<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">The readings as prepared by Charles Wohlers in 2012 for Christmas 1C.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">Allison<br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:small">
The following are thereadings for the <span class="gmail-il">First</span> <span class="gmail-il">Sunday</span> <span class="gmail-il">after</span> <span class="gmail-il">Christmas</span>,
Dec. 29, according to theRevised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman
Catholic, Canadian BAS, and theChurch of England (Common Worship)
lectionaries. All readings are taken fromthe New Revised Standard
Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise,the Canadian and C
of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.Note that the
new ECUSA RCL lectionary does not use the RCL readings for thisday, but
retains the traditional ECUSA readings.<br>
<br>
The readings areposted on our web site: <a href="http://satucket.com/lectionary,in" target="_blank">http://satucket.com/lectionary,in</a> RTF format, which can be read by all word processors.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
OLD TESTAMENT: 1Samuel 2: 18 - 20, 26 (RCL)<br>
<br>
1Sam 2:18 (NRSV)Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy wearing a
linen ephod. 19 Hismother used to make for him a little robe and take it
to him each year, whenshe went up with her husband to offer the yearly
sacrifice.<br>
20 Then E'liwould bless Elka'nah and his wife, and say, "May the LORD
repay you withchildren by this woman for the gift that she made to the
LORD"; and thenthey would return to their home.<br>
<br>
26 Now the boySamuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the LORD and withthe people.<br>
<br>
<br>
Isaiah 61: 10 - 62: 3(ECUSA)<br>
<br>
Isai 61:10(NRSV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,<br>
my whole beingshall exult in my God;<br>
for he hasclothed me with the garments of salvation,<br>
he has coveredme with the robe of righteousness,<br>
as a bridegroomdecks himself with a garland,<br>
and as a brideadorns herself with her jewels.<br>
11 For as theearth brings forth its shoots,<br>
and as a gardencauses what is sown in it to spring up,<br>
so the Lord GODwill cause righteousness and praise<br>
to spring upbefore all the nations.<br>
62:1 For Zion'ssake I will not keep silent,<br>
and forJerusalem's sake I will not rest,<br>
until hervindication shines out like the dawn,<br>
and hersalvation like a burning torch.<br>
2 The nationsshall see your vindication,<br>
and all thekings your glory;<br>
and you shall becalled by a new name<br>
that the mouthof the LORD will give.<br>
3 You shall be acrown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,<br>
and a royaldiadem in the hand of your God. <br>
<br>
<br>
Sirach(Ecclesiasticus) 3: 3 - 7, 14 - 17a (Roman Catholic) <br>
<br>
3:3 (NRSV) Thosewho honor their father atone for sins,<br>
4 and those whorespect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.<br>
5 Those whohonor their father will have joy in their own children,<br>
and when theypray they will be heard.<br>
6 Those whorespect their father will have long life,<br>
and those whohonor their mother obey the Lord;<br>
7 they willserve their parents as their masters. <br>
<br>
14 For kindnessto a father will not be forgotten,<br>
and will becredited to you against your sins;<br>
15 in the day ofyour distress it will be remembered in your favor;<br>
like frost infair weather, your sins will melt away.<br>
16 Whoeverforsakes a father is like a blasphemer,<br>
and whoeverangers a mother is cursed by the Lord. <br>
Humility <br>
17 My child,perform your tasks with humility; <br>
then you will beloved by those whom God accepts. <br>
<br>
<br>
PSALM 148 (RCL) <br>
<br>
Psal 148:1(NRSV) Praise the LORD!<br>
Praise the LORDfrom the heavens;<br>
praise him inthe heights!<br>
2 Praise him,all his angels;<br>
praise him, allhis host!<br>
3 Praise him,sun and moon;<br>
praise him, allyou shining stars!<br>
4 Praise him,you highest heavens,<br>
and you watersabove the heavens!<br>
5 Let thempraise the name of the LORD,<br>
for he commandedand they were created.<br>
6 He establishedthem forever and ever;<br>
he fixed theirbounds, which cannot be passed. <br>
7 Praise theLORD from the earth,<br>
you sea monstersand all deeps,<br>
8 fire and hail,snow and frost,<br>
stormy windfulfilling his command!<br>
9 Mountains andall hills,<br>
fruit trees andall cedars!<br>
10 Wild animalsand all cattle,<br>
creeping thingsand flying birds!<br>
11 Kings of theearth and all peoples,<br>
princes and allrulers of the earth!<br>
12 Young men andwomen alike,<br>
old and youngtogether!<br>
13 Let thempraise the name of the LORD,<br>
for his namealone is exalted;<br>
his glory isabove earth and heaven.<br>
14 He has raisedup a horn for his people,<br>
praise for allhis faithful,<br>
for the peopleof Israel who are close to him.<br>
Praise the LORD!<br>
<br>
<br>
147 Laudate Dominum (ECUSA BCP)<br>
<br>
1 Hallelujah!<br>
Howgood it is to sing praises to our God! *<br>
how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!<br>
<br>
2 TheLord rebuilds Jerusalem; *<br>
he gathers the exiles of Israel.<br>
<br>
3 Heheals the brokenhearted *<br>
and binds up their wounds.<br>
<br>
4 Hecounts the number of the stars *<br>
and calls them all by their names.<br>
<br>
5 Greatis our Lord and mighty in power; *<br>
there is no limit to his wisdom.<br>
<br>
6 TheLord lifts up the lowly, *<br>
but casts the wicked to the ground.<br>
<br>
7 Sing tothe Lord with thanksgiving; *<br>
make music to our God upon the harp.<br>
<br>
8 Hecovers the heavens with clouds *<br>
and prepares rain for the earth;<br>
<br>
9 Hemakes grass to grow upon the mountains *<br>
and green plants to serve mankind.<br>
<br>
10 He provides food for flocks and herds *<br>
and for the young ravens when they cry.<br>
<br>
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse;*<br>
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;<br>
<br>
12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fearhim, *<br>
in those who await his gracious favor.<br>
<br>
<br>
13 Worship the Lord, O Jerusalem; *<br>
praise your God, O Zion;<br>
<br>
14 For he has strengthened the bars of yourgates; *<br>
he has blessed your children within you.<br>
<br>
15 He has established peace on your borders; *<br>
he satisfies you with the finest wheat.<br>
<br>
16 He sends out his command to the earth, *<br>
and his word runs very swiftly.<br>
<br>
17 He gives snow like wool; *<br>
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.<br>
<br>
18 He scatters his hail like bread crumbs; *<br>
who can stand against his cold?<br>
<br>
19 He sends forth his word and melts them; *<br>
he blows with his wind, and the waters flow.<br>
<br>
20 He declares his word to Jacob, *<br>
his statutes and his judgments to Israel.<br>
<br>
21 He has not done so to any other nation; *<br>
to them he has not revealed his judgments.<br>
Hallelujah!<br>
<br>
Note: vs. 1-12 areoptional <br>
<br>
<br>
Psalm 128: 1 - 5 (Roman Catholic) <br>
<br>
Psal 128:1(NRSV) Happy is everyone who fears the LORD,<br>
who walks in hisways.<br>
2 You shall eatthe fruit of the labor of your hands;<br>
you shall behappy, and it shall go well with you.<br>
3 Your wife willbe like a fruitful vine<br>
within yourhouse;<br>
your childrenwill be like olive shoots<br>
around yourtable.<br>
4 Thus shall theman be blessed<br>
who fears theLORD.<br>
5 The LORD blessyou from Zion.<br>
May you see theprosperity of Jerusalem<br>
all the days ofyour life.<br>
<br>
<br>
NEW TESTAMENT:Colossians 3: 12 - 17 (RCL) <br>
Colossians3: 12 - 17 (18 - 21) (Roman Catholic) <br>
<br>
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, ifanyone has a complaint against another,
forgive each other; just as the Lordhas forgiven you, so you also must
forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselveswith love, which binds
everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let thepeace of Christ
rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the onebody. And
be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach
andadmonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts
singpsalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do,
in word ordeed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God theFather through him. <br>
18 Wives, besubject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love yourwives and never treat them harshly. <br>
20 Children,obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable
duty in the Lord.21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may
lose heart. <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Galatians 3: 23 - 25,4: 4 - 7 (ECUSA) <br>
<br>
Gala 3:23 (NRSV)Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded
under the law until faithwould be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our
disciplinarian until Christcame, so that we might be justified by
faith. 25 But now that faith has come,we are no longer subject to a
disciplinarian, <br>
<br>
4:4 But when thefullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under thelaw, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the
law, so that we mightreceive adoption as children. 6 And because you are
children, God has sent theSpirit of his Son into our hearts, crying,
"Abba! Father!" 7 So youare no longer a slave but a child, and if a
child then also an heir, throughGod. <br>
<br>
<br>
GOSPEL: Luke 2: 41 -52 (RCL) <br>
<br>
<br>
Luke 2:41 (NRSV)Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the
festival of the Passover.42 And when he was twelve years old, they went
up as usual for the festival. 43When the festival was ended and they
started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behindin Jerusalem, but his
parents did not know it. 44 Assuming that he was in thegroup of
travelers, they went a day's journey. Then they started to look forhim
among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him,
theyreturned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 <span class="gmail-il">After</span>
three days they found him inthe temple, sitting among the teachers,
listening to them and asking themquestions. 47 And all who heard him
were amazed at his understanding and hisanswers. 48 When his parents saw
him they were astonished; and his mother saidto him, "Child, why have
you treated us like this? Look, your father and Ihave been searching for
you in great anxiety." 49 He said to them,"Why were you searching for
me? Did you not know
that I must be in myFather's house?" 50 But they did not understand what
he said to them. 51Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth,
and was obedient to them. Hismother treasured all these things in her
heart. <br>
52 And Jesusincreased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor. <br>
<br>
<br>
John 1: 1 - 18(ECUSA) <br>
<br>
John 1:1 (NRSV)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things
came into being through him,and without him not one thing came into
being. What has come into being 4 inhim was life, and the life was the
light of all people. 5 The light shines inthe darkness, and the darkness
did not overcome it. <br>
6 There was aman sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a
witness to testify to thelight, so that all might believe through him. 8
He himself was not the light,but he came to testify to the light. 9 The
true light, which enlightenseveryone, was coming into the world. <br>
10 He was in theworld, and the world came into being through him; yet
the world did not knowhim. 11 He came to what was his own, and his own
people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed
in his name, he gave power to becomechildren of God, 13 who were born,
not of blood or of the will of the flesh orof the will of man, but of
God. <br>
14 And the Wordbecame flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his
glory, the glory as of afather's only son, full of grace and truth. 15
(John testified to him and criedout, "This was he of whom I said, "He
who comes <span class="gmail-il">after</span> me ranks aheadof me because he
was before me.' ") 16 From his fullness we have allreceived, grace upon
grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; graceand truth came
through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God theonly
Son, who is close to the Father's heart, who has made him known. <br>
<br>
<br>
Matthew 2: 13 - 15,19 - 23 (Roman Catholic)<br>
<br>
Matt 2:13 (NRSV)Now <span class="gmail-il">after</span> they had left, an
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream andsaid, "Get up, take
the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, andremain there until I
tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, todestroy him." 14
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother bynight, and went to
Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. Thiswas to
fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Outof
Egypt I have called my son." <br>
<br>
19 When Heroddied, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to
Joseph in Egypt andsaid, 20 "Get up, take the child and his mother, and
go to the land ofIsrael, for those who were seeking the child's life are
dead." 21 ThenJoseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to
the land of Israel.22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over
Judea in place of hisfather Herod, he was afraid to go there. And <span class="gmail-il">after</span> being warned in a dream, hewent away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a towncalled Naza
</div></div>