Sixth Sunday of Easter	May 5, 2024
Prayer of the Day
O God, all good things can come from you alone; generously consider then our humble prayers. Inspire us to consider what is true, and direct us to accomplish what is right; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. He lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Acts 10:34-48 
34Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Psalm 98 (LBW)
1Sing to the Lord | a new song,*
	for he has done | marvelous things.
2With his right hand and his | holy arm*
	has he won for him- | self the victory.
3The Lord has made | known his victory;*
	his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight | of the nations.
4He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the | house of Israel,*
	and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory | of our God.
5Shout with joy to the Lord, | all you lands;*
	lift up your voice, re- | joice, and sing.
6Sing to the Lord | with the harp,*
	with the harp and the | voice of song.
7With trumpets and the sound | of the horn*
	shout with joy before the | king, the Lord.
8Let the sea make a noise and all | that is in it,*
	the lands and those who | dwell therein.
9Let the rivers | clap their hands,*
	and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, when he comes to | judge the earth.
10In righteousness shall he | judge the world*
	and the peo- | ples with equity.
Psalm 98 (ESV)
1Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
2The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
8Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together
9before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
Second Reading: 1 John 5:1-8 
1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? 6This is he who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.
Gospel: John 15:9-17
9{Jesus said,} “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”
Next Week’s Readings:
Acts 1:12-26; Psalm 1; 1 John 5:9-15; John 17:11b-19