Sunday 22 February 2009<span style="mso-spacerun:
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<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Deuteronomy 6:1-9</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the ordinances—that the Lord your God charged me to teach you to observe in the land that you are about to cross into and occupy, so that you and your children and your children’s children may fear the Lord your God all the days of your life, and keep all his decrees and his commandments that I am commanding you, so that your days may be long. Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe them diligently, so that it may go well with you, and so that you may multiply greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has promised you.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.* You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem* on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hebrews 12:18-29</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">You have not come to something* that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, ‘If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.’ Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, ‘I tremble with fear.’) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly* of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, ‘Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.’ This phrase ‘Yet once more’ indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">John 12:24-32</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—“Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people* to myself.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 148, 149, 150</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 148</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord from the heavens;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him in the heights!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him, all his angels;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him, all his host!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him, sun and moon;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him, all you shining stars!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him, you highest heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and you waters above the heavens!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise the name of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for he commanded and they were created.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He established them for ever and ever;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.*</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord from the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you sea monsters and all deeps,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">fire and hail, snow and frost,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>stormy wind fulfilling his command!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Mountains and all hills,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>fruit trees and all cedars!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wild animals and all cattle,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>creeping things and flying birds!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Kings of the earth and all peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>princes and all rulers of the earth!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Young men and women alike,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>old and young together!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise the name of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for his name alone is exalted;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his glory is above earth and heaven.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has raised up a horn for his people,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise for all his faithful,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the people of Israel who are close to him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 149</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing to the Lord a new song,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his praise in the assembly of the faithful.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let Israel be glad in its Maker;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let them praise his name with dancing,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he adorns the humble with victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the faithful exult in glory;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let them sing for joy on their couches.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the high praises of God be in their throats</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and two-edged swords in their hands,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to execute vengeance on the nations</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and punishment on the peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to bind their kings with fetters</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and their nobles with chains of iron,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to execute on them the judgement decreed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>This is glory for all his faithful ones.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 150</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise God in his sanctuary;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him in his mighty firmament!*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him for his mighty deeds;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him according to his surpassing greatness!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him with trumpet sound;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him with lute and harp!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him with tambourine and dance;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him with strings and pipe!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise him with clanging cymbals;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>praise him with loud clashing cymbals!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 114, 115</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 114</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When Israel went out from Egypt,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Judah became God’s* sanctuary,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Israel his dominion.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The sea looked and fled;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Jordan turned back.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mountains skipped like rams,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the hills like lambs.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Why is it, O sea, that you flee?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O Jordan, that you turn back?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O mountains, that you skip like rams?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>O hills, like lambs?</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>at the presence of the God of Jacob,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who turns the rock into a pool of water,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the flint into a spring of water.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 115</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Why should the nations say,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘Where is their God?’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Our God is in the heavens;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he does whatever he pleases.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their idols are silver and gold,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the work of human hands.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have mouths, but do not speak;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>eyes, but do not see.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have ears, but do not hear;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>noses, but do not smell.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They have hands, but do not feel;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>feet, but do not walk;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they make no sound in their throats.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Those who make them are like them;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so are all who trust in them.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">O Israel, trust in the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>He is their help and their shield.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has been mindful of us; he will bless us;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will bless the house of Israel;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he will bless the house of Aaron;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he will bless those who fear the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>both small and great.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">May the Lord give you increase,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>both you and your children.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">May you be blessed by the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who made heaven and earth.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The heavens are the Lord’s heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>but the earth he has given to human beings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The dead do not praise the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor do any that go down into silence.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But we will bless the Lord</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from this time on and for evermore.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
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