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The Lessons Appointed for Use on the
Last Sunday after Pentecost
Christ the King
November 23, 2003

The First Lesson                            Daniel 7:9-14
As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire. A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence. A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him. The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire. As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. As I watched in the night visions,I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

The Psalm        Dominus regnavit            Psalm 93  BCP 722
The Psalm will be sung by the Choir.
The Congregation joins in singing the Antiphon.

1 The LORD is King; he has put on splendid apparel; *
    the LORD has put on his apparel and girded himself with strength.

2 He has made the whole world so sure *
    that it cannot be moved;

3 Ever since the world began, your throne has been established; *
    you are from everlasting                [Antiphon]

4 The waters have lifted up, O LORD, the waters have lifted up their voice; *
    the waters have lifted up their pounding waves.

5 Mightier than the sound of many waters,
    mightier than the breakers of the sea,*
    mightier is the LORD who dwells on high.

6 Your testimonies are very sure, *
    and holiness adorns your house, O LORD, for ever and for evermore.
                        [Antiphon]

We will print the epistle reading in Spanish each week and will, from time to time, read the lesson in Spanish in lieu of the English translation. This is a sign of hospitality toward Spanish speakers and a recognition that we are worshipping in a multi-cultural multi-lingual environment in Austin.

La Segunda Lectura                    Apocalipsis 1: 1-8
Esta es la revelación que Dios hizo a Jesucristo, para que él mostrara a sus siervos lo que pronto ha de suceder. Jesucristo lo ha dado a conocer enviando su ángel a su siervo Juan, el cual ha dicho la verdad de todo lo que vio, y es testigo del mensaje de Dios confirmado por Jesucristo. Dichoso el que lee y dichosos los que escuchan la lectura de este mensaje profético, y hacen caso de lo que aquí está escrito, porque ya se acerca el tiempo. Juan saluda a las siete iglesias de la provincia de Asia. Reciban ustedes gracia y paz de parte del que es y era y ha de venir, y de parte de los siete espíritus que están delante de su trono, y también de parte de Jesucristo, testigo fiel, que fue el primero en resucitar y tiene autoridad sobre los reyes de la tierra. Cristo nos ama, y nos ha librado de nuestros pecados derramando su sangre, y ha hecho de nosotros un reino; nos ha hecho sacerdotes al servicio de su Dios y Padre. ¡Que la gloria y el poder sean suyos para siempre! Amén. ¡Cristo viene en las nubes! Todos lo verán, incluso los que lo traspasaron; y todos los pueblos del mundo    harán duelo por él. Sí, amén. "Yo soy el alfa y la omega, "dice el Señor, el Dio stodopoderoso, el que es y era y ha de venir. 

The Second Lesson                    Revelation 1:1-8
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it; for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

The Gospel                            Mark 11:1-11
When Jesus and those who followed were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, `Why are you doing this?' just say this, `The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.'" They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!"

Flowers on the Altar are given to the Glory of God
by Judith Bomar in memory of her parents
The Rev. Stanley and Florence Wilson



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