For a spreadsheet of all the readings click the star.
January 2010
3rd – Epiphany: Isaiah 60.1-6; Psalm 72.10-15; Ephesians 3.1-12; Matthew 2.1-12
Wise men travel a long way to see the new baby and worship him. People who are wise are still prepared to travel a long way to meet Jesus, and they find a terrific reward.
10th – Baptism of Jesus: Isaiah 43.1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8.14-17; Luke 3.15-17, 21-22
John baptizes people with water, but points out that Jesus can fill us with the fire of the Holy Spirit.
17th – Epiphany 2: Isaiah 62.1-5; Psalm 36.5-10; 1 Corinthians 12.1-11; John 2.1-11
Jesus was so concerned that people should have a good party that he changed water into wine, to help the bridegroom out of a tough spot. It was great wine, too! He's still doing it today - taking the ordinary and making it special - and he can do it for you if you'll let him.
24th - Epiphany 3 (or Conversion of Paul): Nehemiah 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19.1-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21
Jesus is tempted to seize power and dazzle the world by performing conjuring tricks, but he resists. He knows that God's power is different from human power.
31st – Candlemas : Malachi 3.1-5; Psalm 24.7-end; Hebrews 2.14-end; Luke 2.22-40
Mary and Joseph take their baby to Church, for God's blessing on him, and two elderly people immediately spot the God within this special baby.
February 2010
7th - 2 before Lent: Genesis 2.4-9, 15-25; Psalm 65; Revelation 4; Luke 8:22-25
Ever felt like life is overwhelming? That you're drowning in a sea of problems, and that God doesn't care? Just ask him to wake up and help, then see what happens.
14th - Sunday before Lent: Exodus 34.29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2; Luke 9.28-36
It's exhilarating being on top of a mountain, because things are transformed. Get up there above the clouds, and you see things entirely differently. But mountaintop experiences only happen occasionally, so make the most of them when you can.
Please use the Old Testament and Gospel readings during Lent
17th Ash Wednesday: Isaiah 58.1-12; Psalm 51.1-18; 2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10; John 8.1-11
21st - Lent 1: Deuteronomy 26.1-11; Psalm 91.1-11; Romans 10.8b-13; Luke 4.1-13
If you were starving in the desert, and you had special powers that would enable you to change stones into bread, what would you do? Come to that, if you had special powers to choose the right lottery numbers in advance, what would you do?
28th - Lent 2: Gen 15.1-12,17-18; Psalm27; Philippians 3.17-4.1; Luke 13.31-35
Jesus responds to a warning with a rude comment about the reigning king, and despairs over the degradation and corruption going on in high places in the capital city. Sound familiar?
March 2010
7th - Lent 3: Isaiah 55.1-9; Psalm 63.1-9; 1 Corinthians 10.1-13; Luke 13.1-9
If you get a rotten deal in life, you're NOT being punished by God. Rich people aren't especially good, nor are poor people especially bad. But if your life doesn't blossom with love, you're likely to shrivel up inside.
14th – Mothering Sunday: 1 Samuel 1.20-28; Psalm 32; Colossians 3.12-17; Luke 2.33-35
Destiny! Right from the beginning it looked like Jesus would have a tough life. But he faced the toughness and fulfilled his destiny. Should we say, "Anything for an easy life," or is it worth facing and making tough decisions?
23rd - Lent 5: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3:4b-14 John 12:1-8
Jesus went to a supper party at his friends' house. Mary of Bethany poured a jar of hugely expensive perfume over his feet, then wiped them on her hair! What a sensual action - no wonder the respectable folk there were outraged. But Jesus defended Mary. Read the passage to find out why.
28th - Palm Sunday: Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 118.1,2,19-end; Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 19:28-40
Jesus rides into Jerusalem, the capital city, on a donkey! The people love it, proclaim Jesus king and treat the occasion as a festival. But most kings ride on shining white chargers, with an army to escort them. What sort of a king rides on a donkey….?
April 2010
4th - Easter Day: Isaiah 65:17-end; Psalm 118.14-24; Acts 10:34-43 Luke 24:1-12
…. A king who ends up nailed to a cross. A bitter end to all the excitement, for people who were crucified died under God's curse. But hang on a minute; it isn't over, after all! When the women went to the tomb to embalm the body, it had disappeared.
11th - Easter 2: Exodus 14:10-end, 15:20-21; Psalm 150; Acts 5:27-32; Revelation 1.4-8; John 20:19-31
That night, despite being dead and buried, somehow or other Jesus was alive and well again, and appeared in the middle of his friends. Thomas wasn't there at the time, and didn't believe a word of it - until he himself met Jesus. And Jesus is still alive! YOU can meet him too, find out how at church.
18th - Easter 3: Zephaniah 3:14-end; Psalm 30; Acts 9:1-6; Revelation 5.11-end; John 21:1-19
Jesus was seen. Alive, a number of times after that. On one occasion he saw things weren't going too well for his fishermen friends, so he helped them land a huge catch, then made breakfast for them. He still cares about your daily life and work, and will still help if things aren't going too well for you.
25th - Easter 4: Genesis 7:1-5, 11-8,; 8:6-18; 9:8-13; Psalm 23; Acts 9:36-end; Revelation 7.9-end; John 10:22-30
The Jews ask Jesus whether he is the promised Messiah, but he refuses to answer directly on the grounds that it might incriminate him. Instead he tells them to look at all the things he does, and draw their own conclusions. But then he says something calculated to infuriate the Jews - he claims that he is completely at one with God.
May 2010
2nd - Easter 5: Genesis 22:1-18; Psalm 148.1-6; Acts 11:1-18; Revelation 21.1-6; John 13:31-35
Jesus knows his end is drawing near, but tells his friends that they'll see God's brilliance in his (Jesus') death. Then he gives them a new commandment to sum up the old Ten Commandments. He tells them to love each other.
9th - Easter 6: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 67; Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21.10,22-22.5; John 14:23-29
Jesus, one and the same as God, promises to live within anyone who loves him or God, via the Holy Spirit. And he promises that the Holy Spirit will be to his friends quite coming soon after his death. The Holy Spirit still comes to those who love God, and will dwell within you, if you wish.
16th - Easter 7: Ezekiel 36:24-28; Psalm 97; Acts 16:16-34; Revelation 22.12-14, 16,17,20-end; John 17:20-end
Love makes the world go round, and Jesus knows this. In his last prayer before he dies horribly on the cross, he prays not for himself, but for his friends, asking that they might learn how to love. Nothing's changed. Love still makes the world go round, and Jesus can help you learn how to love.
23rd – Pentecost: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104.26-36,37b; Acts 2:1-21; Romans 8.14-17; John 14:8-17
Philip asks Jesus to show God to them (Jesus' friends), but it turns out to be one of those questions you wish you'd never asked. You can almost hear Jesus sigh as he turns on Philip. "You've been with me all this time," he says, "and you can ask a question like that? If you've seen me, you've seen God." And it's still true. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.
30th - Trinity Sunday: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Psalm 8; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15;
Since Jesus' ministry only lasted three years, he was limited in the amount he could teach his friends. Anyway, they weren't yet ready for everything he could have said. But he promises to go on teaching and speaking through his Spirit, and that holds good for today. Jesus still speaks to individual human beings, through his Spirit - the God within.
June 2010
All Old Testament Readings for Trinity are from the “continuous” strand
6th - Trinity 1; Proper 5: 1 Kings 17.8-16; Psalm 146; Galatians 1.11-end; Luke 7.11-17
Jesus spots a distraught single mother whose only son has died. Like Elijah before him, Jesus has compassion on the widow and gives her son his life back again.
13th - Trinity 2; Proper 6: 1 Kings 21:1-10; Psalm 5.1-8; Galatians 2:15-end; Luke 7:36-8:3
Jesus defends a woman from the scorn and disapproval of religious people, and travels on his way with both male and female friends supporting, helping him in his mission, and learning from him.
20th - Trinity 3; Proper 7: 1 Kings 19:1-4, 8-15a; Psalm 42; Galatians 3:23-end Luke 8:26-39
Jesus meets a man who was so confused and fractured inside himself that he thought he was many different people. Since he was frighteningly violent, he'd been thrown out of the town and lived rough. But Jesus wasn't afraid of him. Instead, Jesus made friends with him and healed him and changed his life. Jesus still changes lives today.
27th - Trinity 4; Proper 8: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77.11-end; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-end
People have always been attracted to Jesus, but following him isn't a soft option. He's no insurance policy, rather the reverse. Christians find difficulties and problems just like other people, sometimes more so. But it's worth it.
July 2010
4th - Trinity 5 Proper 9 2 Kings 5:1-14 Galatians 6:7-16 Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
It was learning on the job for Jesus' friends. He sent them out to spread the good news, but wouldn't allow them to take any creature comforts to fall back on. They had to rely on God and the kindness of other people.
11th - Trinity 6 Proper 10 Amos 7:7-17 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37
Having just returned from Israel and seen for myself the desolation and the hilly, rocky desert of the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, I'm not surprised all those good people walked past on the other side. So would any sensible person. But that's the point. Following Jesus isn't sensible - at least, not in the world's eyes.
18th - Trinity 7 Amos 8:1-12 Colossians 1:15-28 Luke 10:38-end
Lazy Mary refuses to help her sister with the housework, but to Martha's surprise, Jesus commends Mary. He says that life's too short to worry about impressing people with fabulous dinner parties. Mary has chosen to listen to Jesus and learn from him how to meet with God. That's what is important in life.
Proper 11 (or St Mary Magdalene)
25th - Trinity 8 Proper 12 Hosea 1:2-10 Colossians 2:6-15 Luke 11:1-13
If you want something good for yourself or someone else, ask God for it. He's waiting to heap upon you endless good gifts - but you have to receive them. And to do that, you need to learn to tune into God and wait for his response. It's called "prayer".
August 2010
1st - Trinity 9 Proper 13 Hosea 11:1-11 Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21
People were always wanting Jesus to condemn others, but he always refused. And he often told a story to make a sharp point - which was usually against the person who asked him to judge in the first place! People still want Jesus to condemn others - and he still refuses!
8th - Trinity 10 Proper 14 Isaiah 1:1, 10-20 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 Luke 12:32-40
Jesus continues to warn against putting all your trust and desires into wealth. He tells his listeners about the treasure he has waiting for them, and warns them to make sure they're ready and able to receive it, for God comes when you're least expecting him.
15th - Trinity 11 Proper 15 Isaiah 5:1-7 Hebrews 11:29-12:2 Luke 12:49-56
Jesus foresees difficult times ahead, both for himself and for his country. He suggests his followers should make themselves more canny - able to interpret the signs of the times. It's no good Christians going around with their heads in the clouds, Jesus still needs down-to-earth followers.
22nd - Trinity 12 Proper 16 Jeremiah 1:4-10 Hebrews 12:18-29 Luke 13:10-17
Jesus gets right across the religious authorities by "working" on the Sabbath, which was very illegal. By healing a poor old soul who'd been suffering for years, he showed that people are more important than religious laws or traditions.
29th - Trinity 13 Proper 17 Jeremiah 2:4-13 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 Luke 14:1, 7-14
How to win friends and influence people! Jesus is invited to a dinner party, and proceeds to publicly tell the host he's got it all wrong. He shouldn't be inviting those who can repay him, but those who can't repay. That way, says Jesus, lies happiness. Makes you think, doesn't it!
September 2010
5th - Trinity 14 Proper 18 (or Blessed Virgin Mary) Jeremiah 18:1-11 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33
Jesus gets fed up with great crowds of people following him with having any idea what they're letting themselves in for. He warns them to count the cost first, before they throw in their lot with him. It's still good advice, because Christianity's no soft option, it's tough and difficult. But worth it!
12th - Trinity 15 Proper 19 Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10
Important people of the day were fascinated by Jesus, but they didn't much like him because he completely disregarded unwritten rules. He would keep inviting beggars and prostitutes and thieves into decent people's houses, and was actually very friendly with them. And he told stories to show that every single human being is important to God.
19th - Trinity 16 Proper 20 Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13
Jesus even told a story about a cheat and a thief, and commended the thief for his astuteness. But he went on to say that people should give their money away, because you can't worship money and God. You have to make a choice.
26th - Trinity 17 Proper 21 Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-end
Jesus tells a chilling tale about those who are too important to notice the little people who are in need. Noticing others and having compassion on them is of prime importance, says Jesus.
Harvest Readings
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Philippians 4:4-9 John 6:25-35
Jesus tells his friends that they are impressed simply because he filled their bellies. But they need to yearn for God's food, spiritual food.
October 2010
3rd - Trinity 18 Proper 22 Lamentations 1:1-6 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10
Jesus tells his friends not to expect thanks for doing what they ought to be doing. Similarly, we shouldn't expect thanks for doing God's work.
10th - Trinity 19 Proper 23 Jeremiah 29:4-7 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19
Jesus heals ten lepers and sends them off so that the priest can officially declare that they are disease-free.But only one - the one least likely to - returns to thank Jesus.
17th - Trinity 20 Proper 24 Jeremiah 31:27-34 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5 Luke 18:1-8
Jesus tells a story about a woman who pesters a judge until he hears her case and responds in her favour. But Jesus adds that God isn't like that judge. God hears us the minute we begin to speak, we just need to keep on praying.
24th - Last Sunday after Trinity Joel 2:23-end 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14
And he tells another story about a religious man who was full of himself, but warns that it's those who are humble who know more about God, even if they're not religious.
31st - 4 before Advent (or All Saints) Isaiah 1:10-18 2 Thessalonians 1 Luke 19:1-10
Jesus cavorts with the lowest of the low. He has supper with a despised tax collector and shows him genuine friendship.
November 2010
7th – 3 before Advent : Job 19.23-27a; Psalm 17.1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2.1-5,13-end; Luke 20.27-38
14th – Remembrance Sunday: Matthew 5:1-12 or John 15:9-17
Jesus assures us of his love, and commands us to love one another.
21st - Christ the King: Jeremiah 23:1-6 Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43
Jesus is crucified, and died as a common criminal. Yet in that common criminal was the king of the universe. God's power is not a bit like our human power.
Please use the Old Testament and Gospel readings during Advent
28th- Advent Sunday (or St Andrew): Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122.1-9; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44
Jesus continues to warn of the sufferings that lie ahead and urges his friends to watchfulness, so that they may be ready when God comes to them.
December 2010 (Year A)
5th - Advent 2: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72.1-7; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist begins his mission, calling people to turn to God because God's kingdom is near. God's kingdom is still near, so we too should prepare to receive it by turning to God.
12th - Advent 3: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146.4-9; James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11
But even John had his doubts, especially when he was at a low ebb. He pleads with Jesus to give him certainty, but Jesus responds by telling John to use his eyes and ears and make up his own mind.
19th - Advent 4: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80.1-7; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25
There was a lot of uncertainty surrounding Jesus' birth. Even his father Joseph thought Jesus was illegitimate, until God spoke directly to Joseph and told him that human circumstances don't matter in God's eyes.
25th - Christmas Day: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-14
And so Jesus was born. He was a message from God (so St. John, the writer of the gospel referred to him in a kind of shorthand as "The Word") which said that God wants all of us to enjoy life to its utmost and will help us to do so.
26th – Christmas 1 (or St Stephen): Isaiah 63.7-9; Psalm 148.7-14; Hebrews2.10-18; Matthew 2.13-23;