December 20, 2020

Past Issues 2020

January 5 January 12
January 19 February 2 February 9 February 16 February 23 March 1 March 8 March 15 March 22 March 29 April 5 April 12 April 19
April 26 May 3 May 10
May 17 May 24 May 31
June 7 June 14 June 21
June 28 July 5 July 12 July 19 July 26 August 2 August 9 August 16 August 23
August 30 September 6 September 13 September 20 September 27 October 4 October 11 October 18
October 25 November 1 November 8 November 15 November 22 November 29 December 6 December 13

 

 

Welcome!

The Annunciation by da Vinci

The Annunciation, by Leonardo da Vinci, 1472-75, Tempera on wood at the Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder Jackie Rose was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below are being kept up to date.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, December 20 are from the Lectionary Year B Fourth Sunday of Advent:2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Canticle 3 or Canticle 15 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27 and Luke 1:26-38. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New International Version.

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

1 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 3 Nathan replied to the king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you.”

4 But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying: 5 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling. 7 Wherever I have moved with all the Israelites, did I ever say to any of their rulers whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’ 8 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “ ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me ; your throne will be established forever.’ ”

Canticle 15 (Luke 1:46-55)

46 And Mary said:

    “My soul glorifies the Lord
  47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
      48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
     From now on all generations will call me blessed,
      49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
  50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
        from generation to generation.
  51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
         he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
  52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
         but has lifted up the humble.
  53 He has filled the hungry with good things
         but has sent the rich away empty.
  54 He has helped his servant Israel,
         remembering to be merciful
  55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
         just as he promised our ancestors.”

or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

1 I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
     with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

2 I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
     that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
     I have sworn to David my servant,

4 ‘I will establish your line forever
     and make your throne firm through all generations.’ ”

19 Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said:
     “I have bestowed strength on a warrior;
      I have raised up a young man from among the people.

20 I have found David my servant;
     with my sacred oil I have anointed him.

21 My hand will sustain him;
     surely my arm will strengthen him.

22 The enemy will not get the better of him;
     the wicked will not oppress him.

23 I will crush his foes before him
     and strike down his adversaries.

24 My faithful love will be with him,
     and through my name his horn will be exalted.

25 I will set his hand over the sea,
     his right hand over the rivers.

26 He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father,
     my God, the Rock my Savior.’

Romans 16:25-27

25 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.