December 24, 2023

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Welcome!

Nativity by Schongauer

Nativity, 1480, Martin Schongauer, Oak panel at the Staatliche Museen, Berlin

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 follow the Revised Common Lectionary as adapted for use in Episcopal worship.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, December 24 --Christmas Eve: 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 Revised Standard Version.

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

1 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, "See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent." 3 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you."

4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?" 8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Canticle 15 (or 3) The Song of Mary

46 And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
     48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.

Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
     49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

50 His mercy is for those who fear him
     from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;
     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
     and lifted up the lowly;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
     and sent the rich away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,
     in remembrance of his mercy,

55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
     to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
     as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
     with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
     your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

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

4 "I will establish your descendants forever,
     and build your throne for all generations.' " (Selah)

19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said:
     "I have set the crown on one who is mighty,
     I have exalted one chosen from the people.

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

21 my hand shall always remain with him;
     my arm also shall strengthen him.

22 The enemy shall not outwit him,
     the wicked shall not humble him.

23 I will crush his foes before him
     and strike down those who hate him.

24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him;
     and in my name his horn shall be exalted.

25 I will set his hand on the sea
     and his right hand on the rivers.

26 He shall cry to me, "You are my Father,
     my God, and the Rock of my salvation!'

Romans 16:25-27

25 Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.