The Third Week of the Easter Season
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
Continued joy and blessings to you this Eastertide.
Some of the disciples continue to be apprehensive and question the resurrection of Jesus but slowly the penny is dropping but not without some scary moments and a joyful questioning (Luke 24:41). They are realising that Jesus has risen. He is recognised in the breaking of bread (Luke 24:35), eating broiled fish (Luke 24.42-41), in offering his peace (Luke 24:36). He is recognised in his physical presence.
As we hear again and read the Easter story we let it come alive for us. While Jesus’ presence is not here, it is important that we do not lock the story in some form of scriptural ‘lockdown’. The Easter story is one for daily living and that is celebrated each Sunday in our liturgy. Jesus is alive, He is alive but we need to be aware of him and to look for him and sense his presence.
We can do this by being more aware of our surroundings, the people we see, those we hold conversations with, hearing their joy or sorrow. We can celebrate the joy of life in the laughter, excitement and dare I say the vibrant noise of children at play? At this time of the year there is also the changing scenes of life in our gardens, parks and countryside, new life pushing its way through the darkness of the earth.
Our ‘Moments of stillness, reflection and prayers’ are over leaf with a sentence or two for each day, they are from the Gospel of Luke or the Acts of the Apostles. Read them slowly and let them, so to speak, hang in the air for you to think about during the day.
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I also suggest that you read through the Acts of the Apostle during the 50 days of Easter. Read at your pace, re-read verses if you wish, just slowly engage with the story of the early Church and how the Good News, the Easter story was shared.
At the end of the daily prayers there are suggested readings from Acts for the week. I have used the Revised Common Lectionary as a source.
Moments of stillness, reflection and prayers
Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit Amen
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
If I climb up to heaven, you are there; if I make the grave my bed, you are there also. (Psalm 139:7)
Yesterday I was crucified with Christ; today I am glorified with him.
Yesterday I was dead with Christ; today I am sharing in his resurrection.
Yesterday I was buried with him; today I am waking with him from the sleep of death. (Gregory of Nazianzus (389)
Words from Psalm 117
Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now and shall be forever. Amen
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Alleluia, alleluia, read and hear words from our sacred texts:
Slowly read these words, let them become special words for today.
Wednesday
Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’
(Luke 24.43b-44)
Thursday
And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.
(Acts of the Apostles 3.16)
Friday
In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.
(Acts of the Apostles 3.18-19)
Saturday
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
(Luke 24.45-48)
Sunday
10let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.”
(Acts of the Apostles 4.10-12)
Monday
Jesus said: ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep
(John 10:11)
Tuesday
John continues: I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father.
(John 10.14-15a)
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Lord, you have promised to hear those who pray to you in faith:
Lord, hear now the prayers we offer…
Risen Christ, you filled your disciples with boldness and fresh hope: strengthen us to proclaim your risen life and fill us with your peace, to the glory of God the Father. Amen
Canticle
Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right. (Northumberland Community)
Intercessions may be offered for friends and family, our church and for the leaders of Church and nation.
God of love and light,
in this time of fear, give us your peace.
In this time of isolation, give us your presence.
In this time of sickness, give us your healing.
In this time of uncertainty, give us your wisdom.
In this time of darkness, shine your light upon us all.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God of Life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have 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 risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, … Amen
May God fill us all with hope, joy, patience and enthusiasm this Easter season so we can continue to be a follower of Jesus who has suffered, died and has risen.
Every blessing to you and your families!
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with us,
wherever He may send us.
May He guide us through the wilderness,
protect us through the storm.
May He bring us home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown us.
May He bring us home rejoicing
once again into our doors. (Northumberland Community)
May the souls of departed through the mercy of God rest in peace and rise in glory. Amen. Alleluia. Christ is risen He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
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Easter Readings from Acts – The 50 days of Easter – (Day’s 18 – 24)
Wednesday (18) Acts 8.1b-8
Thursday (19) Acts 8.26-end
Friday (20) Acts 9. 23-30*
Saturday (21) Acts 9.31-42
Easter 4 (22) Acts 4.5-12
Monday (23) Acts 15.35-end
Tuesday (24) Acts 11.19-26
Rev Derek Akker
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay
