April 23 - SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Context from http://www.npm.org/Planning/yearb/2se.html

EASTER SEASON, YEAR B

Unlike other seasons of the liturgical year, the first reading in the Easter Season is taken from the Acts of the Apostles instead of from the Hebrew Bible. This fact invites us to reflect on how the early church responded to the Good News in its life as well as in its texts.

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER B: DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY Lectionary #44

The readings for this Sunday describe a community of believers who held everything in common, caring for the needy, loving the children of God, bringing effective peace and forgiveness to all.

LITURGICAL NOTE: Pope John Paul II added a new title to this Sunday, but nothing else has changed. The Divine Mercy devotion—a private devotion—should not be part of the Sunday liturgy. It may, of course, be celebrated apart from Mass on this day.

Acts 4:32-35. Luke paints an idealized picture of the earliest communities. Here, he points out how holding all things in common followed from the preaching of the resurrection as a way to care for the community's needy members.

Psalm of the Day: Ps (117) 118

This song of thanksgiving has become, in Christian practice, the song of the resurrection. Picture Jesus singing it as he comes out of the tomb.

Suggested Common Psalm: Ps (117) 118

This is the Day the Lord Has Made

See additional suggestions for Easter Day

1 John 5:1-6. Written to support a struggling community—and to condemn those in the community who disagree with the writer's interpretation of Christ—the First Letter of John describes fidelity to God and to the commandments as best expressed in love for God's children.

John 20:19-31. This account of Jesus' resurrection appearance to the disciples on Easter in Jerusalem describes the risen Christ's gift as “shalom”—that deep peace which comes from being in union with God through forgiveness of sin. It ends with the story of Thomas and a promise to future believers that they are “blessed,” even though they did not witness the resurrection personally.

Prelude: Kindness
Opening: Gather Us In(CC-471)
Psalm: Ps 118: This is the day (SS2-118)
Offertory: You are mine (CC-435)
Com 1: How Great Thou Art(CC-387)
Com 2: Cup of life (see sheet)
Closing: City of God(CC-509)
CCM Closing: Holy Is the Lord (see sheet)
CCM Postlude: Prince of Peace (see sheet)