Readings for Feb 4, 2007; 5 Epiphany

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 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.)

February 4, 2007
5th Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Isaiah 6:1-8, (9-13)
Psalm 138
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Luke 5:1-11

Isaiah 6:1-8, 9-13
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory."
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!"
And he said, "Go and say to this people: 'Keep listening, but do not comprehend; keep looking, but do not understand.' Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes, so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed." Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said: "Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate; until the Lord sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land. Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled." The holy seed is its stump.
_______________

Isaiah has a powerful experience of divine presence and calling.
But then the calling is a terrible one.
Have you ever experienced such ambivalent blessing?
________________________________________________________

Psalm 138
1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; *
before the gods I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, *
because of your love and faithfulness;
3 For you have glorified your Name *
and your word above all things.
4 When I called, you answered me; *
you increased my strength within me.
5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, *
when they have heard the words of your mouth.
6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, *
that great is the glory of the Lord.
7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; *
he perceives the haughty from afar.
8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;
your right hand shall save me.
9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; *
O Lord, your love endures for ever;
do not abandon the works of your hands.
__________________

Let this psalm be your own personal prayer.
Imagine what circumstances might have prompted the author to write this.
_________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them -- though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
________________

Paul reminds the church of his teaching.
He begins with a creedal formulation; then he adds his personal witness.
How might you proclaim a creedal belief and then add your own statement of personal faith or experience?
___________________________________________________________

Luke 5:1-11
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
___________________

When have you felt a nudge or invitation to "put out into the deep water"?
What has happened when you have taken such risks?
When have you experienced such a gift of abundance?
When have you felt humbled for all that you have received?
___________________________________________________________

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 January 21

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.)

January 21, 2007
3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water
Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of
Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the
priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and
women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the
first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square
before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the
presence of the men and the women and those who could understand;
and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the
law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he
was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the
people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and
all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands.
Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their
faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of
God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people
understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and
scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
"This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep."
For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then
he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and
send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for
this day is holy to our Lord and do not be grieved, for the joy of
the Lord is your strength."
_____________________

The book of the law was probably Deuteronomy, which had been lost for generations and rediscovered in the restoration of the Temple. Imagine how it felt to reconnect with such a significant piece of their community history which they had never known before.
____________________________________________________

Psalm 19:1-14
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 One day tells its tale to another, *
and one night imparts knowledge to another.
3 Although they have no words or language, *
and their voices are not heard,
4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
and their message to the ends of the world.
5 In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.
8 The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can tell how often he offends? *
cleanse me from my secret faults.
13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, *
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
_______________________

This psalm moves from a cosmic vision of God's glory to the praise of God in the law and finally to a very personal prayer.
______________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 12:12-31
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with
Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to
drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong
to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not
belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the
body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing
be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of
smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body,
each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where
would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one
body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you,"
nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the
contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less
honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable
members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more
respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged
the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that
there may be no dissension within the body, but the members
may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers,
all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing,
forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.
_____________________

What are some of the implications of Paul's metaphor of the Body as a model for the life of the Church?
What gifts, what part in the church's Body do you exercise?
______________________________________________________

Luke 4:14-21
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to
Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the
surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues
and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had
been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day,
as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found
the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery
of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the
year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it
back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the
synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them,
"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
________________

What do you think about the way Jesus defined his mission?
Why do you think some took offense?
___________________________________________________________

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 January 14

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.)

January 14, 2007
2nd Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light
of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word
and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's
glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the
ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with
you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Isaiah 62:1-5
Psalm 36:5-10
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 2:1-11

Isaiah 62:1-5
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
so shall your God rejoice over you.
______________________

Imagine that God's love for you in terms of these rich, intimate images.
How does it feel to be in such a relationship with God.
________________________________________________________

Psalm 36:5-11
5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, *
and your faithfulness to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the strong mountains,
your justice like the great deep; *
you save both man and beast, O Lord.
7 How priceless is your love, O God! *
your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.
8 They feast upon the abundance of your house; *
you give them drink from the river of your delights.
9 For with you is the well of life, *
and in your light we see light.
11 Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you, *
and your favor to those who are true of heart.
______________________

Read this psalm with a sense of reverence and appreciation.
Let it speak personally to you.
________________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 12:1-11
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not
want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans,
you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak.
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the
Spirit of God ever says "Let Jesus be cursed!" and no one can say
"Jesus is Lord" except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are
varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of
activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in
everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for
the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance
of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to
the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another
gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of
miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of
spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the
same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the
Spirit chooses.
___________________

Or any of the gifts listed in this passage among your spiritual gifts?
What do you love to do? Something that do well, and it gives you energy? Could this be one of your spiritual gifts?
____________________________________________________

John 2:1-11
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the
mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been
invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of
Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her,
"Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not
yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells
you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish
rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.
Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled
them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and
take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward
tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it
came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the
steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves
the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests
have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now."
Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and
revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
___________________

At the level of "story," what does this story tell you?
As a metaphorical or symbolic story, what does this story tell you?
___________________________________________________________

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 Jan 7 - Feast of the Baptism of Jesus

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.


(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.)

January 7, 2007
The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River
Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him
with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his
Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly
confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Scriptures
Isaiah 43:1-7
Psalm 29
Acts 8:14-17
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who
formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I
have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall
not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be
burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord
your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as
your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you
are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you, I give
people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do
not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the
east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the
north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring
my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the
earth -- everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my
glory, whom I formed and made."
_________________

Read this passage as though it were a love song that God sings to you.
Imagine your living with a sense of the constant presence of God that leaves you completely fearless. How might life be different like that?
____________________________________________

Psalm 29 Afferte Domino

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.
9 And in the temple of the Lord *
all are crying, "Glory!"
10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *
the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.
11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; *
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.
_________________

When have you known the power of God manifested in nature?
Have you ever sensed an experience that felt like the voice of the Lord?
________________________________________________

Acts 8:14-17
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The
two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the
Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them;
they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then
Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the
Holy Spirit.
__________________

Of the people of Samaria were regarded as outsiders and heretics.

What does it say about the early church that Peter and John brought them the gift of baptism and the presence of the Holy Spirit?
_________________________________________________

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
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."

Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had
been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the
Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a
voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I
am well pleased."
____________________

What did baptism mean to John the Baptist?
What did his baptism mean to Jesus?
What does your baptism mean to you?
___________________________________________________________

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