Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Collect

Sixth Sunday of Easter
O God, who hast prepared for those who love thee such good things as pass man's understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards thee, that we, loving thee in all things and above all things, may obtain thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Easter

Old Testament Reading

Acts 11:19-30
¹⁹Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. ²²Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. ²³When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ²⁴For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. ²⁵Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. ²⁷And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. ²⁹Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ³⁰This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. -- NKJV
- OR -

Isaiah 45:11-13,18-19
¹¹Thus says the LORD, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: " Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me. ¹²I have made the earth, And created man on it. I-My hands-stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded. ¹³I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward," Says the LORD of hosts. ¹⁸For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: " I am the LORD, and there is no other. ¹⁹I have not spoken in secret, In a dark place of the earth; I did not say to the seed of Jacob, ' Seek Me in vain'; I, the LORD, speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 33
¹Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.

²Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.

³Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

⁴For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.

⁵He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

⁶By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

⁷He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

⁹For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.

¹⁰The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

¹¹The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.

¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.

¹³The LORD looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men.

¹⁴From the place of His dwelling He looks
On all the inhabitants of the earth;

¹⁵He fashions their hearts individually;
He considers all their works.

¹⁶No king is saved by the multitude of an army;
A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

¹⁷A horse is a vain hope for safety;
Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.

¹⁸Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,

¹⁹To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.

²¹For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.

²²Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.
-- NKJV


- OR -

Psalm 33:1-8,18-22
¹Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.

²Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.

³Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

⁴For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.

⁵He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

⁶By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.

⁷He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deep in storehouses.

⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

¹⁸Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,

¹⁹To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰Our soul waits for the LORD;
He is our help and our shield.

²¹For our heart shall rejoice in Him,
Because we have trusted in His holy name.

²²Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,
Just as we hope in You.
-- NKJV

New Testament Reading

1 John 4:7-21
⁷Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹²No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. ¹³By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. ¹⁵Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. ¹⁷Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹We love Him because He first loved us. ²⁰If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? ²¹And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. -- NKJV
- OR -

Acts 11:19-30
¹⁹Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. ²⁰But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. ²¹And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. ²²Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. ²³When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. ²⁴For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. ²⁵Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. ²⁶And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. ²⁷And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. ²⁹Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ³⁰This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 15:9-17
⁹"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹"These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹²This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. ¹⁴You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. ¹⁵No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. ¹⁷These things I command you, that you love one another. -- NKJV
 

Fifth Sunday of Easter

The Collect

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know thy Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Easter

Old Testament Reading

Acts 8:26-40
²⁶Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. ²⁷So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." ³⁰So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" ³¹And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. ³²The place in the Scripture which he read was this: " He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ³³In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." ³⁴So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" ³⁵Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" ³⁷Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ³⁸So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. -- NKJV
- OR -

Deuteronomy 4:32-40
³²"For ask now concerning the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether any great thing like this has happened, or anything like it has been heard. ³³Did any people ever hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live? ³⁴Or did God ever try to go and take for Himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? ³⁵To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD Himself is God; there is none other besides Him. ³⁶Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. ³⁷And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power, ³⁸driving out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as it is this day. ³⁹Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. ⁴⁰You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time." -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 66:1-11
¹Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

²Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.

³Say to God,
"How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.

⁴All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah

⁵Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

⁶He turned the sea into dry land;
They went through the river on foot.
There we will rejoice in Him.

⁷He rules by His power forever;
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

⁸Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

⁹Who keeps our soul among the living,
And does not allow our feet to be moved.

¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.

¹¹You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.

-- NKJV


- OR -

Psalm 66:1-8
¹Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth!

²Sing out the honor of His name;
Make His praise glorious.

³Say to God,
"How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.

⁴All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name." Selah

⁵Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.

⁶He turned the sea into dry land;
They went through the river on foot.
There we will rejoice in Him.

⁷He rules by His power forever;
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

⁸Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

-- NKJV

New Testament Reading

1 John 3:(14-17)18-24
(¹⁴We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. ¹⁵Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. ¹⁶By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. ¹⁷But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? )¹⁸My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. ¹⁹And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. ²⁰For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. ²¹Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. ²²And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. ²³And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. ²⁴Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. -- NKJV
- OR -

Acts 8:26-40
²⁶Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, "Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." This is desert. ²⁷So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go near and overtake this chariot." ³⁰So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" ³¹And he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. ³²The place in the Scripture which he read was this: " He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. ³³In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth." ³⁴So the eunuch answered Philip and said, "I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?" ³⁵Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. ³⁶Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" ³⁷Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." ³⁸So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. ³⁹Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

John 14:15-21
¹⁵"If you love Me, keep My commandments. ¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- ¹⁷the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. ¹⁸I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. ¹⁹"A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. ²⁰At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. ²¹He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." -- NKJV

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, April-29-2012
Fourth Sunday of Easter

The Collect

Fourth Sunday of Easter
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of thy people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he doth lead; who, with thee and the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Old Testament Reading

Acts 4:23-31(32-37)
²³ When they were released they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who didst make the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who by the mouth of our father David, thy servant, didst say by the Holy Spirit, `Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples imagine vain things? ²⁶ The kings of the earth set themselves in array, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed'-- ²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against thy holy servant Jesus, whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever thy hand and thy plan had predestined to take place. ²⁹ And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, ³⁰ while thou stretchest out thy hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus." ³¹ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness. (³² Now the company of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. ³³ And with great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of what was sold ³⁵ and laid it at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made to each as any had need. ³⁶ Thus Joseph who was surnamed by the apostles Barnabas (which means, Son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field which belonged to him, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. )

Psalm

Psalm 23
¹y0 A Psalm of David.
² The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want;
³ he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters;
⁴ he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
⁵ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
⁶ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
⁷ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
 

New Testament Reading

1 John 3:1-8
¹ See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Beloved, we are God's children now; it does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ And every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. ⁴ Every one who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. ⁵ You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. ⁶ No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. ⁷ Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does right is righteous, as he is righteous. ⁸ He who commits sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

Gospel Reading

John 10:11-18
¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father."

Lectionary Readings
Book of Common Prayer - 1979
Sunday, April-22-2012
Third Sunday of Easter

The Collect

O God, whose blessed Son did manifest himself to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open, we pray thee, the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Old Testament Reading

Acts 4:5-12
⁵ On the morrow their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Ca'iaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a cripple, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by him this man is standing before you well. ¹¹ This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner. ¹² And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Psalm 98¹y0 A Psalm.
² O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
³ The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
⁴ He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
⁵ Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
⁶ Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
⁷ With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!
⁸ Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
⁹ Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
¹⁰ before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.

New Testament Reading

1 John 1:1-2:21:¹ That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- ² the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- ³ that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. ⁴ And we are writing this that our joy may be complete. ⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; ⁷ but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 2:¹ My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; ² and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Gospel Reading

Luke 24:36-48³⁶ As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have." ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them. ⁴⁴ Then he said to them, "These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.

Lectionary Readings

The Collect

Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery hast established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of Easter

Old Testament Reading

Acts 3:12-15,17-26
¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁷ "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. ²² Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. <sup>23</sup> And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' <sup>24</sup> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. <sup>25</sup> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."
- OR -

Isaiah 26:2-9,19
² Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps faith may enter in. ³ Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. ⁴ Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock. ⁵ For he has brought low the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. ⁶ The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy." ⁷ The way of the righteous is level; thou dost make smooth the path of the righteous. ⁸ In the path of thy judgments, O LORD, we wait for thee; thy memorial name is the desire of our soul. ⁹ My soul yearns for thee in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks thee. For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. ¹⁹ Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For thy dew is a dew of light, and on the land of the shades thou wilt let it fall.

Psalm

Psalm 111
¹Praise the LORD. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
² Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in them.
³ Full of honor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures for ever.
⁴ He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy,
⁸ they are established for ever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and terrible is his name!
¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it. His praise endures for ever!

- OR -

Psalm 118:19-24
¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
²¹ I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
²³ This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

New Testament Reading

1 John 5:1-6
¹ Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. ⁴ For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. ⁵ Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? ⁶ This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood.
- OR -

Acts 3:12-15,17-26
¹² And when Peter saw it he addressed the people, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ¹³ The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. ¹⁷ "And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled. ¹⁹ Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, ²⁰ and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, ²¹ whom heaven must receive until the time for establishing all that God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. ²² Moses said, `The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet from your brethren as he raised me up. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. <sup>23</sup> And it shall be that every soul that does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.' <sup>24</sup> And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came afterwards, also proclaimed these days. <sup>25</sup> You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God gave to your fathers, saying to Abraham, `And in your posterity shall all the families of the earth be blessed.' ²⁶ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you in turning every one of you from your wickedness."

Gospel Reading

John 20:19-31
¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." ²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." ²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." ²⁸ Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." ³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

Confirmation/ 1st Communion Class 2012

Easter Day

The Collect

Easter Day
O God, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen


Old Testament Reading


Isaiah 25:6-9
⁶ On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. ⁷ And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. ⁸ He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the LORD has spoken. ⁹ It will be said on that day, "Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

Psalm

Psalm 118:14-29
¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
¹⁵ Hark, glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly,
¹⁶ the right hand of the LORD is exalted, the right hand of the LORD does valiantly!"
¹⁷ I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.
¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me sorely, but he has not given me over to death.
¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD.
²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.
²¹ I thank thee that thou hast answered me and hast become my salvation.
²² The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
²³ This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
²⁵ Save us, we beseech thee, O LORD! O LORD, we beseech thee, give us success!
²⁶ Blessed be he who enters in the name of the LORD! We bless you from the house of the LORD.
²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has given us light. Bind the festal procession with branches, up to the horns of the altar!
²⁸ Thou art my God, and I will give thanks to thee; thou art my God, I will extol thee.
²⁹ O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures for ever!


New Testament Reading


Acts 10:34-43
³⁴ And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Gospel Reading

Mark 16:1-8¹ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. ² And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. ³ And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" ⁴ And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; --it was very large. ⁵ And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed. ⁶ And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you." ⁸ And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.