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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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Thursday, Fourth Week of Easter
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Just Living in Church and World (Romans 12:9-21, 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.
12:9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Dealing With Anger (Matthew 5:21-26, NRSV)
Today’s Gospel lesson is selected from the Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer (Louisville, KY:Westminster/John Knox, 1993).
5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
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A Confession
By Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary, National Council of Churches
Gracious and Most Holy God, we come before You to worship and praise your Name. We thank You for all the good gifts You have bestowed on us. We seek to be in right relationship to You, so we come before You with our full attention and focus directed to You. We know that Your love for Your Creation is boundless and for that we are grateful.
It is to You that we confess our manifold sins and ask for Your forgiveness. We trust You, O God, and know that You hear our admission of guilt. We have not loved You with our whole heart. We have been selfish and greedy, hoarding goods whenever possible and seeking our own security at the expense of our neighbor’s. We have not drawn the circle wide and we have defined community in a narrow sense.
Even so, we know all blessings flow from You and it is finally in You that we find safety and peace. Therefore, it is to You that we make our thanksgiving and to You that we ask for wisdom and guidance. Bless our leaders that they may forsake the quest for advantage and that they may be humble and truthful. Bless our neighbors that they may not fall sick and if they do that they may recover their health quickly. Bless us, that we may do Your will and devote ourselves to Your peace and justice. Amen.
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