Acts 4:32-35
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed
private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.
With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and
great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as
owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at
the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
Psalm 133
1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, *
when brethren live together in unity!
2 It is like fine oil upon the head *
that runs down upon the beard,
3 Upon the beard of Aaron, *
and runs down upon the collar of his robe.
4 It is like the dew of Hermon *
that falls upon the hills of Zion.
5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: *
life for evermore.
1 John 1:1-2:2
We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen
with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of
life– this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the
eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us– we declare to you what we
have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship
is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy
may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in
him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are
walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he
himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son
cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is
not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that 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; and he is the
atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
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.
HYMNS
AT THE LAMB’S HIGH FEAST WE SING
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing praise to our victorious King,
Who hath washed us in the tide flowing from his pierced side;
Praise we him whose love divine gives his sacred Blood for wine,
Gives his Body for the feast, Christ the victime, Christ the priest.
Mighty victim from on high, hell’s fierce powers beneath thee lie;
Thou hast conquered in the fight, thou hast brought us life and light;
Now no more can death appall, now no more the grave enthrall;
Thou hast opened paradise, and in thee thy saints shall rise.
Easter triumph, Easter joy, these alone do sin destroy.
From sin’s power do thou set free, souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory, songs of praise, Father, unto thee we raise;
Risen Lord, all praise to thee with the Spirit ever be.
WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT
We walk by faith, and not by sight;
No gracious words we hear
From him who spoke as none e’er spoke;
But we believe him near.
We may not touch his hands and side,
Nor follow where he trod;
But in his promise we rejoice;
And cry, “My Lord and God!”
Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
And may our faith abound,
To call on you when you are near,
And seek where you are found.
That, when our life of faith is done,
In realms of clearer light
We may behold you as you are,
With full and endless sight.
CHRIST IS ALIVE! LET CHRISTIANS SING
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing,
His cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
His love in death shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
To distant years in Palestine,
He comes to claim the here and now
And conquer every place and time.
Not throned above, remotely high,
Untouched, unmoved by human pains,
But daily in the midst of life,
Our Savior with the Father reigns.
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy
Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I
remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in
glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I
beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your
grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you
in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
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