3:1-4
¹ If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

- OR -

Acts 10:34-43
³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Gospel Reading

 

Mark 16:1-8
¹ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. ³ And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁶ And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." ⁸ And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

For Reflection – Being UnCertain

 

1)      Where do you see the dangers of certainty in your own life and faith?  Which of your certainties has begun to feel rigid and counter-productive?

 

2)      For millennia, Christians have understood Jesus death as a sacrifice to appease God, and assumed that some will be within the saving power of his death and others will be outside.  Where have you seen this theology expressed?  What are its implications for your own faith and that of the community where you see it lived out?

 

3)      In the film American Beauty, the protagonists are isolated and incapable of relying on other people for support, even when they are falling apart.  When have you experienced this challenge to need others and attempted to “pull yourself together” rather than reveal your struggle to others?

 

4)      In his poem “The Place Where We Are Right,” Yehuda Amichai presents the hope that we can draw near to God and each other via our pain, failure, and doubts.  Recall a time that you experienced failure but found yourself closer to God and others.

 

Prayer:

            Gracious God, save us from the hardness of heart that blocks our knowledge of you.  Open our eyes to the fullness of this world, and our hearts to the abundance of your love.  Amen

 

Sunday, March-22-2015
Fifth Sunday in Lent

The Collect

Fifth Sunday in Lent
O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly wills and affections of sinful men: Grant unto thy people that they may love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Jeremiah 31:31-34
³¹ "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, ³² not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. ³³ But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, `Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

Psalm

Psalm 51

Miserere mei, Deus
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; *
     in your great compassion blot out my offences.
2Wash me through and through from my wickedness *
     and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I know my transgressions, *
     and my sin is ever before me.
4Against you only have I sinned *
     and done what is evil in your sight.
5And so you are justified when you speak *
     and upright in your judgment.
6Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *
     a sinner from my mother's womb.
7For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *
     and will make me understand wisdom secretly.
8Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *
     wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.
9Make me hear of joy and gladness, *
     that the body you have broken may rejoice.
10Hide your face from my sins *
     and blot out all my iniquities.
11Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
     and renew a right spirit within me.
12Cast me not away from your presence *
     and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13Give me the joy of your saving help again *
     and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
     and sinners shall return to you.
15Deliver me from death, O God, *
     and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
     O God of my salvation.
16Open my lips, O Lord, *
     and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.
17Had you desired it, I would have offered sacrifice, *
     but you take no delight in burnt-offerings.
18The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit; *
     a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
19Be favorable and gracious to Zion, *
     and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
20Then you will be pleased with the appointed sacrifices,
     with burnt-offerings and oblations; *
     then shall they offer young bullocks upon your altar.

- OR -
Psalm 51:11-16

11Create in me a clean heart, O God, *
     and renew a right spirit within me.
12Cast me not away from your presence *
     and take not your holy Spirit from me.
13Give me the joy of your saving help again *
     and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.
14I shall teach your ways to the wicked, *
     and sinners shall return to you.
15Deliver me from death, O God, *
     and my tongue shall sing of your righteousness,
     O God of my salvation.
16Open my lips, O Lord, *
     and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 5:(1-4)5-10
(¹ For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. ³ Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. ⁴ And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. )⁵ So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"; ⁶ as he says also in another place, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek." ⁷ In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard for his godly fear. ⁸ Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; ⁹ and being made perfect he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchiz'edek.

Gospel Reading

John 12:20-33
²⁰ Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. ²¹ So these came to Philip, who was from Beth-sa'ida in Galilee, and said to him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." ²² Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip and they told Jesus. ²³ And Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. ²⁵ He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him. ²⁷ "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, for this purpose I have come to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify thy name." Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again." ²⁹ The crowd standing by heard it and said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." ³⁰ Jesus answered, "This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world, now shall the ruler of this world be cast out; ³² and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." ³³ He said this to show by what death he was to die.

For Reflection 

1)      What grievance do you wish you could forgive, but cannot?  What are the circumstances?  What holds you back?

      2)      Identify some practical ways that you could “give your hurts to God”. 

3)      Is there any situation in which you believe people should not forgive those who have harmed them?  Have you seen forgiveness backfire or not bring about healing?

4)      Have you ever hurt someone and not been forgiven?  What was the impact on you?

 

The confession of evil works is the first beginning of good works.
St. Augustine -

Sunday, March-15-2015
Fourth Sunday in Lent

 

The Collect

Fourth Sunday in Lent
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which giveth life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

2 Chronicles 36:14-23
¹⁴ All the leading priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem. ¹⁵ The LORD, the God of their fathers, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place; ¹⁶ but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, till the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, till there was no remedy. ¹⁷ Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chalde'ans, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged; he gave them all into his hand. ¹⁸ And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king and of his princes, all these he brought to Babylon. ¹⁹ And they burned the house of God, and broke down the wall of Jerusalem, and burned all its palaces with fire, and destroyed all its precious vessels. ²⁰ He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, ²¹ to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept sabbath, to fulfil seventy years. ²² Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: ²³ "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, `The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.'"

Psalm

Psalm 122

Laetatus sum
1I was glad when they said to me, *
     "Let us go to the house of the LORD."
2Now our feet are standing *
     within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem is built as a city *
     that is at unity with itself;
4To which the tribes go up,
     the tribes of the LORD, *
     the assembly of Israel,
     to praise the Name of the LORD.
5For there are the thrones of judgment, *
     the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: *
     "May they prosper who love you.
7Peace be within your walls *
     and quietness within your towers.
8For my brethren and companions' sake, *
     I pray for your prosperity.
9Because of the house of the LORD our God, *
     I will seek to do you good."

New Testament Reading

Ephesians 2:4-10
⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with him, and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God-- ⁹ not because of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Gospel Reading

John 6:4-15
⁴ Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. ⁵ Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, "How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?" ⁶ This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. ⁷ Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." ⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, ⁹ "There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?" ¹⁰ Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹² And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost." ¹³ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!" ¹⁵ Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

During the Lenten Season we will be posting some questions for reflection.

Gracious Lord, as you call us to yourself, you call us into companionship with all your people.  Turn our hearts and our affections toward one another in charity, and let our prayer answer your own, that we may all be one. Amen

St. Augustine’s Prayer Book

For Reflection

1)      How would you answer the query put to the early catechumens:

“How has your life been transformed by Christianity?”  Is this a more difficult question than the alternative:  “What do you believe?” Why or why not?

 

2)     Can you think of an instance where the practice of Christianity has helped you more fully understand a doctrine?

 

3)     How have you approached Lenten Disciplines and practice in the past?  Consider the words of Evelyn Underhill:  “ As to your Lent – no physical hardships beyond what normal life provides – but take each of these serenely and gratefully as you can and make of them your humble offerings to God.”  How could this advice shape your Lenten journey?

 

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, March-01-2015 Second Sunday in Lent

The Collect

Second Sunday in Lent
O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from thy ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of thy Word, Jesus Christ thy Son; who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

Genesis 22:1-14
¹ After these things God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." ² He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." ³ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; and he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. ⁴ On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place afar off. ⁵ Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the ass; I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you." ⁶ And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. ⁷ And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "My father!" And he said, "Here am I, my son." He said, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" ⁸ Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. ⁹ When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. ¹⁰ Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I." ¹² He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." ¹³ And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."

Psalm

Psalm 16 16:5-11

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

New Testament Reading

Romans 8:31-39
³¹ What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? ³³ Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies; ³⁴ who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes 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 being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Reading

Mark 8:31-38
³¹ And he began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. ³² And he said this plainly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. ³³ But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men." ³⁴ And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ³⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. ³⁶ For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷ For what can a man give in return for his life? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."