Tuesday, November 22, 2022

The Daily Bible Readings for Wednesday, November 23, 2022

https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/revised-common-lectionary-semicontinuous/2019/11/27?version=NRSV

The Daily Bible Readings
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Psalm 117; Jeremiah 31:1-6; Luke 1:1-4
(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)
(Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions


Psalm 117
(God’s faithfulness endures forever)
When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs.

Why is it, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back? O mountains, that you skip like rams? O hills, like lambs?

Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a spring of water.

Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Father God, Creator and Sustainer of all that exists; we praise You as Lord and King over all the Earth, as Ruler and Judge over all the nations of the Earth. We praise You as our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Redeemer and Lord. Help us honor and serve You always, through the power of Your indwelling Holy Spirit. Now hear us as we pray in the name of Jesus Christ: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”
(Joy at God’s people restored)
The Joyful Return of the Exiles
31:1 At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.

2  Thus says the Lord:
   The people who survived the sword
     found grace in the wilderness;
   when Israel sought for rest,
3    the Lord appeared to him from far away.
   I have loved you with an everlasting love;
     therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4  Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
     O virgin Israel!
   Again you shall take your tambourines,
     and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5  Again you shall plant vineyards
     on the mountains of Samaria;
   the planters shall plant,
     and shall enjoy the fruit.
6  For there shall be a day when sentinels will call
     in the hill country of Ephraim:
   “Come, let us go up to Zion,
     to the Lord our God.”

(That you may know the truth)
Dedication to Theophilus
1:1 Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Daily Bible Readings for Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Psalm 117; Jeremiah 31:1-6; Luke 1:1-4

The Morning Prayer for Wednesday, November 23, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Wednesday, November 23, 2022


I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep. When the hired man, who is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees a wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away; so the wolf snatches the sheep and scatters them.
John 10:11–12 (GNT)

Lord our God, we thank you for ruling us with your shepherd's staff so that again and again we can be refreshed and can delight in what you are doing for us. We thank you that we can have eager, joyful faith even when sorrows come, looking again and again to the good you give us. We are thankful and want to be thankful always. Be a mighty Lord over the peoples, we pray, and protect our country. Show your sovereignty by guarding the flock close beside you and by pouring out your grace to give life to the dying and resurrection to those who have died. O Lord God, hear and bless us. May your will be done on earth as in heaven, so that your kingdom may break in and everything may come right, according to your great purpose. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Wednesday, November 23, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Wednesday, November 23, 2022


Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
These verses anticipate the day the nations stream to Zion to worship the Lord. God has kept his promises to Israel, which benefits the whole world. Those who come to God through Jesus come to Mount Zion. Through the gospel, God is gathering his chosen people from the nations, and his Spirit is building a new place where God lives on the earth—the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Read all of Psalm 100

Listen to Psalm 100


Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Travel the World from Home — Where Jesus Was Born — Bethlehem

 

The Holy Land:
Connecting the Land with Its Stories
Where Jesus Was Born — Bethlehem

Season 1 — Episode 5

In episode 5, visit the city of Bethlehem, a land filled with stories of provision and solutions. Meet Maher Canawati, an elected member of Bethlehem’s City Council, to explore the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of Jesus’ birth. Uncover the connection between Old Testament and New Testament stories as you explore the oldest and most holy church in the world. Climb the church tower for views of Bethlehem that aren’t open to the public and reflect on how this land continues to remind us of the solution God provided through His Son, Jesus.
 
Season 1 — Episode 5 | Where Jesus Was Born — Bethlehem