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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Easter Vigil According to the Revised Common
Lectionary<BR> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><BR>Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gene 1:1 (NRSV) In the beginning when God created the heavens and the
earth, 2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the
deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said,
"Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was
good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day,
and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning,
the first day. <BR>6 And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the
waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." 7 So God made the dome
and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were
above the dome. And it was so. 8 God called the dome Sky. And there was evening
and there was morning, the second day. <BR>9 And God said, "Let the waters under
the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And
it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered
together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let
the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every
kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. 12 The earth
brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every
kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And
there was evening and there was morning, the third day. <BR>14 And God said,
"Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night;
and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15 and let
them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth." And it was
so. 16 God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the
lesser light to rule the night--and the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of
the sky to give light upon the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the
night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was
good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. <BR>20 And
God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds
fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." 21 So God created the great sea
monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the
waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in
the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 And there was evening and
there was morning, the fifth day. <BR>24 And God said, "Let the earth bring
forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild
animals of the earth of every kind." And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals
of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that
creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good. <BR>26 Then
God said, "Let us make humankind Heb [adam]} in our image, according to our
likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the
birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the
earth, Syr: Heb [and over all the earth]} and over every creeping thing that
creeps upon the earth." <BR>27 So God created humankind in his image, <BR>in the
image of God he created them; <BR>male and female he created them. <BR>28 God
blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the
birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth." 29 God
said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of
all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for
food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I
have given every green plant for food." And it was so. 31 God saw everything
that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there
was morning, the sixth day. 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished,
and all their multitude. 2 And on the seventh day God finished the work that he
had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3
So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from
all the work that he had done in creation. <BR>4 These are the generations of
the heavens and the earth when they were created. <BR>In the day that the LORD
God made the earth and the heavens, </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 136: 1 - 9, 23 - 26</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 136:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, <BR>for his
steadfast love endures forever. <BR>2 O give thanks to the God of gods, <BR>for
his steadfast love endures forever. <BR>3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
<BR>for his steadfast love endures forever; <BR>4 who alone does great wonders,
<BR>for his steadfast love endures forever; <BR>5 who by understanding made the
heavens, <BR>for his steadfast love endures forever; <BR>6 who spread out the
earth on the waters, <BR>for his steadfast love endures forever; <BR>7 who made
the great lights, <BR>for his steadfast love endures forever; <BR>8 the sun to
rule over the day, <BR>for his steadfast love endures forever; <BR>9 the moon
and stars to rule over the night, <BR>for his steadfast love endures forever;
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate, <BR>for his steadfast love
endures forever; <BR>24 and rescued us from our foes, <BR>for his steadfast love
endures forever; <BR>25 who gives food to all flesh, <BR>for his steadfast love
endures forever. <BR>26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, <BR>for his
steadfast love endures forever. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Genesis 7: 1 - 5, 11 - 18, 8: 6 - 18, 9: 8 - 13</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gene 7:1 (NRSV) Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all
your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in this
generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its
mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its mate; 3 and
seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to keep their kind
alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I will send rain on the
earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I
will blot out from the face of the ground." 5 And Noah did all that the LORD had
commanded him. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the
seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep
burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 The rain fell on the
earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah with his sons,
Shem and Ham and Ja'pheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons
entered the ark, 14 they and every wild animal of every kind, and all domestic
animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and
every bird of every kind--every bird, every winged creature. 15 They went into
the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of
life. 16 And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God
had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in. <BR>17 The flood continued forty
days on the earth; and the waters increased, and bore up the ark, and it rose
high above the earth. 18 The waters swelled and increased greatly on the earth;
and the ark floated on the face of the waters. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8:6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had
made 7 and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were
dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the
waters had subsided from the face of the ground; 9 but the dove found no place
to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on
the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it
into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent out
the dove from the ark; 11 and the dove came back to him in the evening, and
there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters
had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days, and sent out
the dove; and it did not return to him any more. <BR>13 In the six hundred first
year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up
from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and saw
that the face of the ground was drying. 14 In the second month, on the
twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16
"Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with
you. 17 Bring out with you every living thing that is with you of all
flesh--birds and animals and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth--so
that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
18 So Noah went out with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 "As for me, I am
establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with
every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and
every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. Gk: Heb adds
[every animal of the earth]} 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never
again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall
there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 God said, "This is the sign of the
covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with
you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it
shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 46</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 46:1 (NRSV) God is our refuge and strength, <BR>a very present help in
trouble. <BR>2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
<BR>though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; <BR>3 though its waters
roar and foam, <BR>though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Se'lah] <BR>4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, <BR>the holy
habitation of the Most High. <BR>5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not
be moved; <BR>God will help it when the morning dawns. <BR>6 The nations are in
an uproar, the kingdoms totter; <BR>he utters his voice, the earth melts. <BR>7
The LORD of hosts is with us; <BR>the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Se'lah] <BR>8
Come, behold the works of the LORD; <BR>see what desolations he has brought on
the earth. <BR>9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; <BR>he breaks the
bow, and shatters the spear; <BR>he burns the shields with fire. <BR>10 "Be
still, and know that I am God! <BR>I am exalted among the nations, <BR>I am
exalted in the earth." <BR>11 The LORD of hosts is with us; <BR>the God of Jacob
is our refuge. [Se'lah] </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Genesis 22: 1 - 18</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Gene 22:1 (NRSV) After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him,
"Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only son
Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a
burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So Abraham rose
early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with
him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set out and
went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. 4 On the third day
Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 5 Then Abraham said to his young
men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will
worship, and then we will come back to you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the
burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and
the knife. So the two of them walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father
Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the
wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God
himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them
walked on together. <BR>9 When they came to the place that God had shown him,
Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac,
and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his
hand and took the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to
him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He
said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know
that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from
me." 13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns.
Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of
his son. 14 So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said
to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided." <BR>15 The angel
of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By myself
I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld
your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, and I will make your
offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the
seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, 18 and by
your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves,
because you have obeyed my voice." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 16</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 16:1 (NRSV) Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge. <BR>2 I say
to the LORD, "You are my Lord; <BR>I have no good apart from you." <BR>3 As for
the holy ones in the land, they are the noble, <BR>in whom is all my delight.
<BR>4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows; <BR>their drink
offerings of blood I will not pour out <BR>or take their names upon my lips.
<BR>5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; <BR>you hold my lot. <BR>6 The
boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; <BR>I have a goodly
heritage. <BR>7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; <BR>in the night also my
heart instructs me. <BR>8 I keep the LORD always before me; <BR>because he is at
my right hand, I shall not be moved. <BR>9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my
soul rejoices; <BR>my body also rests secure. <BR>10 For you do not give me up
to She'ol, <BR>or let your faithful one see the Pit. <BR>11 You show me the path
of life. <BR>In your presence there is fullness of joy; <BR>in your right hand
are pleasures forevermore. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Exodus 14: 10 - 31, 15: 20 - 21</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Exod 14:10 (NRSV) As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and
there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried
out to the LORD. 11 They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in
Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done
to us, bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the very thing we told you in
Egypt, "Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been
better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." 13 But
Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance
that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see
today you shall never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you, and you have
only to keep still." <BR>15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to
me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. 16 But you lift up your staff, and
stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go
into the sea on dry ground. 17 Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so
that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over
Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. 18 And the
Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself
over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers." <BR>19 The angel of God
who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the
pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. 20
It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was
there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the
other all night. <BR>21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD
drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry
land; and the waters were divided. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry
ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23
The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's
horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the LORD in the
pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the
Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned
with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the
LORD is fighting for them against Egypt." <BR>26 Then the LORD said to Moses,
"Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the
Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers." 27 So Moses stretched out
his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the
Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The
waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire
army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.
29 But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a
wall for them on their right and on their left. <BR>30 Thus the LORD saved
Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the
seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the LORD did against the Egyptians.
So the people feared the LORD and believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>15:20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her
hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. 21
And Miriam sang to them: <BR>"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
<BR>horse and rider he has thrown into the sea." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Exodus 15: 1b - 13, 17 - 18</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>15:1 "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; <BR>horse
and rider he has thrown into the sea. <BR>2 The LORD is my strength and my
might, <BR>and he has become my salvation; <BR>this is my God, and I will praise
him, <BR>my father's God, and I will exalt him. <BR>3 The LORD is a warrior;
<BR>the LORD is his name. <BR>4 "Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into
the sea; <BR>his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea. <BR>5 The floods
covered them; <BR>they went down into the depths like a stone. <BR>6 Your right
hand, O LORD, glorious in power-- <BR>your right hand, O LORD, shattered the
enemy. <BR>7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries;
<BR>you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble. <BR>8 At the blast of
your nostrils the waters piled up, <BR>the floods stood up in a heap; <BR>the
deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. <BR>9 The enemy said, "I will pursue, I
will overtake, <BR>I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of
them. <BR>I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.' <BR>10 You blew
with your wind, the sea covered them; <BR>they sank like lead in the mighty
waters. <BR>11 "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? <BR>Who is like you,
majestic in holiness, <BR>awesome in splendor, doing wonders? <BR>12 You
stretched out your right hand, <BR>the earth swallowed them. <BR>13 "In your
steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed; <BR>you guided them by your
strength to your holy abode. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>17 You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own
possession, <BR>the place, O LORD, that you made your abode, <BR>the sanctuary,
O LORD, that your hands have established. <BR>18 The LORD will reign forever and
ever." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Isaiah 55: 1 - 11</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isai 55:1 (NRSV) Ho, everyone who thirsts, <BR>come to the waters; <BR>and
you that have no money, <BR>come, buy and eat! <BR>Come, buy wine and milk
<BR>without money and without price. <BR>2 Why do you spend your money for that
which is not bread, <BR>and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
<BR>Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, <BR>and delight yourselves in
rich food. <BR>3 Incline your ear, and come to me; <BR>listen, so that you may
live. <BR>I will make with you an everlasting covenant, <BR>my steadfast, sure
love for David. <BR>4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, <BR>a leader and
commander for the peoples. <BR>5 See, you shall call nations that you do not
know, <BR>and nations that do not know you shall run to you, <BR>because of the
LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, <BR>for he has glorified you. <BR>6 Seek
the LORD while he may be found, <BR>call upon him while he is near; <BR>7 let
the wicked forsake their way, <BR>and the unrighteous their thoughts; <BR>let
them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, <BR>and to our God, for
he will abundantly pardon. <BR>8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, <BR>nor
are your ways my ways, says the LORD. <BR>9 For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, <BR>so are my ways higher than your ways <BR>and my thoughts than
your thoughts. <BR>10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
<BR>and do not return there until they have watered the earth, <BR>making it
bring forth and sprout, <BR>giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
<BR>11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; <BR>it shall not return
to me empty, <BR>but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, <BR>and succeed
in the thing for which I sent it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Isaiah 12: 2 - 6</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isai 12:2 (NRSV) Surely God is my salvation; <BR>I will trust, and will not
be afraid, <BR>for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might; <BR>he has become
my salvation. <BR>3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4
And you will say in that day: <BR>Give thanks to the LORD, <BR>call on his name;
<BR>make known his deeds among the nations; <BR>proclaim that his name is
exalted. <BR>5 Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; <BR>let
this be known in all the earth. <BR>6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal
Zion, <BR>for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Baruch 3: 9 - 15, 3: 32 - 4: 4</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bar 3:9 Hear the commandments of life, O Israel;<BR>give ear, and learn
wisdom!<BR>10 Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your
enemies,<BR>that you are growing old in a foreign country,<BR>that you are
defiled with the dead,<BR>11 that you are counted among those in Hades?<BR>12
You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.<BR>13 If you had walked in the way of
God,<BR>you would be living in peace forever.<BR>14 Learn where there is
wisdom,<BR>where there is strength,<BR>where there is understanding,<BR>so that
you may at the same time discern<BR>where there is length of days, and
life,<BR>where there is light for the eyes, and peace. <BR>15 Who has found her
place?<BR>And who has entered her storehouses?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>32 But the one who knows all things knows her,<BR>he found her by his
understanding.<BR>The one who prepared the earth for all time<BR>filled it with
four-footed creatures;<BR>33 the one who sends forth the light, and it
goes;<BR>he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;<BR>34 the stars shone in
their watches, and were glad;<BR>he called them, and they said, "Here we
are!"<BR>They shone with gladness for him who made them.<BR>35 This is our
God;<BR>no other can be compared to him.<BR>36 He found the whole way to
knowledge,<BR>and gave her to his servant Jacob<BR>and to Israel, whom he
loved.<BR>37 Afterward she appeared on earth<BR>and lived with humankind.
<BR>4:1 She is the book of the commandments of God,<BR>the law that endures
forever.<BR>All who hold her fast will live,<BR>and those who forsake her will
die.<BR>2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her;<BR>walk toward the shining of her
light.<BR>3 Do not give your glory to another,<BR>or your advantages to an alien
people.<BR>4 Happy are we, O Israel,<BR>for we know what is pleasing to God.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Proverbs 8: 1 - 8, 19 - 21, 9: 4b - 6 (alt. for Baruch
reading, above)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Prov 8:1 (NRSV) Does not wisdom call, <BR>and does not understanding raise
her voice? <BR>2 On the heights, beside the way, <BR>at the crossroads she takes
her stand; <BR>3 beside the gates in front of the town, <BR>at the entrance of
the portals she cries out: <BR>4 "To you, O people, I call, <BR>and my cry is to
all that live. <BR>5 O simple ones, learn prudence; <BR>acquire intelligence,
you who lack it. <BR>6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, <BR>and from my lips
will come what is right; <BR>7 for my mouth will utter truth; <BR>wickedness is
an abomination to my lips. <BR>8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
<BR>there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, <BR>and my yield than
choice silver. <BR>20 I walk in the way of righteousness, <BR>along the paths of
justice, <BR>21 endowing with wealth those who love me, <BR>and filling their
treasuries. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>9:4 In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun, <BR>5 which comes out
like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy, <BR>and like a strong man runs its
course with joy. <BR>6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, <BR>and its
circuit to the end of them; <BR>and nothing is hid from its heat. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 19</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 19:1 (NRSV) The heavens are telling the glory of God; <BR>and the
firmament proclaims his handiwork. <BR>2 Day to day pours forth speech, <BR>and
night to night declares knowledge. <BR>3 There is no speech, nor are there
words; <BR>their voice is not heard; <BR>4 yet their voice goes out through all
the earth, <BR>and their words to the end of the world. <BR>In the heavens he
has set a tent for the sun, <BR>5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his
wedding canopy, <BR>and like a strong man runs its course with joy. <BR>6 Its
rising is from the end of the heavens, <BR>and its circuit to the end of them;
<BR>and nothing is hid from its heat. <BR>7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
<BR>reviving the soul; <BR>the decrees of the LORD are sure, <BR>making wise the
simple; <BR>8 the precepts of the LORD are right, <BR>rejoicing the heart;
<BR>the commandment of the LORD is clear, <BR>enlightening the eyes; <BR>9 the
fear of the LORD is pure, <BR>enduring forever; <BR>the ordinances of the LORD
are true <BR>and righteous altogether. <BR>10 More to be desired are they than
gold, <BR>even much fine gold; <BR>sweeter also than honey, <BR>and drippings of
the honeycomb. <BR>11 Moreover by them is your servant warned; <BR>in keeping
them there is great reward. <BR>12 But who can detect their errors? <BR>Clear me
from hidden faults. <BR>13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent; <BR>do
not let them have dominion over me. <BR>Then I shall be blameless, <BR>and
innocent of great transgression. <BR>14 Let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart <BR>be acceptable to you, <BR>O LORD, my rock and my
redeemer. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Ezekiel 36: 24 - 28</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ezek 36:24 (NRSV) I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all
the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water
upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your
idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I
will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and
give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and make you
follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then you shall
live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and
I will be your God. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 42 & 43</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 42:1 (NRSV) As a deer longs for flowing streams, <BR>so my soul longs
for you, O God. <BR>2 My soul thirsts for God, <BR>for the living God. <BR>When
shall I come and behold <BR>the face of God? <BR>3 My tears have been my food
<BR>day and night, <BR>while people say to me continually, <BR>"Where is your
God?" <BR>4 These things I remember, <BR>as I pour out my soul: <BR>how I went
with the throng, <BR>and led them in procession to the house of God, <BR>with
glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, <BR>a multitude keeping festival. <BR>5
Why are you cast down, O my soul, <BR>and why are you disquieted within me?
<BR>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, <BR>my help 6 and my God. <BR>My
soul is cast down within me; <BR>therefore I remember you <BR>from the land of
Jordan and of Hermon, <BR>from Mount Mi'zar. <BR>7 Deep calls to deep <BR>at the
thunder of your cataracts; <BR>all your waves and your billows <BR>have gone
over me. <BR>8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love, <BR>and at night his
song is with me, <BR>a prayer to the God of my life. <BR>9 I say to God, my
rock, <BR>"Why have you forgotten me? <BR>Why must I walk about mournfully
<BR>because the enemy oppresses me?" <BR>10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
<BR>my adversaries taunt me, <BR>while they say to me continually, <BR>"Where is
your God?" <BR>11 Why are you cast down, O my soul, <BR>and why are you
disquieted within me? <BR>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, <BR>my help
and my God. <BR>43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause <BR>against an
ungodly people; <BR>from those who are deceitful and unjust <BR>deliver me!
<BR>2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge; <BR>why have you cast me off?
<BR>Why must I walk about mournfully <BR>because of the oppression of the enemy?
<BR>3 O send out your light and your truth; <BR>let them lead me; <BR>let them
bring me to your holy hill <BR>and to your dwelling. <BR>4 Then I will go to the
altar of God, <BR>to God my exceeding joy; <BR>and I will praise you with the
harp, <BR>O God, my God. <BR>5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, <BR>and why are
you disquieted within me? <BR>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, <BR>my
help and my God. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Ezekiel 37: 1 - 14</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ezek 37:1 (NRSV) The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out
by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full
of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley,
and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I
answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." 4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these
bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5 Thus says the
Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6
I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you
with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I
am the LORD." <BR>7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I
prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together,
bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come
upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he
said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath:
Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon
these slain, that they may live." 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the
breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast
multitude. <BR>11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house
of Israel. They say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut
off completely.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD:
I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people;
and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am
the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my
people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place
you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will
act," says the LORD. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 143</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 143:1 (NRSV) Hear my prayer, O LORD; <BR>give ear to my supplications
in your faithfulness; <BR>answer me in your righteousness. <BR>2 Do not enter
into judgment with your servant, <BR>for no one living is righteous before you.
<BR>3 For the enemy has pursued me, <BR>crushing my life to the ground,
<BR>making me sit in darkness like those long dead. <BR>4 Therefore my spirit
faints within me; <BR>my heart within me is appalled. <BR>5 I remember the days
of old, <BR>I think about all your deeds, <BR>I meditate on the works of your
hands. <BR>6 I stretch out my hands to you; <BR>my soul thirsts for you like a
parched land. [Se'lah] <BR>7 Answer me quickly, O LORD; <BR>my spirit fails.
<BR>Do not hide your face from me, <BR>or I shall be like those who go down to
the Pit. <BR>8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning, <BR>for in you
I put my trust. <BR>Teach me the way I should go, <BR>for to you I lift up my
soul. <BR>9 Save me, O LORD, from my enemies; <BR>I have fled to you for
refuge. <BR>10 Teach me to do your will, <BR>for you are my God. <BR>Let
your good spirit lead me <BR>on a level path. <BR>11 For your name's sake, O
LORD, preserve my life. <BR>In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
<BR>12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies, <BR>and destroy all my
adversaries, <BR>for I am your servant. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Zephaniah 3: 14 - 20</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Zeph 3:14 (NRSV) Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; <BR>shout, O Israel!
<BR>Rejoice and exult with all your heart, <BR>O daughter Jerusalem! <BR>15 The
LORD has taken away the judgments against you, <BR>he has turned away your
enemies. <BR>The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; <BR>you shall fear
disaster no more. <BR>16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: <BR>Do not
fear, O Zion; <BR>do not let your hands grow weak. <BR>17 The LORD, your God, is
in your midst, <BR>a warrior who gives victory; <BR>he will rejoice over you
with gladness, <BR>he will renew you in his love; <BR>he will exult over you
with loud singing <BR>18 as on a day of festival. <BR>I will remove disaster
from you, <BR>so that you will not bear reproach for it. <BR>19 I will deal with
all your oppressors <BR>at that time. <BR>And I will save the lame <BR>and
gather the outcast, <BR>and I will change their shame into praise <BR>and renown
in all the earth. <BR>20 At that time I will bring you home, <BR>at the time
when I gather you; <BR>for I will make you renowned and praised <BR>among all
the peoples of the earth, <BR>when I restore your fortunes <BR>before your eyes,
says the LORD. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 98</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 98:1 (NRSV) O sing to the LORD a new song, <BR>for he has done
marvelous things. <BR>His right hand and his holy arm <BR>have gotten him
victory. <BR>2 The LORD has made known his victory; <BR>he has revealed his
vindication in the sight of the nations. <BR>3 He has remembered his steadfast
love and faithfulness <BR>to the house of Israel. <BR>All the ends of the earth
have seen <BR>the victory of our God. <BR>4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all
the earth; <BR>break forth into joyous song and sing praises. <BR>5 Sing praises
to the LORD with the lyre, <BR>with the lyre and the sound of melody. <BR>6 With
trumpets and the sound of the horn <BR>make a joyful noise before the King, the
LORD. <BR>7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; <BR>the world and those who
live in it. <BR>8 Let the floods clap their hands; <BR>let the hills sing
together for joy <BR>9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming <BR>to
judge the earth. <BR>He will judge the world with righteousness, <BR>and the
peoples with equity. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Romans 6: 3 - 11</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Roma 6:3 (NRSV) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with
him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by
the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. <BR>5 For if
we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united
with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified
with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be
enslaved to sin. 7 For whoever has died is freed from sin. 8 But if we have died
with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ,
being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion
over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he
lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and
alive to God in Christ Jesus. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 114</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 114:1 (NRSV) When Israel went out from Egypt, <BR>the house of Jacob
from a people of strange language, <BR>2 Judah became God's sanctuary,
<BR>Israel his dominion. <BR>3 The sea looked and fled; <BR>Jordan turned back.
<BR>4 The mountains skipped like rams, <BR>the hills like lambs. <BR>5 Why is
it, O sea, that you flee? <BR>O Jordan, that you turn back? <BR>6 O mountains,
that you skip like rams? <BR>O hills, like lambs? <BR>7 Tremble, O earth, at the
presence of the LORD, <BR>at the presence of the God of Jacob, <BR>8 who turns
the rock into a pool of water, <BR>the flint into a spring of water. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Year A (2011):<BR>Matthew 28: 1 - 10</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Matt 28:1 (NRSV) After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was
dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And suddenly
there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven,
came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like
lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the guards shook
and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid;
I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for
he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go
quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he
is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message
for you." 8 So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to
tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they
came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to
them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they
will see me." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR> </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></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>