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<DIV>The following are the readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, April 12,
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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If the OT alternative is used for the C of E, the Acts reading should be
used for the second reading.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The readings are posted on our web site: <<A
href="http://satucket.com/lectionary">http://satucket.com/lectionary</A>>, in
RTF format, which can be read by all word processors.</DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>FIRST READING: Acts 4: 32 - 35 (RCL, Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Acts 4:32 (NRSV) Now the whole group of those who believed were of one
heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but
everything they owned was held in common. 33 With great power the apostles gave
their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon
them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands
or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. 35 They laid it
at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Exodus 14: 10 - 30, 15: 20 - 21 (alt. for C of E)</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." </DIV>
<DIV>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." </DIV>
<DIV>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. </DIV>
<DIV>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 {Sam Gk Syr: MT [removed] } 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." </DIV>
<DIV>26 {The Pursuers Drowned} 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. </DIV>
<DIV>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: </DIV>
<DIV>""Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; </DIV>
<DIV>horse and rider he has thrown into the sea." </DIV>
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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PSALM 133 (RCL)</DIV>
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<DIV>Psal 133:1 (NRSV) How very good and pleasant it is </DIV>
<DIV>when kindred live together in unity! </DIV>
<DIV>2 It is like the precious oil on the head, </DIV>
<DIV>running down upon the beard, </DIV>
<DIV>on the beard of Aaron, </DIV>
<DIV>running down over the collar of his robes. </DIV>
<DIV>3 It is like the dew of Hermon, </DIV>
<DIV>which falls on the mountains of Zion. </DIV>
<DIV>For there the LORD ordained his blessing, </DIV>
<DIV>life forevermore. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 118: 2 - 4, 13 - 15, 22 - 24 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 118:2 (NRSV) Let Israel say, </DIV>
<DIV>""His steadfast love endures forever." </DIV>
<DIV>3 Let the house of Aaron say, </DIV>
<DIV>""His steadfast love endures forever." </DIV>
<DIV>4 Let those who fear the LORD say, </DIV>
<DIV>""His steadfast love endures forever." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>13 I was pushed hard, so that I was falling, </DIV>
<DIV>but the LORD helped me. </DIV>
<DIV>14 The LORD is my strength and my might; </DIV>
<DIV>he has become my salvation. </DIV>
<DIV>15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: </DIV>
<DIV>""The right hand of the LORD does valiantly; </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>22 The stone that the builders rejected </DIV>
<DIV>has become the chief cornerstone. </DIV>
<DIV>23 This is the LORD's doing; </DIV>
<DIV>it is marvelous in our eyes. </DIV>
<DIV>24 This is the day that the LORD has made; </DIV>
<DIV>let us rejoice and be glad in it. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>SECOND READING: 1 John 1: 1 - 2: 2 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Joh 1:1 (NRSV) We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have
heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with
our hands, concerning the word of life-- 2 this life was revealed, and we have
seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the
Father and was revealed to us-- 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard
so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with
the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that
our joy may be complete. </DIV>
<DIV>5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God
is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have
fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what
is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all
sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our
sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not
sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:1 My little children, I
am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin,
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and he is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of
the whole world. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1 John 5: 1 - 6 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Joh 5:1 (NRSV) Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been
born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. 2 By this we
know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his
commandments. 3 For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And
his commandments are not burdensome, 4 for whatever is born of God conquers the
world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. 5 Who is it
that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
</DIV>
<DIV>6 This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the
water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that
testifies, for the Spirit is the truth. </DIV>
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<DIV>GOSPEL: John 20: 19 - 31 (all)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John 20:19 (NRSV) When it was evening on that day, the first day of the
week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for
fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples
rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with
you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he
breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive
the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained." </DIV>
<DIV>24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with
them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the
Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands,
and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not
believe." </DIV>
<DIV>26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with
them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said,
"Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my
hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." 28
Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you
believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet
have come to believe." </DIV>
<DIV>30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which
are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to
believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing
you may have life in his name. </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>Woodbury, VT
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com<BR></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>