<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.19394">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The following are the readings for the Third Sunday
after the Epiphany, Jan. 27 (Proper 3, RCL), 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><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><BR>OLD TESTAMENT: Nehemiah 8: 1 - 3, 5 - 6, 8 - 10 (RCL)
<BR>
Nehemiah 8: 1 - 4a, 5 - 6, 8 - 10 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Nehe 8:1 (NRSV) all the people gathered together into the square before the
Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses,
which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the
law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with
understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it
facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the
presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears
of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood
on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was
standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6
Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen,
Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the
LORD with their faces to the ground. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation.
They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemi'ah,
who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Le'vites who
taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your
God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of
the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine
and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is
holy to our LORD; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your
strength." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>PSALM 19 (RCL)<BR>Psalm 19: 7 - 9, 14 (Roman
Catholic)</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>Note: Verse numbering in Roman Catholic bibles is one higher than the
above. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>19 Caeli enarrant (ECUSA
BCP)<BR> <BR>1 The heavens declare the glory of God,
*<BR> and the firmament shows his handiwork.<BR> <BR>2
One day tells its tale to another, *<BR> and one night imparts
knowledge to another.<BR> <BR>3 Although they have no words or
language, *<BR> and their voices are not heard,<BR> <BR>4
Their sound has gone out into all lands, *<BR> and their
message to the ends of the world.<BR> <BR>5 In the deep has he
set a pavilion for the sun; *<BR> it comes forth like a bridegroom
out of his chamber;<BR> it rejoices like a champion to run its
course.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens<BR>and
runs about to the end of it again; *<BR> nothing is hidden from its
burning heat.<BR> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>7 The law of the Lord is perfect<BR> and revives the
soul; *<BR> the testimony of the Lord is sure<BR> and
gives wisdom to the innocent.<BR> <BR>8 The statutes of the
Lord are just<BR> and rejoice the heart; *<BR> the
commandment of the Lord is clear<BR> and gives light to the
eyes.<BR> <BR>9 The fear of the Lord is
clean<BR> and endures for ever; *<BR> the judgments of the
Lord are true<BR> and righteous altogether.<BR> <BR>10
More to be desired are they than gold,<BR> more than much fine
gold, *<BR> sweeter far than honey,<BR> than honey in the
comb.<BR> <BR>11 By them also is your servant enlightened,
*<BR> and in keeping them there is great
reward.<BR> <BR>12 Who can tell how often he offends?
*<BR> cleanse me from my secret faults.<BR> <BR>13
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;<BR>let them not get
dominion over me; *<BR> then shall I be whole and
sound,<BR> and innocent of a great offense.<BR> <BR>14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my<BR> heart be
acceptable in your sight, *<BR> O Lord, my strength and my
redeemer.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Corinthians 12: 12 - 31a (RCL)
<BR>
1 Corinthians 12: 12 - 14 (15 - 26) 27 (28 - 30) (Roman
Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Cor 12:12 (NRSV) For just as the body is one and has many members, and all
the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For
in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or
free--and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 Indeed, the body does not
consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot would say, "Because I am not a
hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of
the body. 16 And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong
to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the
whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were
hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged the
members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single
member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one
body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the
head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22 On the contrary, the members of
the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and those members of the
body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less
respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24 whereas our more
respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving
the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that there may be no dissension
within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If
one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all
rejoice together with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually
members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of
assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles?
Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess
gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But strive for
the greater gifts. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>GOSPEL: Luke 4: 14 - 21 (all but Roman Catholic)
<BR>
Luke 1: 1 - 4, 4: 14 - 21 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 1:1 (NRSV) Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account
of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on
to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the
word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very
first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theoph'ilus, 4 so
that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been
instructed. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 4:14 (NRSV) Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned
to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country.
15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 When he
came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the
sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the
prophet Isai'ah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place
where it was written: <BR>18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, <BR>because he
has anointed me <BR>to bring good news to the poor. <BR>He has sent me to
proclaim release to the captives <BR>and recovery of sight to the blind, <BR>to
let the oppressed go free, <BR>19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
<BR>20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.
The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to
them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." <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>