1 John 5:1-6 (May 13) page 1 of 1

Everyone who believes
that Jesus is the Christ
has been born of God,

and everyone
who loves the parent
loves the child.

By this we know
that we love the children of God,
when we love God
and obey his commandments.

For the love of God is this,
that we obey his commandments.

And his commandments
are not burdensome,
for whatever is born of God
conquers the world.

And this is the victory
that conquers the world,
our faith.

Who is it that conquers the world
but the one who believes
that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came
by water and blood,
Jesus Christ,
not with the water only
but with the water and the blood.

And the Spirit is the one that testifies,
for the Spirit is the truth.
John 15:9-17 (May 13) page 1 of 1

As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you;
abide in my love.

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.

I have said these things to you
so that my joy may be in you,
and that your joy may be complete.

'This is my commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.

No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.

You are my friends
if you do what I command you.

I do not call you servants any longer,
because the servant does not know
what the master is doing;
but I have called you friends,
because I have made known to you
everything that I have heard from my Father.

You did not choose me but I chose you.

And I appointed you to go and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
so that the Father will give you
whatever you ask him in my name.

I am giving you these commands
so that you may love one another.

1 John 4:7-21 (May 6) page 1 of 2

Beloved,
let us love one another,
because love is from God;
everyone who loves
is born of God
and knows God.

Whoever does not love
does not know God,
for God is love.

God's love was revealed among us
in this way:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might live through him.

In this is love,
not that we loved God
but that God loved us
and sent his Son
to be the propitiation
for our sins.

Beloved,
since God loved us so much,
we also ought to love one another.

No one has ever seen God;
if we love one another,
God lives in us,
and his love
is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us,
because he has given us of his Spirit.

1 John 4:7-21 (May 6) page 2 of 2

And we have seen and do testify
that the Father has sent his Son
as the Saviour of the world.

God abides in those who confess
that Jesus is the Son of God,
and they abide in God.

So we have known and believe
the love that God has for us.

God is love,
and those who abide in love
abide in God,
and God abides in them.

Love has been perfected among us in this:
that we may have boldness on the day of judgment,
because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear;
for fear has to do with punishment,
and whoever fears
has not reached perfection in love.

We love because he first loved us.

Those who say, 'I love God',
and hate their brothers or sisters,
are liars;
for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen,
cannot love God whom they have not seen.

The commandment we have from him is this:
those who love God
must love their brothers and sisters also.
John 15:1-8 (May 6) page 1 of 1

'I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vine-grower.
He removes every branch in me
that bears no fruit.

Every branch that bears fruit
he prunes
to make it bear more fruit.

You have already been cleansed
by the word that I have spoken to you.

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.

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.

Whoever does not abide in me
is thrown away like a branch and withers;
such branches are gathered,
thrown into the fire,
and burned.

If you abide in me,
and my words abide in you,
ask for whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.

My Father is glorified by this,
that you bear much fruit
and become my disciples.

Matthew 25:31-46 (page 1 of 2)
Read by Jan Bisset,
April 22, 2012
Foodgrains/EarthDay

'When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

32All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
33and he will put the sheep at his right hand
and the goats at the left.

34Then the king will say to those at his right hand,
...Come, you that are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world;

35for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
36I was naked and you gave me clothing,
I was sick and you took care of me,
I was in prison and you visited me.o

37Then the righteous will answer him,
...Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food,
or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,
or naked and gave you clothing?
39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?o


Matthew 25:31-46 (page 2 of 2)

40And the king will answer them,
...Truly I tell you,
just as you did it to one of the least of these
who are members of my family,*
you did it to me.o

41Then he will say to those at his left hand,
...You that are accursed,
depart from me into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels;

42for I was hungry and you gave me no food,
I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me,
naked and you did not give me clothing,
sick and in prison and you did not visit me.o

44Then they also will answer,
...Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty
or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison,
and did not take care of you?o

45Then he will answer them,
...Truly I tell you,
just as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to me.o

46And these will go away into eternal punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life.'

THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN, (April 15) page 1 of 2
chapter 1 verse 1 to chapter 2 verse 2

We declare to you
what was from the beginning,

what we have heard,
what we have seen with our eyes,
what we have looked at
and touched with our hands,

concerning the word of life'
this life was revealed,
and we have seen it
and testify to it,
and declare to you the eternal life
that was with the Father
and was revealed to us'

we declare to you
what we have seen and heard
so that you also may have fellowship with us;
and truly our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We are writing these things
so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message
we have heard from him
and proclaim to you,

that God is light
and in him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:1-2:2 (April 15) page 2 of 2

If we say that we have fellowship with him
while we are walking in darkness,
we lie and do not do what is true;
but if we walk in the light
as he himself is in the light,
we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus his Son
cleanses us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins,
he who is faithful and just
will forgive us our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned,
we make him a liar,
and his word is not in us.

My little children,
I am writing these things to you
so that you may not sin.

But if anyone does sin,
we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous;
and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,
and not for ours only
but also for the sins
of the whole world.

When it was evening on that day,
the first day of the week,
and the doors of the house
where the disciples had met
were locked for fear of the Jews,

Jesus came
and stood among them
and said,
'Peace be with you.'
After he said this,
he showed them
his hands
and his side.

Then the disciples rejoiced
when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again,
'Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me,
so I send you.'

When he had said this,
he breathed on them
and said to them,
'Receive the Holy Spirit.

If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven them;

if you retain the sins of any,
they are retained.'

But Thomas (who was called the Twin),
one of the twelve,
was not with them
when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him,
'We have seen the Lord.'

But he said to them,
'Unless I see the mark of the nails
in his hands,
and put my finger
in the mark of the nails
and my hand
in his side,
I will not believe.'

A week later
his disciples were again in the house,
and Thomas was with them.

Although the doors were shut,
Jesus came
and stood among them
and said,
'Peace be with you.'

Then he said to Thomas,
'Put your finger here
and see my hands.
Reach out your hand
and put it in my side.
Do not doubt but believe.'

Thomas answered him,
'My Lord and my God!'

Jesus said to him,
'Have you believed
because you have seen me?

Blessed are those
who have not seen
and yet have come to believe.'

Now Jesus did many other signs
in the presence of his disciples,
which are not written in this book.

But these are written
so that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Messiah,
the Son of God,
and that through believing
you may have life
in his name.

Mark 16:1-8 (April 8), Page 1 of 2

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.

And very early
on the first day of the week,
when the sun had risen,
they went to the tomb.

They had been saying
to one another,
'Who will roll away the stone for us
from the entrance to the tomb?'

When they looked up,
they saw that the stone,
which was very large,
had already been rolled back.

As they entered the tomb,
they saw a young man,
dressed in a white robe,
sitting on the right side;
and they were alarmed.

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.

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.'

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.

Mark 11: 7- 11
7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
...Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!o
11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Mark 14: 17-46, 54,66-72, 15: 1-5, 16-20, 25, 40-41
17When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ...Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.o 19They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ...Surely, not I?o 20He said to them, ...It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.o
22While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ...Take; this is my body.o 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24He said to them, ...This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.o
26When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27And Jesus said to them, ...You will all become deserters; for it is written,
'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.'
28But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.o 29Peter said to him, ...Even though all become deserters, I will not.o 30Jesus said to him, ...Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.o 31But he said vehemently, ...Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.o And all of them said the same.
32They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ...Sit here while I pray.o 33He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34And he said to them, ...I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.o 35And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36He said, ...Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.o 37He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ...Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.o 39And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41He came a third time and said to them, ...Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.o
43Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. 44Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ...The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.o 45So when he came, he went up to him at once and said, ...Rabbi!o and kissed him. 46Then they laid hands on him and arrested him.
54Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire.
66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, ...You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.o 68But he denied it, saying, ...I do not know or understand what you are talking about.o And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. 69And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, ...This man is one of them.o 70But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, ...Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.o 71But he began to curse, and he swore an oath, ...I do not know this man you are talking about.o 72At that moment the cock crowed for the second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, ...Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.o And he broke down and wept.
15As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. 2Pilate asked him, ...Are you the King of the Jews?o He answered him, ...You say so.o 3Then the chief priests accused him of many things. 4Pilate asked him again, ...Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.o 5But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed.
16Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. 17And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18And they began saluting him, ...Hail, King of the Jews!o 19They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
25It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him.
40There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 31:31-34

The days are surely coming,
Says the Lord,
When I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.

It will not be like the covenant
that I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to bring them out of the land of Egypt
a covenant that they broke,
though I was their husband,
says the Lord

But this is the covenant
that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days,
says the Lord:

I will put my law within them,
and I will write it on their hearts;
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.

No long shall they teach one another,
or say to each other,
...Know the Lord,o
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,
says the Lord;
for I will forgive their iniquity,
and remember their sin no longer.

Numbers 21:4-9

From Mount Hor
they set out
by the way to the Red Sea,*
to go around the land of Edom;

but the people
became impatient
on the way.

5The people spoke against God
and against Moses,

'Why have you brought us
up out of Egypt
to die in the wilderness?

For there is no food
and no water,
and we detest
this miserable food.'

6Then the Lord sent poisonous* serpents
among the people,
and they bit the people,
so that many Israelites died.



7The people came to Moses
and said,
'We have sinned
by speaking against the Lord
and against you;

pray to the Lord
to take away the serpents from us.'

So Moses prayed for the people.

8And the Lord said to Moses,
'Make a poisonous* serpent,
and set it on a pole;

and everyone
who is bitten
shall look at it
and live.'

9So Moses made
a serpent of bronze,
and put it upon a pole;

and whenever
a serpent bit someone,
that person
would look at
the serpent of bronze
and live.