Those having 1 Corinthians 13

We didnt really a choice of how much the book of reading just had this...

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.

If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and If I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

Love is always patient and kind, it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful.

Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to ensure whatever comes.

Love does not come to an end.

This is the word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to god

I tried to go for the shorter version...... but..... FIL2b has had his way and we are having the longer traditional version....

I too find in confusing, but plan on making FIL2b to talk me through each line!

What other reading are you having?

I'm having the full version from 1-13

x

Sorry i can only reply on my phone tonight so format is poor. Our other reading is called 'the bargain' and is a short poem. Can i ask who's reading this for you? I dont know if any of my loved ones would feel comfortable with such a complicated reading.

This is our other reading

Song of Songs 2:8-10, 14, 16; 8:6-7

For love is as strong as death.

A reading from the Song of Songs

Hark! My lover-here he comes springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, “Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! “For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! “O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, let me see you, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and you are lovely.” My lover belongs to me and I to him. He said to me: Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for stern as death is love, relentless as the nether world is devotion; its flames are a blazing fire. Deep waters cannot quench love, nor floods sweep it away.

H2bs sisters are doing our readings, the sister who is an altar person is doing the corinthians one, but FIL2b is planning on coaching them on where the emphasis' should be.... I know what you mean about picking who does what, as very few of our friends are christian so would not feel comfortable on that front.

I wish there was something I could find that would be more appropriate for our guests.

I remember an amazing sermon once at church about a Mirror, and how we could see love, and it was based around a reading, but for the life of me I can't remember what it was!

You are lucky to have someone on hand Lovelygirl. May have to ask the vicar to sit down and talk me through the reading.

I've found an alternative that we both really like, but worried it's too short as our second one is short too: