Third Sunday of Easter

Joyfully we worship God who raised our Savior from the dead.

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

Opening Sentence:

God of life, in your risen Son you reveal your abiding presence among us and summon those reborn in him to lives of worship and service. Fill us with joy as we come before you today. And, grant us courage and zeal in witnessing before the world to your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you now and always in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
__________

“Happy Day” – Tim Hughes

__________

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41 (NLT)
[Peter and the apostles are reprimanded for teaching about Jesus.]

Then they brought the apostles before the high council, where the high priest confronted them. “We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!”

But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead after you killed him by hanging him on a cross. Then God put him in the place of honor at his right hand as Prince and Savior. He did this so the people of Israel would repent of their sins and be forgiven. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
_____

They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.
__________

A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12

O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you restored my health.
_____

Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.
_____

For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!”
_____

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!
__________

Psalm 30 – Kol Simcha

__________

A Reading from the Revelations of John: Revelation 5:11-14 NLT (NLT)
[John shares his vision of heaven.]

Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. And they sang in a mighty chorus:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered — to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”

And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.”

And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
__________

A Reading from the Gospels: John 20:19-31 (NLT)
[Jesus appears for a third time to the disciples.]

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.

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”

“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.

Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”

“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.

A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

“I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
__________

Spiritual Song: “Feed Me Jesus” – Sister Rosetta Tharpe

__________

Intercessory Prayer:

Heavenly Father: rescue us from all our distress, and hear the prayers of your people.

+ That Christians who suffer for their faith may have courage…. Lord, hear us.
+ That missionaries may have the conviction and zeal of the early disciples…. Lord, hear us.
+ That fishermen and those who work on the sea may have divine protection…. Lord, hear us.
+ That small farmers may receive a just reward for their precious labor…. Lord, hear us.
+ That those who cook and serve food may themselves be sustained by your Spirit…. Lord, hear us.
+ That the vision of heaven given in the Scriptures may comfort the sick and dying…. Lord, hear us.
+ That all who have died may join those gathered around the throne of the Lamb…. Lord, hear us.

Gracious God, you listen and have compassion on your people: help us and guide us all the days of our life, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
__________

Hymn: “Revelation Song” – Jennie Lee Riddle

Benediction:

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 7:12)

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