Tuesday, March 29, 2016

An Ordo for Easter 2 Year C (3 April 2016)

The Second Sunday of Easter
3 April 2016

The Gathering of the Community

Entrance Hymn

‘Alleluia!  O Sons and Daughters’  Common Praise #228 vv. 1, 4-8

Greeting

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!
May his grace and peace be with us.
May he fill our hearts with joy.
There is one body and one Spirit;
there is one hope in God’s call to us;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God, the Source of all being.

Canticle

‘Glory to God on High’  Common Praise #365

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Risen Christ,
for whom no door is locked,
no entrance barred:
open the doors of our hearts,
so that we may seek the good of others
and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace,
to the praise of God, the Source of all life.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word of God

The First Reading  (ELLC Hebrew Bible option for Easter 2 Year C)

A Reading from the Second Book of Kings (7.1-16).

            [Elisha] said, “Hear the word of the Lord:  thus says the Lord, Tomorrow about this time a measure of choice meal shall be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.”  Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “Even if the Lord were to make windows in the sky, could such a thing happen?”  But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat from it.”

            Now there were four leprous men outside the city gate, who said to one another, “Why should we sit here until we die?  If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there; but if we sit here, we shall also die.  Therefore, let us desert to the Aramean camp; if they spare our lives, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.”  So they arose at twilight to go to the Aramean camp; but when they came to the edge of the Aramean camp, there was no one there at all.  For the Lord had caused the Aramean army to hear the sound of chariots, and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to fight against us.”  So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys leaving the camp just as it was, and fled for their lives.  When these leprous men had come to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent, ate and drank, carried off silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid them.  Then they came back, entered another tent, carried off things from it, and went and hid them.

           Then they said to one another, “What we are doing is wrong.  This is a day of good news; if we are silent and wait until the morning light, we will be found guilty; therefore let us go and tell the king’s household.”  So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and told them, “We went to the Aramean camp, but there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied, the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”  Then the gatekeepers called out and proclaimed it to the king’s household.  The king got up in the night, and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Arameans have prepared against us.  They know that we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.’”  One of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, since those left here will suffer the fate of the whole multitude of Israel that have perished already; let us send and find out.”  So they took two mounted men, and the king sent them after the Aramean army, saying, “Go and find out.”  So they went after them as far as the Jordan; the whole way was littered with garments and equipment that the Arameans had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned, and told the king.

            Then the people went out, and plundered the camp of the Arameans.  So a measure of choice meal was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm of the Day  (ELLC Psalm option for Easter 2 Year C)

Psalm 2 with Refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (twice):  Happy are those who trust in the Holy One.

1  Why are the nations in an uproar? *
            Why do the peoples mutter empty threats?
2  Why do the rulers of the earth rise up in revolt,
and the princes plot together, *
            against the Lord and the Lord’s anointed?
3  “Let us break their yoke,” they say; *
            “let us cast off their bonds from us.”
4  The One enthroned in heaven is laughing; *
            the Lord has them in derision.

Refrain:  Happy are those who trust in the Holy One.

5  Then God speaks to them in wrath, *
            and the divine rage fills them with terror.
6  “I myself have set my anointed *
            upon my holy hill of Zion.”
7  Let me announce the decree of the Lord, *
            who said to me, “You are my heir;
            this day have I begotten you.
8  Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance *
            and the ends of the earth for your possession.

Refrain:  Happy are those who trust in the Holy One.

9  You shall crush them with an iron rod *
            and shatter them like a piece of pottery.”
10  And now, you monarchs, be wise; *
            be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11  Submit to the Lord with fear, *
            and bow with trembling before the presence of the Lord;
12  lest God be angry and you perish; *
            for the divine wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are they all *
            who take refuge in God!

Refrain:  Happy are those who trust in the Holy One.

The Second Reading

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (5.27-32).

            When [the temple police] had brought [Peter and the apostles], they had them stand before the council.  The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”  But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.  The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Confitemini Domino’  Common Praise #402 (sung twice)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (20.19-31).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of [the Jewish authorities], Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.  Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

            But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

            A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.  Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

            Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn after the Gospel

‘Confitemini Domino’  Common Praise #402 (sung twice)

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God,  the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? 
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended to the dead. 
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? 
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  Amen.

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the risen Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘We Walk by Faith, and Not by Sight’  Common Worship #244

The Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

Blessed are you, O God,
ruler of heaven and earth.
Day by day you shower us with blessings.
As you have raised us to new life in Christ,
give us glad and generous hearts,
ready to praise you
and to respond to those in need;
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [ii]

The Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ,
the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin,
who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life. 
And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection,
with earth and sea and all their creatures,
and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn: [iii]

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might. 
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. 
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. [iv]

Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: 
Endless is your mercy and eternal your reign. 
You have filled all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

We praise you for the grace shown to your people in every age: 
the promise to Israel, the rescue from Egypt,
the gift of the promised land, the words of the prophets;
and, at this end of all the ages, the gift of your Son,
who proclaimed the good news in word and deed
and was obedient to your will, even to giving his life.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,
and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: 
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. 
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,
we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 
Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

Therefore, O God, with this bread and cup
we remember the life our Lord offered for us. 
And, believing the witness of his resurrection,
we await his coming in power
to share with us the great and promised feast. 
Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.

Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit,
so that we who share in Christ’s body and blood
may live to the praise of your glory
and receive our inheritance with all your saints in light. 
Amen.  Come, Holy Spirit.

Join our prayers with those of your servants of every time and every place,
and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great high priest
until he comes as victorious Lord of all. 
Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honour is yours, Creator of all,
now and forever.  Amen. [v]


The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Breaking of the Bread

Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share in your resurrection.
Live in us, that we may live in you.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

Communion

Hymn after Communion

‘Breathe on Me, Breath of God’  Common Praise #649

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

God of the living,
we have seen with our eyes
and touched with our hands the bread of life.
Strengthen our faith,
so that we may grow in love for you and for each other;
through Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen. [vii]

May the light of God illumine your hearts.
May the flame of Christ kindle your love.
May the fire of the Spirit free you to live boldly.
And the blessing of holy and undivided Trinity:
 Source of all being, Word of redemption and Spirit of wisdom,
be with you all, now and for ever.  Amen. [viii]

Closing Hymn

‘Hallelujah!  We Sing Your Praises’  Common Praise #82

The Dismissal

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.  Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God.  Alleluia, alleluia!




[i] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  Easter during the Day through Pentecost’ (2015), 2.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  Easter during the Day through Pentecost’ (2015), 10.

[iii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition (2006), 275.

[iv] Common Praise #719.

[v] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 66 alt.

[vi] Songs for a Gospel People #12.

[vii] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 337 alt.

[viii] J. Philip Newell, Celtic Benediction:  Morning and Night Prayer (2000), 5 alt.