Scriptures for the Christ-Mass (Christmas Eve)

Here are the scripture readings for Christmas Eve.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

December 24, 2006
Christmas Eve, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the
brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known
the mystery of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him
perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he
lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Scriptures

Isaiah 9:2-7
Psalm 98
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20

Isaiah 9:2-7
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those
who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they
rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult
when dividing plunder. For the yoke of their burden, and the bar
across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have
broken as on the day of Midian. For all the boots of the tramping
warriors and all the garments rolled in blood shall be burned as
fuel for the fire. For a child has been born for us, a son given
to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of
Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be
endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will
establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from
this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will do this.
____________________

What is the circumstance of "deep darkness" that the prophet refers to? What military and other violent images are part of that darkness?
Look at the words that describe the hope invested in this child.
What did that mean to Isaiah? Why was this important to the early church?
_______________________________________________________

Psalm 98 Cantate Domino

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

What is the most important victory that God must accomplish?
_________________________________________________________

Titus 3:4-7
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior
appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness
that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water
of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured
out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having
been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to
the hope of eternal life.
_________________

What does Jesus' appearance mean to you?
__________________________________________________________

Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all
the world should be registered. This was the first registration
and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to
their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town
of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called
Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of
David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged
and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time
came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her
firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in
a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for
see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the
Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a
child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And
suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest
heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds
said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this
thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child
lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had
been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed
at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these
words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as
it had been told them.
___________________

Like so many refugee families who are forced to travel because of political forces, this peasant couple is displaced as they are expecting the birth of their baby. Shepherds were a disreputable lot; dirty and dishonest, according to conventional thought.
What do you think when the church says that this is the way God comes into the world?
___________________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

Scriptures for 4 Advent, Sun. 24

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

Suggestion: Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it
(some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection).

You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

If you would like to comment on these scriptures or have some on-line conversation about them, please go to sundayscriptures@blogspot.com and click the "comments" button at the bottom.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

December 24, 2006
4th Sunday of Advent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation,
that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a
mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

The Scriptures
Micah 5:2-5a
Luke 1:47-55
Heb 10:5-10
Lk 1:39-45,(46-55)

Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little
clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to
rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in
labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall
return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his
flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of
the Lord his God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be
great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
_________________

What hopes does Micah articulate?
He expects these hopes to be fulfilled from one of the least of the tribes of Israel. When have you seen great hopes fulfilled from humble origins?
___________________________________________________

Canticle 5 The Song of Mary Magnificat; Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him *
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
The promise he made to our fathers, *
to Abraham and his children for ever.
____________________

This song comes from a peasant woman.
Her words have revolutionary political and economic aspirations.
What reversals do you find present in her song?
_____________________________________________________

Hebrews 10:5-10
Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said,
"Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you
have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you
have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'See, God, I have come to do
your will, O God' (in the scroll of the book it is written of
me)." When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken
pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin
offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he
added, "See, I have come to do your will." He abolishes the first
in order to establish the second. And it is by God's will that we
have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.
_____________________

Try to focus today upon the will of God.
What would it be like for you to sacrifice today entirely to the will of God?
_______________________________________________________

Luke 1:39-45
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town
in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and
greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the
child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among
women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this
happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as
soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb
leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would
be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
_________________

Mary seeks counsel and support from her older cousin Elizabeth.
Who do you go to when you need such friendship and support?
___________________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

Readings for Sunday , Dec 17; 3 Advent

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

Suggestion: Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it
(some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection).

You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

If you would like to comment on these scriptures or have some on-line conversation about them, please go to sundayscriptures@blogspot.com and click the "comments" button at the bottom.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

December 17, 2006
3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Canticle 9: Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18

Zephaniah 3:14-20
Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult
with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken
away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear
disaster no more. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do
not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord, your
God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will
rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he
will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival. I
will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach
for it. I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I
will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change
their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time
I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will
make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the Lord.
_____________

What does it mean to you that God is for you?
_____________________________________________________

Canticle 9, The First Song of Isaiah Ecce, Deus

Surely, it is God who saves me; *
I will trust in him and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, *
and he will be my Savior.
Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.
____________________

Let this confident hymn be your own. Read it again as if it were your own song.
_______________________________________________________

Philippians 4:4-7
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your
gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry
about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the
peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
_____________________

Read this rich passage over again a few time. Make it your own.
________________________________________________________

Luke 3:7-18
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You
brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to
yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you,
God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree
therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire."

And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply
he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone
who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise."
Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him,
"Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more
than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him,
"And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort
money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be
satisfied with your wages."

As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning
in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but
one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie
the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn
with unquenchable fire."

So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
______________________

If John the Baptist were to speak to you like he does to the tax collectors and soldiers, what would he say to you?
Who in your life tells you the hard truth?
___________________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

Readings & questions for December 10

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

Suggestion: Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it
(some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection).

You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

If you would like to comment on these scriptures or have some on-line conversation about them, please go to sundayscriptures@blogspot.com and click the "comments" button at the bottom.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

December 10, 2006
2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

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


The Scriptures
Baruch 5:1-9
Canticle 16: Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6

Baruch 5:1-9
Take off the garment of your sorrow and affliction, O Jerusalem,
and put on forever the beauty of the glory from God. Put on the
robe of the righteousness that comes from God; put on your head
the diadem of the glory of the Everlasting; for God will show
your splendor everywhere under heaven. For God will give you
evermore the name, "Righteous Peace, Godly Glory."

Arise, O Jerusalem, stand upon the height; look toward the east,
and see your children gathered from west and east at the word of
the Holy One, rejoicing that God has remembered them. For they
went out from you on foot, led away by their enemies; but God
will bring them back to you, carried in glory, as on a royal throne.
For God has ordered that every high mountain and the everlasting
hills be made low and the valleys filled up, to make level ground,
so that Israel may walk safely in the glory of God. The woods and
every fragrant tree have shaded Israel at God's command. For God
will lead Israel with joy, in the light of his glory, with the mercy
and righteousness that come from him.
_________________

This passage is filled with visual imagery and great passion.
Try to read it again using your imagination to see and feel what the prophet evokes.
____________________________________________________

Canticle 16: Luke 1:68-79
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his holy prophets he promised of old,
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
____________

This is the Song of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.
How is he in interpreting the remarkable event of his son's birth?
What does he look back to? What does he look forward to?
____________________________________________________

Philippians 1:3-11
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with
joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your
sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am
confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you
will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is
right for me to think this way about all of you, because you hold
me in your heart, for all of you share in God's grace with me,
both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of
the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with
the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your
love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight
to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of
Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest
of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory
and praise of God.
________________

Paul writes this prayer to the congregation in Philippi.
Read it again as though it were prayer written to you and to your congregation.
____________________________________________________

Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when
Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of
Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea
and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high
priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John
son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region
around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the
forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of
the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
____________________

This announcement of the ministry of John the Baptist has both a political agenda and a spiritual agenda. How would you describe each side of John's message?
___________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to our Subscriptions page -- http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html and follow the instructions.

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this same list, offering a thought about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR