Holy Communion Service in English
Worship Service
Lectionary Theme: Day of the differently abled;Sufficiency of God’s grace
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Isaiah 35:1-10 First Lesson
1. The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus
2. it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.
3. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
4. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”
5. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
6. then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
7. the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
8. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
9. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
10. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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2 Corinthians 12:1-10 Second Lesson
1. It is necessary to boast; nothing is to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2. I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.
3. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—
4. was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.
5. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.
6. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,
7. even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.
8. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,
9. but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
10. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Church
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2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Epistle
16. So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
17. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,
18. because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
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John 9:1-7 Gospel
1. As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.
2. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
3. Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.
4. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
5. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6. When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,
7. saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.