Subject: Daily Prayers and Scriptures: Saturday, April 18

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This first week of Easter, as we continue to navigate our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are posting Scripture readings from two sources for your spiritual reflection and encouragement: 1) the selected Gospel texts originate from the Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer (Louisville, KY:Westminster/John Knox, 1993); 2) the Home Daily Bible Readings for Monday through Saturday are selected in support of the Sunday lesson in the Uniform Lessons Series, ©Spring 2020.

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Easter Saturday
Mark 12:18-27, NRSV
The Question about the Resurrection

12:18 Some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question, saying, 19 “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, leaving a wife but no child, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. 20 There were seven brothers; the first married and, when he died, left no children; 21 and the second married the widow and died, leaving no children; and the third likewise; 22 none of the seven left children. Last of all the woman herself died. 23 In the resurrection whose wife will she be? For the seven had married her.”

24 Jesus said to them, “Is not this the reason you are wrong, that you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God? 25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the story about the bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is God not of the dead, but of the living; you are quite wrong.”

Esther 10:1-3, NRSV
Mordecai Advances Welfare of the Jews

10 King Ahasuerus laid tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. 2 All the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? 3 For Mordecai the Jew was next in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was powerful among the Jews and popular with his many kindred, for he sought the good of his people and interceded for the welfare of all his descendants.

A prayer for the pastors

From Rev. Lee Hull Moses, Chief of Staff, Office of the General Minister and President, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

Almighty God, we pray for the pastors who are preaching their way through the wilderness. Be with them as they help their congregations find new ways of being church. Give them your creative spirit. Give them prophetic words. Give them courage. But also, God, remind them that none of us has done this before, that we are all finding our way. Assure them that they are enough and that they have what they need to lead your people. May your presence give them strength. Amen.

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You can follow our daily readings, prayers, and meditations on our website at http://nationalcouncilofchurches.us/topics/daily/Be safe, healthy, and blessed during this time.
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