Second Sunday of Easter

The Easter season overflows with the joy of Jesus’ resurrection, continuing for the next six weeks, until Pentecost Sunday on 24 May.

+ In the name the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Opening prayer:

Father, You brought Your beloved Son from the darkness of death to the light of glory; let us enter into the regions of Your own wonderful light. You saved us through faith in Jesus Christ; help us to live today in the grace of our baptism. You have told us to seek the things that are in heaven; enable us to resist the attraction of sin. Reveal the riches of our hidden life in Christ that all may see the signs of the new heaven and the new earth. Glorify us, Lord, with the glory of Christ.
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A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 4:32-35 (NLT)

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
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A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (NLT)

Let all Israel repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
Let Aaron’s descendants, the priests, repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
Let all who fear the Lord repeat: “His faithful love endures forever.”
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My enemies did their best to kill me, but the Lord rescued me. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
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The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 John 5:1-6 (NLT)

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood on the cross — not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it with his testimony.
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Alleluia, alleluia. You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; blessed are those who have not seen me, but still believe! Alleluia, alleluia. (John 20:29)
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 20:19-31 (NLT)

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.

The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
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Intercessions:

Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King, Your love has no end. Hear us now Lord as we pray:

+ That the unity of the church throughout the world may grow…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who doubt the resurrection may believe…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the suffering people of the world may have relief…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those being persecuted for their faith may be defended…. Lord, hear us.
+ That people who are sick may find healing…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those in need may have good friends to support them…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who are lonely may find You…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who have died recently may share the victory over death won by Christ…. Lord, hear us.

God our strength, the resurrection of Jesus renews our hope: hear our prayers and help us, we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Benediction:

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24-25)

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen