Sunday Scriptures

Scriptures for February 5, Epiphany 5

2012-01-29T16:19:00.000-06:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
5th Sun. after the Epiphany, Year B
February 5th, 2011~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-12, 21c
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39
___________________________________________________

Isaiah 40:21-31

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
       Has it not been told you from the beginning?
       Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
       and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;
who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
       and spreads them like a tent to live in;
who brings princes to naught,
       and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing.
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
       scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows upon them, and they wither,
       and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
To whom then will you compare me,
       or who is my equal? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see:
       Who created these?
He who brings out their host and numbers them,
       calling them all by name;
because he is great in strength,
       mighty in power,
       not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and speak, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD,
       and my right is disregarded by my God"?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
       his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
       and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
       and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength,
       they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
       they shall walk and not faint.

_________________________________________________________

The prophet exalts God and warns those who might imagine God is irrelevant to them.

How do you "wait for the Lord" and renew your strength?
_________________________________________________________

Psalm 147:1-12,21c

Alleluia! How good it is to sing praises to you, O God; *
     how pleasant it is to honor you with praise!

For you rebuild Jerusalem *
     and gather the exiles of Israel.

You heal the brokenhearted *
     and bind up their wounds.

You count the number of the stars *
     and call them all by their names.

Great are you and mighty in power; *
     there is no limit to your wisdom.

You lift up the lowly, *
     but cast the wicked to the ground.

We sing to you, Most High, with thanksgiving; *
     we make music to you upon the harp,

For you cover the heavens with clouds *
     and prepare rain for the earth;

You make grass to grow upon the mountains *
     and green plants to serve humankind.

You provide food for flocks and herds *
     and for the young ravens when they cry.

You are not impressed by the might of a horse; *
      you have no pleasure in human strength;

But you have pleasure in those who fear you, *
      in those who await your gracious favor. Alleluia!

                               St. Helena Psalter
______________________________________________________________

How might you sing this psalm to apply to our day, our political and economic realities?
_____________________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 9:16-23

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation
is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of
my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission.
What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel
free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel.

For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so
that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.
To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under
the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became
as one outside the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's
law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that
I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all
means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in
its blessings.

______________________________________________________________

Paul speaks of his adaptations for the sake of sharing the Good News.

How do you adapt to the needs of others in order to be caring or compassionate?
...to share, to serve, or to lead?______________________________________________________________

Mark 1:29-39

Jesus left the synagogue at Capernaum, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they
told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.
Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with
demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were
sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the
demons to speak, because they knew him.

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted
place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they
found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let
us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also;
for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming
the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

_____________________________________________________________

A busy day in Jesus' life. Note how he finds time to pray and refresh.

How does Jesus keep the main thing the main thing?
How do you find balance? ...time to reflect, rest, and pray.
How do you set boundaries so you can make the main thing the main thing?
_______________________________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
     worship weekly
     pray daily
     learn constantly
     serve joyfully
     live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Anyone may receive this weekly scripture service by subscribing to an email list. Send a regular email to the following address: lowell-request@arkansasusa.com Then, type the following command in the main body of the email: JOIN lowell your-email-address (example: JOIN lowell JaneDoe@aol.com) On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this list based upon that day's scripture readings from the Daily Office. Lowell The Rev. Lowell Grisham St. Paul's Episcopal Church Fayetteville, Arkansas

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for Jan. 15

2012-01-08T16:58:00.000-06:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
2nd Sun. after the Epiphany, Year B
January 15, 2011~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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, worshipped, 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

1 Samuel 3:1-10
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
John 1:43-51

___________________________

1 Samuel 3:1-10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the LORD under Eli. The word of the LORD was
rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see,
was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was
lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Then the LORD called,
"Samuel! Samuel!" and he said, "Here I am!" and ran to Eli, and said, "Here I am,
for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and
lay down. The LORD called again, "Samuel!" Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said,
"Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."
Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been
revealed to him. The LORD called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went
to Eli, and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD
was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down; and if he calls
you, you shall say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went
and lay down in his place.

Now the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel
said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
__________

When have you discovered God's message when you weren't expecting it?
How do you listen to God?
____________________________________________

Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Domine, probasti

O God, you have searched me out and known me; *
     you know my sitting down and my rising up;
     you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
     and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
     but you, O God, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before *
     and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
     it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

For you yourself created my inmost parts; *
     you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I will thank you because I am marvelously made; *
     your works are wonderful, and I know it well.

My body was not hidden from you, *
     while I was being made in secret
     and woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes beheld my limbs, yet unfinished in the womb;
all of them were written in your book; *
     they were fashioned day by day,
     when as yet there was none of them.

How deep I find your thoughts, O God; *
     how great is the sum of them!

If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sand; *
     to count them all, my life span would need to be like yours.

                                   The Saint Helena Psalter

__________

What does it mean to you to be entirely known by God?

______________________________________

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

"All things are lawful for me," but not all things are beneficial. "All things are
lawful for me," but I will not be dominated by anything. "Food is meant for the
stomach and the stomach for food," and God will destroy both one and the other.
The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that
your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ
and make them members of a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that whoever is united
to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, "The two shall be one
flesh." But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication!
Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against
the body itself. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit
within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were
bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

___________

Trace the argument that Paul is making.
How do you honor your body?

_______________________________________

John 1:43-51

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow
me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael
and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets
wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything
good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." When Jesus saw Nathanael
coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is
no deceit!" Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered,
"I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." Nathanael replied, "Rabbi,
you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered, "Do you believe
because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things
than these." And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

____________

Nathanael has some sort of bias toward Nazareth. What towns, regions or nations
do you have a bias toward?

What might it mean to you for Jesus to say of you, "Behold a person in whom there
is no deceit?" What would be necessary for Jesus to be able to say that of you?
_____________________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to an email list, offering a thought
about the readings from the Daily Office.
To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

Lowell

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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
     worship weekly
     pray daily
     learn constantly
     serve joyfully
     live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for Jan. 8

2012-01-02T10:50:00.000-06:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
1st Sun. after the Epiphany, Year B
The Baptism of Our Lord
January 8, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Genesis 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11
___________________________

Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless
void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over
the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening
and there was morning, the first day.

__________

In what ways do you see divine order in creation?
_____________________________________________

Psalm 29

Ascribe to God, you heavenly beings, *
     ascribe to God glory and strength.

Ascribe due honor to God's holy Name; *
     worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of God is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; *
     God is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of God is a powerful voice; *
     the voice of God is a voice of splendor.

The voice of God breaks the cedar trees; *
     God breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

God makes Lebanon skip like a calf *
     and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of God splits the flames of fire; the voice of God shakes the wilderness;
*
     God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of God makes the oak trees writhe *
     and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the Holy One, *
     all are crying, "Glory!"

God sits enthroned above the flood, *
     enthroned for evermore.

God shall give strength to the people; *
     God shall give the people the blessing of peace.

                           The Saint Helena Psalter

__________

Recall a time when you experienced the presence of God in nature. ...in worship.
What happened?
______________________________________

Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came
to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, "Did you receive the
Holy Spirit when you became believers?" They replied, "No, we have not even heard
that there is a Holy Spirit." Then he said, "Into what then were you baptized?"
They answered, "Into John's baptism." Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism
of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him,
that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and
they spoke in tongues and prophesied -- altogether there were about twelve of them.

___________

What does it mean to you to be baptized into the name of Jesus and to receive the
Holy Spirit?
_______________________________________

Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all
the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river
Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather
belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one
who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and
untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit."

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the
Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart
and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You
are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

____________

What does it mean to be Beloved of God and to be filled with the Holy Spirit?

_____________________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To subscribe or unsubscribe to our Morning Reflections & Scriptures email list,
go to www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html
http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html
On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection to this list, offering a thought
about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.
Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
     worship weekly
     pray daily
     learn constantly
     serve joyfully
     live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures for Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

2011-12-19T10:21:00.000-06:00

Collect

Christmas Eve:

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.

- - -

Christmas Day:

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus
Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence
behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the 
Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading).  We've written some instructions on 
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: 
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 98
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-20  King James Version
___________________________

Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of the messenger who announces peace,
who brings good news,
who announces salvation,
who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

Listen! Your sentinels lift up their voices,
together they sing for joy;
for in plain sight they see
the return of the Lord to Zion.

Break forth together into singing,
you ruins of Jerusalem;
for the Lord has comforted his people,
he has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord has bared his holy arm
before the eyes of all the nations;
and all the ends of the earth shall see
the salvation of our God.

__________

What good news do you need to hear today?

_____________________________________________

Psalm 98

Sing a new song to God, *
   who has done marvelous things.

With your right hand, O God, and your holy arm, *
   you have won for yourself the victory.

You have made known your victory; *
   your righteousness have you openly shown in the sight of the nations.

You remember your mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, *
   and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

Shout with joy to God, all you lands; *
   lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

Sing to God with the harp, *
   with the harp and the voice of song.

With trumpets and the sound of the horn, *
   shout with joy before God who reigns in majesty.

Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
   the lands and those who dwell therein.

Let the rivers clap their hands, *
   and let the hills ring out with joy before God, who will come to judge the earth.

God shall judge the world in righteousness *
   and the peoples with equity.

                                                                      (The Saint Helena Psalter)

__________

How does this song of triumph connect with the birth of the child Jesus?

______________________________________

Titus 3:4-7

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 is the hope that this passage announces to us?

_______________________________________

Luke 2:1-20 (KJV)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be taxed. And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius
 was governor of Syria. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto
 the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage
of David: To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she 
should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
 swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them
 in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch
 over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel
said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour,
which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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,
and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds
said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which
 is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste,
and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen
it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the
 shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And 
the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they
 had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

____________

What images come to your imagination as you read this passage?

How might it affect your images to know that shepherds were regarded with great 
suspicion in Jesus' day?  They were thought of as thieves and rogues, little better
than criminals.

_____________________________________________________

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
  We aspire to...
     worship weekly
     pray daily
     learn constantly
     serve joyfully
     live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for 4 Advent

2011-12-13T16:41:00.000-06:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
4 Advent; Year B,
December 18, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

The Episcopal Church also publishes a Weekly Bible Study prepared by a current seminarian
studying the scriptures for this week. ecusa.anglican.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Canticle 15
Romans 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38
_______________________________________

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from
all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am
living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." Nathan said to
the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the LORD is with you."

But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant
David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have
not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt
to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I
have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any
of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel,
saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" Now therefore thus you shall
say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from the pasture,
from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with
you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I
will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And
I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may
live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them
no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel;
and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the LORD declares to you
that the LORD will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure
forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

____________________________________________

How do you find peace and a secure sense of belonging?

___________________________________________

Canticle 15

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.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
____________________________________________

What promises of God would you claim thankfully today?
___________________________________________

Romans 16:25-27

Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation
of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret
for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made
known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring
about the obedience of faith -- to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to
whom be the glory forever! Amen.
____________________________________________

How might you ask God to strengthen you?
___________________________________________

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called
Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.
The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one!
The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what
sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the
Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor
David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will
be no end." Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" The
angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most
High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be
called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived
a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing
will be impossible with God." Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord;
let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
____________________________________________

How might Mary's obedience be an inspiration for your own response to God's message?
___________________________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To subscribe or unsubscribe to our Morning Reflections email list,
go to www.stpaulsfay.org/id137.html

On most weekdays I send a Morning Reflection offering a thought
about the readings from the Daily Office.

Lowell

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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
     worship weekly
     pray daily
     learn constantly
     serve joyfully
     live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for December 4

2011-11-28T13:34:00.000-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to use this page:
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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections.
_______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
_______________________________________
Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people,
     says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
     and cry to her
that she has served her term,
     that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the LORD's hand
     double for all her sins.
A voice cries out:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
     make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
     and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
     and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,
    and all people shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
A voice says, "Cry out!"
     And I said, "What shall I cry?"
All people are grass,
     their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
     when the breath of the LORD blows upon it;
     surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
     but the word of our God will stand forever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
     O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
     O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
     lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
     "Here is your God!"
See, the Lord GOD comes with might,
     and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
      and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
      he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
      and gently lead the mother sheep..

____________________________________________

How do you experience God coming into your life?
___________________________________________

Psalm 85:1-2,8-13

You have been gracious to your land, O God, *
     you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.

You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
     and blotted out all their sins.

I will listen to what you are saying, *
     for you are speaking peace to your faithful people
     and to those who turn their hearts to you.

Truly, your salvation is very near to those who fear you, *
     that your glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth have met together; *
     righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
      and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

You, O God, will indeed grant prosperity, *
     and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness shall go before you, *
     and peace shall be a pathway for your feet.

St. Helena's Psalter
____________________________________________

Where do you experience mercy and truth, righteousness and peace?
___________________________________________

2 Peter 3:8-15a

Do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
____________________________________________

In what spirit do you wait for God's fulfillment?
___________________________________________

Mark 1:1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
"See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
     who will prepare your way;
     the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
`Prepare the way of the Lord,
     make his paths straight,'"
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
____________________________________________
Who are the strange prophets in our culture?
What is their message from the wilderness?
___________________________________________

Scriputures and Reflection Questions for November 20th

2011-11-14T09:25:00.000-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:
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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections.
_______________________________________

Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

____________________________________

The Lessons
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.
____________________________________________

God promises to rescue, restore, and care for the scattered people.
Then God promises to "feed them with justice" -- judging between the fat and the lean.
How does this vision speak to our political and economic realities today? ___________________________________________

Psalm 100 Jubilate Deo

May all lands be joyful before you, O God, *
serve with gladness and come before your presence with a song.

For we know that you are God; *
you yourself have made us, and we are yours;
we are your people and the sheep of your pasture.

We shall enter your gates with thanksgiving, go into your courts with praise, *
give thanks to you and call upon your Name.

For you are good; your mercy is everlasting; *
and your faithfulness endures from age to age.

St. Helena's Psalter
____________________________________________

How do you express your joy and thankfulness to God?___________________________________________

Ephesians 1:15-23

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
____________________________________________

Let this prayer be spoken for you. How can this become real for you?___________________________________________

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
____________________________________________

What if our nation truly believed that this was the highest criteria for a true and just government and society? How might that change our political priorities and policies? ___________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to 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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.
Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
    worship weekly
    pray daily
    learn constantly
    serve joyfully
    live generously.
Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriputures and Reflection Questions for November 13th

2011-11-07T15:31:00.001-06:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
All Saints Sunday
Year A, Track 1
November 6, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:
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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections

____________________________________

Collect

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


The Lessons

Judges 4:1-7
Psalm 123
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30

_________________________________

Judges 4:1-7
The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.

At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, `Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'
__________

Who are among the wise and strong women who have guided you?
______________________________________________

Psalm 123

To you I lift up my eyes, *
     to you enthroned in the heavens.

As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, *
     and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,

So our eyes look to the Holy One our God, *
     until God shows us mercy.

Have mercy upon us, O God, have mercy, *
     for we have had more than enough of contempt,

Too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, *
     and of the derision of the proud.

                                                       Saint Helena Psalter
_________

What circumstances might prompt such a psalm as this? ______________________________________

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
__________

What does it mean to you to be a child of light, a person of the day?
How might you imagine yourself clothed in "the breastplate of faith and love" and the "helmet (of) the hope of salvation"?
__________________________________

Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus said, "For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, `Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, `Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.' His master said to him, `Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.' Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, `Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master replied, `You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'"
_________

When have you "hidden your talent" and avoided risk that might have produced something fruitful?
____________________________________________________


To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to 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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.
Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
    worship weekly
    pray daily
    learn constantly
    serve joyfully
    live generously.
Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for November 6

2011-10-31T14:51:00.002-05:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
All Saints Sunday
Year A, Track 1
November 6, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to use this page:
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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections

____________________________________

Collect

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
____________________________________

The Lessons

Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
____________________________________

Revelation 7:9-17

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
__________

What about this vision of the heavenly multitudes appeals to you?
Does some of it bother or perplex you?
If you were to imagine the fullness of life in God's presence, how might you describe that?
______________________________________________

Psalm 34:1-10, 22

I will bless God at all times, *
     and praise shall ever be in my mouth.

I will glory in the Holy One; *
     let the humble hear and rejoice.

Proclaim with me the greatness of God; *
     let us exalt God's Name together.

I sought, and God answered me *
     and delivered me out of all my terror.

Look upon the Most High and be radiant, *
     and let not your faces be ashamed.

I called in my affliction and God heard me *
      and saved me from all my troubles.

The angels encompass those who fear God, *
     and God will deliver them.

Taste and see that God is good; *
      happy are they who trust in the Most High!

Fear the Most High, you that are God's saints, *
      for those who fear God lack nothing.

The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
      but those who seek God lack nothing that is good.

O God, you will ransom the life of your servants, *
     and none will be punished who trust in you.

                                                       Saint Helena Psalter

_________

What part of this Psalm might become your own prayer?
______________________________________

1 John 3:1-3
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

__________

What does it mean to you to be a child of God?
How do you live into that identity?
What does it mean to regard others as the children of God?
What does that mean to you? How does that affect your relationship with others?
__________________________________

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.

"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
_________

Another translation of "blessed" is "How happy..."
How might you experience blessing and happiness within this vision and teaching of Jesus?
____________________________________________________


To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to 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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.
Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
    worship weekly
    pray daily
    learn constantly
    serve joyfully
    live generously.
Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 30

2011-10-27T10:56:00.000-05:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 26, Year A, Track 1
October 30, 2011

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

_____________________________________________

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

_____________________________________________

The Lessons

Joshua 3:7-17

Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

Matthew 23:1-12

____________________________________

Joshua 3:7-17

The LORD said to Joshua, "This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, `When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'" Joshua then said to the Israelites, "Draw near and hear the words of the LORD your God." Joshua said, "By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap."

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

__________

Like their exodus from Egypt, the people enter the promised land with a miraculous crossing of water. How might you use this story as a metaphor for your own journey?

______________________________________________

Psalm 107:1-7,33-37

We give you thanks, O God, for you are good; *

your mercy endures for ever.

Let all those whom you have redeemed proclaim *

that you redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

You gathered them out of the lands; *

from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

Some wandered in desert wastes; *

they found no way to a city where they might dwell.

They were hungry and thirsty; *

their spirits languished within them.

Then they cried to you in their trouble, *

and you delivered them from their distress.

You put their feet on a straight path *

to go to a city where they might dwell.

You changed deserts into pools of water *

and dry land into water-springs.

You settled the hungry there, *

and they founded a city to dwell in.

They sowed fields, and planted vineyards, *

and brought in a fruitful harvest.

You blessed them, so that they increased greatly; *

you did not let their herds decrease.

Yet when they were diminished and brought low, *

through stress of adversity and sorrow,

(You pour contempt on princes *

and make them wander in trackless wastes)

You lifted up the poor out of misery *

and multiplied their families like flocks of sheep.

The upright will see this and rejoice, *

but all wickedness will shut its mouth.

Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *

and consider well your mercies, O God.

Saint Helena Psalter

_________

Where do you see wandering, deserts, and hunger in your own journey?

Where have you dwelt securely in a bountiful place?

How do you contribute to the work of lifting "the poor out of misery"?

______________________________________

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.

__________

How do you interpret your work as holy labor?

How is God's word at work in you?

__________________________________

Matthew 23:1-12

Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father -- the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted."

_________

How do you practice leadership? What does it mean to be a servant in your context?

____________________________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this email list,
go to 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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
    worship weekly
    pray daily
    learn constantly
    serve joyfully
    live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 23

2011-10-18T10:09:00.000-05:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 25, Year A, Track 1
October 23, 2011

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

_____________________________________

The Lessons

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Matthew 22:34-46

_____________________________________

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain -- that is, the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees -- as far as Zoar. The LORD said to him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, `I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." Then Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD's command. He was buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of mourning for Moses was ended.

Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.

__________

Whom do you regard as a Moses-like hero for you?

What does it mean for Moses to see but not enter the Promised Land?

What might it mean to be known by God "face to face" as Moses was?

______________________________________________

Psalm 90:1-6,13-17

O God, you have been our refuge *

from one generation to another.

Before the mountains were brought forth,

or the land and the earth were born, *

from age to age you are God.

You turn us back to the dust and say, *

"Go back, O child of earth."

Return, O God; how long will you tarry? *

Be gracious to your servants.

Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning; *

so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

Make us glad by the measure of the days that you afflicted us *

and the years in which we suffered adversity.

Show your servants your works *

and your splendor to their children.

May the graciousness of our God be upon us; *

prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork.

Saint Helena Psalter

_________

How might you make this Psalm your own prayer?

Which verses speak for you?

______________________________________

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.

__________

Do you ever catch yourself acting in a way to please others rather than being yourself?

If so, analyze that. What might Paul's words have to say to you?

__________________________________

Matthew 22:34-46

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

`The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet"'?

If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

_________

What if you lived your life entirely by the summary of the law that Jesus offers?

What problems, issues, limitations might that pose?

What clarity, vision and motivation might that offer?

____________________________________________________

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for Oct. 16

2011-10-12T08:12:00.000-05:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 24, Year A, Track 1
October 16, 2011

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Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations:
Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere
with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Exodus 33:12-23
Psalm 99
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Matthew 22:15-22

______________________________________

Exodus 33:12-23

Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, `Bring up this people'; but you
have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, `I know you
by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now if I have found favor in
your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight.
Consider too that this nation is your people." He said, "My presence will go with
you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go,
do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor
in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be
distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth."

The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have
found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "Show me your glory,
I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim
before you the name, `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious,
and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my
face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is
a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I
will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I
have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my
face shall not be seen."

__________

Moses is in intimate communion with God. God speaks the Divine Name to Moses, and
allows Moses to see a portion of God's glory.

What does it mean to you to be in communion with God? ...to see God's glory?

______________________________________________

Psalm 99

God reigns; let the people tremble; *
     God is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.

God is great in Zion *
     and is high above all peoples.

Let them confess God's Name, which is great and awesome; *
     God is the Holy One.

"O mighty Ruler, lover of justice, you have established equity; *
     you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."

We proclaim your greatness, O God, and fall down before your footstool; *
     you are the Holy One.

Moses and Aaron among your priests,
and Samuel among those who call upon your Name, *
     they called upon you, and you answered them.

You spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; *
     they kept your testimonies and the decree that you gave them.

"O Holy God, you answered them indeed; *
     you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds."

Proclaim the greatness of our God and worship on God's holy hill, *
     for our God is the Holy One.

                                       Saint Helena Psalter

_________

How do you express your praise of God?

______________________________________

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly
remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness
of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God,
that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word
only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as
you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you
became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received
the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to
all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded
forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in
God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people
of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how
you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his
Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath
that is coming.

__________

The opening of Paul's first letter to the church in Thessoliniki.
What does this passage say about Paul's relationship with this congregation?
How might Paul begin a letter to our congregation?

__________________________________

Matthew 22:15-22

The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their
disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are
sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to
no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think.
Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?" But Jesus, aware of their malice,
said, "Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used
for the tax." And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head
is this, and whose title?" They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them,
"Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the
things that are God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him
and went away.

________

What does Jesus' response say to you?
How do you regard paying taxes?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
     worship weekly
     pray daily
     learn constantly
     serve joyfully
     live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org
______________________________________

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 9

2011-10-03T13:57:00.000-05:00

Collect

Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year A
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exodus 32:1-14

When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Aaron said to them, "Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord." They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.

The Lord said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, `These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" The Lord said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."

But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, "O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'" And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

__________

What golden calves do you have in your life?

What separates you from God's will?
What would it take for you to turn away from your own golden calf?

________________________________________________

Psalm 106:1-6,19-23

Alleluia! Give thanks, for the Holy One is good; *

God’s mercy endures for ever.

Who can declare the mighty acts of God *

or show forth rightful praise?

Happy are they who act with justice *

and always do what is right!

Remember me, O God, with the favor you have for your people, *

and visit me with your saving help;

That I may see the prosperity of your elect and be glad with

the gladness of your people, *
that I may glory with your inheritance.

Israel made a bull-calf at Horeb *

and worshiped a molten image;

And so they exchanged their Glory *

for the image of an ox that feeds on grass.

They forgot you, their Savior, *

who had done great things in Egypt,

Wonderful deeds in the land of Ham, *

and fearful things at the Red Sea.

So you would have destroyed them,

had not Moses your chosen stood before you in the breach, *
to turn away your wrath from consuming them.

Saint Helena Psalter

_________

Note how the psalmist interprets the story that we have as our first reading. The motivation for following God is gratefulness and praise.

What is your motivation for following God?

_______________________________________

Philippians 4:1-9

My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 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.

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

__________

Read paragraph three carefully. How might you live in this way moment by moment?

What would it be like for you to incorporate Paul's instruction in the last paragraph also?
With that high ideal in mind, note that Paul writes this in the middle a crisis, a serious and personal conflict between two of his friends and co-workers. What does that tell you about how to approach crisis and conflict?

____________________________________

Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, `Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, `The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."

_______

How might Jesus' audience have first heard and interpreted this parable?

How might the early church have heard and interpreted it?
What does it mean to you?
What about the last paragraph? (note: scholars don't know either)

___________

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for October 2

2011-09-26T16:07:00.000-05:00

Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

_________________

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year A
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20

From Then God spoke all these words: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work.

Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

When all the people witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking, they were afraid and trembled and stood at a distance, and said to Moses, "You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die." Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin." "

__________

How might you incorporate the 10 Commandments into your own life?

________________________________________________

Psalm 19

The heavens declare your glory, O God, *

and the firmament shows your handiwork.

One day tells its tale to another, *
and one night imparts knowledge to another.

Although they have no words or language, *

and their voices are not heard,

Their sound has gone out into all lands, *

and their message to the ends of the world.

In the deep you have 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.

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.

Your law, O God, is perfect and revives the soul; *

your testimony is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

Your statutes are just and rejoice the heart; *

your commandment is clear and gives light to the eyes.

The fear of you is clean and endures for ever; *

your judgments are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *

sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.

By them also is your servant enlightened, *

and in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern unwitting sins? *

Cleanse me from my secret faults.

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.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, *

O God, my strength and my redeemer.

Saint Helena Psalter

_________

What do you desire "more than much fine gold"?
What are your "secret faults" and "presumptuous sins"? _______________________________________

Philippians 3:4b-14

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

__________

Paul claims that he met the requirements for righteousness as an observant Jew, but it did not satisfy him. What would you say might have been missing for him?

____________________________________

Matthew 21:33-46

Jesus said, "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, `They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, `This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time."

Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures:

`The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes'?

Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls."

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

_______

What does this parable mean to you?

What do you think Matthew wants to say when he interprets the parable as speaking about the chief priests and Pharisees?

________________________________

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.
www.stpaulsfay.org

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for September 25

2011-09-19T13:54:00.002-05:00

Exodus 17:1-7

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"

__________

What does it mean to you that God gave the people water from the rock in the wilderness?

How do you think about this story literally?

How do you think about it as a metaphor?

________________________________________________

Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 Page 694, BCP

Hear my teaching, O my people; *
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in a parable; *
I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.

That which we have heard and known,

and what our forebears have told us, *
we will not hide from their children.

We will recount to generations to come

your praiseworthy deeds and your power, O God, *
and the wonderful works you have done.

You worked marvels in the sight of their forebears, *
in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan.

You split open the sea and let them pass through; *
you made the waters stand up like walls.

You led them with a cloud by day, *
and all the night through with a glow of fire.

You split the hard rocks in the wilderness *
and gave them drink as from the great deep.

You brought streams out of the cliff, *
and the waters gushed out like rivers.

Saint Helena Psalter

_________

When have you known God’s hand guiding you through a hard time?

_______________________________________

Philippians 2:1-13

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death --

even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

__________

How might you take Paul’s teaching into your environments?

In your home? In your work? Among your friends and relationships?

____________________________________

Matthew 21:23-32

When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."

_______

How is it hardest for you to “walk your talk”?

Where do you see people who make an appealing appearance, but who do not act consistently?

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for September 18

2011-09-11T19:25:00.000-05:00

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 20, Year A, Track 1
September 18, 2011
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Collect

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly;
and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast
to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary
Year A
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How to use this page:

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.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient
practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). We've written some instructions on
how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link:
www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Lessons

Exodus 16:2-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Philippians 1:21-30
Matthew 20:1-16

___________________________________________

Exodus 16:2-15

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the
wilderness. The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of the
LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread;
for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with
hunger."

Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and
each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will
test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when
they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other
days." So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you shall
know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning
you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your complaining against
the LORD. For what are we, that you complain against us?" And Moses said, "When
the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning,
because the LORD has heard the complaining that you utter against him-- what are
we? Your complaining is not against us but against the LORD."

Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, `Draw
near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.'" And as Aaron spoke to the
whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the
glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses and said, "I have
heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, `At twilight you shall eat
meat, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know
that I am the LORD your God.'"

In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was
a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface
of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When
the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not
know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you
to eat."

_________

In the misery of their wilderness, God feeds the people. They see God's glory.

When have you been in the wilderness? What happened?

Have you ever been upheld in your own experience of wilderness?

________________________________________________

Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

We give you thanks, O God, and call upon your Name; *
we make known your deeds among the peoples.

We sing to you; we sing your praise *
and speak of all your marvelous works.

We glory in your holy Name; *
let the hearts of those who seek you rejoice.

We search for you and your strength; *
we continually seek your face.

We remember the marvels you have done, *
the wonders and the judgments of your mouth.

O offspring of Abraham, your servant, *
O children of Jacob, the chosen ones.

You led out your people with silver and gold; *
in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.

Egypt was glad of their going, *
because they were afraid of them.

You spread out a cloud for a covering *
and a fire to give light in the night season.

They asked, and quails appeared, *
and you satisfied them with bread from heaven.

You opened the rock, and water flowed, *
so the river ran in the dry places.

For you remembered your holy word *
and Abraham your servant.

So you led forth your people with gladness, *
your chosen with shouts of joy.

You gave your people the lands of the nations, *
and they took the fruit of others' toil,

That they might keep your statutes *
and observe your laws. Alleluia!

The Saint Helena Psalter

_________

Feel the joy of this Psalm.
How might you express similar joy to God for the blessings
in your own life?

__________________________________________

Philippians 1:21-30

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that
means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed
between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better;
but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this,
I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy
in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when
I come to you again.

Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether
I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing
firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel,
and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their
destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously
granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for
him as well -- since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now
hear that I still have.

________

Sense the perseverance that Paul expresses in this passage.

In what ways do you persevere in your own life?

___________________________________________

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the
morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for
the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine
o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, `You
also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went.
When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And
about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to
them, `Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, `Because no one
has hired us.' He said to them, `You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came,
the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, `Call the laborers and give them
their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired
about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the
first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received
the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner,
saying, `These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who
have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one
of them, `Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual
daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same
as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?
Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first
will be last."

__________

An employer is generous, and gives a daily wage, a living wage, to everyone, not
just to those who had worked the whole day? What does this story mean to you?

With whom do you identify? The all-day workers? The late comers?

Who in our economy might read this story and feel encouraged?

_______________________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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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

The Mission of St. Paul's Episcopal Church
is to explore and celebrate
God's infinite grace, acceptance, and love.

Our Rule of Life:
We aspire to...
worship weekly
pray daily
learn constantly
serve joyfully
live generously.

Check our website: www.stpaulsfay.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~