Sunday 25 April 2010<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><!--StartFragment-->
<p class="MsoNormal">DAILY LECTIONARY</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Email Evangelism, forward to a friend: http://www.dailylectionary.org</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Exodus 28:1-4,30-38<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Then bring near to you your brother Aaron, and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve me as priests—Aaron and Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. You shall make sacred vestments for the glorious adornment of your brother Aaron. And you shall speak to all who have ability, whom I have endowed with skill, that they make Aaron’s vestments to consecrate him for my priesthood. These are the vestments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a chequered tunic, a turban, and a sash. When they make these sacred vestments for your brother Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests, In the breastpiece of judgement you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart when he goes in before the Lord; thus Aaron shall bear the judgement of the Israelites on his heart before the Lord continually.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding round the opening, like the opening in a coat of mail,* so that it may not be torn. On its lower hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all round the lower hem, with bells of gold between them all round— a golden bell and a pomegranate alternating all round the lower hem of the robe. Aaron shall wear it when he ministers, and its sound shall be heard when he goes into the holy place before the Lord, and when he comes out, so that he may not die.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You shall make a rosette of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ You shall fasten it on the turban with a blue cord; it shall be on the front of the turban. It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take on himself any guilt incurred in the holy offering that the Israelites consecrate as their sacred donations; it shall always be on his forehead, in order that they may find favour before the Lord.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">1 John 2:18-29</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge.* I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ?* This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he has promised us,* eternal life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him.*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who does right has been born of him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mark 6:30-44</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.’ But he answered them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said to him, ‘Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii* worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘How many loaves have you? Go and see.’ When they had found out, they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 63:1-11, 98</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 63:1-11</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O God, you are my God, I seek you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my soul thirsts for you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">my flesh faints for you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>beholding your power and glory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because your steadfast love is better than life,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>my lips will praise you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So I will bless you as long as I live;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will lift up my hands and call on your name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and my mouth praises you with joyful lips</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">when I think of you on my bed,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and meditate on you in the watches of the night;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for you have been my help,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My soul clings to you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>your right hand upholds me.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But those who seek to destroy my life</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>shall go down into the depths of the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they shall be given over to the power of the sword,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they shall be prey for jackals.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the king shall rejoice in God;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all who swear by him shall exult,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for the mouths of liars will be stopped.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 98</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O sing to the Lord a new song,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for he has done marvellous things.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His right hand and his holy arm</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>have gained him victory.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has made known his victory;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to the house of Israel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All the ends of the earth have seen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the victory of our God.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>break forth into joyous song and sing praises.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>with the lyre and the sound of melody.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With trumpets and the sound of the horn</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the world and those who live in it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let the floods clap their hands;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let the hills sing together for joy</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>to judge the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will judge the world with righteousness,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the peoples with equity.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 103</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 103</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all that is within me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>bless his holy name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O my soul,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and do not forget all his benefits—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who forgives all your iniquity,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who heals all your diseases,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who redeems your life from the Pit,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">who satisfies you with good as long as you live*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord works vindication</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and justice for all who are oppressed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He made known his ways to Moses,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his acts to the people of Israel.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord is merciful and gracious,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He will not always accuse,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor will he keep his anger for ever.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He does not deal with us according to our sins,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>nor repay us according to our iniquities.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For as the heavens are high above the earth,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">as far as the east is from the west,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so far he removes our transgressions from us.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a father has compassion for his children,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For he knows how we were made;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he remembers that we are dust.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As for mortals, their days are like grass;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>they flourish like a flower of the field;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and its place knows it no more.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on those who fear him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his righteousness to children’s children,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to those who keep his covenant</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and remember to do his commandments.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and his kingdom rules over all.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O you his angels,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>you mighty ones who do his bidding,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>obedient to his spoken word.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, all his hosts,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>his ministers that do his will.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, all his works,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in all places of his dominion.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bless the Lord, O my soul.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<!--EndFragment-->