What Are the Lectionary Readings for Sunday April 15 2017

Many people, in the month of September, focus on creation. This calendar month runs from the Eastern Orthodox starting the liturgical year on September ane and prepares for the feast of St Francis on October iv.

This site is committed to the three year lectionary (RC) and its derivative, the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL). Rather than departing from that lectionary, resources volition be provided here that tin be used to have a particular focus.

The historic 1989 encyclical letter (link off this site) of the Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I urged Christians to find September 1st equally a day of prayer for the protection of the environment.

The lectionary for year A (2014, 2017, 2020…)

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday betwixt 28 August and 3 September:
The Exodus reading is full of creation images – flock, wilderness, mountain, fire, bush, and God being pleased that Moses is noticing. So in that location is ground which is sacred. This is followed past the promise of a land flowing with milk and honey.
Jeremiah has an eating metaphor, and a deceitful brook, with waters that fail.
Paul writes to the Romans nearly hunger and thirst.
The Gospel reading talks nigh gaining the whole globe, and most life.

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between four and x September:
The Exodus reading sets an earthy tone of land, springtime, full moon, lamb, fire, bread, herbs, and blood – in which life was understood to be held. Evil has for besides long been read dualistically separating "sky" and "earth", "flesh" and "spirit". We may demand to read our New Testament texts into a more than holistic vision where heaven and earth are more closely bound (Matthew eighteen:18), and our neglect of creation and greedy abandon is included in a contemporary reading of the sins understood in Paul's letter.

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 11 and 17 September:
The Exodus reading over again, similar concluding week, is oozing with images fatigued from creation: cloud, darkness, sea, wind, and burn down. It highlights the force of nature and reminds us of contempo devastation which may exist due to human abuse of nature. Psalm 114 has wonderful poetic images about mountains, sea, earth, and rocks. Paul reminds u.s. of the appropriateness of unlike attitudes to creation. And the Gospel challenges u.s. to "pay it forward" – we are responsible for what future generations inherit.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Sunday betwixt 18 and 24 September:
The Exodus reading speaks of food and hunger and addresses having enough. Jonah addresses the variability of creation which is picked up in the Matthew reading where our working the country again leads to results that are not in proportion to our efforts. Philippians speaks of our physical life on this planet.

A creation reading of the lectionary forthe Sunday betwixt 25 and one Oct:
Exodus could pb in to a very constructive reflection on issues relating to water, its use, abuse, shortage, problems,… Ezekiel points to everything belonging to God, nosotros are caretakers of everything. This fits with the Matthew reading in which we co-operate with God in God's work in creation. Philippians tin can atomic number 82 to a reflection on incarnation, God takes on total humanity and is united to creation which is sacred and good.

The lectionary for yr B (2018, 2021, 2024,…)

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Dominicus betwixt 28 Baronial and three September:

Song of Songs 2:8-13 Nature and its beauty is the primary metaphor here: the mountains, the hills, a gazelle, a young stag. winter, the rain, flowers, the earth, turtledove, land. The fig tree, the vines, and blossom.
Deuteronomy 4:i-9 The strong connection between the land and God's volition for us.
Psalm 45 More images of the beauty of nature and of beauty as described in comparison with nature.
Psalm xv A hill that is holy…
James 1:17-27 Once more, the primacy of nature in imaging our life: outset fruits, produce, implanted…
Marking 7:i-23 our relationship with nature, with creation, with food, and how this expresses our deeper realities.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 4 and 10 September:

The Proverbs reading underscores that we are all creatures. Whether we claim more than or less of creation, in fact none of us (but God) is over creation – nosotros are all within it. In fact, our shared creature-hood is part of needing to treat other creatures equally, justly.

God'south mountains are a powerful metaphor for stability in Psalm 125.

The Isaiah reading has a number of images from creation, with a key focus on the importance of water.

Psalm 146 shows our connexion to the earth, reinforces that it is God who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and also has a consequence on the responsibleness to share.

Some of these threads are too woven into the text from the letter of the alphabet of James. Once again there is the acknowledgement of our duty to share and intendance inside the creation God graciously gives.

The natural surroundings of Tyre, Sidon, the Sea of Galilee, and the region of the Decapolis form the frame for Mark's story of a a Gentile woman, of Syrophoenician origin, to have on Jesus at his ain craftsmanship of acute, witty repartee. Here, too, the question comes down to who tin can share in what of God'due south natural provisions. The surprise in this text is that it is Jesus, for a change, who does non "win" this detail argue.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Sun between 11 and 17 September:

The Proverbs reading uses images certainly familiar to many, "panic strikes you like a tempest, and your calamity comes like a cyclone"; we are reaping the consequences of our actions (and inactions), nosotros are "eating the fruit of our manner".

Psalm xix is a wonderful declaration of God'southward creation.

The James text is littered with creation images and ideas (including how we humans harness and utilise, and, hence, possibly corruption creation): horses, strong winds, forests, burn, fresh water, fig trees, olives, and grapevines. It includes a text that is open to significant give-and-take and contend: "every species of animate being and bird, of reptile and sea creature, tin be tamed and has been tamed by the human species". When does "subduing" (וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ) and having "dominion over" (וּרְד֞וּ) cosmos (Gen 1:28) become destructive?

The Gospel reading has a wonderful creation-flavour question: "what will it profit them to gain the whole world"

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 18 and 24 September:

The Proverbs reading speaks of many things nosotros humans need and utilize from nature, from creation: wool, flax, food, ships, vineyards, fruit, linen, bead.

The Wisdom of Solomon has

For he created all things so that they might be;
the generative forces of the earth are wholesome,

Nosotros now need to take dandy care with verses such equally

make use of the creation to the full

It is actually a good example of the danger of ripping a poesy out of context. The text is clearly a text contrary to God'southward will. The text continues:

Allow us oppress the righteous poor human being;
let us not spare the widow
or regard the grey hairs of the anile…
'Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our deportment;…

Jeremiah'due south passage uses the metaphor of the destruction of creation.

Psalm 1, again, using creation images reinforces this significance.

Every bit does the James text. Sowing and bearing fruit is an underlying paradigm, which we know to be a reality non just inside creation, but in our relationship with it.

We have just celebrated the Holy Cantankerous, the lens through which we view reality and the expression of how nosotros should live, turning upside downwards conventional understandings and approaches. The Gospel reading today reinforces this conversion. Our living of "subduing" (וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ) and having "rule over" (וּרְד֞וּ) cosmos (Gen 1:28) may alter in the light of Jesus.

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sun between 25 September and 1 October:

Psalm 124 speaks of the power of water, the precariousness of birdlife (every bit a representative of life generally), the predatory nature of humanity, and God equally maker of "heaven and world".

Numbers presents the human yearning for bounty in creation.

James images the demand for water and the difficulties of drought.

Mark also shows the positive and negative possibilities of water and other elements of creation.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 25 September and 1 October:

Psalm 124 speaks of the ability of water, the precariousness of birdlife (as a representative of life by and large), the predatory nature of humanity, and God as maker of "heaven and earth".

Numbers presents the human yearning for bounty in creation.

James images the demand for water and the difficulties of drought.

Marking also shows the positive and negative possibilities of water and other elements of creation.

The lectionary for year C (2016, 2019, 2022…)

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Lord's day betwixt 28 August and three September:
The Beginning Testament readings and psalms speak of state, wilderness, deserts, pits, drought, darkness, a country that no one passes through, where no one lives, and a plentiful state where one tin can eat its fruits and its good things, God's land that i tin can defile, heavens that can exist shocked, and utterly desolate, places for water that concur no water. The gospel speaks of banqueting, feasting with and receiving from our prodigal, providing Creator.

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday betwixt iv and 10 September:
The Starting time Testament readings and psalms has cosmos like dirt in the potter'southward hand. We are known and formed – my inward parts – you knit me together in my mother's womb. They speak of land, heaven, and world, life and death, trees planted by streams of h2o. The gospel speaks of calculating the cost and simplifying our lifestyle.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 11 and 17 September:
Jeremiah brings the most poignant, strong words connected to creation this Sun with a hot wind that comes out of the bare heights in the desert, an earth that is waste and void where all the birds of the air have fled. The fruitful land is a desert, and all its cities are laid in ruins. The whole land shall be a desolation. Yet words of hope are in that location even within this vision, which in the gospel speaks of the cost of searching for what we take lost.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary for the Sunday betwixt 18 and 24 September:
Jeremiah speaks of God'southward presence in (or rather absence from) a physical place (in this case Zion). The Northern Hemisphere will identify with the idea that harvest is past, the summertime is ended. There is mention of a spring of water, a fountain of tears. The psalm points to birds of the air and the wildlife. Amos highlights our measuring fourth dimension by the moon and our fundamental dependence on food, on grain. The psalm picks up the dominicus as a measure of fourth dimension and images the view of this fragile planet from on high. The gospel highlights we are stewards, "managers" of what God entrusts to us.

A creation reading of the lectionary for the Sunday between 25 and ane Oct:
Jeremiah highlights the attitude that land is ours – that information technology can be bought and sold and exist our private belongings. In the psalm images from God are fatigued from nature: pinions, wings. Amos questions the growth of wealth. Psalm 146 speaks of our breath and our relationship with the globe – our connectedness with the God who makes all things. 1 Timothy also questions our forehandedness, as does Luke's gospel reading.

A cosmos reading of the lectionary forthe Sunday between 2 and viii October:
The First Testament images are strong ones of desolation – of the grieving as all we, and God, beloved is being destroyed. Jesus, in Luke's gospel, highlights how circumspect he was to the variety of nature and how he delighted in all the diversity in God's natural cosmos.

Church Mission Statement

"To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth" was the 5th mark of mission added to the other four past the Anglican Consultative Council in 1990. Leaving aside my ain business organisation that worship of God is non writ large equally the primary mission of the church, nosotros are probably and sadly non surprised at how slow the church has been in recognising our responsibility towards creation in our mission.

A SONG OF Blood brother Sun

– Metrical version
Altissimu, onnipotente, bon Signore
If you know of an 88788 tune that this can exist sung to, please let me know.
1 Most Loftier, omnipotent, good Lord,
To you be ceaseless praise outpoured,
And blessing without mensurate;
From y'all alone all creatures came;
No one is worthy you to name.
two My Lord exist praised by Blood brother Sun,
Who through the skies his form does run,
And shines in brilliant splendour;
With effulgence he does fill the day,
And signifies your boundless sway.
three My Lord exist praised past Sister Moon,
And all the stars that with her shortly
Will betoken the glitt'ring heavens.
Let wind and air and cloud and at-home,
And weathers all, repeat the psalm.
4 Past Sister Water, then exist blest
Most humble, useful, precious, chaste.
Exist praised past Brother Fire:
Cheerful is he, robust and bright,
And strong to lighten all the night.
5 By Mother Earth my Lord be praised;
Governed past you, she has upraised
What for our life is needful.
Sustained past you through every hour,
She brings forth fruit and herb and flower.
6 My Lord be praised by those who prove
In free forgivingness their love,
Nor compress from tribulation.
Happy, who peaceably endure:
With you, Lord, their reward is certain.
7 By Death, our Sister, praisèd exist,
From whom no one live tin can abscond.
Woe to the unpreparèd!
Merely blest be those who practise your will
And follow your commandments yet.
8 Most High, omnipotent, good Lord,
To you be ceaseless praise outpoured
And approval without measure.
Let every creature thankful be
And serve in not bad humility.

Confession

From CofE'southward Mutual Worship (link off this site). There are a variety of ways this could be adjusted: "Father" could appropriately get "Creator", the responses could be chanted Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison – sourced, for example in Taize.

We confess our sin, and the sins of our society,
in the misuse of God's creation.

God our Father, we are sorry
for the times when we take used your gifts carelessly,
and acted ungratefully.
Hear our prayer, and in your mercy:
forgive us and help us.

We relish the fruits of the harvest,
but sometimes forget that you lot have given them to usa.
Male parent, in your mercy:
forgive u.s.a. and aid us.

We belong to a people who are full and satisfied,
but ignore the cry of the hungry.
Begetter, in your mercy:
forgive us and assist united states of america.

We are thoughtless,
and do non intendance enough for the earth y'all have made.
Male parent, in your mercy:
forgive united states and help united states.

We store upward goods for ourselves alone,
every bit if there were no God and no sky.
Begetter, in your mercy:
forgive the states and help united states.

Master Seattle

Speech communication attributed to Chief Seattle given to President Franklin, the President of United states, 1854. Dr. Henry Smith wrote this up from notes he had taken at the time (red cardinal piece slightly adapted).

You lot must teach your children that the footing beneath their feet is the ashes of our grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the World is rich with the lives of our kin.

Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the Earth is our mother. Any befalls the Earth befalls the sons and daughters of the Earth. If we spit upon the ground, we spit upon ourselves.

This we know – the Earth does non belong to united states – nosotros belong to the Earth. This we know. All things are continued similar the blood which unites one family. All things are connected.

Whatsoever befalls the Earth – befalls the sons and daughters of the Earth. We did not weave the spider web of life – nosotros are merely a strand in it. Whatever we practice to the web, nosotros practise to ourselves.

Fifty-fifty the white man, whose God walks and talks with him equally friend to friend, cannot be exempt from the mutual destiny. We may be brothers afterward all. Nosotros shall see. One thing we know, which the white man may i mean solar day observe – Our God is the same God. You may remember at present that you own Him as you wish to own our land, simply you cannot. He is the God of man, and His compassion is equal for red human and the white. The Earth is precious to Him, and to harm the Earth is to heap contempt on its creator. The whites too shall laissez passer, peradventure sooner than all other tribes.

But in your perishing you will shine brightly, fired past the force of the God who brought you to this land and for some special purpose gave you lot rule over this land and over the reddish man. That destiny is a mystery to us, for nosotros practice not empathise when the buffalo are slaughtered, the wild horses tamed, the secret corners of the woods heavy with scent of many men, and the view of the ripe hills blotted past talking wires. Where is the thicket? Gone. Where is the Hawkeye? Gone. The end of living and the beginning of survival.

Intercessions

From BCP (U.s.a.) pp.388-389 – no copyright restrictions.
Each petition in the prayer book is followed past silence, Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer. This might exist adapted past using some other response, such as: God our creator grant our prayer.

Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may
be united in your truth, alive together in your dear, and reveal
your glory in the earth.

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the
ways of justice and peace; that we may laurels one another
and serve the common proficient.

Give usa all a reverence for the earth every bit your own creation,
that we may utilise its resources rightly in the service of others
and to your honor and glory.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant
that nosotros may serve Christ in them, and love i another equally he
loves us.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in torso, mind, or
spirit; requite them backbone and hope in their troubles, and
bring them the joy of your salvation.

We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will
for them may be fulfilled; and nosotros pray that we may share
with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

The prayers may be concluded with a collect.

A creation focused preface

From BCP (USA) p370 – no copyright restrictions.
God of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of
glory and praise.
Glory to you lot for e'er and always.

At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of
interstellar infinite, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses,
and this delicate earth, our island home.
By your will they were created and have their being.

From the central elements you lot brought forth the human race,
and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us
the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed
your trust; and we turned against i another.
Accept mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.

Again and again, you called us to render. Through prophets
and sages you revealed your righteous Police. And in the
fullness of time you sent y'all only Son, born of a woman, to
fulfill your Law, to open for is the way of freedom and peace.
By his blood, he reconciled us.
Past his wounds, nosotros are healed.

And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly
chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all
those in every generation who have looked to y'all in hope, to
proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

The Canadian BAS has adapted this prayer, changed "rulers of creation" to "stewards of creation" and inserted a regular refrain "Glory to you for ever and ever". They do not have a cue for this refrain, hence, either yous demand the text in front end of yous, or the text must be sung with a musical cue for the sung refrain. A amend option, in my opinion, is to use a set cue and response such every bit

God of all creation
we worship and admire y'all

(see my piece of work on this in Eucharistic Prayer two and Eucharistic Prayer two adapted.

Alternative Great Thanksgiving / Eucharistic Prayers with a strong focus on creation

Eucharistic Prayer 2 from Enriching our Worship

Eucharistic Prayer 3 from Enriching our Worship

marrerospreduche.blogspot.com

Source: https://liturgy.co.nz/church-year/creation-season

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