Circle Of Hope Ministry
Second Sunday In Lent Feb. 28th,2010
1st Reading : Genesis : Chapter 15 : Verses 1 - 18
2nd Reading : Philippians : Chapter 3 : Verses 17 -
Chapter 4 : Verses 1
Gospel Reading : Luke : Chapter 13 : Verses 31 - 35
Gospel Reading For Today Is # 27 : Verses 1 - 14
1st Reading : Genesis : Chapter 15 : Verses 1 - 18
God's Covenant With Abram
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, [a]
your very great reward. [b]"
2 But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit [c] my
estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be
my heir."
4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be
your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars --- if indeed you can count them."
Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring [d] be."
6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take
possession of it."
8 But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"
9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young
pigeon."
10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did
not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the
LORD said to him, "Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own
and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they
will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.
16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full
measure."
17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between
the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the
Wadi [e] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates ---
2nd Reading : Philippians : Chapter 3 : Verses 17 -
Chapter 4 : Verses 1
Chapter 3 : Verses 17 -
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on
those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies
of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind
is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will
be like his glorious body.
Chapter 4 : Verses 1
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear
friends!
Gospel Reading : Luke : Chapter 13 : Verses 31 - 35
Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants
to kill you."
32 He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third
day I will reach my goal.' 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day --- for surely no prophet can
die outside Jerusalem!
34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you
desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Gospel Reading For Today Is # 27 : Verses 1 - 14
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation ---
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life ---
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour [a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.
1st Reading : Genesis : Chapter 15 : Verses 1 - 18
2nd Reading : Philippians : Chapter 3 : Verses 17 -
Chapter 4 : Verses 1
Gospel Reading : Luke : Chapter 13 : Verses 31 - 35
Gospel Reading For Today Is # 27 : Verses 1 - 14
1st Reading : Genesis : Chapter 15 : Verses 1 - 18
God's Covenant With Abram
1 After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:
"Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, [a]
your very great reward. [b]"
2 But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit [c] my
estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be
my heir."
4 Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be
your heir." 5 He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars --- if indeed you can count them."
Then he said to him, "So shall your offspring [d] be."
6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
7 He also said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take
possession of it."
8 But Abram said, "Sovereign LORD, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"
9 So the LORD said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young
pigeon."
10 Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did
not cut in half. 11 Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
12 As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. 13 Then the
LORD said to him, "Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own
and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they
will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age.
16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full
measure."
17 When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between
the pieces. 18 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the
Wadi [e] of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates ---
2nd Reading : Philippians : Chapter 3 : Verses 17 -
Chapter 4 : Verses 1
Chapter 3 : Verses 17 -
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on
those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies
of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind
is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will
be like his glorious body.
Chapter 4 : Verses 1
1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear
friends!
Gospel Reading : Luke : Chapter 13 : Verses 31 - 35
Jesus' Sorrow for Jerusalem
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, "Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants
to kill you."
32 He replied, "Go tell that fox, 'I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third
day I will reach my goal.' 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day --- for surely no prophet can
die outside Jerusalem!
34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you
desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Gospel Reading For Today Is # 27 : Verses 1 - 14
Of David.
1 The LORD is my light and my salvation ---
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life ---
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour [a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, "Seek his face!"
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.