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Environmental Stewardship Commission

Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota
 
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We meet quarterly close to the solstice and equinox.

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Creation Season Materials

Resolutions:

Resolution on the Spirituality of Food Production

Resolution on Church Buildings and Grounds

Resolution on Creation Season

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Reflections:
Resources:
Environmental Events:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 C in 2010.

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) Lesson: Isaiah 64:1-9
  • Psalm 80: 1-7, 16-18
  • New Testament Lesson: 1 Corinthians 1: 3-9
  • Gospel: Mark 13: 24-37

Second Sunday of Advent

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

Third Sunday of Advent

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11, 16
  • Psalm 89: 1-4, 19-26 or Canticle 3 or 15
  • New Testament Lesson: 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) Lesson: Genesis 1: 1-5
  • Psalm 29
  • New Testament Lesson: Acts 19: 1-7
  • Gospel: Mark 1: 4-11

Second Sunday after Epiphany

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

Third Sunday after Epiphany

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

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

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

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

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

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

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

Eighth Sunday after Epiphany

Last Sunday after Epiphany

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Kings 2: 1-12
  • Psalm: 50: 1-6
  • New Testament Lesson: 2 Corinthians 4: 3-6
  • Gospel: Mark 9: 2-9

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Season of Lent

General Reflection on this year's readings for Lent

First Sunday in Lent

Second Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Genesis 17: 1-7, 15-16
  • Psalm 22: 22-30
  • New Testament Lesson: Romans 4: 13-25
  • Gospel: Mark 8:31-38

Third Sunday in Lent

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

Fourth Sunday in Lent

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Numbers 21: 4-9
  • Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22
  • New Testament Lesson: 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 Lesson: Acts 4: 32-35
  • Psalm 133
  • New Testament Lesson: 1 John 1: 1 – 2: 2
  • Gospel: John 20:19-31

Easter 3

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

Easter 4

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

Easter 5

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

Easter 6

Easter 7

  • First Lesson: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
  • Psalm: 1
  • New Testament Lesson: 1 John 5:9-13
  • Gospel: John 17: 6-19 

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Season of Pentecost

Pentecost Sunday

Trinity

  • Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Isaiah 6: 1-8
  • Psalm 29 or Canticle 2 or 13
  • New Testament Lesson: 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) Lesson: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (11-20) Deuteronomy 5: 12-15
Psalm Psalm 139: 1-5, 12-17 Psalm 81: 1-10
New Testament Lesson
2 Corinthians 4: 5-12
Gospel

 

Proper 5 (June 5-June 11)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 1 Samuel 8: 4-11 (12-15), 16-20 (11: 14-15) Genesis 3: 8-15
Psalm Psalm 138 Psalm 130
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: 1 Samuel 15: 34 – 16: 13 Ezekiel 17: 22-24
Psalm Psalm 20 Psalm 92: 1-4, 11-14
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson:

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

 Job 38: 1-11
Psalm

Psalm 9: 9-20
OR
Psalm 133

 Psalm 107: 1-3, 23-32
New Testament Lesson
2 Corinthians 6: 1-13
Gospel

 

Proper 8 (June 26-July 2)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Samuel 1: 1, 17-27 Wisdom of Solomon 1:13-15; 2: 23-24
Psalm Psalm 130 Lamentations 3:21-33
OR
Psalm 89: 1-4, 15-18
New Testament Lesson
Gospel

 

Proper 9 (July 3-July 9)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Samuel 5: 1-5, 9-10 Ezekiel 2: 1-5
Psalm Psalm 48 Psalm 123
New Testament Lesson
2 Corinthians 12: 2-10
Gospel
Mark 6: 1-13

 

Proper 10 (July 10-July 16)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Samuel 6: 1-5, 12b-19 Amos 7: 7-15
Psalm Psalm 24 Psalm 85: 8-13
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: 2 Samuel 7: 1-14a Jeremiah 23: 1-6
Psalm Psalm 89: 20-37 Psalm 23
New Testament Lesson
Ephesians 2: 11-22
Gospel

 

Proper 12 (July 24-July 30)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Samuel 11: 1-5 2 Kings 4: 42-44
Psalm Psalm 14 Psalm 145: 10-19
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: 2 Samuel 11: 26 – 12: 13a Exodus 16: 2-4, 9-15
Psalm Psalm 51 Psalm 78: 23-29
New Testament Lesson
Ephesians 4: 1-16
Gospel

 

Proper 14 (August 7-August 13)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 2 Samuel 18: 5-9, 15, 31-33 1 Kings 19: 4-8
Psalm Psalm 130 Psalm 34
New Testament Lesson
Gospel

 

Proper 15 (August 14-August 20)

Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 1 Kings 2: 10-12; 3: 3-14 Proverbs 9: 1-6
Psalm Psalm 111 Psalm 34: 9-14
New Testament Lesson
Gospel

Back to Top

Proper 16 (August 21-August 27)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 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 Lesson
Gospel

 

 

Proper 17 (August 28-September 3)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Song of Solomon 2: 8-13 Lesson: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9
Psalm Psalm 45: 1-2, 7-10 Psalm 15
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23 Isaiah 35: 4-7a
Psalm Psalm 125 Psalm 146
New Testament Lesson
James 2: 1-10, (11-13), 14-27
Gospel
Mark 7:31-37

 

Proper 19 (September 11-September 17)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: 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		 Psalm 116: 1-8
New Testament Lesson
James 3: 1-12
Gospel

 

Proper 20 (September 18-September 24)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Proverbs 31: 10-31 Wisdom of Solomon 1:16 – 2:1, 12-22
Psalm Psalm 1 Psalm 54
New Testament Lesson
James 3: 13– 4:3, 7-8a
Gospel
Mark 9: 30-37

 

Proper 21 (September 25-October 1)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Esther 7: 1-6, 9-10; 9: 20-22 Numbers 11: 4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Psalm Psalm 124 Psalm 19: 7-14
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: Job 1:1; 2: 1-10 Genesis 2:18-24
Psalm Psalm 26 Psalm 8
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 Amos 5: 6-7,10-15
Psalm Psalm 22: 1-15 Psalm 90:12-17
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 4: 12-16
Gospel
Mark 10:17-31

 

Proper 24 (October 16-October 22)

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

 

 

Proper 25 (October 23-October 29)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Job 42: 1-6, 10-17 Jeremiah 31: 7-9
Psalm Psalm 34: 1-8 (19-22) Psalm 126
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 7: 23-28
Gospel
Mark 10: 46-52

 

Back to Top

Proper 26 (October 30-November 5)

 Semi-Continuous Track Gospel Theme Track
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Lesson: Ruth 1: 1-18 Deuteronomy 6:1-9
Psalm Psalm 146 Psalm 119:1-8
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: Ruth 3: 1-5; 4: 13-17 1 Kings 17: 8-16
Psalm Psalm 127 Psalm 146
New Testament Lesson
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) Lesson: 1 Samuel 1: 4-20 Daniel 12: 1-3
Psalm 1 Samuel 2: 1-10 Psalm 16
New Testament Lesson
Hebrews 10: 11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Gospel
Mark 13: 1-8

 

 

Proper 29 (November 20-November 26)

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

 

 

We are looking for your input!

To provide your comments and thoughts to a reading without any comments, 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 2010-02-11.

 
 
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