Lessons for May 13, 2007 – Sixth Sunday of Easter

The first lesson

Acts 16:9-15
 
    That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, "Come over here and help us." [10] So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, for we could only conclude that God was calling us to preach the Good News there. [11] We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. [12] From there we reached Philippi, a major city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony; we stayed there several days.  [13] On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we supposed that some people met for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had come together. [14] One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. [15] She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. "If you agree that I am faithful to the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my home." And she urged us until we did.  (NLT)

Psalm 67

L.  May God be merciful and bless us. May his face shine with favor upon us.
C.  May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. 
L.  May the nations praise you, O God.
C.  Yes, may all the nations praise you.
L.  How glad the nations will be, singing for joy,
C.  because you govern them with justice and direct the actions of the whole world.
L.  May the nations praise you, O God.
C.  Yes, may all the nations praise you.
L.  Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. 
C.  Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.  (NLT)

The second lesson

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5
 
    So he took me in spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. [22] No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. [23] And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. [24] The nations of the earth will walk in its light, and the rulers of the world will come and bring their glory to it. [25] Its gates never close at the end of day because there is no night. [26] And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. [27] Nothing evil will be allowed to enter—no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. [22:1] And the angel showed me a pure river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, [2] coursing down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations. [3] No longer will anything be cursed. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. [4] And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. [5] And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.  (NLT)

The Gospel Lesson

John 14:23-29
 
    Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. [24] Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say. And remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent me. [25] I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. [26] But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative—and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.  [27] "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. [28] Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. [29] I have told you these things before they happen so that you will believe when they do happen.  (NLT)