Data for Sunday, February 15

Observance of the Day --- Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany

Collect: (prayer for intentions designated for this particular Sunday of the church calendar, as specified in the Book of Common Prayer; it may align 0with the designated scripture readings) -- O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you; Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Scripture --- [Selected from the Eucharistic Lectionary for Year B, Revised Common Lectionary] --
First Corinthians 9: 24-25 -- [Saint Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, wrote the following in his first of two letters to the Christians in Corinth around the year 55 AD. Paul uses the metaphor of a race to stress that effort, discipline, goal-orientation are needed by the followers of Jesus Christ.] -- Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable [one]. (RSV)

[The other readings from the Revised Common Lectionary - the Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany - are as follows.]

O.T. LESSON: Second Kings 5:1-14 -- The story of Naaman, army commander for a neighborhing county, who contracted a skin disease (leprosy) who was cured by following the instruction given by the prophet Elisha, 'the man of God".
PSALM 30 -- "I will exalt you, O LORD, becuase you have lifted me up and have not let my enemies triumph over me. ..."
GOSPEL: Mark 1:40-45 -- Jesus heals a leper, who spreads the news of his healing. Henceforth Jesus can not visit towns openly because of the crowds; and he begins conducting his missions in the countryside.

Place of the Day --- Lietchfield, Kentucky, USA -- 37°28'49"N, 86°17'37"W -- a town on US Highway 62, the seat of Grayson County and just off the Western Kentucky Parkway, 61 miles SW of Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky.