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Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission (MEESC)

Episcopal Church in Minnesota
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We meet quarterly close to the solstice and equinox.

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Creation Season Materials

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Resolution on the Spirituality of Food Production

Resolution on Church Buildings and Grounds

Resolution on Creation Season
Resolution on Green Congregations

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Reflections:
Resources:
Environmental Events:

Google Groups
Subscribe to MEESC-News
Email:
Visit this group

Link to Facebook Page

Environmental Reflections Lectionary Year B Revised Common 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 B; however, input is accepted at any time. The Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary pages will remain accessible until after the end of Lectionary Year B in 2012.

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

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9
  • Psalm 80: 1-7, 16-18
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9
  • Gospel: Mark 13: 24-37

Second Sunday of Advent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
  • Psalm 85: 1-2, 8-13
  • New Testament Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
  • Gospel: Mark 1:1-8

Third Sunday of Advent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Isaiah 61: 1-4, 8-11
  • Psalm 126 or Canticle 3 or 15
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24
  • Gospel: John 1: 6-8, 19-28

Fourth Sunday of Advent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16
  • Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26 or Canticle 3 or 15
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 16: 25-27
  • Gospel: Luke 1: 26-28

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Christmas Season

Season of Epiphany

First Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Genesis 1: 1-5
  • Psalm 29
  • New Testament Reading: Acts 19: 1-7
  • Gospel: Mark 1: 4-11

Second Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (11-20)
  • Psalm 139: 1-5, 12-17
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20
  • Gospel: John 1: 43-51

Third Sunday after Epiphany

  • General Reflection
  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Jonah 3: 1 -5, 10
  • Psalm 62: 6-14
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31
  • Gospel: Mark 1: 14-20

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
  • Psalm 111
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13
  • Gospel: Mark 1: 21-28

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

  • General Reflection
  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Isaiah 40: 21-31
  • Psalm 147: 1-12, 21c
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
  • Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Isaiah 43: 18-25
  • Psalm 41
  • New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 1: 18-22
  • Gospel: Mark 2: 1-12

Eighth Sunday after Epiphany

Last Sunday after Epiphany

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Season of Lent

General Reflection on this year's readings for Lent

First Sunday in Lent

Second Sunday in Lent

Third Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Exodus 20: 1-17
  • Psalm 19
  • New Testament Reading: 1 Corinthians 7: 18-25
  • Gospel: John 2:13-22

Fourth Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Numbers 21: 4-9
  • Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22
  • New Testament Reading: Ephesians 2: 1-10
  • Gospel: John 3: 14-21

Fifth Sunday in Lent

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Holy Week

Palm Sunday

NOTE: If there is no other opportunity to use the texts appointed for Liturgy of the Palms, then in some years the homily or sermon might well be based on one or both of those texts rather than only and always on the texts appointed for Liturgy of the Word. The lectionaries of all our denominations do not include the whole of Scripture, or even in some cases a representative text of some important portions of it.

The Liturgy of the Palms

The Liturgy of the Word

Maundy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

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Easter Season

Easter Sunday

Services of Easter

Easter 2

  • First Reading: Acts 4: 32-35
  • Psalm 133
  • New Testament Reading: 1 John 1: 1 2: 2
  • Gospel: John 20:19-31

Easter 3

  • First Reading: Acts 3: 12-19
  • Psalm 4
  • New Testament Reading: 1 John 3: 1-7
  • Gospel: Luke 24: 36b-48

Easter 4

  • First Reading: Acts 4: 5-12
  • Psalm 23
  • New Testament Reading: 1 John 3: 16-24
  • Gospel: John 10:11-18

Easter 5

  • General Reflection
  • First Reading: Acts 8: 26-40
  • Psalm: 22: 24-30
  • New Testament Reading: 1 John 4: 7-21
  • Gospel: John 15: 1-8

Easter 6

Easter 7

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Season of Pentecost

Pentecost Sunday

Trinity

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Isaiah 6: 1-8
  • Psalm 29 or Canticle 2 or 13
  • New Testament Reading: Romans 8:12-17
  • Gospel: John 3:1-17

A Note about the Propers:

The major difference between the Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary and the Revised Common Lectionary is in the Propers (the Sundays after Pentecost). There are no readings for Proper 1 and Proper 2.

One track (called here "Semi-Continuous Track") arranges the Old Testament lessons in a semi-continuous narrative, similar to the way the Epistles are read in ordinary time. Year C focuses on the Prophets, arranged in chronological order, with heavy emphasis on Jeremiah.

The other track (called here "Gospel Theme Track") is similar to the Standard (Episcopal) Lectionary, wherein the lesson from the Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) is chosen to complement the themes of the particular Gospel reading for the day.

Both tracks use the same New Testament Lesson and Gospel.

[Source: Revised Common Lectionary: Episcopal Edition, St. Mark's Press, Wichita, KS (ISBN 0-9618112-4-2)]

Proper 3

If the Sunday between May 24 and May 28 inclusive follows Trinity Sunday, the Proper for the Eighth Sunday after the Epiphany is used. (Source: Revised Common Lectionary: Episcopal Edition, St. Mark's Press, Wichita, KS, page 297)

Proper 4 (May 29-June 4)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Deuteronomy 5: 12-15
Psalm
Psalm 81: 1-10
New Testament Reading:
2 Corinthians 4: 5-12
Gospel

Proper 5 (June 5-June 11)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
1 Samuel 8: 4-11 (12-15), 16-20 (11: 14-15)
Psalm
Psalm 138
New Testament Reading:
Gospel
Mark 3: 20-35

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Proper 6 (June 12-June 18)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
1 Samuel 15: 34 16: 13
Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Psalm
Psalm 20
Psalm 92: 1-4, 11-14
New Testament Reading:
2 Corinthians 4: 6-10 (11-13), 14-17
Gospel

Proper 7 (June 19-June 25)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:

1 Samuel 17: (1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49) or 1 Samuel 17: 57 18: 5, 10-16
Psalm

Psalm 9: 9-20 or Psalm 133
Psalm 107: 1-3, 23-32
New Testament Reading:
2 Corinthians 6: 1-13
Gospel

Proper 8 (June 26-July 2)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 1: 1, 17-27
Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2: 23-24
Psalm
Lamentations 3:21-33 or Psalm 30
New Testament Reading:
Gospel

Proper 9 (July 3-July 9)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10
Psalm
Psalm 48
Psalm 123
New Testament Reading:
2 Corinthians 12: 2-10
Gospel

Proper 10 (July 10-July 16)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b-19
Amos 7: 7-15
Psalm
Psalm 85: 8-13
New Testament Reading:
Gospel
Mark 6: 14-29

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Proper 11 (July 17-July 23)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 7: 1-14a
Jeremiah 23: 1-6
Psalm
Psalm 89: 20-37
New Testament Reading:
Ephesians 2: 11-22
Gospel

Proper 12 (July 24-July 30)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 11: 1-5
2 Kings 4: 42-44
Psalm
Psalm 14
Psalm 145: 10-19
New Testament Reading:
Ephesians 3: 14-21
Gospel
John 6: 1-21

Proper 13 (July 31-August 6)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 11: 26 12: 13a
Psalm
New Testament Reading:
Ephesians 4: 1-16
Gospel

Proper 14 (August 7-August 13)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
2 Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33
1 Kings 19: 4-8
Psalm
Psalm 34
New Testament Reading:
Gospel

Proper 15 (August 14-August 20)

Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
1 Kings 2: 10-12; 3: 3-14
Proverbs 9: 1-6
Psalm
Psalm 34: 9-14
New Testament Reading:
Gospel

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Proper 16 (August 21-August 27)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Joshua 24: 1-2a, 14-18
Psalm
Psalm 84
Psalm 34: 15-22
New Testament Reading:
Gospel

Proper 17 (August 28-September 3)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Psalm
Psalm 45: 1-2, 7-10
New Testament Reading:
James 1: 17-27
Gospel
Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

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Proper 18 (September 4-September 10)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23
Psalm
Psalm 125
New Testament Reading:
James 2: 1-10, (11-13), 14-27
Gospel

Proper 19 (September 11-September 17)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
1 Kings 8: (1, 6, 10-11), 22-30, 41-43
Isaiah 50: 4-9a
Psalm
Psalm 19 or Wisdom of Solomon 7: 26 8: 1
New Testament Reading:
James 3: 1-12
Gospel

Proper 20 (September 18-September 24)
Semi-Continuous Track
Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Proverbs 31: 10-31
Psalm
New Testament Reading:
Gospel

Proper 21 (September 25-October 1)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10; 9: 20-22
Psalm
Psalm 124
New Testament Reading:
James 5: 13-20
Gospel
Mark 9: 38-50

Proper 22 (October 2-October 8)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Job 1:1; 2: 1-10 Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm Psalm 26 Psalm 8
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 1: 1-4; 2: 5-12
Gospel
Mark 10: 2-16

Proper 23 (October 9-October 15)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 Amos 5: 6-7,10-15
Psalm Psalm 22: 1-15 Psalm 90:12-17
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 4: 12-16
Gospel
Mark 10:17-31
Creation Season 2012 Materials (available in September 2012)

Proper 24 (October 16-October 22)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Job 38: 1-7, (34-41) Isaiah 53: 4-12
Psalm Psalm 104: 1-9, 25, 37c Psalm 91: 9-16
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 5: 1-10
Gospel

Proper 25 (October 23-October 29)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Jeremiah 31: 7-9
Psalm
Psalm 34: 1-8 (19-22)
Psalm 126
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 7: 23-28
Gospel
Mark 10: 46-52

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Proper 26 (October 30-November 5)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Ruth 1: 1-18 Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Psalm Psalm 146 Psalm 119:1-8
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 9: 11-14
Gospel
Mark 12:28-34

Proper 27 (November 6-November 12)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: Ruth 3: 1-5; 4: 13-17 1 Kings 17: 8-16
Psalm Psalm 127 Psalm 146
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 9: 24-28
Gospel
Mark 12: 38-44

Proper 28 (November 13-November 19)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: 1 Samuel 1: 4-20 Daniel 12: 1-3
Psalm 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 Psalm 16
New Testament Reading:
Hebrews 10: 11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Gospel
Mark 13: 1-8

Proper 29 (Last Sunday after Pentecost) (November 20-November 26)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading: 2 Samuel 23: 1-7 Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14
Psalm Psalm 132: 1-13 (14-19) Psalm 93
New Testament Reading:
Gospel
John 18:33-37
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