The 2019 ACNA Book of Common Prayer indicates that this Sunday can be used to emphasize world missions, and this year assigns John 20:19-31 for the Gospel reading. The key verse related to this theme is John 20:21, "So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you'” (NKJV). Thus, on His first resurrection appearance to the gathered disciples, our Lord commissions them to be in mission and ministry. They are sent into the world to continue His ministry. They are to share the good news or Gospel, and as the following verses indicate, a key element of that good news is the forgiveness of sins. The whole life of the Christian Church centers on the possibility of forgiveness through the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ. Christian preaching, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and indeed all the rites of the Church are meant to convey this message. In our personal lives of faith and in our witness to others near and far, we are all sent with this Gospel mission!
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