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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The following are the readings for Ascension Day,
June 2, 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>FIRST READING: Acts 1: 1 - 11
(all)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Acts 1:1 (NRSV) In the first book, Theoph'ilus, I
wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning 2 until the day
when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy
Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 After his suffering he presented
himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty
days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 While staying with them, he
ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the
Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; 5 for John baptized
with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from
now." <BR>6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the
time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He replied, "It is not for
you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will
be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the
earth." 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a
cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up
toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, "Men
of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been
taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into
heaven." </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><BR>Daniel 7: 9 - 14 (alt. for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dani 7:9 (NRSV) As I watched, <BR>thrones were set in place, <BR>and an
Ancient One Aram took his throne, <BR>his clothing was white as snow, <BR>and
the hair of his head like pure wool; <BR>his throne was fiery flames, <BR>and
its wheels were burning fire. <BR>10 A stream of fire issued <BR>and flowed out
from his presence. <BR>A thousand thousands served him, <BR>and ten thousand
times ten thousand stood attending him. <BR>The court sat in judgment, <BR>and
the books were opened. <BR>11 I watched then because of the noise of the
arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put
to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. 12 As
for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were
prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions, <BR>I
saw one like a human being Aram <BR>coming with the clouds of heaven. <BR>And he
came to the Ancient One Aram <BR>and was presented before him. <BR>14 To him was
given dominion <BR>and glory and kingship, <BR>that all peoples, nations, and
languages <BR>should serve him. <BR>His dominion is an everlasting dominion
<BR>that shall not pass away, <BR>and his kingship is one <BR>that shall never
be destroyed. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>PSALM 47 (all but Roman Catholic)<BR>Psalm 47: 1 - 2, 5 -
8 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 47:1 (NRSV) Clap your hands, all you peoples; <BR>shout to God with
loud songs of joy. <BR>2 For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome, <BR>a great
king over all the earth. <BR>3 He subdued peoples under us, <BR>and nations
under our feet. <BR>4 He chose our heritage for us, <BR>the pride of Jacob whom
he loves. [Se'lah] <BR>5 God has gone up with a shout, <BR>the LORD with the
sound of a trumpet. <BR>6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; <BR>sing praises to
our King, sing praises. <BR>7 For God is the king of all the earth; <BR>sing
praises with a psalm. <BR>8 God is king over the nations; <BR>God sits on his
holy throne. <BR>9 The princes of the peoples gather <BR>as the people of the
God of Abraham. <BR>For the shields of the earth belong to God; <BR>he is highly
exalted. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one higher than the
above</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>47 Omnes gentes, plaudite (ECUSA
BCP)<BR> <BR>1 Clap your hands, all you peoples;
*<BR> shout to God with a cry of joy.<BR> <BR>2 For the
Lord Most High is to be feared; *<BR> he is the great King over all the
earth.<BR> <BR>3 He subdues the peoples under us,
*<BR> and the nations under our feet.<BR> <BR>4 He chooses
our inheritance for us, *<BR> the pride of Jacob whom he
loves.<BR> <BR>5 God has gone up with a shout, *<BR> the
Lord with the sound of the ram's-horn.<BR> <BR>6 Sing praises
to God, sing praises; *<BR> sing praises to our King, sing
praises.<BR> <BR>7 For God is King of all the earth;
*<BR> sing praises with all your skill.<BR> <BR>8 God
reigns over the nations; *<BR> God sits upon his holy
throne.<BR> <BR>9 The nobles of the peoples have gathered
together *<BR> with the people of the God of Abraham.<BR> <BR>10
The rulers of the earth belong to God, *<BR> and he is highly
exalted.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Psalm 93 (alt. for RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 93:1 (NRSV) The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; <BR>the LORD is
robed, he is girded with strength. <BR>He has established the world; it shall
never be moved; <BR>2 your throne is established from of old; <BR>you are from
everlasting. <BR>3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, <BR>the floods have lifted
up their voice; <BR>the floods lift up their roaring. <BR>4 More majestic than
the thunders of mighty waters, <BR>more majestic than the waves of the sea,
<BR>majestic on high is the LORD! <BR>5 Your decrees are very sure; <BR>holiness
befits your house, <BR>O LORD, forevermore. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>93 Dominus regnavit (ECUSA BCP)<BR> <BR>1
The Lord is King;<BR>he has put on splendid apparel; *<BR> the
Lord has put on his apparel<BR> and girded himself with
strength.<BR> <BR>2 He has made the whole world so sure
*<BR> that it cannot be moved;<BR> <BR>3 Ever since
the world began, your throne has been established; *<BR> you are from
everlasting.<BR> <BR>4 The waters have lifted up, O
Lord,<BR>the waters have lifted up their voice; *<BR> the waters have
lifted up their pounding waves.<BR> <BR>5 Mightier than the
sound of many waters,<BR>mightier than the breakers of the sea,
*<BR> mightier is the Lord who dwells on high.<BR> <BR>6
Your testimonies are very sure, *<BR> and holiness adorns your
house, O Lord,<BR> for ever and for evermore.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>SECOND READING: Ephesians 1: 15 - 23
(all)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ephe 1:15 (NRSV) I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love
toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for
you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as
you come to know him, 18 so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you
may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his
glorious inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness
of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20
God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated
him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and
authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only
in this age but also in the age to come. 22 And he has put all things under his
feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his
body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: The Roman Catholic lectionary omits vs. 15 & 16; if one of the
Old Testament alternatives is used for the first reading, the Acts reading
should be used instead here.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>GOSPEL: Luke 24: 44 - 53 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 24:44 (NRSV) Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to
you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of
Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 45 Then he opened their
minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written,
that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and
that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all
nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And
see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city
until you have been clothed with power from on high." <BR>50 Then he led them
out as far as Beth'any, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51 While he
was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And
they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53 and they were
continually in the temple blessing God. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Matthew 28: 16 - 20 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Matt 28:16 (NRSV) Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain
to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but
some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And
remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." {Other ancient
authorities add [Amen]} </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Chad Wohlers<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>