Sunday 23 May 2010<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><!--StartFragment-->
<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">Proverbs 9:1-12<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Wisdom has built her house,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>she has hewn her seven pillars.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>she has also set her table.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>from the highest places in the town,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘You that are simple, turn in here!’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>To those without sense she says,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Come, eat of my bread</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and drink of the wine I have mixed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lay aside immaturity,* and live,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and walk in the way of insight.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Whoever corrects a scoffer wins abuse;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>whoever rebukes the wicked gets hurt.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A scoffer who is rebuked will only hate you;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the wise, when rebuked, will love you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give instruction* to the wise, and they will become wiser still;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>teach the righteous and they will gain in learning.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For by me your days will be multiplied,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and years will be added to your life.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>if you scoff, you alone will bear it. ******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Acts 8:14-25</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come* upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John* laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.’ Simon answered, ‘Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you* have said may happen to me.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now after Peter and John* had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, they returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Luke 10:25-28,38-42</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.* ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.* Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">******************************************************************</p>
<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"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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!<o:p></o:p></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"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<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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