Sunday 25 November 2007 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Sunday 25 November 2007 
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Isaiah 19:19-25

On that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the centre of the land
of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and
a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; when they cry to
the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a saviour, and will
defend and deliver them. The Lord will make himself known to the
Egyptians; and the Egyptians will know the Lord on that day, and will
worship with sacrifice and burnt-offering, and they will make vows to
the Lord and perform them. The Lord will strike Egypt, striking and
healing; they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their
supplications and heal them.

 On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the
Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the
Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

 On that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing
in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying,
'Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and
Israel my heritage.'
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Romans 15:5-13

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in
harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that
together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for
the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the
circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm
the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles
might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
'Therefore I will confess* you among the Gentiles,
   and sing praises to your name'; 
and again he says,
'Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people'; 
and again,
'Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
   and let all the peoples praise him'; 
and again Isaiah says,
'The root of Jesse shall come,
   the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.' 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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Luke 19:11-27

As they were listening to this, he went on to tell a parable, because he
was near Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God
was to appear immediately. So he said, 'A nobleman went to a distant
country to get royal power for himself and then return. He summoned ten
of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds,* and said to them, "Do business
with these until I come back." But the citizens of his country hated him
and sent a delegation after him, saying, "We do not want this man to
rule over us." When he returned, having received royal power, he ordered
these slaves, to whom he had given the money, to be summoned so that he
might find out what they had gained by trading. The first came forward
and said, "Lord, your pound has made ten more pounds." He said to him,
"Well done, good slave! Because you have been trustworthy in a very
small thing, take charge of ten cities." Then the second came, saying,
"Lord, your pound has made five pounds." He said to him, "And you, rule
over five cities." Then the other came, saying, "Lord, here is your
pound. I wrapped it up in a piece of cloth, for I was afraid of you,
because you are a harsh man; you take what you did not deposit, and reap
what you did not sow." He said to him, "I will judge you by your own
words, you wicked slave! You knew, did you, that I was a harsh man,
taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then
did you not put my money into the bank? Then when I returned, I could
have collected it with interest." He said to the bystanders, "Take the
pound from him and give it to the one who has ten pounds." (And they
said to him, "Lord, he has ten pounds!") "I tell you, to all those who
have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what
they have will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine who did
not want me to be king over them-bring them here and slaughter them in
my presence." '
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 118

Psalm 118

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
   his steadfast love endures for ever! 


Let Israel say,
   'His steadfast love endures for ever.' 
Let the house of Aaron say,
   'His steadfast love endures for ever.' 
Let those who fear the Lord say,
   'His steadfast love endures for ever.' 


Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
   the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
   What can mortals do to me? 
The Lord is on my side to help me;
   I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
   than to put confidence in mortals. 
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
   than to put confidence in princes. 


All nations surrounded me;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 
They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 
They surrounded me like bees;
   they blazed* like a fire of thorns;
   in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 
I was pushed hard,* so that I was falling,
   but the Lord helped me. 
The Lord is my strength and my might;
   he has become my salvation. 


There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
'The right hand of the Lord does valiantly; 
   the right hand of the Lord is exalted;
   the right hand of the Lord does valiantly.' 
I shall not die, but I shall live,
   and recount the deeds of the Lord. 
The Lord has punished me severely,
   but he did not give me over to death. 


Open to me the gates of righteousness,
   that I may enter through them
   and give thanks to the Lord. 


This is the gate of the Lord;
   the righteous shall enter through it. 


I thank you that you have answered me
   and have become my salvation. 
The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the chief cornerstone. 
This is the Lord's doing;
   it is marvellous in our eyes. 
This is the day that the Lord has made;
   let us rejoice and be glad in it.* 
Save us, we beseech you, O Lord!
   O Lord, we beseech you, give us success! 


Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.*
   We bless you from the house of the Lord. 
The Lord is God,
   and he has given us light.
Bind the festal procession with branches,
   up to the horns of the altar.* 


You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
   you are my God, I will extol you. 


O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
   for his steadfast love endures for ever.
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Evening Psalms: Psalm 145

Psalm 145

I will extol you, my God and King,
   and bless your name for ever and ever. 
Every day I will bless you,
   and praise your name for ever and ever. 
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   his greatness is unsearchable. 


One generation shall laud your works to another,
   and shall declare your mighty acts. 
On the glorious splendour of your majesty,
   and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. 
The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
   and I will declare your greatness. 
They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
   and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 


The Lord is gracious and merciful,
   slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 
The Lord is good to all,
   and his compassion is over all that he has made. 


All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
   and all your faithful shall bless you. 
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
   and tell of your power, 
to make known to all people your* mighty deeds,
   and the glorious splendour of your* kingdom. 
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
   and your dominion endures throughout all generations. 


The Lord is faithful in all his words,
   and gracious in all his deeds.* 
The Lord upholds all who are falling,
   and raises up all who are bowed down. 
The eyes of all look to you,
   and you give them their food in due season. 
You open your hand,
   satisfying the desire of every living thing. 
The Lord is just in all his ways,
   and kind in all his doings. 
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth. 
He fulfils the desire of all who fear him;
   he also hears their cry, and saves them. 
The Lord watches over all who love him,
   but all the wicked he will destroy. 


My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
   and all flesh will bless his holy name for ever and ever.
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