Monday, April 14, 2014

An Order for Easter (20 April 2014)

Easter
20 April 2014

The Gathering of the Community

Entrance Hymn

‘O Praise Ye the Lord’  Common Praise #330

Greeting

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!
May his grace and peace be with you.
May he fill our hearts with joy.

Canticle

‘Sing a New Song unto the Lord’  Common Praise #312

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Living God,
long ago, faithful women
proclaimed the good news
of Jesus’ resurrection
and the world was changed for ever.
Teach us to keep faith with them
so that our witness may be as bold,
our love as deep
and our faith as true.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word of God

The First Reading

A Reading from Jeremiah (31.1-6).

            At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.  Thus says the Lord:  The people who survived the sword
found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love;  therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.  Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel!  Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.  Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit.  For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim:  “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.”

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

The Psalm of the Day

Psalm 118 with Refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (twice):  God’s faithful love endures forever.  Hallelujah!

1 Give thanks to the Lord who is good; *
            the mercy of the Lord endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
            ”The mercy of the Lord endures for ever.”

Refrain:  God’s faithful love endures forever.  Hallelujah!

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *
            and has become my salvation.
15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
            in the tents of the righteous:
16 ”The strong hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
            the strong hand of the Lord is exalted!
            the strong hand of the Lord has triumphed!”
17 I shall not die, but live, *
            and declare the works of the Lord.

Refrain:  God’s faithful love endures forever.  Hallelujah!

18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *
            but did not hand me over to death.
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; *
            the one who is righteous may enter.”
21 I will give thanks to the Lord who answered me *
            and has become my salvation.

Refrain:  God’s faithful love endures forever.  Hallelujah!

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
            has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
            and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
            we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Refrain:  God’s faithful love endures forever.  Hallelujah!

The Second Reading

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10.34-43)

            Then Peter began to speak to them:  “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.  You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all.  That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:  how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.  They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.  All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

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

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Alleluia!  O Sons and Daughters’  Common Praise #228 vv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (28.1-10)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’  This is my message for you.”  So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

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

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father,
who with the Father and the Son
is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.  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

‘Good Christians All, Rejoice and Sing’  Common Praise #211

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.

Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth;
we give you thanks and praise
for the glorious resurrection of your Son
Jesus Christ our Lord;
for he is the true paschal lamb
who has taken away the sin of the world. 
By his death he destroyed death,
and by his rising to life again
he has won for us eternal life. 
Therefore, joining our voices
with the whole company of heaven,
we sing our joyful hymn of praise
to proclaim the glory of your name.

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. [iii]

Blessed are you, O God of the universe. 
Your mercy is everlasting
and your faithfulness endures from age to age.

Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth. 
Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood. 
Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea. 
Praise to you for leading your people
through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. 
Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one. 
Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ. 
Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.

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.

With this bread and cup
we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. 
Christ is risen. 
Christ will come again.

O God of resurrection and new life: 
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us
and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
Bless this feast. 
Grace our table with your presence.
Come, Holy Spirit.

Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. 
Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. 
Breathe new life into us. 
Send us forth, burning with justice, peace and love.
Come, Holy Spirit.

With the ever-blessed Virgin Mary,
blessed Joseph, blessed Faith
and your holy ones of all times and places,
with the earth and all its creatures,
with sun and moon and stars,
we praise you, O God,
blessed and holy Trinity,
now and forever.  Amen. [iv]

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. [v]

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

‘Walk Softly in Springtime’  Common Praise #209

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

Life-giving God,
in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection
you send light to conquer darkness,
water to give new life,
and the bread of life to nourish your people.
Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection,
that we may show your glory to all the world,
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen. [vi]

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine. 
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Christ the Lord Is Risen Today’  Common Praise #206

The Dismissal

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


[i] Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), 106 alt.

[ii] ‘Offering Prayer for Easter’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64.

[iii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), #525.

[iv] ‘Thanksgiving at the Table IV’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 111.

[v] Songs for a Gospel People #12.

[vi] ‘Prayer after Communion for Easter’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 65.

No comments: