Revised Common Lectionary Readings for April 26, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 26, 2026

First Reading Acts 2:42-47 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. Psalm Psalm 23:1-6 1   The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2        He makes me lie down in green pastures;      he leads me beside still waters; 3        he restores my soul.      He leads me in right paths           for his name’s sake. 4   Even though I walk through the darkest valley,           I fear no evil;      for you are with me;           your rod and your staff —           they comfort me. 5   You prepare a table before me           in the presence of my enemies;      you anoint my head with oil;           my cup overflows. 6   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me           all the days of my life,      and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord           my whole life long. Second Reading 1 Peter 2:19-25 19For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. 22   “He committed no sin,           and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. Gospel John 10:1-10 1“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202

The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, April 19, 2026

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: The Sligo Presbyterian Church Celebration Service ...: On Sunday, April 19, we started a new sermon series entitled  The Good News of Resurrection: An Exploration of 1 Corinthians 15 . During thi...

Sunday's Message - The Foundation of the Resurrection (15:1-11)

Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community: Sunday's Message - The Foundation of the Resurrect...: On Sunday, April 19, we started a new sermon series entitled  The Good News of Resurrection: An Exploration of 1 Corinthians 15 . During thi...

Prayers for Our Community, Our Nation and Our World

We can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Between Monday, April 27 and Sunday, May 3, we'll lay before God the needs listed below.

• Monday, April 27, 2026 - That those in the entertainment industry recognize any negative influences within their media creations.
• Tuesday, April 28, 2026 - That World Vision be able to address real human need around the world.
• Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - That those in the media and government would report facts accurately and without any bias.
• Thursday, April 30, 2026 - That young people are able to grow into their potential.
• Friday, May 1, 2026 - That the people of Ukraine be protected.
• Saturday, May 2, 2026 - That all racial divisions be healed.
• Sunday, May 3, 2026 - That police officers show strength and compassion when enforcing the law.

WCC News: WCC remembers 111th anniversary of Armenian Genocide, lifts prayers for healing

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay, on the occasion of the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, joined Armenians around the world, and especially the Armenian Apostolic Church, in solemn remembrance and prayer. Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex. Photo: David Ghahramanyan 23 April 2026 "We mourn the lives lost, the communities destroyed, and the enduring pain carried across generations,” said Pillay. “This commemoration is not only an act of memory, but also a call to conscience, reminding the global community of the urgent responsibility to uphold human dignity, truth, and justice.” Pillay also recalled with deep concern the forced displacement and suffering of Armenians from Artsakh/Nagorno-Karabakh in 2023, which resulted in the mass exodus of an entire population from their ancestral homeland. “The World Council of Churches stands in solidarity with all those affected, lifting prayers for healing, protection, and the restoration of rights and dignity,” said Pillay. “At the same time, we welcome ongoing efforts toward dialogue and peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.” Pillay emphasized that a just and lasting peace must be grounded in full respect for international law, including the right of displaced people to return safely and with dignity, the protection of religious and cultural heritage, and the safeguarding of fundamental human rights. “We also call for the release of all remaining prisoners held in Azerbaijan,” he said. “Peace must be built on justice, truth, and accountability to be sustainable.” Pillay reaffirmed the WCC’s commitment to walk alongside the Armenian people and its member church, bearing witness to their suffering and hope. "We pray for reconciliation, for truth to prevail, and for a future where such tragedies are never repeated,” he concluded. In remembrance and hope: WCC statement on the 111th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland

Looking into the lectionary - What should the church say?

Acts 7:55-60; John 14:1-4 Fifth Sunday of Easter May 3, 2026 “While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died” (Acts 7:59–60). Christians herald Stephen as the “first martyr,” stoned, according to Luke (the author of Acts), by a Jewish mob after proclaiming the good news of Jesus to them. Stephen models the peaceful endurance that later becomes characteristic of Christian martyrdom tales. He kneels and prays to Jesus in the midst of murderous violence aimed at him. His prayer for forgiveness for those persecuting him in 7:60 intentionally echoes Luke’s portrayal of Jesus dying on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Acts’ portrayal of Stephen epitomizes the ideal of Christian forgiveness: radically praying for those who persecute them (see also Matthew 5:44). Stephen’s death sets the stage for future Christians to piously claim benevolence in the face of what they call unjust suffering. Told this way, the story sounds nice. The problem is that the story is false. Acts scholars generally acknowledge that this book is a work of fiction. Furman University professor of religion Shelly A. Matthews calls Stephen the “perfect martyr” for Luke’s theo-political agenda, which shifts the blame for Jesus’s death off Rome and onto Jewish people. In his Gospel, Luke cannot deny Rome’s culpability for Jesus’s crucifixion, a historical fact that was well-established for his audience. The figure of Stephen, an apostle without a reputation, provides Luke the ideal canvas to present Jesus’s followers as compassionately self-controlled in the face of a violent Jewish mob enacting an extrajudicial killing. Luke misrepresents Jewish culpability. He creates both Stephen’s reputation as a forgiving martyr and a reputation of Judaism as intolerantly violent. Luke’s rhetorical fiction contributes to centuries of Christian anti-Judaism that persists today.... Thank you to this week's writer, Jimmy Hoke. Read the rest of the commentary at pres-outlook.org. Want the worship resources for April 26, 2026? You can find them here.

Order of worship — May 3, 2026 by Jimmy Hoke   Dismissed mission co-workers, denominational officials draft new theology of mission by Eric Ledermann Polyamory, church policy and the limits of regulation by April Stace The church cannot be silent — but what should it say? by Harriet Riley

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Gracious exclusion: Courage to name the no in our yes Can saying “no” be an act of Christian love? Becca Messman explores how boundaries help churches practice deeper, more meaningful inclusion. Unification Commission, A Corp Board unanimously recommend balanced unified budgets for 2027 and 2028 The budget proposals, which await approval by the 227th General Assembly, are for $90.5 million in 2027 and $97.9 million in 2028. — Presbyterian News Service Rebecca Sue: A Sister’s Reflections on Disability, Faith, and Love In "Rebecca Sue," Kathleen Norris honors her sister’s childlike faith and enduring humanity, offering a moving meditation on disability, family and God’s steadfast care. Review by Amy Pagliarella. How grief led me back to church After losing three close family members, one man finds his faith and a calling to pastoral ministry. Alan Olson reflects on how loss can open the door to renewal. Ovid Benjamin “Ben” Sparks III, longtime pastor and advocate for those on the margins, dies at 87 A pastor, preacher and former Outlook board member, Sparks helped shape church and civic life in Richmond through a lifelong commitment to justice and unity. PC(USA) survey explores why some donors have paused or halted their giving to the national church The most common response was givers are focusing on their local church. — Mike Ferguson A strategic plan for the work of the Administrative Services Group A Corporation Board gets an initial look at the top areas for concentrated efforts throughout 2026. — Mike Ferguson Princeton Theological Seminary to honor three retiring faculty members through ‘The Work That Endures’ event April 24 The public is invited to farewell lectures from Theology Department Professors Dirk Smit, George Hunsinger and Mark Lewis Taylor. — PTS

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Revised Common Lectionary Readings for April 19, 2026

Revised Common Lectionary Readings (Three-Year Cycle)

Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 19, 2026

First Reading Acts 2:14a, 36-41 14aBut Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, 36“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” 40And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. Psalm Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 1   I love the LORD, because he has heard           my voice and my supplications. 2   Because he inclined his ear to me,           therefore I will call on him as long as I live. 3   The snares of death encompassed me;           the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;           I suffered distress and anguish. 4   Then I called on the name of the LORD:           “O LORD, I pray, save my life!” 12  What shall I return to the LORD           for all his bounty to me? 13  I will lift up the cup of salvation           and call on the name of the LORD, 14   I will pay my vows to the LORD           in the presence of all his people. 15   Precious in the sight of the LORD           is the death of his faithful ones. 16  O LORD, I am your servant;           I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.           You have loosed my bonds. 17  I will offer to you a thanksgiving sacrifice           and call on the name of the LORD. 18  I will pay my vows to the LORD           in the presence of all his people, 19  in the courts of the house of the LORD,           in your midst, O Jerusalem.      Praise the LORD! Second Reading 1 Peter 1:17-23 17If you invoke as Father the one who judges all people impartially according to their deeds, live in reverent fear during the time of your exile. 18You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. 21Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God. 22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have genuine mutual love, love one another deeply from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. Gospel Luke 24:13-35 13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202