When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song:‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,for you were slaughtered and by…
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Around the throne, and on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with a face like a human face, and the fourth living creature like a flying eagle. And the…
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‘Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.’ . Apocalypse 3: 1-6, 14-22, NRSV In today’s reading from the Book of Revelation, there are strongly worded messages of reprimand for the churches of Sardis and Laodicea. In the case of Sardis, the criticism is that they now…
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‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance. I know that you cannot tolerate evildoers; you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them to be false. I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that…
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She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy.Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates. Proverbs 31:10-13,19-20,30-31RSV At first glance, this reading may…
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Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church. 3 John 5-8, NRSV Although the individual “churches” were small at this time, there seems to have been a lot of visiting between them – sharing teaching – bringing…
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But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning—you must walk…
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Perhaps this is the reason Onesimus was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for ever, no longer as a slave but as more than a slave, a beloved brother—especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. Philemon 7-20, NRSV…
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When the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that,…
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Show yourself in all respects a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, gravity, and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.. From Titus 2: 1-8, 11-14, NRSV Few of us feel comfortable speaking very openly about our faith…
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