Readings for the Week of July 3, 2016

Our passage from Ecclesiastes comes at the conclusion of a reflection on life.  It is generally attributed to Solomon, the son of David.  But at the beginning of the book, the author identifies himself as the “Preacher” or the “Teacher”, depending on the rendering into English.  The Hebrew word is “Qohelet”, often used in the academic literature.  Our readings this week will take us through the opening, to see the developing path from the human to the divine that the author is taking.

Monday, July 4: Ecclesiastes 1: 1-11    Qohelet is reflecting on the absurdity of life by itself.

Tuesday, July 5: Ecclesiastes 1: 12-18  He seeks answers without success in wisdom.

Wednesday, July 6: Ecclesiastes 2: 1-11  He seeks answers in self-indulgence.

Thursday, July 7: Ecclesiastes 2: 12-17  His conclusions come to hating life itself.

Friday, July 8:  Ecclesiastes 2: 18-26  He comes to the realization that God brings fulfillment to life.

Saturday: July 9:  Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15  Here, he re-frames the context of experience from that of the human, to that of the divine.

Readings for the week of June 26, 2016

Psalm 96 is one Psalm whose historic context we can nail down with great accuracy.  It was sung by David when the Ark of the Covenant was brought up to Jerusalem.  David brought the ark close, but it did not enter Jerusalem until his son Solomon built that temple.  This is the story from 1 Chronicles.  Understand that the book of Chronicles is not so much a historic document as a genealogical document, recording those in the Lord’s nation who were present during these monumental times.

For added perspective, read the parallel account of David bringing the Ark up toward Jerusalem as found in 2 Samuel 7.  There are wonderful similarities and differences in the purposes and the perspectives of the stories.  It is akin to different points of view found in the parallel gospel accounts.

June 27-Monday: 1 Chronicles 14: 1-17

June 28-Tuesday: 1 Chronicles 15: 1-15

June 29-Wednesday: 1 Chronicles 15: 16-29

June 30-Thursday: 1 Chronicles 16: 1-34

July 1-Friday: Psalm 96

July 2-Saturday: 1 Chronicles 16: 35-43

Bible Readings for the Week of June 19, 2016

For Father's Day, we are considering Jesus' words to the people about who their Father was.  He had some choice words for them, piercing the bubble that God was their Father, accusing them of having the Devil as their Father instead. 

The Scripture verses for this week include the story from Sunday, but also the stories before and after this one from the Gospel of John.

Mon. June 20-John 8: 1-11

Tue. June 21-John 8: 12-20

Wed. June 22-John 8: 21-30

Thu. June 23-John 8:31-59

Fri. June 24-John 9: 1-12

Sat. June 23-John 9: 13-41

Readings for the Week of June 12, 2016

This Sunday, we will be looking at Acts 10, the story of Peter and Cornelius, the Centurion.  The focus will be on the result, Peter sharing the Good News with and finally baptizing Cornelius and his household. 
The readings for the week will give the full story from the book of Acts, and also the interactions that Jesus had with a Centurion (not named) in the Gospel of Luke.  As Luke and Acts are two parts of an ongoing story, this is a theme that follows between them, the theme of what constitutes belief in God.

Mon. Jun 13-Luke 7:1-10  Jesus heals the servant of a Centurion popular in Galilee

Tue. Jun 14-Luke 23: 44-49  The Centurion (we believe) is at Jesus’ death.

Wed. Jun 15-Acts 10: 1-16  The Prelude to Peter and the Centurion Cornelius

Thu. Jun 16-Acts 10: 17-29  Peter comes to the Centurion

Fri. Jun 17-Acts 10: 30-49  The Holy Spirit comes to the Centurion on our behalf, as Gentiles

Sat. Jun 18-Acts 11: 1-18  Peter makes a report to the Church of the change.

Readings for the Week of June 5, 2016

The first Sunday of the month is communion Sunday at the Church.  Our Scripture reading for worship is the story of Communion from the Gospel of Luke.  The Lord’s Supper leads in to the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  This week, we shall read that story as told in the Gospel of Luke.

Jun. 5, 2016-Sun: Luke 22: 7-30

Jun. 6, 2016-Mon: Luke 22: 31-46

Jun. 7, 2016-Tue: Luke 22: 47-70

Jun. 8, 2016-Wed: Luke 23: 1-12

Jun. 9, 2016-Thu: Luke 23: 13-42

Jun. 10, 2016-Fri: Luke 23: 43-55

Jun. 11, 2016-Sat: Luke 24: 1-12