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As we enter the fourth week of Easter, our churches remain vigilant in response to COVID-19. As we discern a faithful way forward, may we continue to find encouragement through our daily prayers, spiritual discernment, and a shared reading of the Scripture.
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Saturday, Fourth Week of Easter
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Speak the Truth in Love (Ephesians 4:1-16, NRSV)
The Home Daily Bible Readings for Monday through Saturday are selected in support of the Sunday lesson in the Uniform Lessons Series, ©Spring 2020.
4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it is said,
“When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive;
he gave gifts to his people.”
9 (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) 11 The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. 14 We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. 15 But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.
Love for Enemies (Matthew 5:38-48, NRSV)
Today’s Gospel lesson is selected from the Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer (Louisville, KY:Westminster/John Knox, 1993).
5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[a] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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The Church Can Always Shine Through
By Rev. Sheila P. Spencer, Disciples Home Missions, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
God:
Life has been different for us this season in that we are doing things we have never had to do. Yet You are faithful for this reason – the Church can always shine through. Help us remember that the Church was never meant to be confined within the four walls of a physical place. We, the People, are the church and we are designed to inhabit and bring light to every space. We are worshipping in virtual spaces and not physically with each other. Yet we are still together, spiritually connecting with each other. Social distancing cannot be social disconnection. You stretch us and invite us to come together in new ways for each other. Remind us to be more intentional to love, pray, care for, check on and be encouraging to one another. After our prayers to you, remind us to put legs on those prayers by moving in the direction of what we are called to do.
Amen.
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Serving as a leading voice of witness to the living Christ in the public square since 1950,
the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA (NCC) brings together 38 member communions
and more than 40 million Christians in a common expression of God's love and promise of unity.
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