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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>The following are the readings for the Second
Sunday of Lent, February 24, 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: Genesis 15: 1 - 12, 17 -
18 (all)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>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.
<BR>7 Then he said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you from Ur of the
Chalde'ans, to give you this land to possess." 8 But he said, "O Lord GOD, how
am I to know that I shall possess it?" 9 He said to him, "Bring me a heifer
three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a
turtledove, and a young pigeon." 10 He brought him all these and cut them in
two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in
two. 11 And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them
away. <BR>12 As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep
and terrifying darkness descended upon him. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>17 When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a
smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 On that day
the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this
land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates,
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>
<DIV><BR>PSALM 27 (RCL)<BR>Psalm 27: 1, 7 - 9, 13 - 14
(Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 27:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my light and my salvation; <BR>whom shall I
fear? <BR>The LORD is the stronghold of my life; <BR>of whom shall I be afraid?
<BR>2 When evildoers assail me <BR>to devour my flesh-- <BR>my adversaries and
foes-- <BR>they shall stumble and fall. <BR>3 Though an army encamp against me,
<BR>my heart shall not fear; <BR>though war rise up against me, <BR>yet I will
be confident. <BR>4 One thing I asked of the LORD, <BR>that will I seek after:
<BR>to live in the house of the LORD <BR>all the days of my life, <BR>to behold
the beauty of the LORD, <BR>and to inquire in his temple. <BR>5 For he will hide
me in his shelter <BR>in the day of trouble; <BR>he will conceal me under the
cover of his tent; <BR>he will set me high on a rock. <BR>6 Now my head is
lifted up <BR>above my enemies all around me, <BR>and I will offer in his tent
<BR>sacrifices with shouts of joy; <BR>I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
<BR>7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, <BR>be gracious to me and answer me! <BR>8
"Come," my heart says, "seek his face!" <BR>Your face, LORD, do I seek. <BR>9 Do
not hide your face from me. <BR>Do not turn your servant away in anger, <BR>you
who have been my help. <BR>Do not cast me off, do not forsake me, <BR>O God of
my salvation! <BR>10 If my father and mother forsake me, <BR>the LORD will take
me up. <BR>11 Teach me your way, O LORD, <BR>and lead me on a level path
<BR>because of my enemies. <BR>12 Do not give me up to the will of my
adversaries, <BR>for false witnesses have risen against me, <BR>and they are
breathing out violence. <BR>13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the
LORD <BR>in the land of the living. <BR>14 Wait for the LORD; <BR>be strong, and
let your heart take courage; <BR>wait for the LORD! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>NEW TESTAMENT: Philippians 3: 17 - 4: 1
(all)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Phil 3:17 (NRSV) Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe
those who live according to the example you have in us. 18 For many live as
enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell
you even with tears. 19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and
their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our
citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it
may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to
make all things subject to himself. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom
I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my
beloved. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Vs. 17-19 are optional in the Roman Catholic lectionary.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>GOSPEL: Luke 13: 31 - 35 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 13:31 (NRSV) At that very hour some Phar'isees came and said to
him, "Get away from here, for Her'od wants to kill you." 32 He said to them, "Go
and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures
today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today,
tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a
prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city
that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I
desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her
wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell
you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the one
who comes in the name of the Lord.'" </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR>Luke 9: 28 - 36 (alt. for RCL & Can. BAS, but not C of
E or ECUSA)<BR>Luke 9: 28b - 36 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 9:28 (NRSV) Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with
him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while
he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became
dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Eli'jah, talking to him.
31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about
to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down
with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men
who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus,
"Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you,
one for Moses, and one for Eli'jah"--not knowing what he said. 34 While he was
saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they
entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my
Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found
alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they
had seen. <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>