Muhlenberg Press republished a German Prayer Book by H. Heenemann back in the days of the old ULCA that was edited by John W. Doberstein. It contained Devotions and readings and prayers for each week of the Christian Calendar Year. The Devotions for this coming first Week after Easter Week are under the heading of "Quasi Modo Geniti" (The first words in Latin of the Introit - Psalm Selection for the Sunday that opens the week.) In English the words "Quasi Modo Geniti" mean literally "As Newborn Babes" and so the sub heading for this week beginning with April 19 is entitled "NEW BIRTH".
From 1 Peter 1:3
- "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
A suggested Hymn for reading or singing for the week is "Come Ye faithful, raise the strain"
Psalm readings for the week are Psalm 81 or Psalm 116
The Lectionary Lessons for Sunday are:
O.T - Genesis 32:22-32
Epistle: 1 John 5:4-12
Gospel: John 20:19-31
Lessons for reading and reflection for the week
M. 2 Tim. 1:6-10 and Ezekiel 36:22-27
T. 2 Tim. 2:1-5 and Col. 2:9-15
W. 1 Peter 1:22-25 and John 5:1-14
T. 1 Tim. 1:12-17 and 2 Kings 5:1-19
F. 1 Peter 1:3-9 and Rom. 6:3-11
S. Jonah 2:1-11 and 1 John 2:12-17
Prayer for the Week
"Almighty and everlasting God, who througyh the death and resurrection of thy Son hast proclaimed to us the gospeo of peace; grant that by the power of his resurrection we may be born anew to a living hope, and so overcome the world; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Lessons for the Saturday of the 1st Sunday after Easter Week are: Jonah 2:1-11 and 1 John 2:12-17
The First Text is part of what is known as Jonah’s prayer where Jonah prays to God from the Belly of the Fish.
Even though Jonah feels everything is over with the waters closing over him to take his life He rejoices because his life has en brought up from the pit.
Salvation belongs to the Lord and the Lord acted on behalf of Jonah even though Jonah was refusing to do what God had called him to do.
This text points us to the Victory of the Resurrection. Because of Jesus our lives are not over…
The Biblical Texts for the Friday of the Week of the 1st Sunday after Easter are:
1 Peter 1:3-9 and Romans 6:3-11.
The 1 Peter Text is the Theme Text for the “New Birth” or “Born Again” focus of the week.
“According to his great mercy, he caused us to be born again ……through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance…kept in heaven for You, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Dr. Luther stressed in a number of places that the two most important little words you hear in Holy Scripture are the words “For You.” Jesus give…
The Texts for meditation for this Thursday of the First Sunday after Easter Week are: 2 Kings 5:1-19a and 1 Tim 1:12-17.
The Ezekiel text is the Account of Naaman the great Syrian General who is afflicted by Leprosy hearing of the possibility of healing (and thus New Life) via a captured Israelite Slave girl. With power and expensive gifts he goes to Israel (The Northern Kingdom) and there is sent to Elisha. Elisha will not even come out to see him but directs that he go and dip himself in the Jordan River 7 times. At first Naaman, an unbeliever in God, in anger refuses but then he is convinced to give it a try and when…
Wednesday of this week
2 Peter 1:22-25 & Joh 5:1-14
In the 2nd Peter Text for today we see that we are “Born again”. Note once more that this being Born again is not something that is our doing. “You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and aiding word of God”
If being born again was dependent upon a persons decision or will power that would be of “The Flesh.” and thus Peter reminds us that “All flesh is like grass which withers.” Instead, and this is the wonderful Good news, our New Life - our being born again is “through the living and abiding word of God” and “the…
2 Tim 2:1-5 & Col. 2:9-15
Two texts for this Tuesday of the first Sunday after Easter Week both coming from letters by the Apostle Paul.
From 2 Tim. The main emphasis is: “Be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
It is of course that grace which has caused you to be born Anew; which has give you New Life. This is a major theme for all of Paul’s letters to the Churches and those doing Ministry. “Suffer as a good soldier of Christ Jesus…” knowing that the grace of Jesus is given you.
In the Colossians text Paul details this grace at more length and emphasizes what Baptism accomplishes for us and…