This brochure lists biblical passages and themes used in Mennonite Bulletin Series from September 4, 2005–August 27, 2006, and is provided to help pastors and worship leaders in long-range planning.

The readings, taken from The Revised Common Lectionary (Abingdon Press, 1992), are chosen from the New International Version or the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

From Pentecost Sunday to the last Sunday before Advent, where two choices of Old Testament readings are offered, Mennonite Bulletin Series includes the one more closely related to the themes of the Gospel readings. Special Sundays of the Christian year, and for Mennonite Church Canada and Mennonite Church USA, are also noted.

During the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter-Pentecost, Leader magazine and Mennonite Bulletin Series provide a coordinated emphasis with related worship resources. Bulletins are available with a printed back containing selected resources, such as prayers or calls to worship, or with a blank back. These resources are created in cooperation with Mennonite Church USA Congregational and Ministerial Leadership and Mennonite Church Canada Christian Formation Council.

Mennonite Bulletin Series is available as an every-Sunday standing order service. The special series for the seasons of Advent and Lent are also available separately.

Year A • Quarter 1
Sept. 4, 2005 – Proper 18
Theme: Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.
Matt. 18:20
Ezek. 33:7-11
Psalm 119:33-40
Rom. 13:8-14
Matt. 18:15-20

Sept. 11, 2005 – Proper 19
Theme: If we live we live to the Lord.
Rom. 14:8
Gen. 50:15-21
Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13
Rom. 14:1-12
Matt. 18:21-35

Sept. 18, 2005 – Proper 20 and Mutual Aid Sunday
Theme: The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out to hire laborers for his vineyard.
Matt. 20:21
Jonah 3:10-4:11
Psalm 145:1-8
Phil. 1:21-30
Matt. 20:1-16

Sept. 25, 2005 – Proper 21 and Publishing Sunday
Theme: Jesus … the name above every name.
Phil. 2:9
Ezek. 18:1-4, 25-32
Psalm 25:1-9
Phil. 2:1-13
Matt. 21:23-32

Oct. 2, 2005 – Proper 22 and World Communion Sunday
Theme: Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Phil. 3:12
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:7-15
Phil. 3:4b-14
Matt. 21:33-46

Oct. 9, 2005 – Proper 23
Theme: Let your gentleness be known to everyone.
Phil. 4:5
Isaiah 25:1-9
Psalm 23
Phil. 4:1-9
Matt. 22:1-14

Oct. 16, 2005 – Proper 24 and Ministers Sunday
Theme: I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Isaiah 45:5
Isaiah 45:1-7
Psalm 96:1-9 (10-13)
1 Thess. 1:1-10
Matt. 22:15-22

Oct. 23, 2005 – Proper 25
Theme: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matt. 22:39
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18
Psalm 1
1 Thess. 2:1-8
Matt. 22:34-46

Oct. 30, 2005 – Proper 26 and Mennonite Heritage Sunday
Theme: We constantly give thanks to God that you received the word.
1 Thess. 2:13
Micah 3:5-12
Psalm 43
1 Thess. 2:9-13
Matt. 23:1-12

Nov. 6, 2005 – Proper 27 and Peace Sunday
Theme: We will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15
Amos 5:18-24
Psalm 70
1 Thess. 4:13-18
Matt. 25:1-13

Nov. 13, 2005 – Proper 28 and Mission Sunday
Theme: Children of light and children of the day.
1 Thess. 5:5
Zeph. 1:7, 12-18
Psalm 90:1-8, (9-11), 12
1 Thess. 5:1-11
Matt. 25:14-30

Nov. 20, 2005 – Proper 29 and Mission Sunday
Theme: I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus.
Eph. 1:15
Ezek. 34:11-16, 20-24
Psalm 95:1-7a
Eph. 1:15-23
Matt. 25:31-46

Quarter 2
Dec. 4, 2005 – Advent 2
Theme: God’s unstoppable purpose is faithful!
Isaiah 40:1-11; 2 Peter 3:8-15a
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

Dec. 11, 2005 – Advent 3
Theme: God’s unstoppable purpose restores!
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126
Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
Psalm 126 or Luke 1:47-55
1 Thess. 5:16-24
John 1:6-8, 19-28

Dec. 18, 2005 – Advent 4
Theme: God’s unstoppable purpose invites.
Luke 1: 26-38, 46-55
2 Sam. 7:1-11, 16
Luke 1:46-55 or
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Rom. 16:25-27
Luke 1:26-38

Dec. 25, 2005 – Christmas 1
Theme: God’s unstoppable purpose is unimaginable!
Luke 2:1-20
Isaiah 62:6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2: (1-7), 8-20

Jan. 1, 2006 – Christmas 2
Theme: God’s unstoppable purpose breaks forth anew!
Luke 2:22-40
Jer. 31:7-14
Psalm 147:12-20
Eph. 1:3-14
John 1:(1-9), 10-18

Jan. 8, 2006 – First Sunday after Epiphany
Theme: I have baptized you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Mark 1:8
Gen. 1:1-5
Psalm 29
Acts 19:1-7
Mark 1:4-11

Jan. 15, 2006 – Epiphany 2 and Many Peoples Sunday
Theme: You were bought with a price.
1 Cor. 6:20
1 Sam. 3:1-10 (11-20)
Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18
1 Cor. 6:12-20
John 1:43-51

Jan. 22, 2006 – Epiphany 3 and Mennonite World
Fellowship Sunday Theme: Repent and believe the good news.
Mark 1:15
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:5-12
1 Cor. 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

Jan. 29, 2006 – Epiphany 4
Theme: There is one God, the Father and one Lord, Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 8:6
Deut. 18:15-20
Psalm 111
1 Cor. 8:1-13
Mark 1:21-28

Feb. 5, 2006 – Epiphany 5 and Church Education Sunday
Theme: Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
Isaiah 40:31
Isaiah 40:21-31
Psalm 147:1-11, 20c
1 Cor. 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

Feb. 12, 2006 – Epiphany 6 and Congregational Life Sunday
Theme: He went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the word.
Mark 1:45
2 Kings 5:1-14
Psalm 30
1 Cor. 9:24-27
Mark 1:40-45

Feb. 19, 2006 – Epiphany 7
Theme: Your sins are forgiven.
Mark 2:5
Isaiah 43:18-25
Psalm 41
2 Cor. 1:18-22
Mark 2:1-12

Feb. 26, 2006 – Last Sunday after Epiphany, Transfiguration Sunday
Theme: We proclaim Jesus as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus sake.
2 Cor. 4:5
2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Cor. 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9

Quarter 3
March 5, 2006 – Lent 1
Theme: You are my beloved child.
Mark 1:11
Gen. 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22
Mark 1:9-15

March 12, 2006 – Lent 2
Theme: I will bless you.
Gen. 17:16
Gen. 17:1-7, 15-16
Psalm 22:23-31
Rom. 4:13-25
Mark 8:31-38 or Mark 9:2-9

March 19, 2006 – Lent 3
Theme: I am the LORD your God.
Exodus 20:2
Exodus 20:1-17
Psalm 19
1 Cor. 1:18-25
John 2:13-22

March 26, 2006 – Lent 4
Theme: Believe in me.
John 3:16
Numbers 21:4-9
Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
Eph. 2:1-10
John 3:14-21

April 2 2006 – Lent 5
Theme: I will write it on your heart.
Jer. 31:33
Jer. 31:31-34
Psalm 51:1-12 or Psalm 119:9-16
Hebrews 5:5-10
John 12:20-33

April 9, 2006 – Lent 6 (Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday)
Theme: My love is forever.
Phil. 2:5-11
Palms
Mark 11:1-11 or John 12:12-16
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Passion
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31:9-16
Phil. 2:5-11
Mark 14:1-15:47 or
Mark 15:1-39, (40-47)

April 16, 2006 – Easter Sunday
Theme: I have seen the Lord.
John 20:18
Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Cor. 15:1-11 or
Acts 10:34-43
John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

April 23, 2006 – Easter 2 and Evangelism& Church Planting Sunday
Theme: Peace be with you.
John 20:19
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 20:19-31

April 30, 2006 – Easter 3
Theme: See what love the father has given us that we should be called children of God.
1 John 3:1
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48

May 7, 2006 – Easter 4 and Stewardship Sunday
Theme: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18

May 14, 2006 – Easter 5 and Christian Family Sunday
Theme: Abide in me as I abide in you.
James 15:4
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8

May 21, 2006 – Easter 6
Theme: The Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word.
Acts 10:44
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17

May 28, 2006 – Easter 7
Theme: Lord, you know everyone’s heart.
Acts 1:24
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19

Quarter 4
June 4, 2006 – Pentecost Sunday
Theme: I will put my spirit within you.
Ezek. 37:14
Acts 2: 1-21 or Ezek. 37:1-14
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
Rom. 8:22-27 or Acts 2:1-21
John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15

June 11, 2006 – Trinity Sunday
Theme: All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Rom. 8:14
Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 29
Rom. 8:12-17
John 3:1-17

June 18, 2006 – Proper 6
Theme: When the grain is ripe… the harvest has come.
Mark 4:29
Ezek. 17:22-24
Psalm 1-4, 12-15
2 Cor. 5:6-10, (11-13), 14-17
Mark 4:26-34

June 25, 2006 – Proper 7
Theme: Now is the day of salvation!
2 Cor. 6:2.
Job 38:1-11
Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
2 Cor. 6:1-13
Mark 4:35-41

July 2, 2006 – Proper 8 and Christian Citizenship Sunday
Theme: God’s mercies are new every morning.
Lam. 3:23
2 Sam. 1:1, 17-27
Lam. 3:23-33 or Psalm 30
2 Cor. 8:7-15
Mark 5:21-43

July 9, 2006 – Proper 9
Theme: My power is made prefect in weakness.
2 Cor. 12:9
Ezek. 2:1-5
Psalm 123
2 Cor. 12:2-10
Mark 6:1-13

July 16, 2006 – Proper 10
Theme: In Christ we have the forgiveness of sins.
Eph. 1:7
Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:8-13
Eph. 1:3-14
Mark 6:14-29

July 23, 2006 – Proper 11
Theme: Come away to a deserted place … and rest
awhile.
Mark 6:31
Jer. 23:1-6
Psalm 23
Eph. 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

July 30, 2006 – Proper 12
Theme: I pray that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
Eph. 3:16, 17
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145:10-18
Eph. 3:14-21
John 6:1-21

Aug. 6, 2006 – Proper 13
Theme: Restore to me the joy of your salvation.
Psalm 51:12
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78:23-29
Eph. 4:1-16
John 6:24-35

Aug. 13, 2006 – Proper 14
Theme: Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.
John 6:35
1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:1-8
Eph. 4:25-5:2
John 6:35, 41-51

Aug. 20, 2006 – Proper 15
Theme: Seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 34:14
Prov. 9:1-6
Psalm 34:9-14
Eph. 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

Aug. 27, 2006 – Proper 16
Theme: Put on the whole armor of God.
Eph. 6:10
Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18
Psalm 34:15-22
Eph. 6:10-20
John 6:56-69