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Environmental Stewardship Commission

Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota

 
Coat of Arms of Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
Shield of Episcopal Church

Upcoming Activities:

Next Meeting:

We meet quarterly close to the solstice and equinox.


Annual Special Projects


Resolutions:

Resolution on the Spirituality of Food Production

Resolution on Church Buildings and Grounds


Resolution on Creation Season

 

Lectionary Reflection

Ash Wednesday, All Years
Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary
Revised Common Lectionary

Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson

Joel 2:1-2,12-17

Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sound the alarm on my holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
for the day of the LORD is coming, it is near--
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and thick darkness!
Like blackness spread upon the mountains
a great and powerful army comes;
their like has never been from of old,
nor will be again after them
in ages to come.
Yet even now, says the LORD,
return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
rend your hearts and not your clothing.
Return to the LORD, your God,
for he is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love,
and relents from punishing.
Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,

and leave a blessing behind him,
a grain offering and a drink offering

for the LORD, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion;
sanctify a fast;
call a solemn assembly;
gather the people.
Sanctify the congregation;
assemble the aged;
gather the children,
even infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room,
and the bride her canopy.
Between the vestibule and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD,
and do not make your heritage a mockery,
a byword among the nations.
Why should it be said among the peoples,
`Where is their God?'"

 

Reflection on Joel 2:1-2,12-17
by Nan Stokes

As Lent begins with the Ash Wednesday lessons, we are reading about a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness as Joel tells of an invasion of locusts and a drought in Palestine. He speaks of these events as a sign of the coming Day of the Lord when those who oppose the Lord's righteous will shall be punished. When the crops fail and the sky turns black, people experience fear and wonder. How easy it is to enjoy goodness and beauty and believe that all is right with the world when the sun shines and the flowers bloom. It is easy, too, to be afraid when the sky turns black and thunder and rains come to threaten that world, In the midst of either circumstance, we repent and thank the Creator for the many blessings of creation in our lives.

Copyright Statement

Reflections on other Readings [Standard (Episcopal) and Revised Common Lectionary]
for Ash Wednesday, All Years:

Old Testament
(Hebrew Scripture)
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
(this page)
or
Isaiah 58:1-12
Psalm
103




New Testament
2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:1




Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21




 

 

Nan Stokes is a past co-chair of MEESC (2002-2006). She resided in Duluth, MN, when she originally wrote this reflection in 1998. Nan and we welcome your comments. Please address your comments or additional reflections to Nan Stokes or any MEESC member, or mail them to:


MEESC
c/o C. Morello
4451 Lakeside Drive
Eveleth, MN 55743-4400 USA

The MEESC assumes that all correspondence received is for publication on this web site. If your comments are not for publication, please so note on your correspondence. The MEESC reserves the right to decide which items are included on the website.

   

This page last updated 2007-02-22.

 
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