God’s Word for Christmas!
As you know, we have been working on the translation of the Old Testament passages that are read in the Naskapi church each Sunday. This list of readings, called the “Lectionary” begins anew each Advent season, the four Sundays before Christmas. Also, there are three years of such readings. “Year A” always begins on the First Sunday of Advent in years that can be evenly divided by 3 (e.g., 2013, 2016, 2019, 2022 etc.). Year B follows, and then year C until the cycle repeats every three years.
This means that the current Advent season begins the “Year B” cycle of readings. In the weeks leading up to the First Sunday of Advent 2011, we worked hard to finish the Naskapi readings for Year B. These were ordered and arrived the week before Advent began, in time to be distributed and used in church on November 27.
Naskapi Lectionary Year B
Read with me some of what this book contains in Naskapi:
“But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand. 9 Don’t be furious, O LORD, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people.”
(Isaiah 63:8) 1st Sunday of Advent
…and this wonderful encouraging passage:
“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.” The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of the LORD in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.”
The voice of one saying, “Cry!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the LORD’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.”
You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength. Lift it up. Don’t be afraid. Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!” Behold, the Sovereign LORD will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
(Isaiah 40:1-11) 2nd Sunday of Advent
We are so grateful that this and hundreds of other verses are now in the Naskapi’s hands and in their hearts.
This book is available along with all our other Naskapi books here: or at the Naskapi Development Corporation’s on-line store here:
This week's Bible reading
We will miss being with family this Christmas, but we are looking forward to spending this Christmas with the Naskapi people in Kawawachikamach.
Enjoy every blessing that this Season brings!
Serving with you, Bill and Norma Jean