Acts Archives » Cam Villages Bible Reading Group

24th September 20182nd September 2018

Cam Villages Pop-Up Prayer: Readings for 28 September 2018

This is Friday’s Common Lectionary Bible reading, which we will include in the Cam Villages pop-up prayer. This week’s morning prayer will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Church, Littlebury Green, at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

Acts 24.24-25.12

Some days later when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him speak concerning faith in Christ Jesus. And as he discussed justice, self-control, and the coming judgement, Felix became frightened and said, ‘Go away for the present; when I have an opportunity, I will send for you.’ At the same time he hoped that money would be given to him by Paul, and for that reason he used to send for him very often and converse with him.

After two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus; and since he wanted to grant the Jews a favour, Felix left Paul in prison.
Three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem where the chief priests and the leaders of the Jews gave him a report against Paul. They appealed to him and requested, as a favour to them against Paul, to have him transferred to Jerusalem. They were, in fact, planning an ambush to kill him along the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea, and that he himself intended to go there shortly. ‘So’, he said, ‘let those of you who have the authority come down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them accuse him.’

After he had stayed among them for not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea; the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he arrived, the Jews who had gone down from Jerusalem surrounded him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove. Paul said in his defence, ‘I have in no way committed an offence against the law of the Jews, or against the temple, or against the emperor.’ But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favour, asked Paul, ‘Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and be tried there before me on these charges?’ Paul said, ‘I am appealing to the emperor’s tribunal; this is where I should be tried. I have done no wrong to the Jews, as you very well know. Now if I am in the wrong and have committed something for which I deserve to die, I am not trying to escape death; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can turn me over to them. I appeal to the emperor.’ Then Festus, after he had conferred with his council, replied, ‘You have appealed to the emperor; to the emperor you will go.’

Psalm 55

For the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A contemplation by David.
1 Listen to my prayer, God.
Don’t hide yourself from my supplication.
2 Attend to me, and answer me.
I am restless in my complaint,
and moan 3 because of the voice of the enemy,
because of the oppression of the wicked.
For they bring suffering on me.
In anger they hold a grudge against me.
4 My heart is severely pained within me.
The terrors of death have fallen on me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling have come on me.
Horror has overwhelmed me.
6 I said, “Oh that I had wings like a dove!
Then I would fly away, and be at rest.
7 Behold, then I would wander far off.
I would lodge in the wilderness.”
Selah.
8 “I would hurry to a shelter from the stormy wind and storm.”
9 Confuse them, Lord, and confound their language,
for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl around on its walls.
Malice and abuse are also within her.
11 Destructive forces are within her.
Threats and lies don’t depart from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy who insulted me,
then I could have endured it.
Neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,
then I would have hidden myself from him.
13 But it was you, a man like me,
my companion, and my familiar friend.
14 We took sweet fellowship together.
We walked in God’s house with company.
15 Let death come suddenly on them.
Let them go down alive into Sheol.
For wickedness is amongst them, in their dwelling.
16 As for me, I will call on God.
The LORD will save me.
17 Evening, morning, and at noon, I will cry out in distress.
He will hear my voice.
18 He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
although there are many who oppose me.
19 God, who is enthroned forever,
will hear and answer them.
Selah.

They never change
and don’t fear God.
20 He raises his hands against his friends.
He has violated his covenant.
21 His mouth was smooth as butter,
but his heart was war.
His words were softer than oil,
yet they were drawn swords.

22 Cast your burden on the LORD and he will sustain you.
He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
23 But you, God, will bring them down into the pit of destruction.
Bloodthirsty and deceitful men shall not live out half their days,
but I will trust in you.

3rd September 20182nd September 2018

Cam Villages Pop-Up Prayer: Readings for 7 September 2018

This is Friday’s Common Lectionary Bible reading, which we will include in the Cam Villages pop-up prayer. This week’s morning prayer will be celebrated at All Saints Church, Great Chesterford, at 9:30 a.m. on Friday.

Acts 15.22-35

Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: ‘The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.’

So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.

Psalm 17

1 Hear my just cause, O Lord; consider my complaint;
listen to my prayer, which comes not from lying lips.

2 Let my vindication come forth from your presence;
let your eyes behold what is right.

3 Weigh my heart, examine me by night,
refine me, and you will find no impurity in me.

4 My mouth does not trespass for earthly rewards;
I have heeded the words of your lips.

5 My footsteps hold fast in the ways of your commandments;
my feet have not stumbled in your paths.

6 I call upon you, O God, for you will answer me;
incline your ear to me, and listen to my words.

7 Show me your marvellous loving-kindness,
O Saviour of those who take refuge at your right hand
from those who rise up against them.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me under the shadow of your wings,

9 From the wicked who assault me,
from my enemies who surround me to take away my life.

10 They have closed their heart to pity
and their mouth speaks proud things.

11 They press me hard, they surround me on every side,
watching how they may cast me to the ground,

12 Like a lion that is greedy for its prey,
like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, Lord; confront them and cast them down;
deliver me from the wicked by your sword.

14 Deliver me, O Lord, by your hand
from those whose portion in life is unending,

15 Whose bellies you fill with your treasure,
who are well supplied with children
and leave their wealth to their little ones.

16 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness;
when I awake and behold your likeness, I shall be satisfied.

Reminder: This Sunday, 9th September, is our Five Churches Together Service at St. Peter’s Church, Littlebury Green, at 10:00 a.m. We hope to see you there!

31st July 2018

Cam Villages Pop-Up Prayer: 3 August 2018

This is Friday’s Common Lectionary Bible reading, which we will include in the Cam Villages pop-up prayer.

Acts 2:37-end

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” 40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptised. There were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. 43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 All who believed were together, and had all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need. 46 Day by day, continuing steadfastly with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread at home, they took their food with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favour with all the people. The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved.

Psalm 51

For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.

1 Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness.

According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.

Cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions.

My sin is constantly before me.

4 Against you, and you only, I have sinned,

and done that which is evil in your sight,

so you may be proved right when you speak,

and justified when you judge.

5 Behold, I was born in iniquity.

My mother conceived me in sin.

6 Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts.

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean.

Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness,

that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins,

and blot out all of my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.

Renew a right spirit within me.

11 Don’t throw me from your presence,

and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

Uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways.

Sinners will be converted to you.

14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation.

My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.

15 Lord, open my lips.

My mouth will declare your praise.

16 For you don’t delight in sacrifice, or else I would give it.

You have no pleasure in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

O God, you will not despise a broken and contrite heart.

18 Do well in your good pleasure to Zion.

Build the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

in burnt offerings and in whole burnt offerings.

Then they will offer bulls on your altar.

The featured art at the top of this post is “San Pedro en lágrimas,” oil on canvas, created between 1650 and 1655 by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682). Held in the public domain; made available by the Bilbao Fine Arts Museum.