Saturday 26 June 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">Numbers 20:14-29<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, ‘Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the adversity that has befallen us: how our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived in Egypt for a long time; and the Egyptians oppressed us and our ancestors; and when we cried to the Lord, he heard our voice, and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt; and here we are in Kadesh, a town on the edge of your territory. Now let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, or drink water from any well; we will go along the King’s Highway, not turning aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed through your territory.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>But Edom said to him, ‘You shall not pass through, or we will come out with the sword against you.’ The Israelites said to him, ‘We will stay on the highway; and if we drink of your water, we and our livestock, then we will pay for it. It is only a small matter; just let us pass through on foot.’ But he said, ‘You shall not pass through.’ And Edom came out against them with a large force, heavily armed. Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through their territory; so Israel turned away from them.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>They set out from Kadesh, and the Israelites, the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor. Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, ‘Let Aaron be gathered to his people. For he shall not enter the land that I have given to the Israelites, because you rebelled against my command at the waters of Meribah. Take Aaron and his son Eleazar, and bring them up Mount Hor; strip Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar. But Aaron shall be gathered to his people,* and shall die there.’ Moses did as the Lord had commanded; they went up Mount Hor in the sight of the whole congregation. Moses stripped Aaron of his vestments, and put them on his son Eleazar; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain. When all the congregation saw that Aaron had died, all the house of Israel mourned for Aaron for thirty days.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Romans 6:1-11</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Matthew 21:1-11</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, “The Lord needs them.” And he will send them immediately.*’ This took place to fulfil what had been spoken through the prophet, saying,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Tell the daughter of Zion,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Look, your king is coming to you,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>humble, and mounted on a donkey,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd* spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">‘Hosanna to the Son of David!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hosanna in the highest heaven!’</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Morning Psalms: Psalm 107:33-43, 108</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 107:33-43</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">He turns rivers into a desert,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>springs of water into thirsty ground,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a fruitful land into a salty waste,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because of the wickedness of its inhabitants.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He turns a desert into pools of water,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a parched land into springs of water.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And there he lets the hungry live,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and they establish a town to live in;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">they sow fields, and plant vineyards,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and get a fruitful yield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By his blessing they multiply greatly,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and he does not let their cattle decrease.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">When they are diminished and brought low</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>through oppression, trouble, and sorrow,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he pours contempt on princes</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and makes them wander in trackless wastes;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">but he raises up the needy out of distress,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and makes their families like flocks.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The upright see it and are glad;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all wickedness stops its mouth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let those who are wise give heed to these things,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and consider the steadfast love of the Lord.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 108</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will sing and make melody.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Awake, my soul!*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Awake, O harp and lyre!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>I will awake the dawn.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and I will sing praises to you among the nations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For your steadfast love is higher than the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and let your glory be over all the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Give victory with your right hand, and answer me,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>so that those whom you love may be rescued.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">God has promised in his sanctuary:*</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>‘With exultation I will divide up Shechem,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and portion out the Vale of Succoth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Ephraim is my helmet;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Judah is my sceptre.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Moab is my wash-basin;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on Edom I hurl my shoe;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>over Philistia I shout in triumph.’</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Who will bring me to the fortified city?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Who will lead me to Edom?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Have you not rejected us, O God?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>You do not go out, O God, with our armies.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">O grant us help against the foe,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>for human help is worthless.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With God we shall do valiantly;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>it is he who will tread down our foes.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Evening Psalms: Psalm 33</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Psalm 33</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Praise befits the upright.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Praise the Lord with the lyre;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sing to him a new song;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>play skilfully on the strings, with loud shouts.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">For the word of the Lord is upright,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all his work is done in faithfulness.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He loves righteousness and justice;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and all their host by the breath of his mouth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he put the deeps in storehouses.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Let all the earth fear the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For he spoke, and it came to be;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he commanded, and it stood firm.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he frustrates the plans of the peoples.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The counsel of the Lord stands for ever,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the thoughts of his heart to all generations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">The Lord looks down from heaven;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he sees all humankind.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From where he sits enthroned he watches</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>all the inhabitants of the earth—</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">he who fashions the hearts of them all,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and observes all their deeds.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A king is not saved by his great army;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The war horse is a vain hope for victory,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and by its great might it cannot save.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>on those who hope in his steadfast love,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to deliver their soul from death,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>and to keep them alive in famine.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Our soul waits for the Lord;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>he is our help and shield.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Our heart is glad in him,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>because we trust in his holy name.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>even as we hope in you.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p>
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