Epistles for Occasional Services

For use with the Book of Occasional Services

Example: How to chant the Epistle

The Church Year

Our Lady of Guadalupe	Revelation 11:19a, 12:1-6a

Pastoral Services

Service of Renaming	2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (We are transformed from glory to glory) or 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (In Christ, there is a new creation) or Galatians 3:27-28 (In Christ there is no longer Jew nor Greek...) or Philippians 2:9-13 (Christ's name above all names) or 1 John 3:1-2 (What we will be has not yet been revealed) or Revelation 21:1-6 ("See, I am making all things new")
Presentation of a Child (Presentación de un[a] Niño o Niña)	Ephesians 5:2, 21; 6:1-4 (Walk in the way of love)
Quinceañera (The Celebration of Fifteen Years)	Ephesians 1:3-6 (Called by Christ before creation) or Galatians 4:4-7 (Divine heirs) or Romans 12:1-2 (Grateful offering to God)
Recognition of Ministries in the Church and the World	Romans 12:6-12 (Having gifts that differ according to the grace given) or 2 Corinthians 4:2, 5-6 (Having this ministry by the mercy of God) or Colossians 3:12-17 (Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs) or Hebrews 6:9-12 (God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and love)
Celebration for a Home	3 John 1-6a, 11, 13-15
Public Service of Healing	Acts 3:1-10 (In the name of Jesus Christ... stand up and walk) or Acts 5:12-16 (Healings in Jerusalem; Peter's shadow) or Acts 9:10-19a (Saul's sight is restored) or Acts 10:36-43 (Apostolic preaching: He went about... healing) or Acts 16:16-18 (The slave girl with the spirit of divination) or Romans 8:18-23 (We await the redemption of our bodies) or Romans 8:31-39 (Nothing can separate us from the love of God) or Romans 12:12-21 (Be patient in suffering) or 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (God comforts us) or 2 Corinthians 6:2b-10 (Now is the day of salvation) or Colossians 1:11-20 (May you be strengthened with all power) or Hebrews 12:1-2 (Looking to Jesus, the perfecter of our faith) or James 5:14-16 (Is anyone among you sick?) or 1 John 5:13-15 (That you may know that you have eternal life) or 1 Peter 2:21-24 (By his wounds you have been healed)
Burial of One Who Does Not Profess the Christian Faith	Romans 8:35-39 (Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?)
Opening of a New Congregation	1 Corinthians 5:16-21 (So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation) or Hebrews 10:19-25 (Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope)

Liturgical Materials Honoring God in Creation

God, the source and destiny of the cosmos	Revelation 22:1-5
God of order and dynamic change	Revelation 21:3-5a
The justice of God and the dignity of all creatures	Ephesians 1:8b-10
The kinship and unity of all creation in Christ	Colossians 1:15-20
Reading God's goodness in the diversity of life	Revelation 5:11-14
Called to be God's partners in the care of the planet	Romans 8:18-23

Episcopal Services

Consecration of Chrism Apart from Baptism	Revelation 1:4-8
Reaffirmation of Ordination Vows	2 Corinthians 4:5-15 or Philippians 2:3-11
Ending a Pastoral Relationship	1 Corinthians 3:4-11 (Paul planted, Apollos watered, God gave growth) or Acts 16:9-10 (Paul's call from Macedonia) or Acts 20:17-22, 25-28, 32, 36-38b (Paul's apologia for his ministry at Ephesus) or 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 (Paul gives thanks for the success of the Gospel) or 1 Thessalonians 5:12-25 (Paul encourages the ministry among the Thessalonians) or Philippians 4:1-10, 23 (Rejoice in the Lord always)
Setting Apart for a Religious Vocation	Acts 2:42-47 (Apostles' teaching and fellowship) or Acts 4:32-35 (They had everything in common) or 1 Corinthians 1:22-31 (God chose what was foolish) or Philippians 3:8-14 (That I may gain Christ) or Colossians 3:12-17 (Put on love, which binds everything together) or 1 John 4:7-16 (He who abides in love abides in God)