[Propertalk] READINGS for EASTER VIGIL

Sun Apr 1 21:14:27 EDT 2012

Easter Vigil According to the Revised Common Lectionary
7 April 2012
The complete service including readings, following the1979 Episcopal Church 
BCP may be found at 
http://satucket.com/lectionary/Easter_Vigil_with_Readings_B.rtf.

Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a

Gene 1:1 (NRSV) In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 
2 the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, 
while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, 
"Let there be light"; and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was 
good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light 
Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was 
morning, the first day.
6 And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it 
separate the waters from the waters." 7 So God made the dome and separated 
the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the 
dome. And it was so. 8 God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and 
there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one 
place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry 
land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And 
God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, "Let the earth put forth 
vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth 
that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. 12 The earth brought 
forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every 
kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13 And 
there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the 
day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days 
and years, 15 and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light 
upon the earth." And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights--the 
greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and 
the stars. 17 God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the 
earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light 
from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening 
and there was morning, the fourth day.
20 And God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and 
let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky." 21 So God created 
the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, 
with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God 
saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply 
and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." 23 
And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: 
cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind." And 
it was so. 25 God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the 
cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every 
kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let us make humankind Heb [adam]} in our image, according 
to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and 
over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild 
animals of the earth, Syr: Heb [and over all the earth]} and over every 
creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."
27 So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and 
fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and 
over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the 
earth." 29 God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that 
is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; 
you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to 
every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, 
everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for 
food." And it was so. 31 God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it 
was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. 
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2 
And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested 
on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the 
seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that 
he had done in creation.
4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were 
created.
In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Psalm 136: 1 - 9, 23 - 26

Psal 136:1 (NRSV) O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 O give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
4 who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 who spread out the earth on the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
26 O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Genesis 7: 1 - 5, 11 - 18, 8: 6 - 18, 9: 8 - 13

Gene 7:1 (NRSV) Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all 
your household, for I have seen that you alone are righteous before me in 
this generation. 2 Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male 
and its mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and its 
mate; 3 and seven pairs of the birds of the air also, male and female, to 
keep their kind alive on the face of all the earth. 4 For in seven days I 
will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every 
living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." 
5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.

11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the 
seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great 
deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 The rain 
fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 On the very same day Noah 
with his sons, Shem and Ham and Ja'pheth, and Noah's wife and the three 
wives of his sons entered the ark, 14 they and every wild animal of every 
kind, and all domestic animals of every kind, and every creeping thing that 
creeps on the earth, and every bird of every kind--every bird, every winged 
creature. 15 They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in 
which there was the breath of life. 16 And those that entered, male and 
female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him; and the LORD shut him 
in.
17 The flood continued forty days on the earth; and the waters increased, 
and bore up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters swelled 
and increased greatly on the earth; and the ark floated on the face of the 
waters.

8:6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had 
made 7 and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were 
dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the 
waters had subsided from the face of the ground; 9 but the dove found no 
place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters 
were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took 
it and brought it into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, 
and again he sent out the dove from the ark; 11 and the dove came back to 
him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; 
so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited 
another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any 
more.
13 In the six hundred first year, in the first month, the first day of the 
month, the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the 
covering of the ark, and looked, and saw that the face of the ground was 
drying. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the 
earth was dry. 15 Then God said to Noah, 16 "Go out of the ark, you and your 
wife, and your sons and your sons' wives with you. 17 Bring out with you 
every living thing that is with you of all flesh--birds and animals and 
every creeping thing that creeps on the earth--so that they may abound on 
the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth." 18 So Noah went out 
with his sons and his wife and his sons' wives.

8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 "As for me, I am 
establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and 
with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic 
animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the 
ark. Gk: Heb adds [every animal of the earth]} 11 I establish my covenant 
with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a 
flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." 12 God 
said, "This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and 
every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I 
have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant 
between me and the earth.

Psalm 46

Psal 46:1 (NRSV) God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. [Se'lah]
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
6 The nations are in an uproar, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Se'lah]
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. [Se'lah]

Genesis 22: 1 - 18

Gene 22:1 (NRSV) After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, 
"Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 He said, "Take your son, your only 
son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there 
as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." 3 So 
Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his 
young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt 
offering, and set out and went to the place in the distance that God had 
shown him. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. 
5 Then Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy 
and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to 
you." 6 Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son 
Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them 
walked on together. 7 Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he 
said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but 
where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 Abraham said, "God himself will 
provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on 
together.
9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar 
there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on 
the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took 
the knife to kill his son. 11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from 
heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 He said, 
"Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that 
you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." 
13 And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. 
Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead 
of his son. 14 So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it 
is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and 
said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, 
and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will indeed bless you, 
and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the 
sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of 
their enemies, 18 and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth 
gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."

Psalm 16

Psal 16:1 (NRSV) Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you."
3 As for the holy ones in the land, they are the noble,
in whom is all my delight.
4 Those who choose another god multiply their sorrows;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names upon my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
I have a goodly heritage.
7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
8 I keep the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices;
my body also rests secure.
10 For you do not give me up to She'ol,
or let your faithful one see the Pit.
11 You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Exodus 14: 10 - 31, 15: 20 - 21

Exod 14:10 (NRSV) 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. 11 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? 12 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." 13 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. 14 The LORD will 
fight for you, and you have only to keep still."
15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the 
Israelites to go forward. 16 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. 17 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. 18 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."
19 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. 20 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.
21 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. 22 The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, 
the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. 23 The 
Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's 
horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. 24 At the morning watch the LORD in 
the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw 
the Egyptian army into panic. 25 He clogged their chariot wheels so that 
they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the 
Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."
26 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that 
the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot 
drivers." 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the 
sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD 
tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the 
chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had 
followed them into the sea; not one of them remained. 29 But the Israelites 
walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on 
their right and on their left.
30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw 
the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the great work that the 
LORD did against the Egyptians. So the people feared the LORD and believed 
in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

15:20 Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her 
hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with 
dancing. 21 And Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea."

Exodus 15: 1b - 13, 17 - 18

15:1 "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and my might,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father's God, and I will exalt him.
3 The LORD is a warrior;
the LORD is his name.
4 "Pharaoh's chariots and his army he cast into the sea;
his picked officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5 The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power-- 
your right hand, O LORD, shattered the enemy.
7 In the greatness of your majesty you overthrew your adversaries;
you sent out your fury, it consumed them like stubble.
8 At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up,
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, "I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.'
10 You blew with your wind, the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in splendor, doing wonders?
12 You stretched out your right hand,
the earth swallowed them.
13 "In your steadfast love you led the people whom you redeemed;
you guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

17 You brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your own 
possession,
the place, O LORD, that you made your abode,
the sanctuary, O LORD, that your hands have established.
18 The LORD will reign forever and ever."

Isaiah 55: 1 - 11

Isai 55:1 (NRSV) Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 12: 2 - 6

Isai 12:2 (NRSV) Surely God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid,
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
3 With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 4 And you will 
say in that day:
Give thanks to the LORD,
call on his name;
make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
5 Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, O royal Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Baruch 3: 9 - 15, 3: 32 - 4: 4

Bar 3:9 Hear the commandments of life, O Israel;
give ear, and learn wisdom!
10 Why is it, O Israel, why is it that you are in the land of your enemies,
that you are growing old in a foreign country,
that you are defiled with the dead,
11 that you are counted among those in Hades?
12 You have forsaken the fountain of wisdom.
13 If you had walked in the way of God,
you would be living in peace forever.
14 Learn where there is wisdom,
where there is strength,
where there is understanding,
so that you may at the same time discern
where there is length of days, and life,
where there is light for the eyes, and peace.
15 Who has found her place?
And who has entered her storehouses?

32 But the one who knows all things knows her,
he found her by his understanding.
The one who prepared the earth for all time
filled it with four-footed creatures;
33 the one who sends forth the light, and it goes;
he called it, and it obeyed him, trembling;
34 the stars shone in their watches, and were glad;
he called them, and they said, "Here we are!"
They shone with gladness for him who made them.
35 This is our God;
no other can be compared to him.
36 He found the whole way to knowledge,
and gave her to his servant Jacob
and to Israel, whom he loved.
37 Afterward she appeared on earth
and lived with humankind.
4:1 She is the book of the commandments of God,
the law that endures forever.
All who hold her fast will live,
and those who forsake her will die.
2 Turn, O Jacob, and take her;
walk toward the shining of her light.
3 Do not give your glory to another,
or your advantages to an alien people.
4 Happy are we, O Israel,
for we know what is pleasing to God.

Proverbs 8: 1 - 8, 19 - 21, 9: 4b - 6   (alt. for Baruch reading, above)

Prov 8:1 (NRSV) Does not wisdom call,
and does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights, beside the way,
at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town,
at the entrance of the portals she cries out:
4 "To you, O people, I call,
and my cry is to all that live.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence;
acquire intelligence, you who lack it.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right;
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,
and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 endowing with wealth those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

9:4 In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.

Psalm 19

Psal 19:1 (NRSV) The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Ezekiel 36: 24 - 28

Ezek 36:24 (NRSV) I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all 
the countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean 
water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from 
all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 A new heart I will give you, and a new 
spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of 
stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put my spirit within you, and 
make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. 28 Then 
you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be 
my people, and I will be your God.

Psalm 42 & 43

Psal 42:1 (NRSV) As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
"Where is your God?"
4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help 6 and my God.
My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mi'zar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
8 By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.
9 I say to God, my rock,
"Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?"
10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
"Where is your God?"
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.
43:1 Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
deliver me!
2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;
why have you cast me off?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because of the oppression of the enemy?
3 O send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp,
O God, my God.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

Ezekiel 37: 1 - 14

Ezek 37:1 (NRSV) The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by 
the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was 
full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in 
the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, "Mortal, can these 
bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." 4 Then he said to me, 
"Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the 
LORD. 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter 
you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to 
come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall 
live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."
7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly 
there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its 
bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon 
them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he 
said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the 
breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and 
breathe upon these slain, that they may live." 10 I prophesied as he 
commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on 
their feet, a vast multitude.
11 Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. 
They say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off 
completely.' 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: 
I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my 
people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall 
know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your 
graves, O my people. 14 I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, 
and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, 
have spoken and will act," says the LORD.

Psalm 143

Psal 143:1 (NRSV) Hear my prayer, O LORD;
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with your servant,
for no one living is righteous before you.
3 For the enemy has pursued me,
crushing my life to the ground,
making me sit in darkness like those long dead.
4 Therefore my spirit faints within me;
my heart within me is appalled.
5 I remember the days of old,
I think about all your deeds,
I meditate on the works of your hands.
6 I stretch out my hands to you;
my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. [Se'lah]
7 Answer me quickly, O LORD;
my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me,
or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
8 Let me hear of your steadfast love in the morning,
for in you I put my trust.
Teach me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Save me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.
11 For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life.
In your righteousness bring me out of trouble.
12 In your steadfast love cut off my enemies,
and destroy all my adversaries,
for I am your servant.

Zephaniah 3: 14 - 20

Zeph 3:14 (NRSV) Sing aloud, O daughter Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,
he has turned away your enemies.
The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear disaster no more.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival.
I will remove disaster from you,
so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 I will deal with all your oppressors
at that time.
And I will save the lame
and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you home,
at the time when I gather you;
for I will make you renowned and praised
among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
before your eyes, says the LORD.

Psalm 98

Psal 98:1 (NRSV) O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
2 The LORD has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

Romans 6: 3 - 11

Roma 6:3 (NRSV) Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into 
Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.
5 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. 6 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. 7 For whoever has died is freed from 
sin. 8 But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live 
with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die 
again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 The death he died, he died 
to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 So you also 
must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 114

Psal 114:1 (NRSV) When Israel went out from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of strange language,
2 Judah became God's sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
3 The sea looked and fled;
Jordan turned back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
6 O mountains, that you skip like rams?
O hills, like lambs?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the LORD,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.

Year A (2011):
Matthew 28: 1 - 10

Matt 28:1 (NRSV) After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was 
dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And 
suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending 
from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance 
was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 For fear of him the 
guards shook and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, 
"Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 
6 He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place 
where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, "He has been raised 
from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you 
will see him.' This is my message for you." 8 So they left the tomb quickly 
with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met 
them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and 
worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my 
brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Year B (2012):
Mark 16: 1 - 8

Mark 16:1 (NRSV) When the sabbath was over, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the 
mother of James, and Salo'me bought spices, so that they might go and anoint 
him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, 
they went to the tomb. 3 They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll 
away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" 4 When they looked up, 
they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. 
5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, 
sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, "Do 
not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He 
has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. 7 
But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to 
Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." 8 So they went out 
and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they 
said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around 
Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, 
the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

Year C (2013):
Luke 24: 1 - 12

Luke 24:1 (NRSV) But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came 
to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2 They found the 
stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find 
the body. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in 
dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5 The women were terrified and bowed 
their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for 
the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6 Remember how he 
told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be 
handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." 
8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told 
all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, 
Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told 
this to the apostles. 11 But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and 
they did not believe them. 12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping 
and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, 
amazed at what had happened.

Chad Wohlers
Woodbury, Vermont    USA
chadwohl at satucket.com
cwohlers at bridgew.edu 