The staff planner can assist you in the selection of scriptural readings. There will be one reading from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. The gospel reading is the choice of the celebrant.
Old Testament Readings
1) A reading from the book of Job 19:1, 23-27
Job answered and said:
Oh, would that they were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead
They were cut in the rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
And that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
Whom I myself shall see:
My own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him,
And from my flesh I shall see God;
My inmost being is consumed with longing.
The Word of the Lord.
2) A reading from the book of Wisdom 3:1-9
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
And no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
And their passing away was thought an affliction
And their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
Yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
Because God tried them
And found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
And as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
And shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
They shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
And the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
And the faithful shall abide with him in love;
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
And his care is with his elect.
The Word of the Lord.
A reading from the book of Wisdom 3:1-6, 9
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
And no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
And their passing away was thought an affliction
And their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
Yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
Because God tried them
And found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
And as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
And the faithful shall abide with him in love:
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
And his care is with his elect.
The Word of the Lord.
3) A reading from the book of Wisdom 4:7-15
The just man, though he die early, shall be at rest.
For the age that is honorable comes not with the passing of time,
Nor can it be measured in terms of years.
Rather, understanding is the hoary crown for men,
And an unsullied life, the attainment of old age.
He who pleased God was loved;
He who lived among sinners was transported –
Snatched away, lest wickedness pervert his mind
Or deceit beguile his soul;
For the witchery of paltry things obscures what is right
And the whirl of desire transforms the innocent mind.
Having become perfect in a short while, he reached the fullness
of a long career;
For his soul was pleasing to the Lord,
Therefore he sped him out of the midst of wickedness.
But the people saw and did not understand,
Nor did they take this into account.
The Word of the Lord.
4) A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah 25:6a, 7-9
On this mountain the Lord of hosts
Will provide for all peoples.
On this mountain he will destroy
The veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
He will destroy death forever.
The Lord God will wipe away
The tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
From the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.
On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the Lord for whom we looked;
Let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
The Word of the Lord.
5) A reading from the book of Lamentations 3:17-26
My soul is deprived of peace,
I have forgotten what happiness is;
I tell myself my future is lost,
All that I hoped for from the Lord.
The thought of my homeless poverty
Is wormwood and gall;
Remembering it over and over
Leaves my soul downcast within me.
But I will call this to mind,
As my reason to have hope:
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
His mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning,
So great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
Therefore will I hope in him.
Good is the Lord to one who waits for him,
To the soul that seeks him.
It is good to hope in silence
For the saving help of the Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
6) A reading from the book of the prophet Daniel 12:1-3
[I, Daniel, mourned and I heard this word of the Lord:]
“At that time there shall arise
Michael, the great prince,
Guardian of your people;
It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress
Since nations began until that time.
At that time your people shall escape,
Everyone who is found written in the book.
Many of those who sleep
In the dust of the earth shall awake;
Some shall live forever,
Others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
But the wise shall shine brightly
Like the splendor of the firmament,
And those who lead the many to justice
Shall be like the stars forever.”
The Word of the Lord.
7) A reading from the second book of Maccabees 12:43-46
Judas [the ruler of Israel] then took up a collection among all
His soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas,
Which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice.
In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch
As he had the resurrection of the dead in view; for if he
Were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been
Useless and foolish to pray for them in death. But if he did this
With a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had
Gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought.
Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be
Freed from the sin.
The Word of the Lord.
New Testament Readings
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-43
Peter proceeded to address the people in these words:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in ever
Nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to
Him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he
Proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,
What has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after
The baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of
Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing
Good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was
With him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country
Of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by
Hanging him on a tree. This man god raised on the third day
And granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us,
The witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank
With him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to
Preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed
By God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the
Prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will
Receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Word of the Lord.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10:34-36, 42-43
Peter proceeded to address the people in these words:
“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every
Nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to
Him. You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he
Proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is the Lord of all. He
Commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is
The one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.
To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes
In him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The Word of the Lord.
2) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 5:5-11
Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
Poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has
Been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet
Died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with
Difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a
Good person one might even find courage to die. But God
Proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ
Died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified
By his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed,
If, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
Through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled,
Will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also
Boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom
We have now received reconciliation.
The Word of the Lord.
3) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 5:17-21
If, by the transgression of one person, death came to reign
Through that one, how much more will those who receive the
Abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to
Reign in life through the one person Jesus Christ.
In conclusion, just as though one transgression condemnation
Came upon all, so through one righteous act acquittal and
Life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of one
Person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience
Of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered
In so that transgression might increase but, where sin increased,
Grace overflowed all the more, so that, as sin reigned in
Death, grace also might reign through justification for eternal
Life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
4) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 6:3-9
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
Were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with
Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was
Raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might
Live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with
Him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him
In the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified
With him, so that our sinful body might be done away with,
That we might no longer be in slavery for sin. For a dead person
Has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ,
We believe that we shall also live with him. We know that
Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer
Has power over him.
The Word of the Lord.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 6:3-4, 8-9
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
Were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with
Him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was
Raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might
Live in newness of life. If, then, we have died with Christ, we
Believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ,
Raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power
Over him.
The Word of the Lord.
5) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 8:14-23
Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,
But you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry,
Abba, “Father!” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit
That we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs
Of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him
So that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing
Compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation
Awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children
Of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of
Its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in
Hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption
And share in the glorious freedom of the children of
God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains
Even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have
The firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as
We wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
The Word of the Lord.
6) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39
If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare
His own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not
Also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a
Charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was
Raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes
For us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, r
Distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
The sword? No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
Through him who loves us. For I am convinced that either
Death, nor life, nor angels, or principalities, nor present
Things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
Nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the
Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Word of the Lord.
7) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 14:7-9, 10b-12
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For it
We live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord;
So then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For this is
Why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of
Both the dead and the living. For we shall all stand before the
Judgment seat of God; for it is written:
“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
And every tongue shall give praise to God.”
So then each of us shall give an account of himself to God.
The Word of the Lord.
8) A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15:20-23,24b-28
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those
Who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a
Human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through
A human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ
Shall all be brought to life, but each one in proper order:
Christ the firstfruits; then, at this coming, those who belong to
Christ; then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom
To his God and Father. For he must reign until he has put all
His enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is
Death, for “he subjected everything under his feet.” But when
It says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes
The One who subjected everything to him. When everything
Is subjected to him, the Son himself will also be subjected
To the One who subjected everything to him, so that God
May be all in all.
The Word of the Lord.
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15:20-23
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those
Who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a
Human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through
A human being. For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ
Shall all be brought to life, but each other in proper order;
Christ the firstfruits; then, at his coming, those who belong to
Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
9) A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15:51-57
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all fall asleep, but
We will all be changed, in an instant, in the blink of an eye, at
The last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be
Raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For that which
Is corruptible must clothe itself with incorruptibility, and that
Which is mortal must clothe itself with immortality. And when
That which is corruptible clothes itself with incorruptibility
And that which is mortal clothes itself with immortality, then
The word that is written shall come about:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
Where, O death, is victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But
Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord
Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
10) A reading from the second letter of Paulto the Corinthians 4:14-5:1
We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us
Also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence. Every-
Thing indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance
On more and more people may cause the thanksgiving
To overflow for the glory of God.
Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer
Self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by
Day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an
Eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not
To what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory,
but what is unseen is eternal.
For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be
Destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made
With hands, eternal in heaven.
The Word of the Lord.
11) A reading from the second letter of Paulto the Corinthians 5:1, 6-10
We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed,
We have a building from God, a dwelling not made
With hands, eternal in heaven.
So we are always courageous, although we know that while
We are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we
Walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we
Would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore,
We aspire to please him, whether we are at home or
Away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according
To what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
The Word of the Lord.
12) A reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians 3:20-21
Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body
To conform with his glorified body by the power that enables
Him also to bring all things into subjection to himself.
The Word of the Lord.
13) A reading from the first letter of Paul to theThessalonians 4:13-18
We do not want you to be unaware, brothers [and sisters],
About those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not
Grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that
Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with
Him those who have fallen asleep. Indeed, we tell you this, on
The word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until
The coming of the Lord, will surely not precede those who
Have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
With the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of
God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will
Rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught
Up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console
One another with these words.
The Word of the Lord.
14) A reading from the second letter of Paul to Timothy 2:8-13
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant
Of David: such is my gospel, for which I am suffering, even to
The point of chains, like a criminal. But the word of God is not
Chained. Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of
Those who are chosen, so that they too may obtain the salvation
That is in Christ Jesus, together with eternal glory. This
Saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
We shall also live with him;
If we persevere
We shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
He will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
He remains faithful,
For he cannot deny himself.
The Word of the Lord.
15) A reading from the first letter of John 3:1-2
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be
Called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the
World does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved,
We are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been
Revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like
Him, for we shall see him as he is.
The Word of the Lord.
16) A reading from the first letter of John 3:14-16
We know that we have passed from death to life because we
Love our brothers [and sisters]. Whoever does not love
Remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer,
And you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in
Him. The way we came to know love was that he laid down his
Life for us; so we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers
[and sisters].
The Word of the Lord.
17) A reading from the book of Revelation 14:13
I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the
Dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” said the Spirit,
“let them find rest from their labors, for their works accompany
Them.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
18) A reading from the book of Revelation 20:11-21:1
I saw a large white throne and the one who was sitting on it.
The earth and the sky fled from his presence and there was no
Place for them. I saw the dead, the great and the lowly, standing
Before the throne, and scrolls were opened. Then another
Scroll was opened, the book of life. The dead were judged
According to their deeds, by what was written in the scrolls. The
Sea gave up its dead; then Death and Hades gave up their
Dead. All the dead were judged according to their deeds. Then
Death and Hades were thrown into the pool of fire. (This pool
Of fire is the second death.) Anyone whose name was not
Found written in the book of life was thrown into the pool of fire.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven
And the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no
More.
The Word of the Lord.
19) A reading from the book of Revelation 21:1-5a, 6b-7
I saw a new heaven and a new earth. The former heaven and
The former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
I also saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of
Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold,
God’s dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with
Them and they will be his people and God himself will always
Be with them as their God. He will wipe every tear from their
Eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing
Or pain, for the old order has passed away.”
The one who sat on the throne said. “Behold, I make all things
New. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the
End. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving
Water. The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his
God, and he will be my son.”
The Word of the Lord.