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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The following are the readings for the Fifteenth
Sunday after Pentecost, September 5, (Proper 18) 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: Jeremiah 18: 1 - 11 (RCL)
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Jere 18:1 (NRSV) The word that came to Jeremi'ah
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. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><BR>Deuteronomy 30: 15 -20 (alt. for RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Deut 30:15 (NRSV) See, I have set before you today life and prosperity,
death and adversity. 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I
am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and
observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and
become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are
entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but
are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you
today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are
crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness
against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and
curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 loving the
LORD your God, obeying him, and holding fast to him; for that means life to you
and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give
to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Ezekiel 33: 1 - 11 (Can. BAS)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ezek 33:1 (NRSV) The word of the LORD came to me: 2 O Mortal, speak to your
people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the
land take one of their number as their sentinel; 3 and if the sentinel sees the
sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people; 4 then if
any who hear the sound of the trumpet do not take warning, and the sword comes
and takes them away, their blood shall be upon their own heads. 5 They heard the
sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; their blood shall be upon
themselves. But if they had taken warning, they would have saved their lives. 6
But if the sentinel sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that
the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any of them, they are
taken away in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at the sentinel's
hand. <BR>7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel;
whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8
If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not
speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their
iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the
wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked
shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life. <BR>10 {God's
Justice and Mercy} Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have
said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because
of them; how then can we live?" 11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I
have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their
ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O
house of Israel? </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Wisdom 9: 13 - 18b (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Wis 9:13 (NRSV) For who can learn the counsel of God?<BR>Or who can discern
what the Lord wills?<BR>14 For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,<BR>and our
designs are likely to fail;<BR>15 for a perishable body weighs down the
soul,<BR>and this earthy tent burdens the thoughtful mind.<BR>16 We can hardly
guess at what is on earth,<BR>and what is at hand we find with labor;<BR>but who
has traced out what is in the heavens?<BR>17 Who has learned your
counsel,<BR>unless you have given wisdom<BR>and sent your holy spirit from on
high?<BR>18 And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,<BR>and people
were taught what pleases you,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>PSALM 139: 1 - 6, 13 - 18 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 139:1 (NRSV) O LORD, you have searched me and known me. <BR>2 You know
when I sit down and when I rise up; <BR>you discern my thoughts from far away.
<BR>3 You search out my path and my lying down, <BR>and are acquainted with all
my ways. <BR>4 Even before a word is on my tongue, <BR>O LORD, you know it
completely. <BR>5 You hem me in, behind and before, <BR>and lay your hand upon
me. <BR>6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; <BR>it is so high that I
cannot attain it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>13 For it was you who formed my inward parts; <BR>you knit me together in
my mother's womb. <BR>14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
<BR>Wonderful are your works; <BR>that I know very well. <BR>15 My frame was not
hidden from you, <BR>when I was being made in secret, <BR>intricately woven in
the depths of the earth. <BR>16 Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. <BR>In
your book were written <BR>all the days that were formed for me, <BR>when none
of them as yet existed. <BR>17 How weighty to me are your thoughts, O God!
<BR>How vast is the sum of them! <BR>18 I try to count them--they are more than
the sand; <BR>I come to the end --I am still with you. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above.</DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR>Psalm 1 (alt. for RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 1:1 (NRSV) Happy are those <BR>who do not follow the advice of the
wicked, <BR>or take the path that sinners tread, <BR>or sit in the seat of
scoffers; <BR>2 but their delight is in the law of the LORD, <BR>and on his law
they meditate day and night. <BR>3 They are like trees <BR>planted by streams of
water, <BR>which yield their fruit in its season, <BR>and their leaves do not
wither. <BR>In all that they do, they prosper. <BR>4 The wicked are not so,
<BR>but are like chaff that the wind drives away. <BR>5 Therefore the wicked
will not stand in the judgment, <BR>nor sinners in the congregation of the
righteous; <BR>6 for the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, <BR>but the
way of the wicked will perish. </DIV>
<DIV><BR> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 94: 12 - 24 (Can. BAS)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>94 Deus ultionum<BR> <BR>12 Happy are they
whom you instruct, O Lord! *<BR> whom you teach out of your
law;<BR> <BR>13 To give them rest in evil days,
*<BR> until a pit is dug for the wicked.<BR> <BR>14
For the Lord will not abandon his people, *<BR> nor will he
forsake his own.<BR> <BR>15 For judgment will again be just,
*<BR> and all the true of heart will follow it.<BR> <BR>16
Who rose up for me against the wicked? *<BR> who took my part
against the evildoers?<BR> <BR>17 If the Lord had not come to
my help, *<BR> I should soon have dwelt in the land of
silence.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>18 As often as I said, “My foot has slipped,”
*<BR> your love, O Lord, upheld me.<BR> <BR>19 When
many cares fill my mind, *<BR> your consolations cheer my
soul.<BR> <BR>20 Can a corrupt tribunal have any part with you,
*<BR> one which frames evil into law?<BR> <BR>21
They conspire against the life of the just *<BR> and condemn
the innocent to death.<BR> <BR>22 But the Lord has become my
stronghold, *<BR> and my God the rock of my
trust.<BR> <BR>23 He will turn their wickedness back upon
them<BR>and destroy them in their own malice; *<BR> the Lord our God
will destroy them.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 90: 3 - 6, 12 - 14, 17, resp. v. 1 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 90:1 (NRSV) Lord, you have been our dwelling place <BR>in all
generations. <BR>3 You turn us back to dust, <BR>and say, "Turn back, you
mortals." <BR>4 For a thousand years in your sight <BR>are like yesterday when
it is past, <BR>or like a watch in the night. <BR>5 You sweep them away; they
are like a dream, <BR>like grass that is renewed in the morning; <BR>6 in the
morning it flourishes and is renewed; <BR>in the evening it fades and withers.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>12 So teach us to count our days <BR>that we may gain a wise heart. <BR>13
Turn, O LORD! How long? <BR>Have compassion on your servants! <BR>14 Satisfy us
in the morning with your steadfast love, <BR>so that we may rejoice and be glad
all our days. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, <BR>and prosper for us the
work of our hands-- <BR>O prosper the work of our hands! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>NEW TESTAMENT: Philemon 1 - 21 (RCL)
<BR>
Philemon 1 - 20 (Can. BAS)
<BR>
Philemon 9 - 10, 12 - 17 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Phle 1:1 (NRSV) Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
<BR>To Phile'mon our dear friend and co-worker, 2 to Ap'phia our sister, to
Archip'pus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: <BR>3 Grace to
you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. <BR>4 When I
remember you in my prayers, I always thank my God 5 because I hear of your love
for all the saints and your faith toward the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that the
sharing of your faith may become effective when you perceive all the good that
we may do for Christ. 7 I have indeed received much joy and encouragement from
your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, my
brother. <BR>8 For this reason, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you
to do your duty, 9 yet I would rather appeal to you on the basis of love--and I,
Paul, do this as an old man, and now also as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. 10 I am
appealing to you for my child, Ones'imus, whose father I have become during my
imprisonment. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful
both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that he might be of service to me in your
place during my imprisonment for the gospel; 14 but I preferred to do nothing
without your consent, in order that your good deed might be voluntary and not
something forced. 15 Perhaps this is the reason he was separated from you for a
while, so that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more
than a slave, a beloved brother--especially to me but how much more to you, both
in the flesh and in the Lord. <BR>17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome
him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way, or owes you
anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own
hand: I will repay it. I say nothing about your owing me even your own self. 20
Yes, brother, let me have this benefit from you in the Lord! Refresh my heart in
Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you
will do even more than I say. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>GOSPEL: Luke 14: 25-33 (all) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 14:25 (NRSV) Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned
and said to them, 26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my
disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my
disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit
down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29
Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see
it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, "This fellow began to build and was
not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another
king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand
to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he cannot,
then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the
terms of peace. 33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do
not give up all your possessions. <BR></DIV>
<DIV> </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>