<HTML><HEAD></HEAD>
<BODY dir=ltr>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">
<DIV>The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday in Lent, March 16,
2017, 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, C of E and Canadian lectionaries are
identical to the RCL for this day.</DIV>
<DIV>The Church of England alternates are appropriate if Mothering Sunday is
celebrated.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>OLD TESTAMENT: 1 Samuel 16: 1 - 13 (all but Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV>
1 Samuel 16: 1b, 6 - 7, 10 - 13a (Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Sam 16:1 (NRSV) The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over
Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil
and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Beth'lehemite, for I have provided for
myself a king among his sons." 2 Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of
it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, "I
have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will
show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to
you." 4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of
the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 He
said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and
come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited
them to the sacrifice. </DIV>
<DIV>6 When they came, he looked on Eli'ab and thought, "Surely the LORD's
anointed is now before the LORD." 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on
his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for
the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but
the LORD looks on the heart." 8 Then Jesse called Abin'adab, and made him pass
before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9 Then Jesse
made Sham'mah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10
Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The
LORD has not chosen any of these." 11 Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons
here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the
sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down
until he comes here." 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had
beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this
is the one." 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the
presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David
from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ra'mah. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Exodus 2: 1 - 10 (alt. for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Exod 2:1 (NRSV) Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite
woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine
baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she got a
papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the
child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4 His sister
stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him. </DIV>
<DIV>5 The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her
attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent
her maid to bring it. 6 When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying,
and she took pity on him. "This must be one of the Hebrews' children," she said.
7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Shall I go and get you a nurse
from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?" 8 Pharaoh's daughter said to
her, "Yes." So the girl went and called the child's mother. 9 Pharaoh's daughter
said to her, "Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your
wages." So the woman took the child and nursed it. 10 When the child grew up,
she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and she took him as her son. She named
him Moses, "because," she said, "I drew him out of the water." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1 Samuel 1: 20 - 28 (alt. for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>1Sam 1:20 (NRSV) In due time Hannah conceived and bore a son. She named him
Samuel, for she said, "I have asked him of the LORD." </DIV>
<DIV>21 The man Elkanah and all his household went up to offer to the LORD the
yearly sacrifice, and to pay his vow. 22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said
to her husband, "As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, that he may
appear in the presence of the LORD, and remain there forever; I will offer him
as a nazirite for all time." 23 Her husband Elkanah said to her, "Do what seems
best to you, wait until you have weaned him; only-may the LORD establish his
word." So the woman remained and nursed her son, until she weaned him. 24 When
she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull,
an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. She brought him to the house of the LORD
at Shiloh; and the child was young. 25 Then they slaughtered the bull, and they
brought the child to Eli. 26 And she said, "Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I
am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the LORD. 27 For
this child I prayed; and the LORD has granted me the petition that I made to
him. 28 Therefore I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he is given
to the LORD." </DIV>
<DIV>She left him there for the LORD. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>PSALM 23 (all) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 23:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. </DIV>
<DIV>2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; </DIV>
<DIV>he leads me beside still waters; </DIV>
<DIV>3 he restores my soul. </DIV>
<DIV>He leads me in right paths </DIV>
<DIV>for his name's sake. </DIV>
<DIV>4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, </DIV>
<DIV>I fear no evil; </DIV>
<DIV>for you are with me; </DIV>
<DIV>your rod and your staff-- </DIV>
<DIV>they comfort me. </DIV>
<DIV>5 You prepare a table before me </DIV>
<DIV>in the presence of my enemies; </DIV>
<DIV>you anoint my head with oil; </DIV>
<DIV>my cup overflows. </DIV>
<DIV>6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me </DIV>
<DIV>all the days of my life, </DIV>
<DIV>and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD </DIV>
<DIV>my whole life long. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 34: 11 - 20 (alt for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 34:11 (NRSV) Come, O children, listen to me; </DIV>
<DIV>I will teach you the fear of the LORD. </DIV>
<DIV>12 Which of you desires life, </DIV>
<DIV>and covets many days to enjoy good? </DIV>
<DIV>13 Keep your tongue from evil, </DIV>
<DIV>and your lips from speaking deceit. </DIV>
<DIV>14 Depart from evil, and do good; </DIV>
<DIV>seek peace, and pursue it. </DIV>
<DIV>15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, </DIV>
<DIV>and his ears are open to their cry. </DIV>
<DIV>16 The face of the LORD is against evildoers, </DIV>
<DIV>to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. </DIV>
<DIV>17 When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, </DIV>
<DIV>and rescues them from all their troubles. </DIV>
<DIV>18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, </DIV>
<DIV>and saves the crushed in spirit. </DIV>
<DIV>19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, </DIV>
<DIV>but the LORD rescues them from them all. </DIV>
<DIV>20 He keeps all their bones; </DIV>
<DIV>not one of them will be broken. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psalm 127: 1 - 3 (alt for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Psal 127:1 (NRSV) Unless the LORD builds the house, </DIV>
<DIV>those who build it labor in vain. </DIV>
<DIV>Unless the LORD guards the city, </DIV>
<DIV>the guard keeps watch in vain. </DIV>
<DIV>2 It is in vain that you rise up early </DIV>
<DIV>and go late to rest, </DIV>
<DIV>eating the bread of anxious toil; </DIV>
<DIV>for he gives sleep to his beloved. </DIV>
<DIV>3 Sons are indeed a heritage from the LORD, </DIV>
<DIV>the fruit of the womb a reward. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Note: Verse numbering in the Common Worship Psalter differs from the
above.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians 5: 8 - 14 (RCL, Roman Catholic) </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Ephe 5:1 (NRSV) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and
live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering
and sacrifice to God. </DIV>
<DIV>3 But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be
mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Entirely out of place is
obscene, silly, and vulgar talk; but instead, let there be thanksgiving. 5 Be
sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person, or one who is greedy (that
is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
</DIV>
<DIV>6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the
wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be
associated with them. 8 For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are
light. Live as children of light-- 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all
that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the
Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose
them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; 13 but
everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes
visible is light. Therefore it says, </DIV>
<DIV>"Sleeper, awake! </DIV>
<DIV>Rise from the dead, </DIV>
<DIV>and Christ will shine on you." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2 Corinthinans 1: 3 - 7 (alt. for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>2Cor 1:3 (NRSV) {Paul's Thanksgiving after Affliction} Blessed be the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all
consolation, 4 who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to
console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we
ourselves are consoled by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are
abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. 6 If we are
being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being
consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently
endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. 7 Our hope for you is
unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in
our consolation. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Colossians 3: 12 - 17 (alt for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Colo 3:12 (NRSV) As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves
with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one
another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe
yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And
let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in
the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;
teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts
sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word
or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>GOSPEL: John 9: 1 - 41 (RCL) </DIV>
<DIV>
John 9: 1 (2 - 5) 6 - 9 (10 - 12) 13 - 17 (18 - 33) 34 - 38 (Roman Catholic)
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John 9:1 (NRSV) As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His
disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was
born blind?" 3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was
born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 4 We must work the
works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 6 When he had said
this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on
the man's eyes, 7 saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Silo'am" (which means
Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 8 The neighbors and
those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who
used to sit and beg?" 9 Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No,
but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." 10 But they kept
asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" 11 He answered, "The man called
Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, "Go to Silo'am and wash.'
Then I went and washed and received my sight." 12 They said to him, "Where is
he?" He said, "I do not know." </DIV>
<DIV>13 They brought to the Phar'isees the man who had formerly been blind. 14
Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 Then
the Phar'isees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to
them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." 16 Some of the
Phar'isees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the
sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?"
And they were divided. 17 So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say
about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." </DIV>
<DIV>18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his
sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and
asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now
see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was
born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who
opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 22 His
parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already
agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the
synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." </DIV>
<DIV>24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they
said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." 25 He
answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that
though I was blind, now I see." 26 They said to him, "What did he do to you? How
did he open your eyes?" 27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and you
would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become
his disciples?" 28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we
are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this
man, we do not know where he comes from." 30 The man answered, "Here is an
astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my
eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one
who worships him and obeys his will. 32 Never since the world began has it been
heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 33 If this man were
not from God, he could do nothing." 34 They answered him, "You were born
entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
</DIV>
<DIV>35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he
said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 36 He answered, "And who is he, sir?
Tell me, so that I may believe in him." 37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen
him, and the one speaking with you is he." 38 He said, "Lord, I believe." And he
worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those
who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." 40 Some of the
Phar'isees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are
we?" 41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now
that you say, "We see,' your sin remains. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 3: 33 - 35 (alt for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Luke 2:33 (NRSV) And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was
being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary,
"This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to
be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be
revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too." </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John 19: 25 - 27 (alt for C of E)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John 19:25 (NRSV) And that is what the soldiers did. </DIV>
<DIV>Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his
mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw
his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his
mother, "Woman, here is your son." 27 Then he said to the disciple, "Here is
your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>