Scriptures for August 5 (transferred)

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Transfiguration Sunday, Year B
August 5, 2012
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Collect

O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses your well-beloved Son,
 wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening: Mercifully grant that
we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the
King in his beauty; who with you, O Father, and you, O Holy Spirit, lives and reigns,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A liturgical note:  Several years ago we found that we needed another baptismal feast in late summer.  Quite a few baptism requests seem to pile up in the long period between Pentecost and All Saints.  We received permission from the Bishop  to add "Transfiguration Sunday" -- transferring the lections for the Feast of the Transfiguration (Aug. 6) to the first Sunday of August.  It also allows us an opportunity to offer outdoor baptisms by full immersion.  We will not be using Proper 13 for  this upcoming Sunday.

Exodus 34:29-35
2 Peter 1:13-21
Luke 9:28-36
Psalm 99 or 99:5-9
________________________________________

Exodus 34:29-35

Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two
 tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face
shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw
Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.
But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned
to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he
gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When
Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses
went in before the LORD to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he
came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,
the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining;
and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.

______________________________

When have you seen someone transfigured by joy or concentration or love?
What did they look like?
______________________________

Psalm 99:5-9

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.
                                                                             The Saint Helena Psalter
________________________________

How do you find worship to be a time of encounter with God?

________________________________


2 Peter 1:13-21

I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to refresh your memory, since I
know that my death will come soon, as indeed our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear
to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at
any time to recall these things.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power
 and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty.
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed
 to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I
am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were
with him on the holy mountain.

So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive
to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning
star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy
of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came
by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

_____________________________________

How might you say you have been an eyewitness to God?

____________________________________


Luke 9:28-36

About eight days after Jesus had foretold his death and resurrection, Jesus took
 with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while
he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling
white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared
in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at
 Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since
 they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just
as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be
here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"--not
knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them;
and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice
that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken,
Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of
 the things they had seen.

___________________________________

When have you seen something that tingled with presence and glory?
Where do you go to connect with a deeper way of seeing into reality?
___________________________________

To subscribe or unsubscribe to our email list,
go to 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 and Reflection Questions for June 17

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

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 – http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

The Episcopal Church Center also publishes a weekly Bible Study based on the Sunday lectionary. A current seminarian prepares the study.http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm.
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Collect


Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  

________________________________________________________________

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

Psalm 20

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

Mark 4:26-34

____________________________________________

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13

Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel.

The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, `I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

________

Why was David's choice so unconventional?

What does that say to us today?   

____________________________________________ 

Psalm 20  

May the Most High answer you in the day of trouble, *

     the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;

Send you help from the holy place *

     and strengthen you out of Zion;

Remember all your offerings *

     and accept your burnt sacrifice;

Grant you your heart's desire *

     and prosper all your plans.

We will shout for joy at your victory and triumph in the Name of our God; *

    may the Most High grant all your requests.

Now I know that God gives victory to the anointed one; *

     out of the holy heaven God will answer,

     with a strong and victorious right hand.

Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, *

     but we will call upon the Name of our God.

They collapse and fall down, *

     but we will arise and stand upright.

O God, give victory to our sovereign, *

     and answer us when we call.

 

                                                                    St. Helena Psalter

_________

How might you use this psalm as a prayer for your longings and hopes?  

____________________________________________ 

2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17

We are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord-- for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

__________

What does it mean to you to be "a new creation"?

What does Paul mean when he says "we regard no one from a human point of view"? 

____________________________________________ 

Mark 4:26-34

Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come."

He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

______

What does it mean to you that Jesus used such modest, humble, small and hidden metaphors to speak of the kingdom of God?
____________________________________________

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for June 10

Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

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 – http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html

The Episcopal Church Center also publishes a weekly Bible Study based on the Sunday lectionary. A current seminarian prepares the study.http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107902_116094_ENG_HTM.htm.
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Collect


Almighty and everlasting O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


_______________________________________________________________

1 Samuel 8:4-20

Psalm 138

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Mark 3:20-35

_________________________________________________

1 Samuel 8:4-20 

All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, "You are old and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations." But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." Samuel prayed to the LORD, and the LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. Just as they have done to me, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. Now then, listen to their voice; only-- you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

So Samuel reported all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; [and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers.] He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle and donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves; but the LORD will not answer you in that day."

But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, "No! but we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles."

___________

In this tradition, Samuel and God regard Israel's desire for a king to be a rejection of God's divine leadership.  What does this passage say to us about authority, government and power? How might this passage inform some contemporary debates about the separation of church and state?  ...about sharia law and secular law?   

_____________________________________________

Psalm 138   Confitebor tibi

I will give thanks to you, O God, with my whole heart; *

     before the gods I will sing your praise.

I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, *

     because of your love and faithfulness;

For you have glorified your Name *

     and your word above all things.

When I called, you answered me; *

     you increased my strength within me.

All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O God, *

     when they have heard the words of your mouth.

They will sing of the ways of God, *

     that great is the glory of God,

Who is on high, yet cares for the lowly, *

     and perceives the haughty from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; *

     you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies;

     your right hand shall save me.

You will make good your purpose for me; *

     O God, your love endures for ever;

     do not abandon the works of your hands.

                                                                               St. Helena's Psalter

______________

Try reading this psalm as you read your daily newspaper or watch the news on TV. 

__________________________________________

2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1

Just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture-- "I believed, and so I spoke" -- we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

_____________

How does the promise of resurrection influence how you live here and now? 

________________________________________________

Mark 3:20-35

The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

________________

What do you think it means to blaspheme the Holy Spirit?   

How does this passage that speaks of an unforgivable and eternal sin contrast with the message elsewhere that God forgives extravagantly?

What does the last paragraph say about values of family?  ...values of community? 

________________________________________

Scriptures and Reflection Questions for May 20

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Easter 7, Year B
May 20, 2012
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Collect

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great
 triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your
Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ
 has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19

____________________________________________

Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about
one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled,
which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide
for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his
 share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the
time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of
 John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness
with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who
 was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know
everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place
in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own
place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added
to the eleven apostles.

_________________________________________

When have you been chosen?  What did that feel like?  What happened?

When have you not been chosen?  What did that feel like?  What happened?

_________________________________________

Psalm 1

Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
     nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

Their delight is in the law of the Holy One, *
     and they meditate on that law day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water,
     bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
     everything they do shall prosper.

It is not so with the wicked; *
     they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
     nor the sinner in the council of the righteous;

For the Holy One knows the way of the righteous, *
     but the way of the wicked is doomed.

                                                     The Saint Helena Psalter
_________________________________________

How would your describe your own roots?  In what are you planted?  What is your
fruit?

_________________________________________

1 John 5:9-13

If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the
testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son
of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have
made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning
his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in
his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does
 not have life.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you
may know that you have eternal life.

_________________________________________

What does it mean to you to have life in the Son?

_________________________________________

John 17:6-19

Looking up to heaven, Jesus prayed, "I have made your name known to those whom you
gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have
kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for
 the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them
 and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf
of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours
 are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world,
but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in
your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While
I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded
 them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that
the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these
things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I
have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong
to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take
them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do
not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in
the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent
them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may
be sanctified in truth."

_________________________________________

How do you experience God's protection in your life?

How do you experience Christ's joy in your life?

How do you experience the Holy Spirit's sanctification in truth in your life?

_________________________________________
 

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 May 13

Scriptures and Reflection Questions
Easter 6, Year B
May 13, 2012
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Collect

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our
understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in
all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that
 we can desire; 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 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17

____________________________________________

Acts 10:44-48

While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.
The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of
the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking
in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for
baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" So he
 ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him
to stay for several days.

___________________________________________

What kind of courage or vision must it have taken for Peter, a Jew, to so freely
 incorporate Gentiles into the Christian community through baptism?  Imagine the
 arguments pro and con.  What do you think you would have done had you been Peter?
_____________________________________________

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.

                                                        Saint Helena Psalter

_________________________________________

How do you express your joy and gladness to God?
What poetry might you use to describe your experience of the divine in nature?
_________________________________________

1 John 5:1-6

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone
who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children
of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this,
 that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world,
our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus
 is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only
but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for
the Spirit is the truth.

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How does love fulfill the commandments?
How does John's epistle imagine our loving and believing to bring victory?
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John 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples, "As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide
in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have
kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to
 you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has
greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends
if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the
 servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends,
because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You
did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit
that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another."

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How do you keep your attention so that you can "abide in love"?
What's the hardest part about the commandment to "love one another"?
What's especially compelling about Jesus' teaching to abide in love and to love
one another?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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