Collect

We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love  he may raise us  to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

Acts 10:34-43 . . . Peter realizes that good news of the gospel is meant for all people, and he proclaims the crucified and risen Jesus.

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Colossians 3:1-4. . . Those who have shared in the experience of Christ’s resurrection are to set their minds on the things that are above.

John 20:1-18 . . . the discovery of the empty tomb and Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene.

 Sermon

Two priests enter a bar and see Jesus. It sounds like a good punch line for a joke. But Phillip Martin, pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia tells how he and a co-worker went into a brewery and actually saw a man dressed up like Jesus. Martin’s co-worker did not believe him until he actually saw the man with his own eyes. Then they took a picture with the man because they had “seen the Lord.”