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<DIV>The following are the readings for the First Sunday after the Epiphany,
Jan. 10 (Proper 1, 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.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 43: 1 - 7 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isai 43:1 (NRSV) But now thus says the LORD, </DIV>
<DIV>he who created you, O Jacob, </DIV>
<DIV>he who formed you, O Israel: </DIV>
<DIV>Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; </DIV>
<DIV>I have called you by name, you are mine. </DIV>
<DIV>2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; </DIV>
<DIV>and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; </DIV>
<DIV>when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, </DIV>
<DIV>and the flame shall not consume you. </DIV>
<DIV>3 For I am the LORD your God, </DIV>
<DIV>the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. </DIV>
<DIV>I give Egypt as your ransom, </DIV>
<DIV>Ethiopia and Se'ba in exchange for you. </DIV>
<DIV>4 Because you are precious in my sight, </DIV>
<DIV>and honored, and I love you, </DIV>
<DIV>I give people in return for you, </DIV>
<DIV>nations in exchange for your life. </DIV>
<DIV>5 Do not fear, for I am with you; </DIV>
<DIV>I will bring your offspring from the east, </DIV>
<DIV>and from the west I will gather you; </DIV>
<DIV>6 I will say to the north, "Give them up," </DIV>
<DIV>and to the south, "Do not withhold; </DIV>
<DIV>bring my sons from far away </DIV>
<DIV>and my daughters from the end of the earth-- </DIV>
<DIV>7 everyone who is called by my name, </DIV>
<DIV>whom I created for my glory, </DIV>
<DIV>whom I formed and made." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isaiah 42: 1 - 4, 6, 7 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isai 42:1 (NRSV) Here is my servant, whom I uphold, </DIV>
<DIV>my chosen, in whom my soul delights; </DIV>
<DIV>I have put my spirit upon him; </DIV>
<DIV>he will bring forth justice to the nations. </DIV>
<DIV>2 He will not cry or lift up his voice, </DIV>
<DIV>or make it heard in the street; </DIV>
<DIV>3 a bruised reed he will not break, </DIV>
<DIV>and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; </DIV>
<DIV>he will faithfully bring forth justice. </DIV>
<DIV>4 He will not grow faint or be crushed </DIV>
<DIV>until he has established justice in the earth; </DIV>
<DIV>and the coastlands wait for his teaching. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>6 I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, </DIV>
<DIV>I have taken you by the hand and kept you; </DIV>
<DIV>I have given you as a covenant to the people, </DIV>
<DIV>a light to the nations, </DIV>
<DIV>7 to open the eyes that are blind, </DIV>
<DIV>to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, </DIV>
<DIV>from the prison those who sit in darkness. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isaiah 40: 1 - 5, 9 - 11 (alt. for Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Isai 40:1 (NRSV) Comfort, O comfort my people, </DIV>
<DIV>says your God. </DIV>
<DIV>2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, </DIV>
<DIV>and cry to her </DIV>
<DIV>that she has served her term, </DIV>
<DIV>that her penalty is paid, </DIV>
<DIV>that she has received from the LORD's hand </DIV>
<DIV>double for all her sins. </DIV>
<DIV>3 A voice cries out: </DIV>
<DIV>""In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, </DIV>
<DIV>make straight in the desert a highway for our God. </DIV>
<DIV>4 Every valley shall be lifted up, </DIV>
<DIV>and every mountain and hill be made low; </DIV>
<DIV>the uneven ground shall become level, </DIV>
<DIV>and the rough places a plain. </DIV>
<DIV>5 Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, </DIV>
<DIV>and all people shall see it together, </DIV>
<DIV>for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>9 Get you up to a high mountain, </DIV>
<DIV>O Zion, herald of good tidings; </DIV>
<DIV>lift up your voice with strength, </DIV>
<DIV>O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, </DIV>
<DIV>lift it up, do not fear; </DIV>
<DIV>say to the cities of Judah, </DIV>
<DIV>""Here is your God!" </DIV>
<DIV>10 See, the Lord GOD comes with might, </DIV>
<DIV>and his arm rules for him; </DIV>
<DIV>his reward is with him, </DIV>
<DIV>and his recompense before him. </DIV>
<DIV>11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd; </DIV>
<DIV>he will gather the lambs in his arms, </DIV>
<DIV>and carry them in his bosom, </DIV>
<DIV>and gently lead the mother sheep. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PSALM 29 (RCL)</DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 29: 1 - 4, 3b, 9b, 10 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 29:1 (NRSV) Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, </DIV>
<DIV>ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. </DIV>
<DIV>2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; </DIV>
<DIV>worship the LORD in holy splendor. </DIV>
<DIV>3 The voice of the LORD is over the waters; </DIV>
<DIV>the God of glory thunders, </DIV>
<DIV>the LORD, over mighty waters. </DIV>
<DIV>4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; </DIV>
<DIV>the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. </DIV>
<DIV>5 The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; </DIV>
<DIV>the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. </DIV>
<DIV>6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, </DIV>
<DIV>and Sir'ion like a young wild ox. </DIV>
<DIV>7 The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. </DIV>
<DIV>8 The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; </DIV>
<DIV>the LORD shakes the wilderness of Ka'desh. </DIV>
<DIV>9 The voice of the LORD causes the oaks to whirl, </DIV>
<DIV>and strips the forest bare; </DIV>
<DIV>and in his temple all say, "Glory!" </DIV>
<DIV>10 The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; </DIV>
<DIV>the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. </DIV>
<DIV>11 May the LORD give strength to his people! </DIV>
<DIV>May the LORD bless his people with peace! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 104: 1b - 4, 24 - 25, 27 - 28, 29b - 30 (alt. for Roman
Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 104:1 (NRSV) </DIV>
<DIV>O LORD my God, you are very great. </DIV>
<DIV>You are clothed with honor and majesty, 2 wrapped in light as with a
garment. </DIV>
<DIV>You stretch out the heavens like a tent, 3 you set the beams of your
chambers on the waters, </DIV>
<DIV>you make the clouds your chariot, </DIV>
<DIV>you ride on the wings of the wind, </DIV>
<DIV>4 you make the winds your messengers, </DIV>
<DIV>fire and flame your ministers. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! </DIV>
<DIV>In wisdom you have made them all; </DIV>
<DIV>the earth is full of your creatures. </DIV>
<DIV>25 Yonder is the sea, great and wide, </DIV>
<DIV>creeping things innumerable are there, </DIV>
<DIV>living things both small and great. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>27 These all look to you </DIV>
<DIV>to give them their food in due season; </DIV>
<DIV>28 when you give to them, they gather it up; </DIV>
<DIV>when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. </DIV>
<DIV>29 </DIV>
<DIV>when you take away their breath, they die </DIV>
<DIV>and return to their dust. </DIV>
<DIV>30 When you send forth your spirit, they are created; </DIV>
<DIV>and you renew the face of the ground. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: Acts 8: 14 - 17 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Acts 8:14 (NRSV) Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. 15 The two
went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit 16
(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been
baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). 17 Then Peter and John laid their
hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Acts 10: 34 - 38 (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Acts 10:34 (NRSV) Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand
that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him
and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he
sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of
all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after
the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing
all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Titus 2: 11 - 14, 3: 4 - 7 (alt. for Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Titu 2:11 (NRSV) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to
all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present
age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait
for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and
Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem
us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous
for good deeds. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>3: 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but
according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy
Spirit. 6 This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our
Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs
according to the hope of eternal life. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>GOSPEL: Luke 3: 15 - 17, 21, 22 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV>
Luke 3: 15 - 16, 21, 22 (alt. for Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 3:15 (NRSV) As the people were filled with expectation, and all were
questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the
Messiah, 16 John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with
water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie
the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor
and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with
unquenchable fire." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been
baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit
descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven,
"You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Matthew 3: 13 17 (Roman Catholic)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Matt 3:13 (NRSV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be
baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be
baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be
so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then
he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the
water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God
descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Chad
Wohlers<BR>East Bridgewater, MA
USA<BR>chadwohl@satucket.com</DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>