Tag: USCCB Daily Readings

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – 01 July – Mk 5:22-24, 35b-43 ~ “Little girl, get up!”

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

God of the living, in whose image we have been formed with imperishable life as our destiny, dispel from your people the fear of death and awaken within us the faith that saves. Bid us rise from the death of sin to take our place in the new creation. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Your Love Awakens Me” – Phil Wickham


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Gospel Reading: Mk 5:22-24, 35b-43 (NLT)

Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.”

Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him.
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Messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”

Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.
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Prayers of Intercession:

Compassionate God, you graciously listen to us and respond with loving-kindness. Hear us now and help us as we pray on behalf of your people –

+ For those who suffer from disease, that we may be strengthened and healed…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who care for the sick, that we may reflect your generosity and kindness…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who care for the dying, that we may be filled with your compassion…. Lord, hear us.
+ For parents who have endured the death of a child, that we may receive your comfort…. Lord, hear us.
+ For all who have experienced the pain of loss, that we may make a new start…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those on summer vacation, that we may safely return home refreshed and renewed…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those suffering persecution, that we may be delivered from evil and find respite…. Lord, hear us.
+ For those who have died in Christ, particularly under tragic circumstances, that they may enter into the joy of heaven…. Lord, hear us.

Lord our God, you rescue your people from despair and help them in every difficulty: be with us in our times of trial and receive our prayers, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Joy Comes in the Morning” – Joy Gardner


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Blessing – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: beginning Today

“Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:18b-20 (NLT)

Dear Readers –

On Friday, 29 June, we completed our one year Bible Reading Plan, with the exception of the Book of Psalms. Psalms was omitted because we substituted the Gospel Reading from the Lectionary on Sundays. We began reading through the Bible on 01 July 2017, so, today – Saturday, 30 June – we begin reading through the Psalms to complete our one year Bible Reading Plan.

The Reading Plan we have been following was designed to read through Psalms in 52 days. However, I would like to go more slowly so that we can enter into a spirit of worship and prayer which was the Psalmists’ intended purpose. So, we will be praying through the Psalms daily through the end of the year, approximately 150 days, with Sundays devoted to the Gospel Reading from the Lectionary as before.

Walter Brueggemann (Praying the Psalms) says that the Psalms are not the voice of God addressing us, but rather contain the voice of a common humanity addressing God. When you pray the Psalms, you are praying together with believers throughout the world and throughout time.

But we are also praying with Jesus, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Psalms, The Prayer Book of the Bible) notes –

“All prayers of the Bible are such prayers which we pray together with Jesus Christ, in which he accompanies us, and through which he brings us into the presence of God. Otherwise there are no true prayers, for only in and with Jesus Christ can we truly pray.”

So let us join with Jesus and “make music to the Lord in our hearts” as the Spirit allows us to enter into God’s presence each day by faith through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for following along with me and for liking and re-blogging various posts.

+ May God bless and protect you,
+ May God show you mercy and loving-kindness.
+ May God be good to you and give you peace,
+ Through His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Art Chartier
The Peanut Gallery
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Please refer to the charts below to see where we have been, and where we are going. We have been following a Year Through The Bible Plan adapted from Samaritan’s Purse.

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – 24 Jun – Mark 4:35-41 ~ Lord, help us!

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Sovereign God – you created heaven and earth and reign supreme over all. And, in your Son, Jesus Christ, you showed us how to live by faith without fear. Increase our faith in him that we may perfectly serve you and worthily glorify your name, we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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“Sing to the Lord” – Hebrew Christian Song (Psalms 95)


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Gospel Reading: Mark 4:35-41 (NLT)

As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
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Prayers of Intercession:

Good and Faithful God: your loving-kindness endures forever. Hear the cries of our hearts in this our time of trouble and distress –

+ For your people who are suffering persecution – redeem us from our enemies…. Lord, help!
+ For your people who have been exiled to foreign lands – bring us safely home…. Lord, help!
+ For your people who are lost and homeless – rescue us and lead us to safety…. Lord, help!
+ For your people who are hungry and thirsty – satisfy us and provide for us…. Lord, help!
+ For your people imprisoned by misery – snap our chains and give us hope…. Lord, help!
+ For your people suffering because of their sins – have mercy on us and relieve our stress…. Lord, help!
+ For your people who are at death’s door – speak life into us and heal us…. Lord, help!
+ For your people who are at wit’s end – still the storms within us and strengthen our faith…. Lord, help!

Good and Faithful God: your loving-kindness endures forever. Thank you for reaching out to us in our distress; and thank you for all the wonderful things you have done for us. Hear now these cries for help, we ask in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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“Hear Us From Heaven” – New Life Worship


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Blessing – 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (NLT)

God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Praying the Psalms: beginning Sat, 30 Jun:

“Be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:18b-20 (NLT)

Dear Readers –

On Friday, 29 June, we will have completed our one year Bible Reading Plan, with the exception of the Book of Psalms. Psalms was omitted because we substituted the Gospel Reading from the Lectionary on Sundays. We began reading through the Bible on 01 July 2017, so, on Saturday, 30 June, we will start reading through the Psalms to complete our one year Bible Reading Plan.

The Reading Plan we have been following was designed to read through Psalms in 52 days. However, I would like to go more slowly so that we can enter into a spirit of worship and prayer which was the Psalmists’ intended purpose. So, we will be praying through the Psalms daily through the end of the year, approximately 150 days, with Sundays devoted to the Gospel Reading from the Lectionary as before.

Walter Brueggemann, in his excellent little book, Praying the Psalms, says that the Psalms are not the voice of God addressing us, but rather contain the voice of a common humanity addressing God (p. 1). When you pray the Psalms, you are praying together with believers throughout the world and throughout time.

I hope that together we will be able to “make music to the Lord in our hearts” as the Spirit allows us to enter into God’s presence each day by faith through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you for following along with me and for liking and re-blogging various posts.

+ May God bless and protect you,
+ May God show you mercy and loving-kindness.
+ May God be good to you and give you peace,
+ Through His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Art Chartier
The Peanut Gallery
__________

Please refer to the charts below to see where we have been, and where we are going. We have been following a Year Through The Bible Plan adapted from Samaritan’s Purse.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – 17 Jun – Mark 4:26-34 ~ the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Gracious God, at whose bidding seeds sprout and shoots grow toward full stature, hear the prayers of your people. Make us trust in your hidden ways, that we may pray confidently and wait patiently for your kingdom now growing in our midst. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“Boldly I Approach” – Rend Collective


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Gospel Reading: Mark 4:26-34 (NLT)

Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.

Jesus said, “How can I describe the Kingdom of God? What story should I use to illustrate it? It is like a mustard seed planted in the ground. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of all garden plants; it grows long branches, and birds can make nests in its shade.”

Jesus used many similar stories and illustrations to teach the people as much as they could understand. In fact, in his public ministry he never taught without using parables; but afterward, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.
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Prayers of Intercession:

God of love and kindness: Hear our prayers and help us, as we approach your throne of grace in this our time of need –

+ That all your people may grow in faith, trust, and practical expression of your loving-kindness….
+ That believers who are suffering and persecuted for their faith may be delivered from evil….
+ That believers who are displaced and dispossessed may find respite, and the help they need….
+ That believers who work the land may produce rich harvests and replenish your creation….
+ That believers who are young may be guided by your Word and Spirit in their life decisions….
+ That believers who are sick in body, mind, and spirit may receive comfort and healing….
+ That believing fathers may be blessed with faith-filled children and grandchildren….
+ That believers who have died may live forever in the joy and wonder of heaven….

God of love and kindness: Thank you for your continued provision and care. Give us what we need to advance your Kingdom where you have placed us, we ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
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“Build Your Kingdom Here” – Rend Collective


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Blessing – Psalm 92:12f

May you flourish and grow like trees transplanted in the courts of our God. Even in old age they still produce fruit and remain green and vital. And may you declare, “The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!”
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!