27th April: Easter 2
online Holy Communion for Easter.
We’re giving the team a break this week.
Acts 5:27-32
After the resurrection the disciples preach in the Temple before the High Priest and Jewish Council, recounting the death and resurrection of Jesus. They are told to stop, but Peter boldly answers that they are witnesses to the resurrection, and are empowered to speak by the Holy Spirit.
When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’
John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then 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.’When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’
But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told 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 in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
Something to think about
The records of Jesus’s ministry in the three Synoptic Gospels are read in turns over the three yearly cycle in our lectionaries. We now turn to John’s accounts of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus until Trinity Sunday when we go back to Luke’s gospel. John’s characteristic interests as in his gospel are evident - the peace that Jesus offers, the giving of power to the disciples to continue his work through the power of the Holy Spirit, the acknowledgement of Jesus’s sovereignty all feature..
Collect
Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no heart is closed:
open the doors of our compassion,
that we may seek the good of others
and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,
to the praise of God the Father.
Post Communion
Lord God our Father, through our Saviour Jesus Christ
you have assured your children of eternal life
and in baptism have made us one with him:
deliver us from the death of sin
and raise us to new life in your love,
in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Next Sunday’s (4th) Readings:
Acts 9:1-9
John 21:1-19
Please remember in your prayers this week:
Those who are sick or suffering, including Tim Sadler, Linda Torr, Margaret Marsden, Nadia and Irene Wilson, or very elderly, especially Arthur Williams.
The recently bereaved, especially the friends and relatives of Christine Webster, Vivyan Manion, David Woodhouse, Neil Harrison, and Valerie Slater.
Areas of conflict: the Ukraine, the Middle East and too many others.
Our local churches, as they face up to the problems of the future, such as the interregnum.
Our Ministry Team: Maggie, Nigel & Lynda and her support: Simon.