WEEKLY READINGS

The First Lesson

II Corinthians 4:13-15

Reader: The reading is from the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians.

Now we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture: "I believed, and so I spoke"; and we believe, and so we speak. We know that the one who raised Jesus the Messiah will raise us also with Jesus and will bring us with you all into the presence of Jesus. Indeed, the whole is for your sake so grace through many more may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God.

Reader: Word of God, word of life.

People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 147:12-20

12. Praise the Ever-Living God, O Jerusalem!

Praise your God, O Zion!

13. For she strengthens the bars of your gates;

she blesses your children within you.

14. She sets peace at your border;

she satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

15. She sends forth her word to the earth;

her word runs swiftly.

16. She lays down snow like wook;

she scatters frost like ashes.

17. She hurls down hail like crumbs--

who can stand before her cold?

18. She sends forth her word, and melts them;

she makes her wind blow, and the waters flow.

19. She declares her word to Rebekah's line.

her statutes and ordinances to Sarah's seed.

20. So has not dealt thus with any other nation;

they do not know know her ordinances.

Praise the Wisdom of the Ages!

The Gospel

John 5:25-29

Celebrant: The Holy Gospel according to John.

People: Glory to you, O Lord.

"Truly, truly, I tell you all, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will life. For just as the Living God has life internally, just so Go has granted the Son to have life internally. And God has given the Son authority to render justice, because he is the Son of Woman. Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will here hear his voice and will come out--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.

Celebrant: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to you, O Christ.

From A Woman's Lectionary for the Whole Church Year W by Wilda C. Gafney