May 2010 Readings
Click on the date you are interested in below to go directly to
the readings for that date.
May 2
May 9 May 16
May 23 May 30
Fifth Sunday of Easter
First Lesson
Acts 11:1-18
The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the
Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went
up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and
said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with
them." Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as
it had happened: "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a
trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being
let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to
where I was. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the
earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. Then I heard
a voice telling me, `Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' "I replied,
`Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my
mouth.' "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, `Do not call
anything impure that God has made clean.' This happened three
times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. "Right
then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at
the house where I was staying. The Spirit told me to have no
hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went
with me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had
seen an angel appear in his house and say, `Send to Joppa for
Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through
which you and all your household will be saved.' "As I began to
speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the
beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: `John
baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the
Holy Spirit.' So if God gave them the same gift as he gave
us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think
that I could oppose God?" When they heard this, they had no
further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has
granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."
Psalm
Psalm 148
Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him
in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they
were created.
He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that
will never pass away.
Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all
ocean depths,
lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his
bidding,
you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,
wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,
kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers
on earth,
young men and maidens, old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is
exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his
saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the
LORD.
Second Lesson
Revelation 21:1-6
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven
and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any
sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her
husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now
the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and
be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There
will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the
throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write
this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to
me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost
from the spring of the water of life.
Gospel
John 13:31-35
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man
glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in
him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify
him at once. "My children, I will be with you only a little
longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I
tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. "A new command
I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must
love one another. By this all men will know that you are my
disciples, if you love one another."
Prayer of the Day
O God, form the minds of your faithful people into a single
will. Make us love what you command and desire what you promise,
that, amid all the changes of this world, our hearts may be
fixed where true joy is found; through your Son, Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever.
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Sixth Sunday of Easter
First Lesson
Acts 16:9-15
During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia
standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave
for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the
gospel to them. From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight
for Samothrace, and the next day on to Neapolis. From there we
traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of
that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On
the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we
expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to
speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those
listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from
the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord
opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the
members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her
home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said,
"come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
Psalm
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face
shine upon us, Selah
that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all
nations.
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise
you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the
peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Selah
May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise
you.
Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will
bless us.
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Second Lesson
Revelation 21:10, 22 – 22:5
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and
high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God. I did not see a temple in the city, because the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not
need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God
gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk
by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their
splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for
there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations
will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter
it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but
only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as
clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of
the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are
for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any
curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his
name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night.
They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun,
for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for
ever and ever.
Gospel
John 14:23-29
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.
My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our
home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my
teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to
the Father who sent me. "All this I have spoken while still with
you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will
send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you
of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my
peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "You heard
me say, `I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you
loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for
the Father is greater than I. I have told you now before it
happens, so that when it does happen you will believe.
Prayer of the Day
O God, from whom all good things come: Lead us by the
inspiration of your Spirit to think those things which are
right, and by your goodness help us to do them; through your
Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
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Seventh Sunday of Easter
First Lesson
Acts 16:16-34
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met
by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the
future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by
fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us,
shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are
telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many
days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and
said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you
to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her. When
the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making
money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into
the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them
before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are
throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful
for us Romans to accept or practice." The crowd joined in the
attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them
to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged,
they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to
guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in
the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About
midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there
was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison
were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and
everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he
saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to
kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But
Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer
called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and
Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do
to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you
will be saved--you and your household." Then they spoke the word
of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that
hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds;
then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer
brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was
filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and
his whole family.
Psalm
Psalm 97
The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant
shores rejoice.
Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and
justice are the foundation of his throne.
Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side.
His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles.
The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of
all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see
his glory.
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in
idols-- worship him, all you gods!
Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments, O LORD.
For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are
exalted far above all gods.
Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives
of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the
wicked.
Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in
heart.
Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy
name.
Second Lesson
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will
give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha
and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the
End. "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have
the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into
the city. "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this
testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of
David, and the bright Morning Star." The Spirit and the bride
say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is
thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free
gift of the water of life. He who testifies to these things
says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord
Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Gospel
John 17:20-26
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who
will believe in me through their message, that all of them may
be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they
also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent
me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may
be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be
brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me
and have loved them even as you have loved me. "Father, I want
those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my
glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before
the creation of the world. "Righteous Father, though the world
does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent
me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you
known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and
that I myself may be in them."
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and eternal God, your Son our Savior is with you in
eternal glory. Give us faith to see that, true to his promise,
he is among us still, and will be with us to the end of time;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and forever.
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The Day of Pentecost
First Lesson
Acts 2:1-21
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one
place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came
from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and
came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the
Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit
enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing
Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound,
a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard
them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked:
"Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is
it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea
and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt
and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both
Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we hear them
declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and
perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" Some,
however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much
wine. " Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice
and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in
Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what
I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine
in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
"`In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all
people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men
will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my
servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those
days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven
above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows
of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to
blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the
Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.'
Psalm
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
How many are your works, O LORD! In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.
There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures
beyond number-- living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you
formed to frolic there.
These all look to you to give them their food at the proper
time.
When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your
hand, they are satisfied with good things.
When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away
their breath, they die and return to the dust.
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the
face of the earth.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice
in his works--
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the
mountains, and they smoke.
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my
God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.
Praise the LORD, O my soul. Praise the LORD.
Second Lesson
Romans 8:14-17
Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of
God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave
again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And
by him we cry, "Abba, Father." The Spirit himself testifies with
our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children,
then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if
indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also
share in his glory.
Gospel
John 14:8-17 [25-27]
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be
enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even
after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has
seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the
Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the
Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own.
Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is
in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles
themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me
will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things
than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do
whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to
the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will
do it. "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will
ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be
with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept
him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know
him, for he lives with you and will be in you. ["All this I have
spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things
and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I
leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be
afraid.]
Prayer of the Day
God our creator, earth has many languages, but your Gospel
announces your love to all nations in one heavenly speech. Make
us messengers of the good news that, through the power of your
Spirit, everyone everywhere may unite in one song of praise;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
forever.
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The Holy Trinity
First Sunday after Pentecost
First Lesson
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her
voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she
takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the
entrances, she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call out; I raise
my voice to all mankind. "The LORD brought me forth as the first
of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from
eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. When there
were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs
abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in
place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the
earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. I was there
when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon
on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the
sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was
the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after
day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole
world and delighting in mankind.
Psalm
Psalm 8
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon
and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you
care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned
him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put
everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the
paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Second Lesson
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom
we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now
stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only
so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that
suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and
character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God
has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom
he has given us.
Gospel
John 16:12-15
"I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into
all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what
he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will
bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it
known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is
why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it
known to you.
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God our Father, dwelling in majesty and mystery,
renewing and fulfilling creation by your eternal Spirit, and
revealing your glory through our Lord, Jesus Christ: Cleanse us
from doubt and fear, and enable us to worship you, with your Son
and the Holy Spirit, one God, living and reigning, now and
forever.
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