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[B]
THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD

INTROIT: All kings bow to HIM and all nations will serve HIM.  O God, give YOUR holy Son the power to judge with righteousness and honesty.  Because HE will help the poor people shouting for help, and HE will help the suffering people that no one else will help.  HE will show mercy and save the weak people from death.  HE will save those slave people and those suffering from beatings, because their lives are important to HIM.  Let HIS name stay forever, stay same long as the sun shines.

COLLECT: Lead us, O Lord, in all our doings with YOUR glorious love and continually help us with all the works that we begin, continue, and finish in YOUR name, that we will give glory to YOUR holy name and then by YOUR mercy receive eternal life.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

ISAIAH 60:1-6
     1.  Stand, shine same-as the sun, because the glory of the Lord is shining on you.
     2.  Darkness covers the earth and black darkness covers the people, but the light of the Lord shines on you, and HIS glory will be with you.
     3.  Nations will come to see your light and kings will come near to see.
     4.  Look-around you and see the things happening.  The people meeting together will come home.  Your sons will come from far-away.  Your daughters will be carried same-as children.
     5.  You will see this and be filled with joy.  You will be nervous with excitement.  The riches of the nations will be brought to you; yes, from across the sea riches will come.
     6.  Many CAMELS will come from the countries MIDIAN and EPHAH.  People will come from the country SHEBA bringing gold and perfume.  The people will tell the Good Story about the things that the Lord does.

EPHESIANS 3:2-12
     2.  You know that God in HIS mercy gave-me this work,  And God blesses you through my work.
     3.  God showed me HIS secret plan.  I already wrote about this in another letter.
     4.  If you read that other letter, then you will understand the secret about Christ.
     5.  Long-ago people didn't-know this secret.  But now God told HIS secret to HIS holy preachers and prophets.  God spoke through the Holy Spirit.
     6.  And this is HIS secret: people from other nations, not Jewish people, now can have God's blessings through HIS Good Story.  They are members of the same family.  They share in the promise God made through Jesus Christ.
     7.  God made me a preacher of this Good Story.  God gave me this work through the power of HIS mercy.
     8.  I am less worthy than any of God's people!  But God gave me honor because HE let me preach to people in other nations about the wonderful blessings of Christ.
     9.  And God let me help all people understand God's secret plan.  God made all things, and HE kept HIS plan secret through all past years.
    10.  Why?  For the church to teach the angel managers and spirit powers about God's wisdom now.
    11.  This agrees with God's eternal plan.  And God did and finished the things HE planned through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    12.  In joining with Jesus and through our faith in HIM, we have the courage to meet God face-to-face.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HIS faithfulness remains forever.  Give glory to the name of the Lord, bring a gift and enter HIS house.

MATTHEW 2:1-12
     1.  After Jesus was born in the city BETHLEHEM in the country JUDEA during the time of king HEROD, wise men from the East arrived in the city JERUSALEM and said,
     2.  "Where is the new baby King of the Jews?  We saw HIS star in the East, and we came to worship HIM."
     3.  King HEROD heard this and those words bothered him and all the people in the city JERUSALEM.
     4.  Then HEROD had a meeting with the Jewish priests and Law teachers and asked them about the place of Christ's birth.
     5.  They answered, "In the city BETHLEHEM in the country JUDEA, because the prophets wrote the words:
     6.  'And you BETHLEHEM, in the nation JUDAH.  You are not the smallest city in the country JUDAH.  Because from you a King will come and HE will lead MY people, ISRAEL.'"
     7.  Then HEROD called the wise men in a secret meeting and asked them about the time the star first appeared.
     8.  And HEROD sent the wise men to the city BETHLEHEM and said, "Go and search-for the baby.  After you find the baby, come and tell-me, then I can go and worship HIM also."
     9.  After the wise men listened to the king, they left.  And the star they saw before in the Eastern sky now appeared again; and that star moved and stopped over the baby's home.
    10.  And happened  the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with much happiness.
    11.  And they came into the house and saw the Baby with MARY, HIS mother.  And they knelt-down and worshipped Jesus.  They opened their gifts, and gave Jesus: gold, perfume, and sweet incense-smoke.
    12.  And God warned them in a dream, "Don't go to HEROD again."  Now the wise men left for their home nation another way.
 
 

[B]
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
 
INTROIT: Praise to the Lord God of ISRAEL.  God does wonderful things.  Praise HIS glorious name forever.  YOU (Jesus) are the most perfect man and YOUR mouth speaks words of love, because God blesses YOU forever.  YOUR throne, O God, will stay forever; YOU will judge YOUR kingdom honestly.  YOU love righteousness and hate evil; now God put YOU higher than all angels.

COLLECT: Father in heaven, happened our Savior, Jesus Christ, baptized, YOU named Jesus, YOUR dear Son.  In our baptism we became joined with Christ, and we receive eternal life through Christ.  Help us all to do as YOUR children, as we promised in our baptism.   We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

ISAIAH 42:1-7
     1.  God says, "Here is MY servant.  I support HIM.  I chose HIM.  HE makes ME happy.  I put MY Spirit on HIM.  HE will judge the nations.
     2.  HE will not shout or quarrel in the streets.
     3.  HE will see a crushed STEM, but HE will not break-it-off.  HE will not blow-out a weak burning LAMP.  HE will encourage the weak tempted people.  HE will judge honestly.
     4.  HE will not fail.  HE will not be disappointed.  HE will come to judge the earth; and the people across the seas wait to hear HIS teaching."
     5.  The Lord God creator of the wide-skies and the large world and all living things giving breath and spirit to all people says,
     6.  "I, the Lord, named YOU holy and protected YOU, and I gave YOU to show the people MY promise is true.  YOU shall shine as a Light to the nations;
     7.  YOU will let blind people see; YOU will free people from jail; YOU will free also those people in very dark jails."

ACTS 10:34-38
    34.  PETER began speaking.  "Now I understand.  God really does the same for all people.
    35.  Because any person that honors God and does right, then God accepts him.  The color of skin doesn't-matter.
    36.  You know God announced to the Jewish people that Jesus Christ gives us peace.  Jesus is Lord reigning all people.
    37.  You know JOHN preached about baptism in the country of the Jews.  Then Jesus did wonderful things, starting in the country GALILEE.
    38.  And you know God the Father gave the Holy Spirit and power to Jesus.  You know Jesus travelled-around helping people and healing people taking-away the devil's power.  Jesus could do these things because God the Father was with HIM."

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 1:4-11
     4.  JOHN lived in the dry country baptizing people and preaching that all people sorry for their sins, God will forgive them.
     5.  Everyone from the country JUDEA and from the city JERUSALEM went to listen to JOHN.  The people confessed their sins, and JOHN baptized the people in the river JORDAN.
     6.  JOHN'S clothes were made from CAMEL'S hair, tied-with-a-belt.  JOHN ate LOCUSTS and HONEY.
     7.  JOHN preached to the people that someone will come later.  "That person is much greater than me.  I am not good enough to kneel-down and untie HIS shoes.
     8.  I baptize you with water, but HE will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
     9.  A short time later Jesus came from the city NAZARETH in the country GALILEE, and JOHN baptized Jesus in the river JORDAN.
    10.  When Jesus began walking-out-of the water, the sky opened and the Holy Spirit came-down same-as a DOVE (bird) over Jesus' head.
    11.  And a voice came from heaven saying, "YOU are MY OWN dear SON.  I am very happy with YOU."
 
 

[B]
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
 
INTROIT: I don't hide YOUR righteousness in my heart; I speak about YOUR faithfulness and saving work.  O my God, I want to obey YOUR Word.  I wait patiently for the Lord, and HE heard my crying.  HE helped me out-of my troubles, and HE gave-me strength.  HE taught me a new song to praise my God.

COLLECT: Almighty and eternal God, YOU reign all things in heaven and earth. With mercy hear YOUR people pray and give us YOUR peace all the days of our life.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

I SAMUEL 3:1-10
     1.  Now the boy SAMUEL was serving the Lord by helping ELI.  The Lord almost never spoke in those days.
     2.  ELI was almost blind with age, and one night after ELI went to bed and SAMUEL slept in the temple near the ARK,
     3.  The Lord spoke, "SAMUEL, SAMUEL!"  And the boy said, "Here I am," and he ran to ELI.
     4.  The boy said, "Here I am, I heard you call me."
     5.  ELI said, "I didn't call you, go to bed again."  Now the boy went and lay-down.
     6.  Then the Lord spoke again, "SAMUEL!"  And the boy awoke and went to ELI and said, "Here I am, I heard you call me."  ELI said, "No, I didn't call you, go to bed again."
     7.  Now SAMUEL did-not-yet know the Lord, and he never heard a special word from God before.
     8.  Now the Lord spoke again the third time.  Again SAMUEL awoke and ran to ELI.  "Here I am, I heard you call me."  Then ELI understood that the Lord spoke to the boy.
     9.  Now ELI said, "Go and lay-down again, and if God speaks again, then say, "Speak, Lord, because YOUR servant hears.'"  Now SAMUEL went to bed again.
    10.  And the Lord came and stood near-by and spoke as before, "SAMUEL, SAMUEL!"  and the boy answered, "Speak, Lord, because YOUR servant hears."

I CORINTHIANS 6:12-20
    12.  Someone will say, "I can do anything I want to do."  Yes, but not everything is good for you.  I could say, "I can do anything I want to do," but I don't-want anything to make me a slave.
    13.  Someone will say, "Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food."  Yes, but God will destroy both.  SEXUAL sin is never correct.  Our bodies were not made for SEXUAL sin; No, our bodies were made for the Lord, and the Lord wants to fill us with HIMSELF.
    14.  God raised the Lord Jesus from death, and HE will also raise us by HIS power.
    15.  You know your bodies are parts of the body of Christ.  Then?  Shall I join part of Christ with a PROSTITUTE?  Shall I take part of Christ and join HIM with a woman that sells SEX?  Never, NO!
    16.  You know, correct?  Any man that joins his body with a PROSTITUTE becomes one body with her.  The Bible says very clearly, "The two shall become one body."
    17.  But if you give yourself to the Lord, you and Christ are joined together as one spiritual person.
    18.  Avoid SEX sin.  All other sins happen outside the body, but the person sinning with SEX, sins against his own body.
    19.  Did you forget?  Your body is the temple for the Holy Spirit now living in you, and God gave you HIS Spirit?  You don't OWN yourselves.
    20.  No, HE bought you and paid the price.  Now use your bodies to give glory to God.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

JOHN 1:43-51
    43.  The next day Jesus decided to go to the country GALILEE.  Jesus found PHILIP and said to him, "Follow ME."
    44.  PHILIP lived in the city BETHSAIDA, the home city of ANDREW and PETER.
    45.  PHILIP found his friend NATHANIEL and told him, "We found the promised Savior.  Remember MOSES and the prophets wrote about HIM in the Holy Book.  HIS name is Jesus, son of JOSEPH, from the city NAZARETH.
    46.  NATHANIEL answered, "NAZARETH?  Can anything good come from that small town?"  PHILIP said, "Come and see."
    47.  Happened that Jesus saw NATHANIEL coming, Jesus said, "Here is a true son of ISRAEL.  There is nothing false in him."
    48.  NATHANIEL asked Jesus, "How do you know me?"  Jesus answered, "I saw you while you sat under the FIG tree, before PHILIP invited you."
    49.  NATHANIEL answered, "Teacher, YOU are the Son of God.  YOU are the King of ISRAEL."
    50.  Jesus asked him, "Do you believe only because I told you I saw you while you sat under the FIG tree?  You will see many greater things than that!"
    51.  Then Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth.  You will see heaven open and the angels of God coming and going on the Son of Man."
 
 

[B]
THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
INTROIT: From the east to the west the name of the Lord is praised.  Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord.  Praise the Lord now and forevermore.  The Lord is praised in all the nations,  HIS glory praised in heaven.  HE helps the poor people out-of their broken houses, and puts them in seats next-to the princes.  To the woman she can't have any babies, HE gives her children to make her happy.

COLLECT: O Lord God Almighty, YOU always in the past gave several gifts from the Holy Spirit to YOUR servants, give us YOUR gifts today and give us the knowledge to use the gifts to YOUR honor and glory and the good of other people.   We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

JONAH 3:1-5, 10
     1.  Then God spoke to JONAH again,
     2.  "Go to the city NINEVEH and preach the words I tell you."
     3.  JONAH obeyed and went to the city NINEVEH.  The city was so large that it required three days to go across the city.
     4.  And JONAH walked one full day into town.  JONAH preached to the people, "Forty more days and God will destroy this city."
     5.  Then the people in the city NINEVEH believed God and announced a time for FASTING.  Everyone, including the king, dressed in funeral clothes.
    10.  And God saw that the people stopped doing evil.  Then God decided not to destroy the city and the people.

I CORINTHIANS 7:29-31
    29.  My Christian friends, I mean the time is short.
    30.  While you still have enough time, if you have a wife, then live as if you had no wife.  If you cry, then live as if you will never cry.
    31.  If you are happy, then live as if you were never happy.  If you buy anything, then live as if you had nothing.  While you use the things in the world, don't try to get everything you can from the world, because this world as you see it will disappear.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 1:14-20
    14.  After JOHN was put in jail, Jesus went to the country GALILEE and preached God's Good Story:
    15.  "The time finished arrived, and God's kingdom is here.  Change and believe the Good Story."
    16.  Happened that Jesus walked near the lake GALILEE, Jesus saw PETER and his brother ANDREW, both fishermen, throwing the nets into the water.
    17.  Jesus told them, "Come, follow ME and I will make you catch people."
    18.  Quickly PETER and ANDREW dropped their nets and went with Jesus.
    19.  Walking a short way Jesus saw JAMES, the son of ZEBEDEE, and his brother JOHN in their boat sewing their nets.
    20.  Then Jesus called JAMES and JOHN, and they left their father ZEBEDEE and the other workers in the boat and followed Jesus.
 
 

[B]
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
INTROIT: The Lord watches the way of the righteous, but the way of evil people will be destruction.  Happy is the person that doesn't listen to the advice of the evil people and doesn't together-with sinners and doesn't join with the mocking people.  But happy is the person that enjoys obeying the laws of the Lord and thinks about the laws day and night.  That person is the same-as a tree near the river growing good food and the leafs never wither.  Everything the righteous person does succeeds.  The evil person always fails.  The evil person is the same-as weeds blown-away.  Now the evil people will not stand in-front-of the judge; and sinners will not stand among the righteous people.

COLLECT: Almighty God, YOU know that we live with many dangers around us every-day and because of our sin we often weak, give us YOUR strength and protection to help us during all dangers and temptations.   We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

DEUTERONOMY 18:15-20
    15.  MOSES said to the people, "The Lord your God will send a Prophet.  HE will be the-same-as me.  HE will come from one of your families.  Listen to HIM.
    16.  Because you asked God to save you from death at Mt. HOREB.  You were afraid to see the great fire and hear the voice of the Lord your God near the mountain.
    17.  The Lord heard your prayer, and HE will do that.
    18.  The Lord will send a Prophet from among your people, and HE will speak the words that God will command.
    19.  And God will punish anyone not attending to HIS words.
    20.  But any prophet falsely speaking for God or any prophet speaking for an idol, that prophet will die."

I CORINTHIANS 8:1-13
     1.  Now about the meat given as a gift to an idol.  We know that all of us have some knowledge.  That makes a man proud, but love truly helps us to grow.
     2.  When a person thinks he knows something, truly he still has much more to learn.
     3.  But if that person loves God, then God knows him.
     4.  Now about eating meat offered to idols, we know that there is no true idol in the world, but that there is truly only one God.
     5.  But many people think many gods and lords reign heaven and earth.
     6.  But we know only one God, the Father.  HE made all things, and we live for HIM; and we know one Lord Jesus Christ.  HE made everything, and we live with HIM.
     7.  But some people don't-know that.  Some people grew-up thinking idols are alive, and they remember the meat offered to the idol, and their conscience is weak, and they feel it is a sin to eat the idol meat.
     8.  Food will not improve our relationship to God.  We will lose nothing if we don't eat the meat, and we will profit nothing if we eat the meat.
     9.  But we must be-careful, or maybe weak Christians will sin because they see you doing as you want.
    10.  If a weak Christian sees you eating in the temple of an idol, that would be encouraging him to eat the meat offered to an idol, Right?
    11.  And now your knowledge is leading this weak Christian to feel ashamed of his sin, although Christ died for him.
    12.  But happen you sin against your Christian friend in this way and hurt his weak faith, then you are sinning against Christ.
    13.  Now if food will make my Christian friend sin, then I will not eat that meat, because I don't-want to make my friend sin.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 1:21-28
    21.  Jesus and HIS followers arrived at the city CAPERNAUM.  And on the next worship day Jesus went into the church and began to teach.
    22.  The people were surprised with HIS teaching because Jesus didn't teach the-same-as the Law teachers, but Jesus taught with authority.
    23.  That same time a man came into the church and the man had an evil spirit in him.
    24.  And the evil spirit shouted, "Leave Jesus from NAZARETH.  YOU come to destroy us.  I know YOU are God's holy Son."
    25.  Jesus commanded the evil spirit, "Silence, come-out of the man."
    26.  The evil spirit shook the man and with a loud shout the evil spirit came-out.
    27.  The people were all surprised and began talking about that.  "Who is this Jesus?  A new teacher with strength!  Jesus commands the evil spirits, and the evil spirits obey HIM."
    28.  The story about Jesus quickly spread everywhere in all the country around GALILEE.
 
 

[B]
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
 
INTROIT: The light shines for the holy, loving, and righteous person during the darkness.  Praise the Lord.  Happy is the person that honors the Lord and obeys HIS commands.  Much wealth that person has and righteousness stays forever.  That person will not fear sad stories, but will stay strong and trust the Lord.  That person feels safe and will not fear; finally that person will defeat all the enemies.  That person gives gifts to poor people and righteousness stays forever.

COLLECT: O God, our loving Father, through YOUR Holy Spirit YOU put YOUR love in the hearts of YOUR faithful people.  Give YOUR servants a strong mind and body, that we can love YOU with all our strength and with all our heart and do things pleasing in YOUR sight.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

JOB 7:1-7
     1.  ?Do people experience trouble on earth?  Are we same-as servants working for pay?
     2.  Same-as a servant wants to rest in the shade and a working person wants to finish his work,
     3.  The same I suffer pain monthly and every night no rest.
     4.  Happen I go to bed, I think about time to wake-up.  But the night is a long time, and I roll-over back-and forth until sunrise.
     5.  My body is covered with worms and dirt;  my skin becomes hard and cuts again.
     6.  My time during the day is fast same-as sewing cloth and full of NO hope.
     7.  Remember, my life is same-as the wind, and I will not be-happy again.

I CORINTHIANS 9:16-23
    16.  I preach the Good Story, but I have nothing to boast.  I must tell the Good Story.  Warning, if I don't preach the Good Story!
    17.  If I do that because I want to do it, then I can expect you to pay me.  But if I don't-want to do this work, I still have the responsibility to do it.
    18.  What is my earnings?  I have the honor of preaching the Good Story with no cost to anyone, and I never demand my earned pay.
    19.  Now, I am a free man -- no one controls me.  But I give myself same-as a slave to everyone.  I do this to lead more people to Christ.
    20.  Happen I am working with the Jews, I live the-same-as a Jew to lead them to Christ.  Although I don't need to follow the rules of MOSES, I still obey those rules while I work with those people, that I can lead them to Christ.
    21.  In the-same way, happen I am working with not Jewish people, I live the-same-as those people without the rules, that I can lead them to Christ.  But I don't break the Law of God; NO, I follow the Law of Christ.
    22.  Some people are weak.  I become weak also to lead them to Christ.
    23.  I become the-same-as every person, that I can lead them to Christ.  I do all that to share the Good Story.  I want to share these blessings.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 1:29-39
    29.  Jesus departed from the Jewish church and arrived at the home of SIMON and ANDREW.  Jesus'friends JAMES and JOHN went with HIM.
    30.  SIMON's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a temperature.  SIMON told Jesus about the mother.
    31.  And Jesus went and took her hand and helped her stand-up.  The temperature dissolved and the mother served food to Jesus.
    32.  Happened that evening after sunset, people brought to Jesus all the sick and all the people with devils inside.
    33.  All the people from town came in-front-of the house.
    34.  Jesus healed many people with various sickness, and Jesus threw-out many devils.  Jesus would not let the devils speak, because the devils knew Jesus.
    35.  The next morning before sunrise Jesus awoke and departed from the house.  Jesus went outside the town to a lonely place to pray.
    36.  But SIMON and his friends came searching-for Jesus.
    37.  Happened that they found Jesus, they said: "Everyone is searching for YOU."
    38.  But Jesus answered, "We must go to the other cities around here.  I must preach to those people also, because that is the reason I came.
    39.  Then Jesus travelled all over the country GALILEE, preaching in the Jewish churches and throwing-out devils.
 
 

[B]
SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
INTROIT: The evil people have many troubles, but the people trusting in the Lord have HIS eternal love around them.  Happy is the person forgiven of his sins.  Happy is the person that always speaks the truth, because the Lord doesn't count his sins.  I confess my sins to YOU, and I don't hide my law breakings.  I will confess my mistakes to the Lord,  and HE forgives all of my sins.  Now let all the holy people pray to YOU and find YOU, Lord;  because happens that the great oceans cover-over us, then we can never find YOU.  God, YOU help protect us from all trouble and save us from destruction.

COLLECT: Lord God, YOU hear the prayers of YOUR people.  Help us to see and to understand the things we should be doing and give to us YOUR love and power to do those things.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord. Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

II KINGS 5:1-14
     1.  The king of the country SYRIA respected and liked  the chief officer in his army named NAAMAN, and the Lord God gave him many victories in battle.  NAAMAN was famous, but he also had the sickness LEPROSY.
     2.  Many times the army sent small groups to destroy and steal in the country ISRAEL, and once they took a little girl and gave her to be the servant for NAAMAN'S wife.
     3.  One day the little girl said to the wife, "I wish your husband would go visit the prophet living in the country SAMARIA.  He would heal his sickness LEPROSY."
     4.  NAAMAN told the king the things the girl said.  The king told NAAMAN, "Go and visit the prophet.  I will send a letter to the king of the country ISRAEL."
     5.  Now NAAMAN began on the trip with gifts; $20,000 of SILVER, $60,000 of GOLD, and 10 different clothing.
     6.  The letter to the king of the country ISRAEL said; "The man with this letter is my servant NAAMAN.  I want you to heal his sickness LEPROSY."
     7.  Happened the king of the country ISRAEL read the letter, the king tore-his-clothes and said: "That man sent a LEPROSY man to me for healing!  Am I God?  Can I kill and give life again?  He is trying to find a reason to start war again."
     8.  But happened that the prophet ELISHA heard the king of the country ISRAEL tore-his-clothes, the prophet sent a letter to the king; "Why are you upset?  Send the man NAAMAN to me, and he will learn a true prophet of God lives in the country ISRAEL."
     9.  Now NAAMAN arrived with his horses and several CHARIOTS and stood in-front-of the door to ELISHA'S house.
    10.  ELISHA sent a servant to tell the man: "Go wash yourself seven times in the river JORDAN, and you will become healed from the sickness LEPROSY."
    11.  But NAAMAN felt insulted and walked away saying: "I thought he will come out to me and stand in-front-of me and pray to the Lord his God and wave-his-hand over my body and heal the sickness.
    12.  Truly our rivers at home -- ABANA and PHARPAR rivers -- they are better than any water in the country ISRAEL.  I will go home and wash in the river." And NAAMAN departed very angry.
    13.  But the servants told him, "NAAMAN, if the prophet told you to do something different, you would do it, right?  Then you should obey happened he tells you only to go and wash and get healed."
    14.  Now NAAMAN went and washed himself seven times in the river JORDAN the-same-as the prophet ELISHA told him, and his skin became healthy again the-same-as the skin of a little child.

I CORINTHIANS 9:24-27
    24.  You know that in a race all run, but only one is the winner.  The-same you run to win.
    25.  Those runners must every-day practice.  They practice to win something that later dissolves, but we practice to win an eternal gift.
    26.  Now I always have that goal.  I'm not fighting nothing.
    27.  I force my body to practice and to obey me, then I teach the Good Story to other people and don't let myself become weak.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 1:40-45
    40.  A man sick with LEPROSY came to Jesus, kneeled, and begged Jesus, "If YOU want, YOU can heal me."
    41.  Jesus felt sorry for him, and Jesus touched the men and said, "I want-to help you.  Sickness, disappear!"
    42.  Quickly the sickness disappeared and the man became healed.
    43.  Then Jesus sent-away the man and commanded him, "Don't tell anyone about this, but first go to the Jewish priest and let him examine you.
    44.  Then you offer that gift MOSES commanded to show proof to all the people that you are now healed."
    45.  But after the man departed, he talked-so-much about the way Jesus healed him, that Jesus couldn't enter any towns.  Jesus tried to stay at places alone, but the people came out to find Jesus from many towns.
 
 

[B]
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
INTROIT: The Lord is full of mercy and kindness, slow to become angry, and overflowing with love.  Praise the Lord, Oh my soul;  all inside me, praise HIS holy name.  Praise the Lord, Oh my soul, and don't forget all HIS blessings.  HE forgives all my sins and heals all my sicknesses;  He saves my life from destruction and fills me with love and mercy.  HE satisfies all my needs with good things and I become excited same-as a young child.  HE doesn't punish us same-as we deserve.  Same-as the sky is high above the earth,  the same great is HIS love for those people that honor HIM;  the same far-away the east from the west, the same far-away HE throws our sins.

COLLECT: Lord God, we ask YOU to keep YOUR family, the Church, always faithful to YOU.  Let us depend on the hope of YOUR promises and get strength from the power of YOUR love.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

ISAIAH 43:18-25
    18.  The Lord God says: "Don't think about the things that happened before.
    19.  See, I am doing a new thing.  Right-now it begins to happen.  Can you see it?  I will make a road through the dry places, and I shall make rivers flowing through those places.
    20.  The animals in the fields will thank ME, yes JACKALS and OSTRICHES, because I give them water in the dry places and water-springs for MY people to drink.
    21.  The people I made for MYSELF will sing praise to ME.
    22.  But MY people - you don't pray to ME; you become bored with ME.
    23.  You didn't bring ME your sheep for burnt offering.  You didn't honor me with gifts.  I don't ask for many offerings.  I don't demand INCENSE.
    24.  You spend no money on sweet smelling INCENSE for ME.  You didn't fill me with your many gifts.  NO, instead you give ME only your sins.  You make ME tired with your law breakings.
    25.  I am the one that must forgive your wrongs, and I will not remember your sins."

II CORINTHIANS 1:18-22
    18.  You can trust God.  The things we tell you is not both yes and no.  We are not the-same-as people that say one thing and meaning another.
    19.  SILAS, TIMOTHY and I preached to you about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  In HIM you don't see yes and no.  Instead HE is the YES from God.
    20.  For all the promises of God, Jesus is the YES that makes the promises happen true.  Now, through Christ we give glory to God by saying, "Amen, let it happen."
    21.  God makes our faith, and your faith becomes strong in Christ.  HE separated us special for HIMSELF.
    22.  HE put HIS mark on us to show we belong to HIM.  HIS Spirit is in our hearts to prove this.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 2:1-12
     1.  Several days later Jesus came again to the city CAPERNAUM, and the story spread that Jesus came home.
     2.  So-many people came together, they filled the house, and many must stand outside the door.  Jesus preached God's Word to them.
     3.  Then some other people came and four men carried a man PARALYZED.
     4.  But they couldn't bring the man to Jesus through the crowd of people.  Now, they made a hole in the roof above the place Jesus stood.  After making the opening, they lowered the man lying on the bed.
     5.  Happened that Jesus saw their strong faith, HE said the the man PARALYZED, "MY son, your sins are forgiven."
     6.  Some law teachers sat in the house and thinking,
     7.  "Why did Jesus say that?  HE is talking against God.  No man can forgive sins, only God can forgive!"
     8.  Quickly Jesus knew their secret thoughts and Jesus said to them, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?
     9.  Which is easy to say to this man PARALYZED: 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Stand-up, take your bed and walk'?
    10.  I will prove to you that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins."
    11.  Then Jesus said to the man PARALYZED, "I tell you, stand-up, take your bed and go home."
    12.  While all the people watched, the man stood-up, took his bed, and went home.  They all were surprized and praised God, saying, "We never saw anything same-as this!"
 
 

[B]
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
INTROIT: Oh my soul, find rest with God; my salvation and my honor depend on God.  My soul finds rest only with God;  my salvation comes from HIM.  HE is my strength and my savior;  HE protects me and I will not fear.  O people, trust in HIM always; tell God your problems, becuase HE is YOUR protector.  One thing God spoke;  two things I heard:  that YOU, O God, are strong, and that YOU, O Lord, are loving.  Truly YOU will bless each person according to the things that person does.

COLLECT: O Lord, in mercy hear our prayers and free us from our sins and defend us against all evil.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

HOSEA 2:14-20
    14.  But I will encourage MY people again and bring them to the dry places and speak to them with kindness.
    15.  I will give again the good growing land and change that from a place of trouble to become a place of hope.  Then they will sing with happiness the-same-as they sang after leaving the country EGYPT.
    16.  Then, says the Lord, they will name ME "husband" and no more name ME "Lord".
    17.  I will make you forget all the idols, and you will not speak idol names anymore.
    18.  I will make an agreement between you and the animals and the birds and the snakes.  I will destroy the swords, spears and bow and arrows and make all wars to stop.  Then the people will sleep in peace.
    19.  And I will join MYSELF to you with righteousness, fairness, love and mercy.
    20.  I will show you faithfulness, and you will know the Lord.  On that day I will answer your prayers.

II CORINTHIANS 3:1-6
     1.  Do you want to see a letter of praise about us?  I don't think so.  We don't need a letter of praise about you.
     2.  The only letter I need is to see you yourselves.  By looking at the change in your hearts everyone can see your good works.
     3.  Everyone can see you are the same-as a letter from Christ, prepared by us, not written with INK or on stones, but written with the Holy Spirit of the living God in your hearts.
     4.  We have this trust in God through Christ;
     5.  Now we ourselves can't say anything comes from us, but our power comes from God.
     6.  God made us good and worthy servants of the new agreement.  And this agreement is not the written Law, but it is the spiritual promise.  Because the written Law kills, but the spiritual promise gives life.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 2:18-22
    18.  JOHN'S friends and some of the Jewish leaders stopped eating for part of their religious worship.  They came to Jesus and asked, "Why don't YOUR friends stop eating?"
    19.  Jesus asked them, "Do friends of the groom refuse to eat at a wedding?  While the groom is with them, they enjoy themselves and eat.
    20.  But after the groom departs, then they can stop eating.
    21.  No one sews some new cloth on old clothes.  If you do that, then the new cloth will rip the old cloth and the hole will become worse.
    22.  Same no one puts new wine in an old WINESKIN.  If you do that, then the WINESKIN breaks and both the wine and the WINESKIN are destroyed.  New wine is put in a new WINESKIN.
 
 

[B]
THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
INTROIT: Praise the Lord our God and worship in HIS holy Church, because the Lord our God is holy.  The Lord reigns, let the nations fear;  the Lord sits on HIS throne with angels around HIM, let the earth shake.  Great is the Lord in heaven;  HE reigns over all the nations.  Let the nations praise YOUR great and wonderful name -- HE is holy.  The King is mighty, HE loves honesty -- YOU always show fairness; in ISRAEL YOU finished doing the correct and fairness thing.  Praise the Lord our God and worship HIM; HE is holy.

COLLECT: O God, in that glorious transfiguration of YOUR only Son YOU proved the secret of the faith of our fathers, and with YOUR voice from that cloud YOU showed YOUR acceptance of us through Jesus.  In mercy give us that same glory that YOU showed in Jesus, and bring us to that glory in heaven.  We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, YOUR Son, our Lord.  Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, eternally one God.  Amen.

II KINGS 2:1-12
     1.  Now happened the Lord was ready to take ELIJAH to heaven in a wind.  ELIJAH and ELISHA departed the city GILGAL.
     2.  ELIJAH told ELISHA, "Stay here, because the Lord told-me to go to the city BETHEL."  But Elisha said, "Since the Lord lives and since you live, I will not leave you."  Now both went to BETHEL.
     3.  And the prophet sons in BETHEL asked, "Do you know today the Lord will take ELIJAH from here?"  ELISHA said, "Yes, I know that; be-quiet."
     4.  ELIJAH told him, "ELISHA, stay here, because the Lord told-me to go to the city JERICHO."  But ELISHA said, "Since the Lord lives and since you live, I will not leave you."  Now both went to JERICHO.
     5.  And the prophet sons in JERICHO asked, "Do you know today the Lord will take ELIJAH from here?"  And ELISHA said, "Yes, I know that; be-quiet."
     6.  Then ELIJAH told him, "ELISHA, stay here, because the Lord told-me to go to the river JORDAN."  But ELISHA said, "Since the Lord lives and since you live, I will not leave you."  Now both went to the river JORDAN.
     7.  Fifty prophet sons also went with them but stood afar while the two stood near the river.
     8.  Then ELIJAH took-off his coat, rolled-it-up, and hit the water, and the water separated until both walked on dry land.
     9.  Happened both finished crossing , ELIJAH asked, "What do you want before I leave?"  ELISHA said, "I ask-you for twice your spirit."
    10.  And ELIJAH said, " You asked for a hard thing; but if you see me ascending, you will get the thing you ask; but if you don't see me, then you get nothing."
    11.  While both walked and talked, see a CHARIOT flaming and horses flaming separated the two men.  And ELIJAH went to heaven.
    12.  ELISHA saw that and shouted, "My father, my father! The CHARIOTS and horses."  Then he saw ELIJAH no more.

II CORINTHIANS 3:12 - 4:2
    12.  Because we have hope, we are very brave.
    13.  We are not the same-as MOSES.  He covered his face that the Jews would not see the face shining dissolve.
    14.  The Jews had their minds closed, and still today their minds are covered happens they read the Old Testament.  If a person believes in Christ, the covering is taken-away.
    15.  Yes, still today happens the Jews read the Laws of Moses, their minds are covered.
    16.  But if anyone believes in the Lord, the covering is taken-away.
    17.  Now the Lord is a Spirit, and the place the Spirit of the Lord lives, you find freedom.
    18.  Then all of us show the glory of the Lord on our faces, and we are changed to become the same-as HIM.
   4:1.  God in mercy gave us this service, and now we don't become disappointed.
     2.  We throw-away all secret and shameful deeds.  We don't lie, and we don't use God's Word falsely.

GRADUAL: Praise the Lord, all you nations; praise HIM, all you people.  Because HIS love is great to us, and HE stays faithful forever.  Give glory to the Lord, and enter HIS house bringing a gift.

MARK 9:2-9
     2.  Six days later Jesus brought PETER, JAMES and JOHN and went to a high mountain four-of-them.
     3.  Jesus' body changed in-front-of their eyes, and HIS clothing became white shining, more white than anyone in the world could wash the clothes.
     4.  Then the three friends saw ELIJAH and MOSES talking to Jesus.
     5.  PETER said, "Teacher, it is good for us to be here.  We will make three tents, one for YOU, one for MOSES, and one for ELIJAH."
     6.  PETER didn't think before speaking.  All three friends were afraid.
     7.  A cloud came and covered that place and a voice spoke, "This is MY Son that I love.  Attend to HIM."
     8.  Quickly, the three friends looked around, but they saw only Jesus.
     9.  Happened they all departed from the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone the things that happened until after the Son of Man arise from the dead.


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