25 James Otis Sargent Huntington, Priest and Monk, 1935 a priest of the Episcopal Church, was the founder of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican Benedictine monastic order for men 26 Isaac Watts, Hymnwriter, 1748 27 28 Kamehameha and Emma, King and Queen of Hawaii, 1864, 1885 29 30 Saint Andrew the Apostle is a Christian Apostle and the brother of Saint Peter. December 1 Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637 2 Channing Moore Williams, Missionary Bishop in China and Japan, 1910 was an Episcopalian missionary to China and Japan and later bishop OLD TESTAMENT 2 Samuel 23: 1 - 7 (RCL) 2Sam 23:1 (NRSV) Now these are the last words of David The oracle of David, son of Jesse, the oracle of the man whom God exalted, the anointed of the God of Jacob, the favorite of the Strong One of Israel 2 The spirit of the LORD speaks through me, his word is upon my tongue. 3 The God of Israel has spoken, the Rock of Israel has said to me One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, 4 is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land. 5 Is not my house like this with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. Will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 6 But the godless are all like thorns that are thrown away; for they cannot be picked up with the hand; 7 to touch them one uses an iron bar or the shaft of a spear. And they are entirely consumed in fire on the spot. Daniel 7: 13 - 14 (Roman Catholic) Daniel 7: 9 - 10, 13 - 14 (C of E, alt. for RCL) Dani 7:9 (NRSV) As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. 14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed. PSALM 132: 1 - 12 (13 - 18) (RCL) Psal 132:1 (NRSV) O LORD, remember in David's favor all the hardships he endured; 2 how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, 3 "I will not enter my house or get into my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob." 6 We heard of it in Eph'rathah; we found it in the fields of Ja'ar. 7 "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool." 8 Rise up, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your faithful shout for joy. 10 For your servant David's sake do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11 The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back "One of the sons of your body I will set on your throne. 12 If your sons keep my covenant and my decrees that I shall teach them, their sons also, forevermore, shall sit on your throne." 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his habitation 14 "This is my resting place forever; here I will reside, for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread. 16 Its priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy. 17 There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed one. 18 His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on him, his crown will gleam." Verse numbering in your Psalter may differ from the above. 132 Memento, Domine (ECUSA BCP) 1 LORD, remember David, * and all the hardships he endured; 2 How he swore an oath to the LORD * and vowed a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 “I will not come under the roof of my house, * nor climb up into my bed; 4 I will not allow my eyes to sleep, * nor let my eyelids slumber; 5 Until I find a place for the LORD, * a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6 “The ark! We heard it was in Ephratah; * we found it in the fields of Jearim. 7 Let us go to God's dwelling place; * let us fall upon our knees before his footstool.” 8 Arise, O LORD, into your resting-place, * you and the ark of your strength. 9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness; * let your faithful people sing with joy. 10 For your servant David’s sake, * do not turn away the face of your Anointed. 11 The LORD has sworn an oath to David; * in truth, he will not break it: 12 “A son, the fruit of your body * will I set upon your throne. 13 If your children keep my covenant and my testimonies that I shall teach them, * their children will sit upon your throne for evermore.” 14 For the LORD has chosen Zion; * he has desired her for his habitation: 15 “This shall be my resting-place for ever; * here will I dwell, for I delight in her. 16 I will surely bless her provisions, * and satisfy her poor with bread. 17 I will clothe her priests with salvation, * and her faithful people will rejoice and sing. 18 There will I make the horn of David flourish; * I have prepared a lamp for my Anointed. 19 As for his enemies, I will clothe them with shame; * but as for him, his crown will shine." Psalm 93 (C of E, alt. for RCL) Psalm 93: 1, 2, 5 (Roman Catholic) Psal 93:1 (NRSV) The LORD is king, he is robed in majesty; the LORD is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved; 2 your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting. 3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring. 4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the LORD! 5 Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O LORD, forevermore. 93 Dominus regnavit (ECUSA BCP) 1 The Lord is King; he has put on splendid apparel; * the Lord has put on his apparel and girded himself with strength. 2 He has made the whole world so sure * that it cannot be moved; 3 Ever since the world began, your throne has been established; * you are from everlasting. 4 The waters have lifted up, O Lord, the waters have lifted up their voice; * the waters have lifted up their pounding waves. 5 Mightier than the sound of many waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea, * mightier is the Lord who dwells on high. 6 Your testimonies are very sure, * and holiness adorns your house, O Lord, for ever and for evermore. NEW TESTAMENT Revelation 1: 4b - 8 (RCL, C of E) Revelation 1: 5 - 8 (Roman Catholic) Reve 1:4 (NRSV) Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. h/t Montreal Anglican John begins and ends this book as a letter. Literally, it is “to the seven churches that are in Asia” (v. 4a), Asia being a Roman province in western Asia Minor, but “seven” symbolizes totality, so John may speak to all churches in the province, or to all everywhere. The salutation combines both Greek (“grace”) and Hebrew (“peace”) forms, and is from God, here described as being throughout time, meaning eternal. The salutation is also from “the seven spirits”: this may mean the Spirit of God (in Isaiah 11:2, the Spirt operates in seven ways) or the seven angels (Michael, Raphael, etc) closest to God (“before his throne”, v. 4) in contemporary Jewish thinking. Further, it is “from Jesus Christ” (v. 5), who is: • “the faithful witness”: he revealed the Father perfectly in his earthly life, and crowned this by the sacrifice of his life; • “firstborn of the dead”: in his resurrection, he inaugurated a new era; and • “ruler ...”: being now exalted, he has power over all creation. Vv. 5b-6 praise God: • Christ loves us continually and, by his death, he has freed us from sins; and • he has marked us as God’s, and has made us all “priests”, mediators between God and the rest of humanity. “Amen”, a Hebrew word, means It is sure and trustworthy! or so be it!: it is both valid and binding. (In 3:14, Christ is called “the Amen”.) V. 7 combines two Old Testament prophetic sayings to predict the return of Christ at the end of the age. Those who put him to death and all unbelievers “will wail” for showing hostility to Christ and his Church: they will be condemned when Jesus comes us as judge. V. 8 tells us that, from A to Z, God is sovereign over all events of human history; his power is supreme (“Almighty”). GOSPEL John 18: 33 - 37 (all) John 18:33 (NRSV) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34 Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 35 Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37 Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Note the Roman Catholic lectionary omits the first part of v. 33. This is part of John’s account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Pilate has met with those Jews seeking his death outside his “headquarters”, the praetorium. He has asked: what charge, valid in Roman law, do you have to bring against him? (v. 29). V. 30 shows that they have none to propose. Pilate refuses to get involved by telling them to try him under Jewish law. They then make it obvious that they seek Jesus’ death. Now Pilate goes inside the praetorium and asks Jesus: are you the leader of a revolutionary movement? In return, Jesus asks him: Is this question your idea, based on what you have heard, or did others put you up to it? Pilate shows his scorn for Jews; the religious authorities seek your death, but what grounds are there for killing you? In v. 36, Jesus begins to explain the nature of his kingship. Were he a rebel leader, his followers “would be fighting to keep me from being handed over” to the religious authorities, but he is no threat to Pilate’s authority. Pilate picks up on Jesus words “my kingdom”. Jesus is king of “truth” (v. 37); his subjects are those who belong to the truth. He was “born” and “came into the world” to establish the kingdom of God, the ultimate truth.