Logo of MEESC

Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC)

Episcopal Church in Minnesota
Coat of Arms of Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
Looking for Revised Common Lectionary? Click Here

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
Resolution on Green Congregations

On our Website:

Reflections:
Resources:
Environmental Events:

Reflections:
Resources:
Environmental Events:

Environmental Reflections Lectionary Year A Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary

In 1996, starting with Lectionary Year B, the MEESC launched a multi-year project to complete reflections and comments on the earth-centered aspects of the Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary readings. Major work on filling the gaps in this page will be undertaken each time we are in Year C; however, input is accepted at any time.

Starting in 2006 with Lectionary Year C, the MEESC began providing reflections and comments on the earth-centered aspects of the Revised Common Lectionary Readings. By the end of the Lectionary Year A that began in November 2010, this page will be totally replaced by the Revised Common Lectionary Readings page for Year A.

If you would like to contribute, please see the directions at the end of this page.

Linked to the Sundays and Holy Days are available commentaries, sermons, and thoughts pertaining to the readings selected for that day that we have received. If you would like to scroll to various seasons of the liturgical year, please click on the season:

Season of Advent

First Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
  • Psalm 72
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 15:4-13
  • Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

Third Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Christmas Season

Season of Epiphany

The Epiphany

First Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-9
  • Psalm 89: 1-29
  • New Testament Reading: Acts 10: 34-38
  • Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Second Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
  • Psalm 40:1-10
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
  • Gospel: John 1: 29-41

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Micah 6:1-8
  • Psalm 37:1-18
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: (18-25) 26-31
  • Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:2-6, 17-19
  • Psalm 27
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1-11
  • Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ecclesiasticus 15: 11-20
  • Psalm 119: 1-16 or 119: 9-6
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 1-9
  • Gospel: Matthew 5: 21-24, 27-30, 33-37

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Leviticus 19: 1-2, 9-18
  • Psalm 71 or 71: 16-24
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 3: 10-11, 16-23
  • Gospel: Matthew 5: 38-48

Eighth Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 49: 8-18
  • Psalm 62 or 62: 6-14
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 4: 1-5 (6-7) 8-13
  • Gospel: Matthew 6: 24-34

Last Sunday after Epiphany

Season of Lent

Ash Wednesday

First Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-17, 25 3:7
  • Psalm 51
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 5: 12-19 (20-21)
  • Gospel: Matthew 4: 1-11

Second Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Genesis 12: 1-8
  • Psalm 33: 12-22
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 4: 1-5 (6-12) 13-17
  • Gospel: John 3: 1-17

Third Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Exodus 17: 1-7
  • Psalm 95
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 5: 1-11
  • Gospel: John 4: 5-26 (27-38) 39-42

Fourth Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday)

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
  • Psalm 23
  • New Testament Reading: Ephesians 5: (1-7) 8-14
  • Gospel: John 9: 1-13(14-27) 28-38

Fifth Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 37: 1-3 (4-10) 11-14
  • Psalm 130
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 6: 16-23
  • Gospel: John 11 (1-16) 17-44

Holy Week

Palm Sunday

Liturgy of the Palms

  • Psalm 118: 19-29
  • Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

Liturgy of the Word

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading Isaiah: 45:21-25 or Isaiah 52:13 53:12
  • Psalm 22: 1-21
  • New Testament Reading: Philippians 2:5-11
  • Gospel: Matthew (26:36-75) 27:1-54 (55-66)

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Easter Season

Easter Sunday

First Service of Easter

General Reflections on Easter 2 through 7 (read this if you are planning a sermon series on these readings)

Easter 2

Easter 3

Easter 4

Easter 5

Easter 6

Easter 7

Season of Pentecost

Pentecost Sunday (Whitsunday)

Trinity Sunday

Proper 5

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Hosea 5:15 6:6
  • Psalm 50
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 4:13-18
  • Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

Proper 6

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Exodus 19: 2-8a
  • Psalm 100
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 5: 6-11
  • Gospel: Matthew 9:35 10:8 (9-15)

Proper 7

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-13
  • Psalm 69:1-18
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 5: 15b-19
  • Gospel: Matthew 10: (16-23) 24-31

Proper 8

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 2:10-17
  • Psalm 89:1-18
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 6: 3-11
  • Gospel: Matthew 10: 34-42

Proper 9

Proper 10

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-5, 10-13
  • Psalm 65
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 8: 9-17
  • Gospel: Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23

Proper 11

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19
  • Psalm 86
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 8:18-25
  • Gospel: Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43

Proper 12

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 3:5-12
  • Psalm 119: 121-136
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 8:26-34
  • Gospel: Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-49a

Proper 13

Proper 14

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Jonah 2: 1-9
  • Psalm 29
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 9: 1-5
  • Gospel: Matthew 14: 22-33

Proper15

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 56: 1 (2-5) 6-7
  • Psalm 67
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 11: 13-15, 29-32
  • Gospel: Matthew 15: 21-28

Proper 16

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 51:1-6
  • Psalm 138
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 11:33-36
  • Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Proper 17

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 15:15-21
  • Psalm 26
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 12:1-8
  • Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27

Proper 18

  • Special Notes for forest Sunday 2005 "Creation Season" of National Council of Churches
  • General Reflection on the Readings
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 33:(1-6) 7-11
  • Psalm 119:33-48 or 119:33-40
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 12:9-21
  • Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

Proper 19

  • Special Notes for Land Sunday 2005 of "Creation Season" of National Council of Churches
  • General Reflection on the Readings
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ecclesiasticus 27:30-28:7
  • Psalm 103 or 103:8-13
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 14:5-12
  • Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Proper 20

  • Special Notes for Wilderness Sunday 2005 "Creation Season" of National Council of Churches
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Jonah 3:10-4:11
  • Psalm 145 or 145:1-8
  • New Testament Reading: Philippians 1:21-27
  • Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

Proper 21

  • Special Notes for River Sunday 2005 "Creation Season" of National Council of Churches
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
  • Psalm 25:1-14 or 25:3-9
  • New Testament Reading: Philippians 2:1-13
  • Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

Proper 22

  • Now Available: Creation Season 2008 (Special Recognition of the Place of Food in our Lives), Proper 22-25
  • General Reflection on all readings for this Sunday
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
  • Psalm 80 or 80:7-14
  • New Testament Reading: Philippians 3:14-21
  • Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43

Proper 23

  • Now Available: Creation Season 2008 (Special Recognition of the Place of Food in our Lives), Proper 22-25
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 25:1-9
  • Psalm 23
  • New Testament Reading: Philippians 4:4-13
  • Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Proper 24

  • Now Available: Creation Season 2008 (Special Recognition of the Place of Food in our Lives), Proper 22-25
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Isaiah 45:1-7
  • Psalm 96 or 96:1-9
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
  • Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22

Proper 25

  • Now Available: Creation Season 2008 (Special Recognition of the Place of Food in our Lives), Proper 22-25
  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Exodus 22: 21-27
  • Psalm 1
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
  • Gospel: Matthew 22: 34-46

Proper 26

Proper 27

Proper 28

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 1: 7, 12-18
  • Psalm 90
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-10
  • Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-15, 19-29

Proper 29 (Last Sunday after Pentecost)

  • Old Testament/Hebrew Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-17
  • Psalm 95:1-7
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28
  • Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46
Copyright Statement

We are looking for your input!

To provide your comments and thoughts to a reading, please send an e-mail to any member of the MEESC or our Webverger or send a letter 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 web site.

This page last updated 2011-05-20.

This page maintained for the MEESC by To the IRIS Enterprises Homepage.

Please send any corrections to the MEESC WebVerger or our Web Team