Easter Friday 2017: It's Fry day Friday! Fish Fry Day!

Dear Family of God, Love, and Hope!


Wow it's Friday already and only a week ago it was Good Friday! We know what happened on Good Friday but do we know what happened or is happening in all things post resurrection? Well dear ones let us find out by reading today's Gospel Lesson and  being at prayer. BTW remember we get to do our Worry/ Sabbath Box and place all those gunky things in our lives there for the weekend.  I know it won't be easy but we must try. Tonight we are going to start with the Gospel, lessons, and then take time for prayers and vigil.


John 21:1-14

Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.




Psalm 118:19-24

Confitemini Domino

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 "This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it


Acts 4:1-12

While Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them, much annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming that in Jesus there is the resurrection of the dead. So they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who heard the word believed; and they numbered about five thousand.

The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is

`the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;
it has become the cornerstone.'
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved."

Dilexi, quoniam

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.
3 Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *
"O Lord, I pray you, save my life."
4 Gracious is the Lord and righteous; *
our God is full of compassion.
5 The Lord watches over the innocent; *
I was brought very low, and he helped me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul, *
for the Lord has treated you well.
7 For you have rescued my life from death, *
my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
8 I will walk in the presence of the Lord *
in the land of the living.

And an extra few pieces of scripture on the Feast Day of Anselm of Canterbury!

Wisdom 6:12–16

Wisdom is radiant and unfading,
and she is easily discerned by those who love her,
and is found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her.
One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty,
for she will be found sitting at the gate.
To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding,
and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care,
because she goes about seeking those worthy of her,
and she graciously appears to them in their paths,
and meets them in every thought.

Psalm 53

Dixit insipiens

1 The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." *

All are corrupt and commit abominable acts;

there is none who does any good.

2 God looks down from heaven upon us all, *

to see if there is any who is wise,

if there is one who seeks after God.

3 Every one has proved faithless;

all alike have turned bad; *

there is none who does good; no, not one.

4 Have they no knowledge, those evildoers *

who eat up my people like bread

and do not call upon God?

5 See how greatly they tremble,

such trembling as never was; *

for God has scattered the bones of the enemy;

they are put to shame, because God has rejected them.

6 Oh, that Israel's deliverance would come out of Zion! ˝Nö

when God restores the fortunes of his people

Jacob will rejoice and Israel be glad.

Romans 5:1–11
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-- though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Matthew 11:25–30

Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Light of the World Phos hilaron

Light of the world, in grace and beauty,

Mirror of God’s eternal face,

Transparent flame of love’s free duty,

You bring salvation to our race.

Now, as we see the lights of evening,

We raise our voice in hymns of praise;

Worthy are you of endless blessing,

Sun of our night, lamp of our days

Collects of the Day!

Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God, you raised up your servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in your eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy: Provide your Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Gracious and loving God, before we take our rest or are reading this at the beginning of the day let us light our virtual candles and be at prayer. We pray for our family members who lack food, clothing, and shelter and a place to stay during the daylight hours when they leave homeless shelters. We pray for victims of domestic violence and an end to violent acts of  abuse and terror that often ends in death. We pray for peace in this world. Help us today to be agents of change and peace and that we may be beacons of hope, love, joy, and peace. We pray this night for all who are mourning any losses of any kind. We pray for farm workers and all employees who do not have rest time on weekends. 

We pray for sensible and compassionate immigration reform and that families won't be separated one from another. We pray for all refugees and asylum seekers that they may find new and safe forever homes. We pray for all foster children and those are in need of being adopted by loving families. We pray for sane and sound governance not only in our country but in the nations of the world.  We continue to pray for Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan, and Paris.  We pray that we may practice radical hospitality and acts of kindness and be example of God's family by being CALM (Compassionate, accepting, Loving, and merciful) The light of Christ in me Recognizes the Light of Christ in you!May we be united in prayer, love, and respect and be one as God who made us, and makes us one.  Help us to remember and pray for all our sisters and brothers of all Abrahamic Faiths ant that we may be united in heart, spirit, love, peace, and the bonds of family hood. Amen.

Tonight or this morning let us be at prayer for a time. But first let is take time for a space in quietness and contemplation. Do our breathing exercises first Inhale the Holy Spirit and Exhale Love.Do this slowly and you may close your eyes too. Gently go deeper into the center and listen for God's still small voice and feel God's everlasting and enduring love. Tonight we will not use music but the beat our hearts and breathing. 

God we thank you for times of quiet and contemplation.  Help us to empty our minds and selves so that we may be filled with you, your love, your mercy, and your grace.

God we pray that as we are in quiet that all our baggage of today may be put away so that we may be focused ever deeply on you O God.

God we pray that as we are in quiet that you will heal all those who are ill and in pain. We leave them into your hands O God.

God we pray that as we are in quiet that  you will watch over the least of these and those who are homeless, hungry, and ill-clad.

God we pray that as we are in quiet that peace may prevail on Earth and that we may be the peacemakers  and children of God you have called us to be.

God we pray that as we are in quiet for those who mourn and are grieving any loss. We remember this night especially those who have lost employment. 

God we pray that as we are in quiet for those who are dying and have died. 

God we pray that as we are in quiet for__________________________

God we pray that as we are in quiet for our many thanksgivings especially_________________

God we pray that as we are in quiet that our prayers may be lifted up in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

A Prayer attributed to St. Francis

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is

hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where

there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where

there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where

there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to

be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is

in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we

are born to eternal life. Amen.

The Song of Simeon

 Nunc dimittis

Luke 2:29-32

Lord, you now have set your servant free *

to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *

whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Apache Blessing

May the sun bring you new energy by day, 

may the moon softly restore you by night, 

may the rain wash away your worries, 

may the breeze blow new strength into your being, 

may you walk gently through the world and 

know it's beauty all the days of your life.

 - Apache Blessing

++++ 

Good Night All. Time for us to lay down our burdens and rest. I love you and give thanks to God for you this night and always.

With Love and Blessings,

Sara