Christians in a Non-Believing worldEaster 7
Collect for Easter 7 - O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
This coming week will be the last Sunday in Easter. Easter 7 serves as a bridge between Ascension and Pentecost. We look back to the Ascension or forward to Pentecost. Because Easter was so early this year we will be celebrating Ascension before confirmation. Mother’s Day will be the observance of Pentecost.
Monday, April 28, 2008 – Psalm 68:1-10- This is the Psalm suggested for the last Sunday in Easter.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008 – Acts 1:12—26 – Christians in the world pray for the Spirit. At his ascension, Jesus promised to send the Spirit to the disciples. The risen Lord meets with his eleven disciples a short distance from Jerusalem where before ascending to his Father, he promises them the Spirit who will give them power to witness throughout the world. Then they returned to an upper room in Jerusalem to pray. With the disciples are Jesus’ brothers and mother. This is her last appearance in the New Testament — she is seen among the first Christians praying and waiting for the Spirit. This deals with both the ascension and next Sunday’s Pentecost.. The First Lesson is similar to today’s Acts 1:1-11. Otherwise, the Lesson can be used to prepare for next Sunday’s Pentecost celebration.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 –1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 – Christians in the world share Christ’s sufferings. Christians are to rejoice over the privilege of sharing Christ’s suffering, and after suffering God will restore and strengthen them. The exhortations to the newly baptized are continued in this passage. They are warned of impending persecution for being Christians, for at this time it was a crime to be a Christian. They are not to be surprised when suffering comes, but to rejoice that they suffer like Jesus did. When suffering comes, the new Christians are to be humble, trust in God’s care, be on guard against temptation, and to remember that suffering is over and God will strengthen them. They are to take comfort in the fact that suffering is experienced by the whole church.
Thursday, May 1, 2008 – John 17:1-11 – Christians in the world are prayed for. Before his departure, Jesus prays for his disciples. This pericope is a part of Christ’s high priestly prayer, the end of his farewell discourse at the last supper begun in chapter 13. The hour of his departure has come. He reports to the Father that he has accomplished the work he was sent to do.
Friday, May 2, 2008 – Psalm 47 – This Psalm is suggested for Ascension.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008 –1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 – Christians in the world share Christ’s sufferings. Christians are to rejoice over the privilege of sharing Christ’s suffering, and after suffering God will restore and strengthen them. The exhortations to the newly baptized are continued in this passage. They are warned of impending persecution for being Christians, for at this time it was a crime to be a Christian. They are not to be surprised when suffering comes, but to rejoice that they suffer like Jesus did. When suffering comes, the new Christians are to be humble, trust in God’s care, be on guard against temptation, and to remember that suffering is over and God will strengthen them. They are to take comfort in the fact that suffering is experienced by the whole church.
Thursday, May 1, 2008 – John 17:1-11 – Christians in the world are prayed for. Before his departure, Jesus prays for his disciples. This pericope is a part of Christ’s high priestly prayer, the end of his farewell discourse at the last supper begun in chapter 13. The hour of his departure has come. He reports to the Father that he has accomplished the work he was sent to do.
Friday, May 2, 2008 – Psalm 47 – This Psalm is suggested for Ascension.
Saturday, May 3, 2008 –Acts 2:21 – Is the inspiration for the hymn “Christ is the World’s Redeemer“{LSB 539} As we will confirm our Jr. Confirmands tomorrow we pray they would remain faithful to Jesus forever. The suggested hymn for this weeks reminds us that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Having examined the realities of Easter we now go out into the world as witnesses of the Savior. This is what living the faith means. Expressing what those 1st Century disciples proclaimed, “we are witnesses to these things.”
Daytime Collect for Eastertide - Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit.
A Prayer for Ascension – Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives, and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
A Prayer for St. James and Philip [Observed May 1] – Almighty God, Whom to know is life everlasting, grant that, even as Your Son gave knowledge of everlasting life to the apostles Philip and James by revealing Himself the them as the only ways to Yu, so we may be a true and lively faith know Him as our only Savior now and forever.
For Agriculture - Almighty God, You blessed the earth to make it fruitful, bringing forth in abundance whatever is needed for the support of our lives. Prosper; we implore You, the work of farmers, especially in this planting season. Grant them seasonable weather that they may gather in the fruits of the earth and thus proclaim Your goodness. May we see by this noble vocation that by Your aid we are helping to feed the world and cause all who give thanks over their food to treat those who produce it with honor and respect.
An Evening Collect for Eastertide – Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us in the end of the day, in the end of our life, in the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your Holy Word and sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair when death shall come. Abide with us and with all the faithful through time and eternity.
Sources:
THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL © 1940 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN WORSHIP © 1982 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO
LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK © 1980 John Brokhoff CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
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