SUNDAY (April 11, 2021)
Second Sunday of Easter
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Gospel Sentence
“…these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
Reading
“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” (Acts 4:32–35)
Meditation
The martyred Lutheran pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, wrote a beautiful book, Life Together, about Christians living in community. Bonhoeffer believed in “Christ as community”, and asserts, “The Christian community has to integrate the gospel into its daily life and reflect this to the world. ‘Christ existing as community’ challenges believers to behave as Christ to one another; this same Christ promises those who gather in his name to be present in, with, and for them.”
Silence
Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Aimee, O Lord, and teach her to hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of the Week
Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Lord’s Prayer