3rd Sunday of Easter – The Peanut Gallery

The Third Sunday of Easter

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

Opening Prayer:

God of life, in your risen Son you reveal your abiding presence among us and summon us to lives of worship and service. Fill us with reverence as we come before you today. And grant us courage and enthusiasm in bearing witness before the world to your Son, Jesus Christ, the firstborn from the dead, who lives and reigns with you now and always in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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“”The Lion and The Lamb”” – Big Daddy Weave

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A Reading from the Letters: 2 Corinthians 1:15-22 (NLT)

Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice — first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.

You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly? Do you think I am like people of the world who say “Yes” when they really mean “No”? As surely as God is faithful, our word to you does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.

It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.
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A Reading from the Gospels: John 21:1-14 (NLT)

Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.

Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”

“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.

At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?”

“No,” they replied.

Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.

Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.

“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.

“Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
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Intercession:

Almighty God: You claim us as your own and rescue us from all distress. Pour out your Spirit on your people, as we confidently approach your throne of grace. We pray especially –

+ That all believers may hold onto your promises….
+ That believers who are wavering may stand firm….
+ That believers who are suffering may have courage….
+ That missionaries may serve with conviction and enthusiasm….
+ That those working the sea may receive protection….
+ That those working the land may receive just reward….
+ That those who prepare and serve food may themselves be sustained….

Almighty God: Hear our prayers and the cries of our hearts, and have mercy us. Guide us through the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may love and serve you all the days of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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“Stand In Your Love” – Josh Baldwin

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Closing Declaration: Psalm 33:3-5

Sing a new song of praise to him; sing with joy. For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good, and the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.

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

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

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

Opening sentence and prayer:

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth; O sing to the glory of his name.
For the Lord is risen. He is risen, indeed!
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Holy Spirit – Open the eyes of our hearts that we might journey with Jesus today… and see Him in the breaking of the bread.
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A Reading from the Book of Acts: Acts 2:14, 22-33 (NLT)

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.
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When the day of Pentecost came. Mark A Hewitt Pastel & pen. 26 May 2012. — When the day of Pentecost came.
Mark A Hewitt
Pastel & pen. 26 May 2012.

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. King David said this about him:

‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

“Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.

“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today….”

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 16:1-2, 5, 7-11 (NLT)

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”
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Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.
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I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
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A Reading from the Letters: 1 Peter 1:17-21 (NLT)

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.” For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.

Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.

A Reading from the Gospels: Luke 24:13-35 (NLT)

The Walk to Emmaus

That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him.

He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”

They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”

“What things?” Jesus asked.

“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.

“Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”

Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

The Supper at Emmaus Caravaggio, 1601 The National Gallery, London — The Supper at Emmaus
Caravaggio, 1601
The National Gallery, London

By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread.

Intercessions:

Lord Jesus, stay with me awhile and hear my prayers –

+ For all who seek truth; and for all who guide truth-seekers… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For civil authorities; and for all who work toward the common good… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all travelers; and for those who bring them safely home… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all who try to walk in the way of the Lord; and for all who have strayed from the path… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all those effected by natural disasters; and for those who provide them aid… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all those effected by the ravages of war; and for the believers who labor among them… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For our military, government and relief workers serving our country throughout the world; and for loved ones who await their safe return… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For all those who are seriously ill, hospitalized, or homebound; and for those who are abandoned, and neglected – both young and old… Lord, hear my prayer.

+ For the recently deceased, both born and unborn; and for all who mourn their loss… Lord, hear my prayer.

Loving Father, you open our eyes to your Son. Hear the cries of my heart and grant those that will bring us closer to you. I ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
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Spiritual Song: Walk with me