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We know who God is! (Satterlee.)
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Jeremiah 31:7-14 - God will gather all people
OR
Sirach 24:1-12 - Wisdom praises herself, and tells of her glory in the midst of her people

Psalm 147:12-20 - He grants peace within your borders; he fills you with the finest of wheat. ¹⁵ He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. ¹⁶ He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes. ¹⁷ He hurls down hail like crumbs— who can stand before his cold? ¹⁸ He sends out his word, and melts them; he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. ¹⁹ He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and ordinances to Israel. ²⁰ He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his ordinances. Praise the LORD!
OR
Wisdom of Solomon 10:15-21She brought them over the Red Sea,
and led them through deep waters;
¹⁹ but she drowned their enemies,
and cast them up from the depths of the sea.
²⁰ Therefore the righteous plundered the ungodly;
they sang hymns, O Lord, to your holy name,
and praised with one accord your defending hand;
²¹ for wisdom opened the mouths of those who were mute,
and made the tongues of infants speak clearly

Ephesians 1:3-14 - God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.

John 1:(1-9), 10-18 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people… ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) ¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

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Jesus brings us out of our exile. (Satterlee.)

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The Nativity of Our Lord (Set I) – December 24/25

Be not afraid! (Satterlee.) Be filled with great joy. God indeed is with us, bringing God’s promised future. Turn from your fear. Like the shepherds, let’s go see.

Isaiah 9:2-7 

Psalm 96

Titus 2:11-14

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20) – Be not afraid. Mary treasured these things in her heart.

The Nativity of Our Lord (Set II) – December 24/25 

Isaiah 62:6-12

Psalm 97

Titus 3:4-7

Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20

The Nativity of Our Lord (Set III) – December 24/25

Isaiah 52:7-10

Psalm 98

Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)

John 1:1-14

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Jesus comes to us in visions, nudges and dreams. (Satterlee)

Isaiah 7:10-16

A young woman is with child and shall bear a son named “God With Us.”

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Stir up your power and come to save us. Restore us, O God. Let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Romans 1:1-7

Paul is set apart for the gospel of God, concerning Jesus, promised through the prophets, descended from David, and declared to be the Son of God by resurrection, according to the Spirit.

Matthew 1:18-25

An angel appears to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

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Jesus comes to us in our prisons. (Satterlee.) What is imprisoning you?

Isaiah 35:1-10


The wilderness and the dry and shall be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom… Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong; do not be afraid!” Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped… And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.

Psalm 146:5-10

Happy are those who hope in the LORD, who sets the prisoners free, who opens the eyes of the blind, who watches over strangers, who upholds the orphan and the widow, who brings the wicked to ruin.

OR

Luke 1:47-55 -- The Magnificat, Mary’s Song


My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, who has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts, who has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly, who has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty…

James 5:7-10

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord, just as a farmer patiently waits for precious crops from the earth.

Matthew 11:2-11

John sent word to Jesus by his disciples: ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.

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Isaiah 11:1-10

- A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. 2The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. 

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

 - Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. 

Romans 15:4-13

 - May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 3:1-12

 - John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near…” Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. The axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

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These summary themes come from Dr. Craig Satterlee, former professor at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, currently serving as bishop of the NW Lower Michigan Synod.

Isaiah 2:1-5 – A hopeful vision of the end times… 

In days to come the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Psalm 122 – I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD!"… Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: "May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, and security within your towers."

Romans 13:11-14 - You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness…

Matthew 24:36-44 – As we are vigilant in life, so we should be ready for the coming of Christ. 

But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

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Jeremiah 23:1-6 – Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord… The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

Luke 1:68-79 – The Song of Zechariah: ‘Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David.
OR
Psalm 46 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, we will not fear.

Colossians 1:11-20 – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. He is the head of the body, the church. In him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Luke 23:33-43 – The Crucifixion. Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.

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Isaiah 65:17-25 – The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox; but the serpent—its food shall be dust! They shall not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, says the Lord.
OR
Malachi 4:1-2 – The day is coming when the arrogant and evil-doers will be stumble. But for those who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings.

Isaiah 12 – The First Song of Isaiah. Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid.
OR
Psalm 98 – Sing to the Lord a new song! Let the seas roar, and the floods clap their hands! Let the hills sing together for joy!

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 – Keep away from believers who are idle. Imitate us, for we were not idle when we were with you. We worked day and night to not be a burden. Do not grow weary in doing good.

Luke 21:5-19 – The destruction of the Temple foretold. Nation will rise against nation. They will arrest you and persecute you. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

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Haggai 1:15b-2:9 – Haggai prophesies the future glory of the Temple. Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? Take courage people of God. The latter splendor of this house will be greater than the former.
OR
Job 19:23-27a – I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God.

Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 – One generation shall praise your works to another and declare your mighty acts.
OR
Psalm 98 – Sing to the Lord a new song! Let the seas roar, and the floods clap their hands! Let the hills sing together for joy!
OR
Psalm 17:1-9– Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17– Do not be alarmed or shaken by word, or by a letter, as though from us, that the day of the Lord has already come. Let no one deceive you.

Luke 20:27-38 – The Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, question Jesus. God is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive.’

If you read the Job passage, consider singing “I Know That My Redeemer Lives.” A little Easter in November.

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Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18 – The holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom for ever—for ever and ever.’

Psalm 149 - Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. 

Ephesians 1:11-23 – 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.

Luke 6:20-31 – Blessed are you poor, hungry, weeping. Surely your reward will be great in heaven. Woe to you rich, full, laughing.

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Jeremiah 31:31-34 – The days are coming when I will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah: law on their hearts.

Psalm 46 – The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:4)

Romans 3:19-28 – No one will be justified by the law. Now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been revealed.

John 8:31-36 – You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free.

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Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 – Thus says the Lord to the exiles in Babylon: Build houses; plant gardens; take wives; have children. But seek the welfare of the city to which I have sent you.
OR
2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c - Namaan, a Syrian, goes to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy.

Psalm 66:1-12 – Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth, for he has tested us, refined us like silver.
OR
Psalm 111 - I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

2 Timothy 2:8-15 – I endure everything for the elect, that they may attain salvation. If we have died with him, we will also live with him. Do your best to show yourself an approved worker.

Luke 17:11-19 – Healing of the ten lepers.

October is Clergy Appreciation Month

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Central African Republic Companion Synod Sunday

Jeremiah 31:27-34 – The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
OR
Genesis 32:22-31 – Jacob wrestles with the angel at Peniel.

Psalm 119:97-104 – Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all day long.
OR
Psalm 121 – I lift my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

2 Timothy 3:14 – 4:5 – Jesus will judge the living and the dead. Proclaim the message. Be persistent.

Luke 18:1-8 – Parable of the Judge and the Widow (pray and don’t lose heart)

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Lamentations 1:1-6 - Post-exilic. How lonely sits the empty city, once full of people! She who once was great among the nations is now a vassal. Her greatness is gone.
OR
Lamentations 3:19-26 - The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall! My hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
OR
Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 - How long, O Lord, will I cry to you for help and you will not listen? How long will we cry, “Violence?” and you will not save?

Psalm 137 - By the rivers of Babylon— there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our harps.
OR
Psalm 37:1-9 - Don’t worry too much about the wicked. In due time they will fade like grass. Trust in the Lord and do good.

2 Timothy 1:1-14 - To Timothy, my beloved child: I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Luke 17:5-10 – Parable of the mustard seeds. Undeserving slaves.

October 4 is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Several congregations do a blessing of the pets around this day. RESOURCES

October is Clergy Appreciation Month
RESOURCES

October 6 is the Commemoration of William Tyndale.

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Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 – As the Babylonians are about to break through the walls in 588 B.C. Zedekiah asks Jeremiah why he’s prophesying the exile. Jeremiah responds by saying he’s so certain that God will restore the fortunes of Zion that he’s even bought a plot of land. Jeremiah the speculator.
OR
Amos 6:1a, 4-7 - Amos warns those who lie on ivory beds, lounge on couches, who sing idle songs, anoint themselves with the finest oils and drink plenty of wine (the rich), that they will be the first to be carried into exile.

Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 – This is the “Eagle’s Wings” psalm: You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord and abide in the presence of the Almighty, he will deliver you from the hand of the fowler, under his wings you will find refuge. You will not fear the terror of the night or the arrow that flies by day, though thousands fall around you…
OR
Psalm 146 - Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help. When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish. 5Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God who … executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry… lifts up those who are bowed down… who watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow…

1 Timothy 6:6-19 - We brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it (Fits with the rich man and Lazarus). The love of money is the root of all evil. Be rich in good works, generosity and sharing

Luke 16:19-31 – Parable of the Rich man and poor Lazarus

Consider using “Eagles’ Wings” for Psalm 91. 

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Jeremiah 8:18 - 9:1 - My joy is gone, grief is upon me, my heart is sick. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of my poor people not been restored?
OR
Amos 8:4-7 - Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will make the ephah small and the shekel great, and practice deceit with false balances, 6buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat…”

Psalm 79:1-9 – The nations have laid ruin to Jerusalem and given our bodies to the birds. How long, O Lord, will you kindle your anger against us?
OR
Psalm 113 - Praise the name of the Lord, from the rising of the sun to its setting. He raises the poor from the dust and the needy from the ashes. 

1 Timothy 2:1-7 - I wish everyone to raise up their hands without anger or argument. Pray for government leaders. For this is the will of God who wishes everyone to be saved.

Luke 16:1-13 – Parable of the Shrewd Manager. "And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes." Interpretation: Use your filthy, stinkin’ money to do some good in this life, so that in the next the poor will vouch for you.

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Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 – My people are stupid children with no understanding, who know how to do evil, but not good. The whole land shall be a desolation.
OR
Exodus 32:7-14 – Moses pleads with God to turn back his wrath against the people.

Psalm 14 – The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” You confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge.
OR
Psalm 51:1-10 – I was a sinner from my mother’s womb. Create in me a clean heart, O God…

1 Timothy 1:12-17 – Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of which I am the foremost.

Luke 15:1-10 – Parables of the Lost Sheep and Lost Coin.

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Jeremiah 18:1-11 – The potter’s house: “Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, what the potter has done?”
OR
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 – I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live…

Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18 – O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You formed me in my inward parts. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
OR
Psalm 1 – Happy are those who walk not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the seats of scoffers… They are like tress planted by streams of water, that yield fruit in due season…

Philemon 1-21 – Nearly the entire letter to Philemon, I would read the last three verses as well. Paul’s ominous, “Prepare a guest room for me” indicates: I’m coming to check up on you to see if you followed through with my request. This letter proves that when Paul says there is no longer slave or free (Gal 5:28-29), he means it. He doesn’t mean we’ll pretend when we’re in church, that these very real social distinctions don’t exist. He means a very real upheaval in relationships in the very real world.

Luke 14:25-33 – Renounce family and possessions. Take up your cross and follow me. Count the cost. Don’t start a tower and then fail to finish it.

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Revised Common Lectionary readings for Sunday, September 1, 2019.

Jeremiah 2:4-13 – God states the case against the descendants of Jacob.
OR
Sirach 10:12-18 – The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord.
OR
Proverbs 25:6-7 – Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence or stand in the place of the great; for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. 

Psalm 81:1, 10-16 – I brought you out of the land of Egypt, but you did not obey me. So I gave you over to your stubborn desires.
OR
Psalm 112 – Blessed is the one who obeys the Lord. His house contains riches.

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 – Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured.

Luke 14:1, 7-14 – Jesus heals on the Sabbath and lectures on the law. Jesus teaches about taking the lower place. When you give a luncheon or dinner invite the poor and crippled.

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Jeremiah 1:4-10 – Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I knew you. Do not say, “I am too young.” I will give you the words you are to speak for me.
OR
Isaiah 58:9b-14 — God’s chosen fast: Remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

Psalm 71:1-6 – In you O Lord, I have taken shelter. Let me never be confounded. I have trusted you since you pulled me from my mother’s womb.
OR
Psalm 103:1-8 – Praise the Lord who forgives your sins, heals your diseases and delivers you from the Pit.

Hebrews 12:18-29 – Jesus, mediator of a new covenant. The blood of Jesus replacing that of Abel.

Luke 13:10-17 – Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath.

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Isaiah 5:1-7 – I will sing to my lover about his vineyard: It produced wild grapes. Therefore I will make it a wasteland.
OR
Jeremiah 23:23-29 Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Psalm 80:1-2, 8-19 – Shepherd of Israel: You planted a vineyard, then tore down its walls. Support us again, and we will not turn from you.
OR
Psalm 82 – Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy…. Rise up, O God, judge the earth; for the nations belong to you!

Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 – By faith the people passed through the Red Sea… By faith the walls of Jericho fell. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient… Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Luke 12:49-56 – I have not come to bring peace but sword. Read the times like the seasons.

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Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 – Yahweh condemns Sodom and Gomorrah’s sins: injustice and oppression to the orphan and widow.


OR

Genesis 15:1-6 – The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23 – The Lord calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people.

OR

Psalm 33:12-22 – Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 – Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God. By faith Abraham obeyed. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old.

Luke 12:32-40 – Have no fear. Sell your possessions. Give alms. Be prepared like the householder and thief. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.

Isaiah 43:16-21 – Rivers in the desert: do not remember the former things. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

Psalm 126 – When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

OR


Psalm 119:9-16 – How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

Philippians 3:4b-14 – I more than any have reason to be confident in the flesh (my own works-righteousness) but I regard them all as rubbish in order to gain Christ, and know him as Lord, a righteousness based on faith, not works. And so I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

John 12:1-8 – Mary anoints Jesus feet with costly nard and wipes them with her hair. Judas objects. And the much maligned: “You always have the poor with you, but not me.”

Joshua 5:9-12 — After the Israelites cross the Jordan, the disgrace of Egypt is over, the manna stops and the people eat the bounty of the land.

Psalm 32 — I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’, and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 – We once saw Christ from a human standpoint, but no longer. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. God reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself. So we are ambassadors for Christ. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 – The Lost Sheep and the Lost Sons

Sing Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer. The third stanza alludes to Joshua: “When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside; death of death and hell’s destruction, land me save on Canaan’s side. Songs and praises, songs and praises I will raise evermore…”

Sing Amazing Grace, which ties to the younger son: “I once was lost, but now am found…”

Read it online http://bishopmike.com/2019/03/24/lent-4c-march-31-2019/

Isaiah 55:1-9 – Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Return to the Lord… for he will abundantly pardon. (This is also the OT reading for Pentecost 9A.)

Psalm 63:1-8 – O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water… In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 – The results of idolatry and immorality are devastating, so do not fall. No test has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God will strengthen you for your testing.

Luke 13:1-9 – Those Galileans slaughtered by Pilate, were they any worse sinners than anyone else? No. How about those who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? No. But unless you repent, you will also perish. Jesus likens his ministry to a man who allows his gardener to tend a fruitless fig tree for one year. If it doesn’t bear fruit, it will be destroyed. Prediction of the fall of Jerusalem?

Lent C

Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.
– Joel 2

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 – Abram believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. Righteousness by faith.

Psalm 27 – The Lord is my light and my salvation. He will hide me in his tent and set me upon a high rock.

Philippians 3:17 – 4:1 – I press on toward the goal: the heavenly call of God in Christ. Enemies of the cross: their god is the belly. Their end is destruction.

Luke 13:31-35 – Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I have longed to gather you as a mother hen gathers her young under her wings.

Lent C

Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.
– Joel 2

 

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