Listening for the Promise Weekly Devotional The Second Sunday after Easter April 2 th, 205 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. John 20:24 Perhaps Thomas should have believed; after all Jesus told them that He would die and rise again. Jesus comforted them with the risen Lord. The Roman guards were frightened. The women saw the empty tomb. Peter and John confirmed their story. Mary met Jesus in the garden. Two followers met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. The disciples saw Jesus in the Upper Room. Why should Thomas have doubted? He doubted because he was separated from the fellowship of believers. We call him Doubting Thomas as if his doubts are worse than those of the other disciples, but did they believe at first? Did they believe the women? What did Peter and John believe when they found the empty tomb: that Jesus was alive, or that His body was missing? When Jesus first entered the room, they thought He was a ghost. They had to see the proof, too. Thomas tried to deal with the loss of Jesus on his own; he left the fellowship of believers and missed experiencing the Living Christ. We experience the presence of Christ in the fellowship of believers. Thomas was not there and he missed it all. He missed the appearance of Jesus and the giving of the Holy Spirit. He missed the words of peace that helped the others overcome their fear and grief. He was apart from the body and he could not believe until he had an encounter with the living Christ. Jesus did not chase after Thomas; He waited for Thomas to return to the fellowship of believers. When Thomas saw Jesus, he made the true confession: My Lord, and my God! Thomas was again in fellowship with the other disciples and together they learned how to be apostles so that they could carry on His work. In the story of Thomas we see how important it is it to be part of the body of Christ. We can t do it alone; we will doubt if we are separated from the fellowship of believers. We need the Church to believe. We experience Jesus through the witness of those first disciples, including Doubting Thomas, and through the witness of all Christians that came before us. The Holy Spirit blesses us with the faith and hope to be witnesses beside them. Trinity Lutheran Church Lake Norden Member NALC April 2, 205 Pastor Mark Jamison Sola Worship Resource Weekly Devotional 204, Sola Publishing (www.solapublishing.org), written by Peggy Hoppes. Scripture taken from ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 200 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Trinity Lutheran Church (NALC) Lake Norden, SD Second Sunday of Easter April 2, 205 Pastor Mark Jamison Prelude Welcome & Announcements Greeting of One Another Opening Hymn ELW #36 The Day of Resurrection P: Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, C: have mercy on us. Lord s Prayer C: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Apostles Creed C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen. P: O Lord, I cry to you for help. C: In the morning my prayer comes before you. P; Let my mouth be full of your praise C: and your glory all the day long. P: Every day will I bless you, C: and praise your name forever and ever. P: Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness, O God of our salvation. C: O hope of all the ends of the earth and of the seas that are far away. P: Bless the Lord, O my soul, C: and all that is within me, bless God s holy name. P: You redeem my life from the grave, C: and crown me with mercy and steadfast love. P: Lord, hear my prayer, C: and let my cry come before you. Prayer of the day First Scripture Reading Psalm Second Scripture Reading Hymn of Praise ELW #392 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus Children s Sermon Holy Gospel Sermon Hymn of the Day ELW #385 Good Christian Friends, Rejoice and Sing! Offering Offertory Hymn ELW #69 Accept, O Lord, the Gifts We Bring Prayers of the Church Morning Prayer P: We give thanks to you, heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected us through the night from all harm and danger. We ask that you would also protect us today from sin and all evil, so that our life and actions may please you. Into your hands we commend ourselves: our bodies, our souls, and all that is ours. Let your holy angels be with us, so that the wicked foe may have no power over us. C: Amen. Blessing & Benediction P: Let us bless the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. P: Almighty God bless us, defend us, from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. C: Amen. Closing Hymn ELW #389 Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing Dismissal Postlude
Prayer of the Day April 2 th 205 Second Sunday of Easter Help us, almighty God, that our joyful celebration of the resurrection feast may be reflected in our daily work and conversation. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. First Reading: Acts 4:32-35 32 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. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 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 35 and laid it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Psalm 48 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. 2 Praise him, all you angels of his; praise him, all his host. 3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He made them stand fast forever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; 8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing his will; 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; 0 Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds; Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; 2 Young men and maidens, old and young together. 3 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven. 4 He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah! Second Reading: John : - 2:2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, Prayer of the Day April 2 th 205 Second Sunday of Easter Help us, almighty God, that our joyful celebration of the resurrection feast may be reflected in our daily work and conversation. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. First Reading: Acts 4:32-35 32 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. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 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 35 and laid it at the apostles feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Psalm 48 Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. 2 Praise him, all you angels of his; praise him, all his host. 3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. 4 Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the Name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. 6 He made them stand fast forever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps; 8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing his will; 9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; 0 Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds; Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; 2 Young men and maidens, old and young together. 3 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for his Name only is exalted, his splendor is over earth and heaven. 4 He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him. Hallelujah! Second Reading: John : - 2:2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 0 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Gospel: John 20:9-3 9 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 2 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 27 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. 28 Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! 29 Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 3 but 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. of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 2 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 27 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. 28 Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God! 29 Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 3 but 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. so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 0 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Gospel: John 20:9-3 9 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear