John 15:1-11 and Psalm 9

John 15:1-11

[1]"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. [2]He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. [3]You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. [4]Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. [5]I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. [6]Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. [7]If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. [8]My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. [9]As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. [10]If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
[11]I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete."

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Psalm 9

[1]   I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;  
          I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  
[2]   I will be glad and exult in you;  
          I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

[3]   When my enemies turned back,  
          they stumbled and perished before you.  
[4]   For you have maintained my just cause;  
          you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.

[5]   You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked;  
          you have blotted out their name forever and ever.  
[6]   The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins;  
          their cities you have rooted out;  
          the very memory of them has perished.

[7]   But the LORD sits enthroned forever,  
          he has established his throne for judgment.  
[8]   He judges the world with righteousness;  
          he judges the peoples with equity.

[9]   The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,  
          a stronghold in times of trouble.  
[10]  And those who know your name put their trust in you,  
          for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

[11  ]Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion.  
          Declare his deeds among the peoples.  
[12]  For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;  
          he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

[13]  Be gracious to me, O LORD.  
          See what I suffer from those who hate me;  
          you are the one who lifts me up from the gates of death,  
[14]  so that I may recount all your praises,  
          and, in the gates of daughter Zion,  
          rejoice in your deliverance.

[15]  The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;  
          in the net that they hid has their own foot been caught.  
[16]  The LORD has made himself known, he has executed judgment;  
          the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.            
Higgaion.  Selah

[17]  The wicked shall depart to Sheol,  
          all the nations that forget God.

[18]  For the needy shall not always be forgotten,  
          nor the hope of the poor perish forever.

[19]  Rise up, O LORD! Do not let mortals prevail;  
          let the nations be judged before you.  
[20]  Put them in fear, O LORD;  
          let the nations know that they are only human.                    
            Selah

John 14:18-31 and Psalm 66

John 14:18-31

[18]"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. [19]In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. [20]On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. [21]They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." [22]Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?"
[23]Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
[24]Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

[25]"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. [26]But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. [27]Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
[28]You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. [29]And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. [30]I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; [31]but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way."

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Psalm 66

[1]   Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;  
[2]        sing the glory of his name;  
          give to him glorious praise.  
[3]   Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!  
          Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.  
[4]   All the earth worships you;  
          they sing praises to you,  
          sing praises to your name."                                        
             Selah

[5]   Come and see what God has done:  
          he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.  
[6]   He turned the sea into dry land;  
          they passed through the river on foot.  
     There we rejoiced in him,  
[7]        who rules by his might forever,  
     whose eyes keep watch on the nations --  
          let the rebellious not exalt themselves.                          
     Selah

[8]   Bless our God, O peoples,  
          let the sound of his praise be heard,  
[9]   who has kept us among the living,  
          and has not let our feet slip.  
[10]  For you, O God, have tested us;  
          you have tried us as silver is tried.  
[11]  You brought us into the net;  
          you laid burdens on our backs;  
[12]  you let people ride over our heads;  
          we went through fire and through water;  
     yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

[13]  I will come into your house with burnt offerings;  
          I will pay you my vows,  
[14]  those that my lips uttered  
          and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.  
[15]  I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings,  
          with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;  
     I will make an offering of bulls and goats.                            
    Selah

[16]  Come and hear, all you who fear God,  
          and I will tell what he has done for me.  
[17]  I cried aloud to him,  
          and he was extolled with my tongue.  
[18]  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,  
          the Lord would not have listened.  
[19]  But truly God has listened;  
          he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

[20]  Blessed be God,  
          because he has not rejected my prayer  
          or removed his steadfast love from me.

John 14:1-17 and Psalm 124

John 14:1-17

[1]"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.
[2]In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3]And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. [4]And you know the way to the place where I am going." [5]Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" [6]Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7]If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

[8]Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied."
[9]Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? [10]Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [11]Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. [12]Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. [13]I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14]If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

[15]"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. [16]And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.
[17]This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

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Psalm 124

[1]   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side  
          -- let Israel now say --  
[2]   if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,  
          when our enemies attacked us,  
[3]   then they would have swallowed us up alive,  
          when their anger was kindled against us;  
[4]   then the flood would have swept us away,  
          the torrent would have gone over us;  
[5]   then over us would have gone  
          the raging waters.

[6]   Blessed be the LORD,  
          who has not given us  
          as prey to their teeth.  
[7]   We have escaped like a bird  
          from the snare of the fowlers;  
     the snare is broken,  
          and we have escaped.

[8]   Our help is in the name of the LORD,  
          who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 47 and Exodus 13:3-10

Psalm 47

[1]   Clap your hands, all you peoples;   

          shout to God with loud songs of joy.   

[2]   For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,   

          a great king over all the earth.   

[3]   He subdued peoples under us,   

          and nations under our feet.   

[4]   He chose our heritage for us,   

          the pride of Jacob whom he loves.                    Selah

[5]   God has gone up with a shout,   

          the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.   

[6]   Sing praises to God, sing praises;   

          sing praises to our King, sing praises.   

[7]   For God is the king of all the earth;   

          sing praises with a psalm.

[8]   God is king over the nations;   

          God sits on his holy throne.   

[9]   The princes of the peoples gather   

          as the people of the God of Abraham.   

     For the shields of the earth belong to God;   

          he is highly exalted.

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Exodus 13:3-10

[3]Moses said to the people, "Remember this day on which you came out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, because the LORD brought you out from there by strength of hand; no leavened bread shall be eaten. [4]Today, in the month of Abib, you are going out. [5]When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this observance in this month. [6]Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a festival to the LORD. [7]Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen in your possession, and no leaven shall be seen among you in all your territory. [8]You shall tell your child on that day, 'It is because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.' [9]It shall serve for you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead, so that the teaching of the LORD may be on your lips; for with a strong hand the LORD brought you out of Egypt. [10]You shall keep this ordinance at its proper time from year to year." 

Matthew 28:1-16 and Psalm 118

Matthew 28:1-16

[1]After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. [2]And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. [3]His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. [4]For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. [5]But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. [6]He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. [7]Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.' This is my message for you." [8]So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. [9]Suddenly Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. [10]Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

[11]While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. [12]After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, [13]telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' [14]If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." [15]So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

[16]Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.

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Psalm 118

[1]   O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
          his steadfast love endures forever!

[2]   Let Israel say,
          "His steadfast love endures forever."
[3]   Let the house of Aaron say,
          "His steadfast love endures forever."
[4]   Let those who fear the LORD say,
          "His steadfast love endures forever."

[5]   Out of my distress I called on the LORD;
          the LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
[6]   With the LORD on my side I do not fear.
          What can mortals do to me?
[7]   The LORD is on my side to help me;
          I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
[8]   It is better to take refuge in the LORD
          than to put confidence in mortals.
[9]   It is better to take refuge in the LORD
          than to put confidence in princes.

[10]  All nations surrounded me;
          in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
[11]  They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side;
          in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
[12]  They surrounded me like bees;
          they blazed like a fire of thorns;
          in the name of the LORD I cut them off!
[13]  I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
          but the LORD helped me.
[14]  The LORD is my strength and my might;
          he has become my salvation.

[15]  There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
     "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
[16]       the right hand of the LORD is exalted;
          the right hand of the LORD does valiantly."
[17]  I shall not die, but I shall live,
          and recount the deeds of the LORD.
[18]  The LORD has punished me severely,
          but he did not give me over to death.

[19]  Open to me the gates of righteousness,
          that I may enter through them
          and give thanks to the LORD.

[20]  This is the gate of the LORD;
          the righteous shall enter through it.

[21]  I thank you that you have answered me
          and have become my salvation.
[22]  The stone that the builders rejected
          has become the chief cornerstone.
[23]  This is the LORD's doing;
          it is marvelous in our eyes.
[24]  This is the day that the LORD has made;
          let us rejoice and be glad in it.
[25]  Save us, we beseech you, O LORD!
          O LORD, we beseech you, give us success!

[26]  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD.
          We bless you from the house of the LORD.
[27]  The LORD is God,
          and he has given us light.
     Bind the festal procession with branches,
          up to the horns of the altar.

[28]  You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
          you are my God, I will extol you.

[29]  O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
          for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 66 and Psalm 98

Psalm 66

[1]   Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;  
[2]        sing the glory of his name;  
          give to him glorious praise.  
[3]   Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!  
          Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.  
[4]   All the earth worships you;  
          they sing praises to you,  
          sing praises to your name."                                        
             Selah

[5]   Come and see what God has done:  
          he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.  
[6]   He turned the sea into dry land;  
          they passed through the river on foot.  
     There we rejoiced in him,  
[7]        who rules by his might forever,  
     whose eyes keep watch on the nations --  
          let the rebellious not exalt themselves.                          
     Selah

[8]   Bless our God, O peoples,  
          let the sound of his praise be heard,  
[9]   who has kept us among the living,  
          and has not let our feet slip.  
[10]  For you, O God, have tested us;  
          you have tried us as silver is tried.  
[11]  You brought us into the net;  
          you laid burdens on our backs;  
[12]  you let people ride over our heads;  
          we went through fire and through water;  
     yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

[13]  I will come into your house with burnt offerings;  
          I will pay you my vows,  
[14]  those that my lips uttered  
          and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.  
[15]  I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings,  
          with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;  
     I will make an offering of bulls and goats.                            
    Selah

[16]  Come and hear, all you who fear God,  
          and I will tell what he has done for me.  
[17]  I cried aloud to him,  
          and he was extolled with my tongue.  
[18]  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,  
          the Lord would not have listened.  
[19]  But truly God has listened;  
          he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

[20]  Blessed be God,  
          because he has not rejected my prayer  
          or removed his steadfast love from me.

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Psalm 98

[1]   O sing to the LORD a new song,  

          for he has done marvelous things.  

     His right hand and his holy arm  

          have gained him victory.  

[2]   The LORD has made known his victory;  

          he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.  

[3]   He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness  

          to the house of Israel.  

     All the ends of the earth have seen  

          the victory of our God.

[4]   Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth;  

          break forth into joyous song and sing praises.  

[5]   Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre,  

          with the lyre and the sound of melody.  

[6]   With trumpets and the sound of the horn  

          make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD.

[7]   Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;  

          the world and those who live in it.  

[8]   Let the floods clap their hands;  

          let the hills sing together for joy  

[9]   at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming  

          to judge the earth.   

     He will judge the world with righteousness,  

          and the peoples with equity.

Mark 16:1-8 and Psalm 115

Mark 16:1-8

[1]When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. [2]And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. [3]They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" [4]When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. [5]As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. [6]But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. [7]But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." [8]So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid

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Psalm 115

[1]   Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,   
         for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.   
[2]   Why should the nations say,   
         "Where is their God?"

[3]   Our God is in the heavens;   
         he does whatever he pleases.   
[4]   Their idols are silver and gold,   
         the work of human hands.   
[5]   They have mouths, but do not speak;   
         eyes, but do not see.   
[6]   They have ears, but do not hear;   
         noses, but do not smell.   
[7]   They have hands, but do not feel;   
         feet, but do not walk;   
         they make no sound in their throats.   
[8]   Those who make them are like them;   
         so are all who trust in them.

[9]   O Israel, trust in the LORD!   
         He is their help and their shield.   
[10]  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!   
         He is their help and their shield.   
[11]  You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!   
         He is their help and their shield.

[12]  The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us;   
         he will bless the house of Israel;   
         he will bless the house of Aaron;   
[13]  he will bless those who fear the LORD,   
         both small and great.

[14]  May the LORD give you increase,   
         both you and your children.   
[15]  May you be blessed by the LORD,   
         who made heaven and earth.

[16]  The heavens are the Lord's heavens,   
         but the earth he has given to human beings.   
[17]  The dead do not praise the LORD,   
         nor do any that go down into silence.   
[18]  But we will bless the LORD   
         from this time on and forevermore.   
    Praise the LORD!