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Minnesota Episcopal
Environmental Stewardship
Commission (MEESC)

Episcopal Church in Minnesota

Upcoming Activities:

Next Meeting:

We meet quarterly close to the solstice and equinox.

Special Projects:

Creation Season Materials

Resolutions:

Resolution on the Spirituality of Food Production

Resolution on Church Buildings and Grounds

Resolution on Creation Season
Resolution on Green Congregations

 

 

Lectionary Reflection

Year C, Epiphany 4
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Readings
Episcopal Standard Lectionary and Revised Common Lectionary

Jeremiah 1: 4-10

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, ‘Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

 

Reflection on Jeremiah 1: 4-10
by the Rev Wanda Copeland

Jeremiah is overwhelmed that God would designate him as one to speak God's prophetic word to the people. His first words are "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy" (v. 6). Jeremiah was convinced of his inadequacy because of his age, his inexperience, his lack of knowledge. How could he do something as important as deliver God's message? God gives Jeremiah the answer: "Do not say, 'I am only a boy' ... Do not be afraid ... for I am with you to deliver you." (v. 6-7).

God has a unqiue message written in our hears and souls that only we can deliver. Is God calling you to speak out on behalf of the creation? Has God called you to proclaim over the Gospel of covenant God made with all the earth since the beginning?

"Do not say, 'I am [inadequate]'." "God will be with you."

Printable version

To Reflections on other Readings for Year C, Epiphany 4

Reflections available at the active links
Standard (Episcopal)
Lectionary
Revised Common
Lectionary
Old Testament (Hebrew Scripture) Reading:
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
(this page)
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
(this page)
Psalm
Psalm 71: 1-17
Psalm 71:1-6
New Testament Lesson
1 Corinthians 14:12b-20
1 Corinthians 13: 1-13
Gospel

 

The Rev Wanda Copeland, Co-Chair of the Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission (1997-2001), Chair of the Episcopal Ecological Network (2001-2004) and currently Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Horseheads, NY, was the Rector of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Elk River, MN, when she originally wrote this reflection in 2001. Wanda and we welcome your comments. Please address your comments or additional reflections to Wanda 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 2013-01-28.

 
 
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