Sunday, May 8, 2016

  Acts 7: 55 - 60

    Stephen meanwhile, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked to the sky above and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand. "Look!" he exclaimed, "I see an opening in the sky, and the Son of Man standing at God's right hand."  The onlookers were shouting aloud, holding their hands over their ears as they did so. Then they rushed at him as one man, dragged him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses meanwhile were piling their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As Stephen was being stoned he could be heard praying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."  He fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And with that he died.

Psalm 97: 1 - 2, 6 - 7, 9

   The Lord is king; let the earth rejoice; let the many isles be glad. Clouds and darkness are round about him, justice and judgment are the foundation of his throne.

   The heavens proclaim his justice, and all peoples see his glory.

   All who worship graven things are put to shame, who glory in the things of nought; all gods are prostrate before him.

  Because you, O Lord are the Most High over all the earth, exalted far above all gods.

Revelation 22: 12 - 14, 16 - 17, 20

  John heard a voice saying:

    "Remember, I am coming soon! I bring with me the reward that will be given to each man as his conduct deserves. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End!  Happy are they who wash their robes so as to have free access to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates!

    It is I, Jesus, who have sent my angel to give you this testimony about the churches. I am the Root and Offspring of David, the Morning Star shining bright."

  The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" Let him who is thirsty come forward; let all who desire it accept the gift of life-giving water.

   The One who gives this testimony says, "Yes, I am coming soon!"  Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

  Gospel of John 17: 20 - 26

    Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying:

    "I do not pray for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their word, that all may be one as you, Father, are in me, and I in you; I pray that they may be one in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me that they may be one, as we are one - I living in them, you living in me that their unity may be complete. So shall the world know that you sent me, and that you loved them as you loved me. 

    Father, all those you gave me I would have in my company where I am, to see this glory of mine which is your gift to me, because of the love you bore me before the world began. Just Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you; and these men have known that you sent me. To them I have revealed your name, and I will continue to reveal it so that your love for me may live in them, and I may live in them."