Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 April-20-2014 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 -or this-
O God, who didst make this most holy night to shine with the glory of the Lord's resurrection: Stir up in thy Church that Spirit of adoption which is given to us in Baptism, that we, being renewed both in body and mind, may worship thee in sincerity and truth; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
-or this-
Almighty God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by thy life-giving Spirit; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same 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 -

Exodus 14:10-14,21-25
¹⁰ When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were in great fear. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD; ¹¹ and they said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, in bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Is not this what we said to you in Egypt, `Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." ¹³ And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. ¹⁴ The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be still." ²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. ²² And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. ²³ The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. ²⁴ And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down upon the host of the Egyptians, and discomfited the host of the Egyptians, ²⁵ clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily; and the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from before Israel; for the LORD fights for them against the Egyptians." - OR -

Exodus 15:20-21
²⁰ Then Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and dancing. ²¹ And Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."

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

John 20:1-10(11-18)
¹ Now on the first day of the week Mary Mag'dalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." ³ Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. ⁴ They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first; ⁵ and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; he saw the linen cloths lying, ⁷ and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes. (¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." ¹⁴ Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." ¹⁸ Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. )  - OR -

Matthew 28:1-10
¹ Now after the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Mag'dalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulchre. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow. ⁴ And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you." ⁸ So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Hail!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

The Thirst for God

Lenten Meditations

 

         One of the loveliest passages in the Psalms is in the Forty-second: “As a doe longs for running streams, so longs my soul for You, my God.  My soul thirsts for God, the God of Life” (1,2 The Jerusalem Bible)

            In the catacombs of St. Calixtus outside ancient Rome, there are often found sketches of a deer.  Symbolically the worshipers expressed their thirst for the Living God.

            Well may we be inspired by the early Church Fathers.  Augustine wrote,  “ O my God, Thou art my life, my joy, my holy, dear delight!”

            Ignatius, being martyred, said to his tormentors, “You may cut my heart into a thousand pieces.  On every one you will find in letters of gold the dear name of Jesus!”

            There is a legend that Thomas Aquinas received a vision of Christ who said, “Thomas, you have written very well about Me.  What would you like as a reward?”  Replied the devout master-theologian, “No other gift than Thyself, O Lord!”

            St. Theresa, a mother in God, dreamt of an angel who in one hand held a curtain.  In the other was a cup of water.  “What do these things mean?”  asked Theresa.  Replied the angel, “With the curtain I hide the sight of heaven, and with the water I dampen the fires of hell.  God wants His children to love Him for Himself alone, and not for hope of heavenly reward or fear of hell.”

            That puts it neatly, doesn’t it?  Not what we get, but what we give is of most importance.

            All through Lent we have been thinking deeply and spiritually.  Also we show our loyalty to our Church as we make our Lenten Self-Denial Offerings.

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, April-06-2014 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
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

Ezekiel 37:1-3(4-10)11-14
¹ The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; it was full of bones. ² And he led me round among them; and behold, there were very many upon the valley; and lo, they were very dry. ³ And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest." (⁴ Again he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. ⁵ Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. ⁶ And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD." ⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. ⁸ And as I looked, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. ⁹ Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." ¹⁰ So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great host. )¹¹ Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, `Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' ¹² Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel. ¹³ And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. ¹⁴ And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, says the LORD."

Psalm

Psalm 130

De profundis
1Out of the depths have I called to you, O LORD;
     LORD, hear my voice; *
     let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
2If you, LORD, were to note what is done amiss, *
     O LORD, who could stand?
3For there is forgiveness with you; *
     therefore you shall be feared.
4I wait for the LORD; my soul waits for him; *
     in his word is my hope.
5My soul waits for the LORD,
     more than watchmen for the morning, *
     more than watchmen for the morning.
6O Israel, wait for the LORD, *
     for with the LORD there is mercy;
7With him there is plenteous redemption, *
     and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

New Testament Reading

Romans 6:16-23
¹⁶ Do you not know that if you yield yourselves to any one as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? ¹⁷ But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, ¹⁸ and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. ¹⁹ I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. ²⁰ When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. ²¹ But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. ²² But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Reading

John 11:(1-16)17-44
(¹ Now a certain man was ill, Laz'arus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Laz'arus was ill. ³ So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." ⁴ But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Laz'arus. ⁶ So when he heard that he was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. ⁷ Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go into Judea again." ⁸ The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were but now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?" ⁹ Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any one walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if any one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." ¹¹ Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep." ¹² The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." ¹³ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. ¹⁴ Then Jesus told them plainly, "Laz'arus is dead; ¹⁵ and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." ¹⁶ Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." )¹⁷ Now when Jesus came, he found that Laz'arus had already been in the tomb four days. ¹⁸ Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, ¹⁹ and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. ²⁰ When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary sat in the house. ²¹ Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² And even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you." ²³ Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." ²⁴ Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." ²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" ²⁷ She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world." ²⁸ When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying quietly, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." ²⁹ And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him. ³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ³² Then Mary, when she came where Jesus was and saw him, fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." ³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled; ³⁴ and he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." ³⁵ Jesus wept. ³⁶ So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ³⁷ But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" ³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb; it was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. ³⁹ Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. ⁴² I knew that thou hearest me always, but I have said this on account of the people standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me." ⁴³ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Laz'arus, come out." ⁴⁴ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, March-30-2014
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

1 Samuel 16:1-13
¹Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." ²And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." But the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' ³Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you." ⁴So Samuel did what the LORD said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" ⁵And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. ⁶So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him!" ⁷But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ⁸So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." ⁹Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." ¹⁰Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." ¹¹And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." ¹²So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" ¹³Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 23

Dominus regit me
1The LORD is my shepherd; *
     I shall not be in want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures *
     and leads me beside still waters.
3He revives my soul *
     and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
     I shall fear no evil; *
     for you are with me;
     your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5You spread a table before me in the presence of those
     who trouble me; *
     you have anointed my head with oil,
     and my cup is running over.
6Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
     of my life, *
     and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

New Testament Reading

Ephesians 5:(1-7)8-14
(¹Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. ²And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. ³But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; ⁴neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ⁶Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not be partakers with them. )⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the Spiritis in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴Therefore He says: " Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 9:1-13(14-27)28-38
¹Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. ²And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" ³Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. ⁴I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." ⁶When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. ⁷And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing. ⁸Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?" ⁹Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he." ¹⁰Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?" ¹¹He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight." ¹²Then they said to him, "Where is He?" He said, "I do not know." ¹³They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. (¹⁴Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. ¹⁵Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see." ¹⁶Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them. ¹⁷They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet." ¹⁸But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. ¹⁹And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" ²⁰His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." ²²His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. ²³Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." ²⁴So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner." ²⁵He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see." ²⁶Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?" ²⁷He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?" )²⁸Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. ²⁹We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from." ³⁰The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! ³¹Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. ³²Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. ³³If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing." ³⁴They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out. ³⁵Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?" ³⁶He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?" ³⁷And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you." ³⁸Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him. -- NKJV 

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, March-16-2014
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 12:1-8
¹Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. ²I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. ³I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." ⁴So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. ⁵Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan. ⁶Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land. ⁷Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him. ⁸And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 33:12-22

12Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD! *
     happy the people he has chosen to be his own!
13The LORD looks down from heaven, *
     and beholds all the people in the world.
14From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze *
     on all who dwell on the earth.
15He fashions all the hearts of them *
     and understands all their works.
16There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; *
     a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.
17The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; *
     for all its strength it cannot save.
18Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon those who fear him, *
     on those who wait upon his love,
19To pluck their lives from death, *
     and to feed them in time of famine.
20Our soul waits for the LORD; *
     he is our help and our shield.
21Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, *
     for in his holy Name we put our trust.
22Let your loving-kindness, O LORD, be upon us, *
     as we have put our trust in you.

New Testament Reading

Romans 4:1-5(6-12)13-17
¹What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? ²For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." ⁴Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. ⁵But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, (⁶just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ⁷" Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; ⁸Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." ⁹Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. ¹⁰How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. ¹¹And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, ¹²and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. )¹³For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, ¹⁵because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. ¹⁶Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷(as it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed-God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 3:1-17
¹There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." ³Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." ⁴Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" ⁵Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' ⁸The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." ⁹Nicodemus answered and said to Him, "How can these things be?" ¹⁰Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? ¹¹Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. ¹²If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. ¹⁴And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. -- NKJV 

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, March-09-2014
First Sunday in Lent

The Collect

First Sunday in Lent
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan; Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Lent

Old Testament Reading

Genesis 2:4b-9,15-17
⁴This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, ⁵before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; ⁶but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. ⁷And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. ⁸The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. ⁹And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ¹⁵Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. ¹⁶And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; ¹⁷but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." -- NKJV - AND -
Genesis 2:25-3:7
2:²⁵ And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. 3:¹ Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?" ² And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" ⁴ Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. ⁵ For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. -- NKJV

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 51:1-13

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.

New Testament Reading

Romans 5:12-19(20-21)
¹²Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned- ¹³(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. ¹⁴Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. ¹⁵But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. ¹⁶And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. ¹⁷For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) ¹⁸Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. ¹⁹For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous. (²⁰Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ²¹so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. ) -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Matthew 4:1-11
¹Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." ⁴But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'" ⁵Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ' He shall give His angels charge over you,' and, ' In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.'" ⁷Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.'" ⁸Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." ¹⁰Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'" ¹¹Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him. -- NKJV 

Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, February-23-2014 Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

The Collect

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
O Lord, who hast taught us that all our doings without charity are nothing worth; Send thy Holy Ghost and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of charity, the very bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whosoever liveth is counted dead before thee. Grant this for thine only Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of the Epiphany, or of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18
¹ And the LORD said to Moses, ² "Say to all the congregation of the people of Israel, You shall be holy; for I the LORD your God am holy. ⁹ "When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field to its very border, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. ¹⁰ And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God. ¹¹ "You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. ¹² And you shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. ¹³ "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. ¹⁴ You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. ¹⁵ "You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. ¹⁶ You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand forth against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. ¹⁷ "You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason with your neighbor, lest you bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance or bear any grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Psalm

Psalm 71

In te, Domine, speravi
1In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; *
     let me never be ashamed.
2In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
     incline your ear to me and save me.
3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
     you are my crag and my stronghold.
4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
     from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
     my confidence since I was young.
6I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
     from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
     my praise shall be always of you.
7I have become a portent to many; *
     but you are my refuge and my strength.
8Let my mouth be full of your praise *
     and your glory all the day long.
9Do not cast me off in my old age; *
     forsake me not when my strength fails.
10For my enemies are talking against me, *
     and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.
11They say, "God has forsaken him;
     go after him and seize him; *
     because there is none who will save."
12O God, be not far from me; *
     come quickly to help me, O my God.
13Let those who set themselves against me be put to shame and
     be disgraced; *
     let those who seek to do me evil be covered with scorn
     and reproach.
14But I shall always wait in patience, *
     and shall praise you more and more.
15My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
     and saving deeds all day long; *
     though I cannot know the number of them.
16I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord GOD; *
     I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
     and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
18And now that I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not
     forsake me, *
     till I make known your strength to this generation
     and your power to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens; *
     you have done great things;
     who is like you, O God?
20You have showed me great troubles and adversities, *
     but you will restore my life
     and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.
21You strengthen me more and more; *
     you enfold and comfort me,
22Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your
     faithfulness, O my God; *
     I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, *
     and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.
24My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, *
     for they are ashamed and disgraced who sought
     to do me harm.

- OR -

Psalm 71:16-24

16I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord GOD; *
     I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
     and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.
18And now that I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not
     forsake me, *
     till I make known your strength to this generation
     and your power to all who are to come.
19Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens; *
     you have done great things;
     who is like you, O God?
20You have showed me great troubles and adversities, *
     but you will restore my life
     and bring me up again from the deep places of the earth.
21You strengthen me more and more; *
     you enfold and comfort me,
22Therefore I will praise you upon the lyre for your
     faithfulness, O my God; *
     I will sing to you with the harp, O Holy One of Israel.
23My lips will sing with joy when I play to you, *
     and so will my soul, which you have redeemed.
24My tongue will proclaim your righteousness all day long, *
     for they are ashamed and disgraced who sought
     to do me harm.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23
¹⁰ According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and another man is building upon it. Let each man take care how he builds upon it. ¹¹ For no other foundation can any one lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If any one destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and that temple you are. ¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," ²⁰ and again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." ²¹ So let no one boast of men. For all things are yours, ²² whether Paul or Apol'los or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future, all are yours; ²³ and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 5:38-48
³⁸ "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' <sup>39</sup> But I say to you, Do not resist one who is evil. But if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also; <sup>40</sup> and if any one would sue you and take your coat, let him have your cloak as well; <sup>41</sup> and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. <sup>42</sup> Give to him who begs from you, and do not refuse him who would borrow from you. <sup>43</sup> "You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.