THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

May 1, 2022

A Liturgy For Worship and Meditation

OPENING WORDS
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels
surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders;
they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
singing with full voice,
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth
and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth
and under the earth and in the sea,
and all that is in them, singing,
"To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"
And the four living creatures said, "Amen!"
And the elders fell down and worshiped.

—Revelation 5:11-14

PRAYER
Almighty Creator, our hearts are transformed through relationship with you.
The gift of your mercy invites us to be deeply compassionate with ourselves and one another.
Bless us with the courage to act as servants of your divine will in the world. Amen.

SONG OF PRAISE
"This Is the Feast Of Victory For Our God"
Revelation 5:12-14
(Click Here For Music)

—From the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America

Refrain:
This is the feast of victory for our God,
for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
1. Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
[Refrain]
2. Sing with all the people of God,
and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing, honor, glory, and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
[Refrain]

PSALMODY
Psalm 30
30:1 I will extol you, O God, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
30:2 O God my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.
30:3 O God, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
30:4 Sing praises to God, O God's faithful ones, and give thanks to God's holy name.
30:5 For God's anger is but for a moment; God's favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
30:6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, "I shall never be moved."
30:7 By your favor, O God, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
30:8 To you, O God, I cried, and to God I made supplication:
30:9 "What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit?
Will the dust praise you?
Will it tell of your faithfulness?
30:10 Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O God, be my helper!"
30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
30:12 so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O God my God, I will give thanks to you forever.

PRAYER
O my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you,
and where and how to find you.
Though I have never seen you,
you are my God—the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of my life.
You have made me and remade me,
and you have bestowed on me all the good things I possess,
but you are still the unknown,
for I have not yet reached that for which I was fully made.
Teach me to seek you,
for I cannot seek unless you teach me or find you
unless you reveal yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desiring,
let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you in my loving,
and let me love you in my finding.

—A prayer from St. Anselm of Canterbury, 1033-1109 CE (adapted)

FIRST READING
John 21.1-8
1 Later Jesus again was manifested to the disciples at Lake Tiberias.
This is how the appearance took place.
2 Assembled were Simon Peter, Thomas “the Twin,” Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s children, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going out to fish.”
“We’ll join you,” they replied, and went off to get into their boat.
All through the night they caught nothing.
4 Just after daybreak, Jesus was standing on the shore, though none of the disciples knew it was Jesus.
5 He said to them, “Have you caught anything, friends?”
“Not a thing,” they answered.
6 “Cast your net off to the starboard side,” Jesus suggested, “and you’ll find something.”
So they made a cast and caught so many fish that they couldn’t haul the net in.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved cried out to Peter, “It’s the Teacher!”
Upon hearing this, Simon Peter threw on his cloak—he was naked—and jumped into the water.
8 Meanwhile the other disciples brought the boat to shore, towing the net full of fish.
They were not far from land—no more than a hundred yards.

SECOND READING
John 21.9-14
9 When they landed, they saw that a charcoal fire had been prepared, with fish and some bread already being grilled.
10 “Bring some of the fish you just caught,” Jesus told them.
11 Simon Peter went aboard and hauled ashore the net, which was loaded with huge fish—one hundred fifty-three of them.
In spite of the great number, the net was not torn.
12 “Come and eat your meal,” Jesus told them.
None of the disciples dared to ask, “Who are you?”—they knew it was the savior.
13 Jesus came over, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
14 This marked the third time that Jesus had appeared to the disciples after being raised from the dead.

THIRD READING
John 21.15-19
15 When they had eaten their meal, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon (son of) John, do you love me more than these?”
Peter said, “Yes, Rabbi, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 A second time Jesus put the question, “Simon (son of) John, do you love me?”
Peter said, “Yes, Rabbi, you know that I love you.”
Jesus replied, “Tend my sheep.”
17 A third time Jesus asked him, “Simon (son of) John, do you love me as a friend would?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” a third time.
So he said, “You know everything, Rabbi. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
18 The truth of the matter is, when you were young, you put on your own belt and walked where you liked;
but when you get old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will put a belt around you
and take you where you don’t want to go.”
19 With these words, Jesus indicated the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.

—Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible. Sheed & Ward.

PRAYER
Wonderful God
stretch our understanding of your love. . .
expand the capacity of our hearts to love. . .
breathe wholly into our spirits until we are full. . .
widen us to embrace your purpose for us. . .
all that we may grow beyond ourselves. . .
and enter the fullness of your grace.
Blessed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom. Amen.

PRAYER
God of everlasting love,
through your Word you made all things
in heaven and on earth;
you have opened to us the path from death to life.
Listen to the song of the universe,
the hymn of resurrection sung by your people,
and give us your blessing;
for blessed are You and blessed is your Kin-Dom, forevermore. Amen.

CREDO
I believe in the God of Easter morning
Who awakes us from our darkest dreams
And leads us into the light of a new day,
Who meets our pessimism
With stunning hope
Of angelic proclamation.

I believe in the God of Easter Day
Who beats us to the obstacles in our lives
And empties the dark tomb for us;
Who appears in surprising ways
When we least expect it
Walking with us
On our detours.

I believe in the God of Easter evening
Who breaks into our closets and prisons,
Bringing peace and crushing our fear.
I believe in the risen Lord who meets us
with wounds on his hands and feet;
Who grants us his spirit,
Sending us out
To bring Shalom to the world.
Amen.

—Andreas Wagner—https://modernliturgist.org/project/easter-creed/

INTERCESSION
As a people of love who have been claimed and given the ministry of caring for Jesus' sheep, let us pray:
For the Church—that empowered by the Holy Spirit, we may give convincing witness to the freeing and healing power of the Risen Christ. . .