The following are the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 8, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless noted otherwise, the ECUSA, Canadian and C of E lectionaries are identical to the RCL for this day.

The readings are posted on our web site: <http://satucket.com/lectionary>, in RTF format, which can be read by all word processors.

FIRST READING: Acts 9: 36 - 43 (RCL)

Acts 9:36 (NRSV) Now in Jop'pa there was a disciple whose name was Tab'itha, which in Greek is Dor'cas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lyd'da was near Jop'pa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, "Please come to us without delay." 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dor'cas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, "Tab'itha, get up." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Jop'pa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Jop'pa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner. 

Acts 13: 14, 43 - 52 (Roman Catholic) 

Acts 13:14 (NRSV) but they went on from Per'ga and came to An'tioch in Pisid'ia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 

43 When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Ju'daism followed Paul and Bar'nabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. 
44 The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. 46 Then both Paul and Bar'nabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. 47 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, 
"I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, 
so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'" 
48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. 49 Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, and stirred up persecution against Paul and Bar'nabas, and drove them out of their region. 51 So they shook the dust off their feet in protest against them, and went to Ico'nium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. 

PSALM 23 (RCL) 

Psal 23:1 (NRSV) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; 
he leads me beside still waters; 
3 he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths 
for his name's sake. 
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 
I fear no evil; 
for you are with me; 
your rod and your staff-- 
they comfort me. 
5 You prepare a table before me 
in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; 
my cup overflows. 
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 
all the days of my life, 
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD 
my whole life long. 

23   Dominus regit me     (ECUSA BCP)
 
1  	The Lord is my shepherd; *
 	I shall not be in want.
 
2  	He makes me lie down in green pastures *
 	and leads me beside still waters.
 
3  	He revives my soul *
 	and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.
 
4  	Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil; *
 	for you are with me;
 	your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
 
5  	You spread a table before me in the presence of those
		who trouble me; *
 	you have anointed my head with oil,
 	and my cup is running over.
 
6  	Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days
		of my life, *
 	and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 100: 1 - 3, 5   (Roman Catholic) 

Psal 100:1 (NRSV) Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. 
2 Worship the LORD with gladness; 
come into his presence with singing. 
3 Know that the LORD is God. 
It is he that made us, and we are his; 
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, 
and his courts with praise. 
Give thanks to him, bless his name. 
5 For the LORD is good; 
his steadfast love endures forever, 
and his faithfulness to all generations. 

SECOND READING: Revelation 7: 9 - 17 (all but Roman Catholic) 
                                Revelation 7: 9, 14b - 17 (Roman Catholic) 

Reve 7:9 (NRSV) After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, 
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 
11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, 
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom 
and thanksgiving and honor 
and power and might 
be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 
15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, 
and worship him day and night within his temple, 
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; 
the sun will not strike them, 
nor any scorching heat; 
17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, 
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, 
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." 

GOSPEL: John 10: 22 - 30 (all but Roman Catholic) 
                  John 10: 27 - 30 (Roman Catholic) 

John 10:22 (NRSV) At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one."