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SECOND
SUNDAY OF EASTER
ACTS 2:14A, 22-32
PSALM
16
1
PETER 1:3-9
JOHN
20:19-31
COLLECT
Almighty and eternal God,
the strength of those who believe
and the hope of those who doubt,
may we, who have not seen, have faith
and receive the fullness of Christ's blessing,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
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A
READING FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed
the crowd, "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to
say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of
power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as
you yourselves know - this man, handed over to you according to
the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and
killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him
up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him
to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, 'I saw the
Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will
not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue
rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not
abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience
corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will
make me full of gladness with your presence.' Fellow Israelites, I
may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died
and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was
a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he
would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this,
David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, 'He was
not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.'
This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are
witnesses."
ACTS 2:14A, 22-32
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PSALM
REFRAIN God will not abandon me to the grove.
Protect
me, O God, for I take refuge in you; I have said to the Lord,
"You are my Lord, my good above all other."
All
my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, upon those who
are noble among the people. R
But
those who run after other gods shall have their troubles
multiplied.
Their
libations of blood I will not offer, nor take the names of their
gods upon my lips. R
O
Lord, you are my portion and my cup; it is you who uphold my lot.
My
boundaries enclose a pleasant land; indeed, I have a goodly
heritage. R
I
will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; my heart teaches me,
night after night.
I
have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand
I shall not fall. R
My
heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also
shall rest in hope.
For
you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your holy one see
the Pit. R
You
will show me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness
of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. R
PSALM 16
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A
READING FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF PETER
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his
great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an
inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in
heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God
through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have
had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your
faith - being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is
tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and
honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen
him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you
believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of
your souls.
1 PETER 1:3-9
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THE
HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO JOHN
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.
JOHN 20:19-31
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PRAYER
OVER THE GIFTS
God of grace,
you have freed us from our sins
and made us a kingdom in your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Accept all we offer you this day,
and strengthen us in the new life you have given us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION
Father,
we have seen with our eyes
and touched with our hands
the bread of life.
Strengthen our faith
that we may grow in love for you and for each other;
through Jesus Christ the risen Lord.
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