A testimony to the power of Christian community.

Collect: Seventh Sunday of Easter

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to that place where our savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen

Acts 1:6-14 . . .  God’s Spirit astonishes and empowers the community.

Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36 . . .

1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 . . . Peter encourages the community to consider the blessing—intimacy with the Spirit—that is theirs when they suffer for God’s sake

John 17:1-11 . . .  Jesus prays that God would protect his disciples’ unity.

Dr. Jim Somerville, Pastor of Richmond’s First Baptist Church and Co-Founder of A Sermon for Every Sunday, preaches a sermon called, “The Whole World is Watching,” from John 17:1-11. Originally conceived as a meditation for Worldwide Communion Sunday, this imaginative piece focuses on Jesus’ prayer that his disciples “might all be one.”