Trinity Sunday

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading and Psalm
  • Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31
  • Psalm 8
• Second reading
  • Romans 5:1-5
• Gospel
  • John 16:12-15

The gospel from John:
Jesus said “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Sermon:
Today is Trinity Sunday. It is different, in that it is the only Sunday celebrating church doctrine. We prefer to hear stories. Pastor Stevensen’s purpose this morning is for us to read the text carefully and stay close to the Bible. It is a story that has three characters: Father. Son and Holy Spirit. To understand who characters are it helps to study their backgrounds. The Father is God. There is no dispute. The Son is Jesus, Emanuel, the Word made flesh, God among us. The third character is the Spirit of truth, the advocate. The Nicene Creed names three characters to be persons, not three gods, but rather one essence, one substance. There are not three gods. Christianity includes the Old Testament which declares the Lord as one. One God, who is trustworthy and works on our behalf.

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Day of Pentecost

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 2:1-21 or Genesis 11:1-9
• Psalm
  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Second reading
  • Romans 8:14-17 or Acts 2:1-21
• Gospel
  • John 14:8-17, (25-27)?

The second reading from Acts:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs–in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.”

l were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.” But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.

And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

The gospel from John:
Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.

This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Sermon:
Today is Pentecost. The red of our vestments represents fire. On the day of Pentecost there were winds and tongues of fire from the heavens, Pentecost is the one of three holy days in our church calendar. Why is Pentecost so important? It was the beginng of the church. At that time Christians left Jerusalem and spread throughout the known world. The disciple Thomas went as far as India. Our gospel reading mentions some of the far away places. Why should we care? It points to the expansion of the power of God. In Acts we read how Peter, Paul and others spread the Word. Many others would do that for years after. They did that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. How does one understand what is written in Acts? It consists of narration, the adventures of Peter and Paul, and the meaning of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Stevensen talks about the speeches by Peter written down in Acts. He continues on about how the Holy Spirit works on us ……..

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Seventh Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 16:16-34
• Psalm
  • Psalm 97
• Second reading
  • Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
• Gospel
  • John 17:20-26

The gospel from John:
“I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

*”I am the Alpha and the Omega,” provided symbolism for the early church as appears on this 3rd-4th century sarcophagus now in the Louvre in Paris. The monogram of Christ stands at the center, with the alpha to the left and the omega to the right. Surrounding it are the vines and branches, furthering the message of life in Christ. Fittingly, the stone burial container is decorated with a strong theological statement of life beginning with faith in Christ and ending with eternal life through him.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 16:9-15
• Psalm
  • Psalm 67
• Second reading
  • Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
• Gospel
  • John 14:23-29 or John 5:1-9

The gospel from John 14:
Jesus answered, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 11:1-18
• Psalm
  • Psalm 148
• Second reading
  • Revelation 21:1-6
• Gospel
  • John 13:31-35

The gospel from John:
Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.

Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Notes:
“Sculpture by Noël Bonardi on the Col de Verghio. The statue marks the border of the French Departments Haut-Corse and Corse-du-Sud. A plaque at the bottom of the sculpture reads: “Tenitevi Caru – Comme je vous ai aimés, aimez-vous aussi les uns les autres”, which translates into English: “Love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

Sermon
The Gospel readings have been from John since Easter and have to do with the Resurrection and what then to do. Many church leaders today turn to John. What do verses 31-32 of John 13 mean. Jesus said “now the son of Man has been glorified”, From Webster, glory means 1. splendor, 2. praise, 3. distinction, or 4. the happiness of heaven. Glorify means to 1. praise or 2. honor or raise in honor. He was glorified in the Resurrection. Now what is there to do. He will be back. We should be good stewards. Peter reached out to the world and his travels are described in Acts, chapters 9-15. He took great risks but learned the God desires fellowship. Pastor Stevensen continues on to conclude that God desires fellowhip with all people.

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Fourth Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 9:36-43
• Psalm
  • Psalm 23
• Second reading
  • Revelation 7:9-17
• Gospel
  • John 10:22-30

Gospel from John:
The festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

Notes:
Trey Everett is a graphic artist who has created images for some of the Lectionary readings. His work is available at www.treyeverettcreates.com.

Third Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

• First reading
  • Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)
• Psalm
  • Psalm 30
• Second reading
  • Revelation 5:11-14
• Gospel
  • John 21:1-19

The gospel from John:
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.

That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

21:18 Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.)

After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Sermon
There are people who think the resurrection of Christ a hallucination. Our gospel reading this week was written by the disciple John who was there and saw with his own eyes Jesus raised from the dead. John’s stories are not fiction. Another witness was Peter, who three times denied being a disciple, as Jesus had said would occur. What is the church to do: Trust theses witnesses. Peter became an important figure. He went on missionary journeys as far as Rome where he was martyred. John was different. He wrote his gospel. He stayed home and built churches. Pastor Stevensen goes on to mention the many who have helped spread the gospel. One is an administrator at a seminary on the board of which is Pastor. This administrator was provided a pay raise which he well deserved, even though he had only a supporting role in the seminary’s operation. He did important work. Both Peter and John did important work. All such persons are gifts from God.

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Second Sunday of Easter

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

The gospel from John:

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.

Resurrection of the Lord

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25
  • Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
  • 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43
  • John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12

The gospel from John:
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

The gospel from Luke:
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Sixth Sunday in Lent

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

Liturgy of the Palms (April 10, 2022)

• Psalm
  • Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
• Gospel
  • Luke 19:28-40

Liturgy of the Passion (April 10, 2022)

• First reading
  • Isaiah 50:4-9a
• Psalm
  • Psalm 31:9-16
• Second reading
  • Philippians 2:5-11
• Gospel
  • Luke 22:14-23:56 or Luke 23:1-49

The gospel from Luke 19:28-40
Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'”

So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.”

Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road.

As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!”

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”