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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The following are the readings for the Eleventh
Sunday after Pentecost, August 8, (Proper 14) according to the Revised Common
(RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of
England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New
Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA,
Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this
day.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 1: 1, 10 - 20 (RCL)
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Isai 1:1 (NRSV) The vision of Isai'ah son of A'moz,
which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzzi'ah, Jo'tham,
A'haz, and Hezeki'ah, kings of Judah. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>10 Hear the word of the LORD, <BR>you rulers of
Sod'om! <BR>Listen to the teaching of our God, <BR>you people of Gomor'rah!
<BR>11 What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? <BR>says the LORD; <BR>I
have had enough of burnt offerings of rams <BR>and the fat of fed beasts; <BR>I
do not delight in the blood of bulls, <BR>or of lambs, or of goats. <BR>12 When
you come to appear before me, <BR>who asked this from your hand? <BR>Trample my
courts no more; <BR>13 bringing offerings is futile; <BR>incense is an
abomination to me. <BR>New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation-- <BR>I
cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. <BR>14 Your new moons and your
appointed festivals <BR>my soul hates; <BR>they have become a burden to me,
<BR>I am weary of bearing them. <BR>15 When you stretch out your hands, <BR>I
will hide my eyes from you; <BR>even though you make many prayers, <BR>I will
not listen; <BR>your hands are full of blood. <BR>16 Wash yourselves; make
yourselves clean; <BR>remove the evil of your doings <BR>from before my eyes;
<BR>cease to do evil, <BR>17 learn to do good; <BR>seek justice, <BR>rescue the
oppressed, <BR>defend the orphan, <BR>plead for the widow. <BR>18 Come now, let
us argue it out, <BR>says the LORD: <BR>though your sins are like scarlet,
<BR>they shall be like snow; <BR>though they are red like crimson, <BR>they
shall become like wool. <BR>19 If you are willing and obedient, <BR>you shall
eat the good of the land; <BR>20 but if you refuse and rebel, <BR>you shall be
devoured by the sword; <BR>for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><BR>Genesis 15: 1 - 6 (alt. for RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gene 15:1 (NRSV) After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a
vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very
great." 2 But Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will you give me, for I continue
childless, and the heir of my house is Elie'zer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said,
"You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my
heir." 4 But the word of the LORD came to him, "This man shall not be your heir;
no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." 5 He brought him outside and
said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them."
Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed the LORD;
and the LORD reckoned it to him as righteousness. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Jeremiah 18: 1 - 11 (Can. BAS)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Jere 18:1 (NRSV) The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 "Come, go
down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." 3 So I went
down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 The vessel
he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into
another vessel, as seemed good to him. <BR>5 Then the word of the LORD came to
me: 6 Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done?
says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O
house of Israel. 7 At one moment I may declare concerning a nation or a kingdom,
that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 but if that nation,
concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will change my mind about
the disaster that I intended to bring on it. 9 And at another moment I may
declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 but
if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will change my
mind about the good that I had intended to do to it. 11 Now, therefore, say to
the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: Thus says the LORD: Look,
I am a potter shaping evil against you and devising a plan against you. Turn
now, all of you from your evil way, and amend your ways and your doings. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Wisdom 18: 6 - 9 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>18:6 (NRSV) That night was made known beforehand to our ancestors,<BR>so
that they might rejoice in sure knowledge of the oaths in which they
trusted.<BR>7 The deliverance of the righteous and the destruction of their
enemies<BR>were expected by your people.<BR>8 For by the same means by which you
punished our enemies<BR>you called us to yourself and glorified us.<BR>9 For in
secret the holy children of good people offered sacrifices,<BR>and with one
accord agreed to the divine law,<BR>so that the saints would share alike the
same things, <BR>both blessings and dangers; <BR>and already they were singing
the praises of the ancestors. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>PSALM 50: 1 - 8, 22 - 23 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 50:1 (NRSV) The mighty one, God the LORD, <BR>speaks and summons the
earth <BR>from the rising of the sun to its setting. <BR>2 Out of Zion, the
perfection of beauty, <BR>God shines forth. <BR>3 Our God comes and does not
keep silence, <BR>before him is a devouring fire, <BR>and a mighty tempest all
around him. <BR>4 He calls to the heavens above <BR>and to the earth, that he
may judge his people: <BR>5 "Gather to me my faithful ones, <BR>who made a
covenant with me by sacrifice!" <BR>6 The heavens declare his righteousness,
<BR>for God himself is judge. [Se'lah] <BR>7 "Hear, O my people, and I will
speak, <BR>O Israel, I will testify against you. <BR>I am God, your God. <BR>8
Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you; <BR>your burnt offerings are
continually before me. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>22 "Mark this, then, you who forget God, <BR>or I will tear you apart, and
there will be no one to deliver. <BR>23 Those who bring thanksgiving as their
sacrifice honor me; <BR>to those who go the right way <BR>I will show the
salvation of God." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 33: 12 - 22 (alt. for RCL) <BR>Psalm 33: 1, 12, 18 - 22 (Roman
Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 33:1 (NRSV) Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. <BR>Praise befits
the upright. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, <BR>the people whom he has
chosen as his heritage. <BR>13 The LORD looks down from heaven; <BR>he sees all
humankind. <BR>14 From where he sits enthroned he watches <BR>all the
inhabitants of the earth-- <BR>15 he who fashions the hearts of them all,
<BR>and observes all their deeds. <BR>16 A king is not saved by his great army;
<BR>a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. <BR>17 The war horse is a
vain hope for victory, <BR>and by its great might it cannot save. <BR>18 Truly
the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, <BR>on those who hope in his
steadfast love, <BR>19 to deliver their soul from death, <BR>and to keep them
alive in famine. <BR>20 Our soul waits for the LORD; <BR>he is our help and
shield. <BR>21 Our heart is glad in him, <BR>because we trust in his holy name.
<BR>22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, <BR>even as we hope in you.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 14 (Can. BAS)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 14:1 (NRSV) Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are
corrupt, they do abominable deeds; <BR>there is no one who does good. <BR>2 The
LORD looks down from heaven on humankind <BR>to see if there are any who are
wise, <BR>who seek after God. <BR>3 They have all gone astray, they are all
alike perverse; <BR>there is no one who does good, <BR>no, not one. <BR>4 Have
they no knowledge, all the evildoers <BR>who eat up my people as they eat bread,
<BR>and do not call upon the LORD? <BR>5 There they shall be in great terror,
<BR>for God is with the company of the righteous. <BR>6 You would confound the
plans of the poor, <BR>but the LORD is their refuge. <BR>7 O that deliverance
for Israel would come from Zion! <BR>When the LORD restores the fortunes of his
people, <BR>Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 11: 1 - 3, 8 - 16 (RCL)
<BR>
Hebrews 11: 1 - 3, 8 - 19 (Can.
BAS)<BR>
Hebrews 11: 1 - 2, 8 - 12 (13 - 19) (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hebr 11:1 (NRSV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received
approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of
God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he
was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was
going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a
foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him
of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations,
whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith he received power of
procreation, even though he was too old--and Sarah herself was barren--because
he considered him faithful who had promised.12 Therefore from one person, and
this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven
and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore." <BR>13 All of these died
in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and
greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the
earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a
homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind,
they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better
country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called
their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them. <BR>17 By faith Abraham,
when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was
ready to offer up his only son, 18 of whom he had been told, "It is through
Isaac that descendants shall be named for you." 19 He considered the fact that
God is able even to raise someone from the dead--and figuratively speaking, he
did receive him back. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>GOSPEL: Luke 12: 32 - 40 (RCL)
<BR>
Luke 12: (32 - 34) 35 - 40 (41 - 48) (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 12:32 (NRSV) "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's
good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give alms.
Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in
heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also. <BR>35 "Be dressed for action and
have your lamps lit; 36 be like those who are waiting for their master to return
from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he
comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when
he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to
eat, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes during the middle of the
night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. <BR>39 "But
know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was
coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be
ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." <BR>41 Peter said,
"Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?" 42 And the Lord
said, "Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in
charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?
43 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives. 44
Truly I tell you, he will put that one in charge of all his possessions. 45 But
if that slave says to himself, "My master is delayed in coming,' and if he
begins to beat the other slaves, men and women, and to eat and drink and get
drunk, 46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect
him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and put
him with the unfaithful. 47 That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did
not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. 48 But
the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light
beating. 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.
<BR></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Chad Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, Vermont USA<BR><A
href="mailto:chadwohl@satucket.com">chadwohl@satucket.com</A><BR><A
href="mailto:cwohlers@bridgew.edu">cwohlers@bridgew.edu</A><BR></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>