Easter

Year B, 2008-2009

 
This Church Year Calendar and Propers uses the Revised Common Lectionary as it appears in Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006). This version includes additional readings for a number of festivals and occasions, as well as the church year calendar and terminology from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Two series of readings are provided for the Time after Pentecost. The complementary series provides Old Testament readings and psalms chosen for their relationship to the gospels. The semicontinuous series provides Old Testament readings and psalms that, while not as explicitly connected to the gospels, explore many of the books and stories not covered by the complementary series.

* Lesser festivals and occasions are listed in red.
* Scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
* The appointed psalm refrain is from the verse in parentheses.

Resurrection of Our Lord

Easter Day
April 12, 2009
Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (24)
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43
Mark 16:1-8 or John 20:1-18
 
Prayer of the Day
O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin, that we may live with him forever in the joy of the resurrection, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
   or
God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Christ, our paschal lamb, | has been sacrificed.
Therefore, let us | keep the feast. Alleluia. (1 Cor. 5:7, 8)

Color: White/Gold

Easter Evening

April 12, 2009
Isaiah 25:6-9
Psalm 114 (7)
1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
Luke 24:13-49
 
Prayer of the Day
O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread, open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Our hearts | burn within us
while you open to | us the scriptures. Alleluia. (Luke 24:32)

Color: White/Gold

Easter Monday

April 13, 2009
These propers may be used for a service on Easter Monday or on another day during the week after Easter Day.
Daniel 12:1-3
Psalm 16:8-11 (9)
Acts 2:14, 22b-32
Matthew 28:9-15a
 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you give us the joy of celebrating our Lord's resurrection. Give us also the joys of life in your service, and bring us at last to the full joy of life eternal, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. God raised up Jesus, having freed | him from death,
because it was impossible for him to be held | in its power. Alleluia. (Acts 2:24)

Color: White/Gold

Second Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2009
Acts 4:32-35
Psalm 133 (1)
1 John 1:1–2:2
John 20:19-31
 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, with joy we celebrate the day of our Lord’s resurrection. By the grace of Christ among us, enable us to show the power of the resurrection in all that we say and do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Blessed are those who | have not seen
and yet have come | to believe. Alleluia. (John 20:29)

Color: White

Mark, Evangelist

April 25, 2009
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 57 (9)
2 Timothy 4:6-11, 18
Mark 1:1-15
 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you have enriched your church with Mark's proclamation of the gospel. Give us grace to believe firmly in the good news of salvation and to walk daily in accord with it, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. This Jesus | God raised up;
and of that all of | us are witnesses. Alleluia. (Acts 2:32)

Color: Scarlet/Red

Third Sunday of Easter

April 26, 2009
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4 (3)
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
 
Prayer of the Day
Holy and righteous God, you are the author of life, and you adopt us to be your children. Fill us with your words of life, that we may live as witnesses to the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Our hearts | burn within us
while you open to | us the scriptures. Alleluia. (Luke 24:32)

Color: White

Philip and James, Apostles

May 1, 2009
Isaiah 30:18-21
Psalm 44:1-3, 20-26 (26)
2 Corinthians 4:1-6
John 14:8-14
 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you gave to your apostles Philip and James grace and strength to bear witness to your Son. Grant that we, remembering their victory of faith, may glorify in life and death the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea | and Samaria,
and to the ends | of the earth. Alleluia. (Acts 1:8)

Color: Scarlet/Red

Fourth Sunday of Easter

May 3, 2009
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23 (1)
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
 
Prayer of the Day
O Lord Christ, good shepherd of the sheep, you seek the lost and guide us into your fold. Feed us, and we shall be satisfied; heal us, and we shall be whole. Make us one with you, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Jesus says, I am | the good shepherd.
I know my own and my | own know me. Alleluia. (John 10:14)

Color: White

Fifth Sunday of Easter

May 10, 2009
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 22:25-31 (27)
1 John 4:7-21
John 15:1-8
 
Prayer of the Day
O God, you give us your Son as the vine apart from whom we cannot live. Nourish our life in his resurrection, that we may bear the fruit of love and know the fullness of your joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. I am the vine, you | are the branches.
Those who abide in me and I in them | bear much fruit. Alleluia. (John 15:5)

Color: White

Matthias, Apostle

May 14, 2009
Isaiah 66:1-2
Psalm 56 (12)
Acts 1:15-26
Luke 6:12-16

Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the twelve. Grant that your church may always be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors, through Jesus Christ our shepherd, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea | and Samaria,
and to the ends | of the earth. Alleluia. (John 12:26)

Color: Scarlet/Red

Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 17, 2009
Acts 10:44-48
Psalm 98 (4)
1 John 5:1-6
John 15:9-17
 
Prayer of the Day
O God, you have prepared for those who love you joys beyond understanding. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all we can desire; through Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Those who love me will keep my word, and my Fa- | ther will love them,
and we will come to them and make our | home with them. Alleluia. (John 14:23)

Color: White

Ascension of Our Lord

May 21, 2009
Acts 1:1-11
Psalm 47 (5) or Psalm 93 (2)
Ephesians 1:15-23
Luke 24:44-53
 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, your only Son was taken into the heavens and in your presence intercedes for us. Receive us and our prayers for all the world, and in the end bring everything into your glory, through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
   or
Almighty God, your blessed Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things. Mercifully give us faith to trust that, as he promised, he abides with us on earth to the end of time, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Go and make disciples of all nations, | says the Lord;
I am with you always, to the end | of the age. Alleluia. (Matt. 28:19, 20)

Color: White

Seventh Sunday of Easter

May 24, 2009
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
Psalm 1 (6)
1 John 5:9-13
John 17:6-19
 
Prayer of the Day
Gracious and glorious God, you have chosen us as your own, and by the powerful name of Christ you protect us from evil. By your Spirit transform us and your beloved world, that we may find our joy in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. I will not leave you orphaned, | says the Lord.
I am com- | ing to you. Alleluia. (John 14:18)
 
Color: White

Vigil of Pentecost

May 30, 2009
Exodus 19:1-9 or Acts 2:1-11
Psalm 33:12-22 (20) or Psalm 130 (4)
Romans 8:14-17, 22-27
John 7:37-39
 
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and ever-living God, you fulfilled the promise of Easter by sending the gift of your Holy Spirit. Look upon your people gathered in prayer, open to receive the Spirit's flame. May it come to rest in our hearts and heal the divisions of word and tongue, that with one voice and one song we may praise your name in joy and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
 
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts | of your faithful,
and kindle in us the fire | of your love. Alleluia.

Color:
Red