Sunday 30 March 2008 DAILY LECTIONARY

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Sunday 30 March 2008  
DAILY LECTIONARY

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Exodus 14:5-22

When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, the minds of
Pharaoh and his officials were changed towards the people, and they
said, 'What have we done, letting Israel leave our service?' So he had
his chariot made ready, and took his army with him; he took six hundred
picked chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt with officers over
all of them. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt and he
pursued the Israelites, who were going out boldly. The Egyptians pursued
them, all Pharaoh's horses and chariots, his chariot drivers and his
army; they overtook them camped by the sea, by Pi-hahiroth, in front of
Baal-zephon.

 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. 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? 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.' 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.
The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.'

 Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Why do you cry out to me? Tell the
Israelites to go forward. 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. 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.
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.'

 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. 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.

 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. The Israelites went into the sea on dry
ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their
left.
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1 John 1:1-7

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- 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- 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. We are
writing these things so that our* joy may be complete.
 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. If we say that we
have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do
not do what is true; 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.
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John 14:1-7

'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe* in God, believe also in
me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not
so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?* And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to
myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way
to the place where I am going.'* Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we do not
know where you are going. How can we know the way?' Jesus said to him,
'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me. If you know me, you will know* my Father also. From
now on you do know him and have seen him.'
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Morning Psalms:  Psalm 146, 147

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord, O my soul! 
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
   I will sing praises to my God all my life long. 


Do not put your trust in princes,
   in mortals, in whom there is no help. 
When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
   on that very day their plans perish. 


Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
   whose hope is in the Lord their God, 
who made heaven and earth,
   the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith for ever; 
   who executes justice for the oppressed;
   who gives food to the hungry. 


The Lord sets the prisoners free; 
   the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
   the Lord loves the righteous. 
The Lord watches over the strangers;
   he upholds the orphan and the widow,
   but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 


The Lord will reign for ever,
   your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord!


Psalm 147

Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
   for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. 
The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
   he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 
He heals the broken-hearted,
   and binds up their wounds. 
He determines the number of the stars;
   he gives to all of them their names. 
Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
   his understanding is beyond measure. 
The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
   he casts the wicked to the ground. 


Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
   make melody to our God on the lyre. 
He covers the heavens with clouds,
   prepares rain for the earth,
   makes grass grow on the hills. 
He gives to the animals their food,
   and to the young ravens when they cry. 
His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
   nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;* 
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
   in those who hope in his steadfast love. 


Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
   Praise your God, O Zion! 
For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
   he blesses your children within you. 
He grants peace* within your borders;
   he fills you with the finest of wheat. 
He sends out his command to the earth;
   his word runs swiftly. 
He gives snow like wool;
   he scatters frost like ashes. 
He hurls down hail like crumbs-
   who can stand before his cold? 
He sends out his word, and melts them;
   he makes his wind blow, and the waters flow. 
He declares his word to Jacob,
   his statutes and ordinances to Israel. 
He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
   they do not know his ordinances.
Praise the Lord!
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Evening Psalms:  Psalm 111, 112, 113

Psalm 111

Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
   in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 
Great are the works of the Lord,
   studied by all who delight in them. 
Full of honour and majesty is his work,
   and his righteousness endures for ever. 
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
   the Lord is gracious and merciful. 
He provides food for those who fear him;
   he is ever mindful of his covenant. 
He has shown his people the power of his works,
   in giving them the heritage of the nations. 
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
   all his precepts are trustworthy. 
They are established for ever and ever,
   to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 
He sent redemption to his people;
   he has commanded his covenant for ever.
   Holy and awesome is his name. 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
   all those who practise it* have a good understanding.
   His praise endures for ever.


Psalm 112

Praise the Lord!
   Happy are those who fear the Lord,
   who greatly delight in his commandments. 
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
   the generation of the upright will be blessed. 
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
   and their righteousness endures for ever. 
They rise in the darkness as a light for the upright;
   they are gracious, merciful, and righteous. 
It is well with those who deal generously and lend,
   who conduct their affairs with justice. 
For the righteous will never be moved;
   they will be remembered for ever. 
They are not afraid of evil tidings;
   their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. 
Their hearts are steady, they will not be afraid;
   in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. 
They have distributed freely, they have given to the poor;
   their righteousness endures for ever;
   their horn is exalted in honour. 
The wicked see it and are angry;
   they gnash their teeth and melt away;
   the desire of the wicked comes to nothing.


Psalm 113

Praise the Lord!
Praise, O servants of the Lord;
   praise the name of the Lord. 


Blessed be the name of the Lord
   from this time on and for evermore. 
>From the rising of the sun to its setting
   the name of the Lord is to be praised. 
The Lord is high above all nations,
   and his glory above the heavens. 


Who is like the Lord our God,
   who is seated on high, 
who looks far down
   on the heavens and the earth? 
He raises the poor from the dust,
   and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 
to make them sit with princes,
   with the princes of his people. 
He gives the barren woman a home,
   making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!
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