Kal May

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<Proper 1> =Week of the Sunday closest to May 11=

PRAYER (traditional language) Remember, O Lord, what thou hast wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as thou hast called us to thy service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Remember, O Lord, what you have wrought in us and not what we deserve; and, as you have called us to your service, make us worthy of our calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 15:11-20 Do not say, "The Lord is to blame for my going astray"; it is for you to avoid what he hates. Do not say, "It was he who led me into error"; he has no use for a sinner. The Lord hates every kind of vice; you cannot love vice and still fear him. When in the beginning God created the human race, he left them free to take their own decisions; If you choose, you can observe the commandments; you can keep faith if you are so minded. He has set before you fire and water: reach out and make your choice. Mortals are offered life or death: whichever they prefer will be given them. For great is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power, all-seeing; his eyes are on those who fear him; no human action escapes his notice. He has commanded no one to be impious; to none has he given license to sin.

ALTERNATE FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (Moses in his farewell to the people of Israel: I have set before you this day death and life. Forget the statutes that the LORD has given you, and you will cease to exist as a people. Keep them, and you will be blessed.)

PSALM 119:1-16 (or 119:9-16) (Blessed are those who study the LORD's precepts, and follow them.)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (You ought to be running the Christian race, but if you quarrel and form factions, one of Paul, another of Apollos, then you are still in the starting gate.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 5:21-24,27-30,33-37 (Jesus said: Your fathers were told, "Do not murder," but I tell you, "Do not be angry with your brother." Your fathers were told, "Do not commit adultery," but I tell you, "Do not harbor lustful desires." Your fathers were told, "Do not swear falsely," but I tell you, "Do not swear.")

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: 2 Kings 5:1-15ab (The prophet Elisha cures Naaman, the general of the army of the king of Syria, of leprosy.)

Bitter tears of lamentation are my food by night and day; in my deep humiliation, Where is now thy God? they say. Yea, my soul doth melt in me, when I bring to memory how of yore I did assemble with the joyful in thy temple.

O my soul, why art thou grieving, why disquieted in me? Hope in God, thy faith retrieving; let Him still thy refuge be. I shall yet extol His grace for the comfort of His face; He has ever turned my sorrow into gladness on the morrow.

From the land beyond the Jordan I bewail my misery; from the foothills on Mount Hermon, O my God, I think of Thee. As the waters plunge and leap, deep re-echoes unto deep; All thy waves and billows roaring o'er my troubled soul are pouring.

But the Lord will send salvation, and by day his love provide; He shall be my exaltation, and my song at eventide. On his praise e'en in the night I will ponder with delight, and in prayer, transcending distance, seek the God of my existence.

I will say to God, my fortress: Why hast Thou forsaken me? Why go I about in sadness for my foes' dread tyranny? Their rebukes and scoffing words pierce my bones as pointed swords, as they say with proud defiance: Where is God, thy soul's reliance?

O my soul, why art thou grieving, why disquieted in me? Hope in God, thy faith retrieving; let Him still thy refuge be. I shall yet through all my days give to Him my thankful praise; God, who will from shame deliver, is my God, my rock, forever.

Dewey Westra, 1931 (Psalter Hymnal of the Christian Reformed Church, 1959) Tune by Louis Bourgeois, 1551 (Geneva Psalter)

Ever since 1551, this tune has been used for metrical settings of Psalm 42 in many languages, as well as for other hymns such as "Comfort, comfort ye my people" (from Isaiah 40:1-8), or "Oh, what precious balm and healing," or "Joy and triumph everlasting". Look in the Metrical Index under 8787.7788. The tune (if you find a hymnal with the original rhythm) is a hemiola (alternate 6/8 and 3/4 rhythm, like the song "America" from "West Side Story").

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (In a race, there are many runners, but only one winner. Run to win. Train to win.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 1:40-45 (Jesus heals a leper.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 17:5-10 (The man who trusts in man is like a desert shrub. The man who trusts in God is like a tree by a river.)

PSALM 1 (The godly are like a sturdy tree by a river, with roots firm and deep. The ungodly are like chaff carried away by the wind.)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 15:12-20 (If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised, and our faith is all a mistake. But in fact Christ has been raised, and calls us to follow Him through death to endless joy.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 6:17-26 (Jesus said: Blessed are you when men revile you for my sake. But woe to you when all men speak well of you.)

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<Proper 2> =Week of the Sunday closest to May 18=

PRAYER (traditional language) Almighty and merciful God, of thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech thee, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in body and soul, may with free hearts accomplish those things which belong to thy purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Almighty and merciful God, in your goodness keep us, we pray, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with free hearts those things which belong to your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Leviticus 19:1-2,9-18 (You shall all be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy. You shall care for the poor. You shall not steal or lie, or postpone paying your workers. You shall not pervert justice, or hate your neighbor, or bear a grudge.)

PSALM 71 (or 71:16-24) (I will praise thee, O God, for thy righteous deeds.)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 3:10-11,16-23 (You all are the building which Apollos and others and I have been commissioned to erect, the temple of God in which he dwells.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 5:38-48 (Jesus said: Your fathers were told, "An eye for an eye," but I tell you, "Do not resist an evil man." Your fathers were told, "Love your neighbor," but I tell you, "Do good to your enemies, just as God gives rain and sun to good men and bad. Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.")

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Isaiah 43:18-25 ("I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, and will not remember your sins.")

PSALM 32 (or 32:1-8) (Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven.)

EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22 (Paul says that his dealings with the Corinthians have been consistent and trustworthy, being rooted in Jesus Christ, who is consistent and trustworthy.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 2:1-12 (Jesus heals a paralyzed man, but first tells him that his sins are forgiven, which shocks some of his hearers.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Genesis 45:3-11,21-28 (Joseph, whose brothers have wronged him, and who has not seen them for 18 years, reveals himself and tells them to fetch their father and join him in Egypt until the famine is over.)

PSALM 37:1-18 (or 37:3-10) (Trust in the LORD, and in the end, all shall be well. It may seem that the wicked prosper and the godly do not, but that will be remedied.)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 15:35-38,42-50 (The kernel of wheat that is planted is far surpassed in beauty by the green stalk that springs from it. Just so, seeing the body that is buried is no preparation for the glory of the resurrected body.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 6:27-38 (Jesus said: As you wish men to do to you, do so to them. As for loving those who love them, do not even criminals do that? Be like God, who is good even to the ungrateful and the selfish.)

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<Proper 3> =The Sunday closest to May 25=

PRAYER (traditional language) Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by thy providence; and that thy Church may joyfully serve thee in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

PRAYER (contemporary language) Grant, O Lord, that the course of this world may be peaceably governed by your providence; and that your Church may joyfully serve you in confidence and serenity; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

FOR YEAR A

FIRST READING: Isaiah 49:8-18 (Thus says the LORD: I will feed my people and give them springs of water, and comfort them. They have no cause for anxiety.)

PSALM 62 (or 62:6-14) ( "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my refuge, my fortress; I shall not be shaken." )

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5(6-7)8-13 (The Corinthians, says Paul, are comfortable and smug. The Apostles, on the other hand, are without security, homeless, earning their bread from hand to mouth, subject to arrest without notice.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 6:24-34 (Do not be anxious about your life, about whether your earthly future is secure. Will worrying make it more so? God feeds the birds, and clothes the anemones in gorgeous colors. He will care for you.)

FOR YEAR B

FIRST READING: Hosea 2:14-23 (Israel has turned her back on the LORD, like an unfaithful wife. But God, having chastised Israel, will restore and forgive her. Their former love will be renewed, and all shall be well.)

PSALM 103 (or 103:1-6) (Praise the LORD, who forgives our sins and heals our diseases, and saves us from destruction.)

EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 3:(4-11)17--4:2 (The Law of Moses showed that men were worthy of death, and yet receiving it made Moses' face glorious and shining. Surely the ministry of Chirst, which delivers us from death, is far more glorious.)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 2:18-22 (Jesus is asked why his disciples do not fast. He answers: My presence is reason enough for feasting.)

FOR YEAR C

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 7:1-7(8-15) (Do not think that your sacrifices will protect you from disaster, if you follow false gods, if you steal, murder, commit adultery, or swear falsely.)

PSALM 92 (or 92:1-5,11-14) (Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy works, and I will rejoice in giving praise for the operatios of thy hands.)

EPISTLE: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (The trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised. Death, where is thy victory?)

THE HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 6:39-49 (Do not censure your brother's faults and ignore your own. A tree is known by its fruit. Follow my commands, and you build on rock; else you build on sand.)

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