Monday, April 14, 2014

An Order for the Easter Vigil (19 April 2014)

Easter Vigil
19 april 2014

The Gathering of the Community

The Kindling of the New Fire

Dear friends in Christ,
on this most holy night,
when our Lord Jesus Christ passed from death to life,
the Church invites her children throughout the world
to come together in vigil and prayer.
This is the Passover of the Lord.
We remember his death and resurrection
by hearing his word and celebrating his mysteries;
we are confident
that we shall share his victory over death
and live with him for ever in God.

Let us pray.

Father,
we share in the light of your glory
through your Son, the light of the world.
Sanctify this new fire, and inflame us with new hope.
Purify our minds by this Easter celebration
and bring us one day to the feast of eternal light.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Lighting of the Paschal Candle

The paschal candle is lit from the fire. Then the candle is processed into the church.  Three times the following is sung (at a progressively higher pitch).

The light of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

The candles of the community are lit.

The Exsultet

The deacon, or other person appointed, standing near the candle, sings the Exsultet.

Rejoice, heavenly powers!  Sing choirs of angels!
Exult, all creation around God’s throne!
Jesus Christ, our King, is risen!
Sound the trumpet of salvation!

Rejoice, O earth, in shining splendour,
radiant in the brightness of your King!
Christ has conquered!
Glory fills you!
Darkness vanishes for ever!

Rejoice, O Mother Church!
Exult in glory!
The risen Saviour shines upon you!
Let his place resound with joy,
echoing the mighty song of all God’s people!

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is truly right that with full hearts and minds and voices
we should praise the unseen God, the all-powerful Father,
and his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
For Christ has ransomed us with his blood,
and paid for us the price of Adams sin to our eternal Father!

This is our passover feast,
when Christ, the true Lamb, is slain,
whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers.

This is the night
when first you saved our forebears:
you freed the people of Israel from their slavery
and led them dry-shod through the sea.

This is the night
when Christians everywhere,
washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement,
are restored to grace and grow together in holiness.

This is the night
when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death
and rose triumphant from the grave.

Father, how wonderful your care for us!
How boundless your merciful love!
To ransom a slave you gave away your Son.

The power of this holy night dispels all evil,
washes guilt away,
restores lost innocence,
brings mourners joy.

Night truly blessed
when heaven is wedded to earth
and we are reconciled with God!

Therefore, heavenly Father,
in the joy of this night,
receive our evening sacrifice of praise,
your Church’s solemn offering.
Accept this Easter candle.
May it always dispel the darkness of this night!

May the Morning Star which never sets
find this flame still burning:
Christ, that Morning Star,
who came back from the dead,
and shed his peaceful light on all creation,
your Son who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

After the Exsultet the congregation may extinguish their candles.

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading, Response and Prayer

Reading

A reading from Genesis (Genesis 1.1-2.4a)

            In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.  And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

            And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”  So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome.  And it was so.  God called the dome Sky.  And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

            And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.”  And it was so.  God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas.  And God saw that it was good.  Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.”  And it was so.  The earth brought forth vegetation:  plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it.  And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

            And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.”  And it was so.  God made the two great lights — the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night — and the stars.  God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.  And God saw that it was good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

            And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.”  So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind.  And God saw that it was good.  God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.”  And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

            And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.”  And it was so.  God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind.  And God saw that it was good.

            Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

            So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food.  And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”  And it was so.  God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

            Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude.  And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.  So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

            These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.

Holy Word, Holy Wisdom.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 136.1-9, 23-26 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

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

1 Give thanks to the Lord who is good, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;
4 who only does great wonders, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;
5 who by divine wisdom made the heavens, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;

Refrain:   God’s faithful love endures forever.

7 who created great lights, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;
8 the sun to rule the day, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;
9 the moon and the stars to govern the night, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;

23 who remembered us in our low estate, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever.
24 and delivered us from our enemies, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever;
25 who gives food to all creatures, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever.
26 Give thanks to the God of heaven, *
            for the mercy of God endures for ever.

Refrain:  God’s faithful love endures forever.

Collect

Let us pray.

Almighty and eternal God,
you created all things in wonderful beauty and order.
Help us now to perceive
how still more wonderful is the new creation,
by which in the fullness of time
you redeemed your people
through the sacrifice of our Passover, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Second Reading, Response and Prayer

Reading

A reading from Exodus (Exodus14.10-31; 15.20-21).

            As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the Lord.  They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?  What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt?  Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, ‘Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians?’  For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”  But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again.  The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”

            Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to me?  Tell the Israelites to go forward.  But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground.  Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.  And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers.”

            The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them.  It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel.  And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.

            Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea.  The Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided.  The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.  The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and chariot drivers.  At the morning watch the Lord in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic.  He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty.  The Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites, for the Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.”

            Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers.”  So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth.  As the Egyptians fled before it, the Lord tossed the Egyptians into the sea.  The waters returned and covered the chariots and the chariot drivers, the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea; not one of them remained.  But the Israelites walked on dry ground through the sea, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left.

            Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.  Israel saw the great work that the Lord did against the Egyptians.  So the people feared the Lord and believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

            Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all the women went out after her with tambourines and with dancing.

            And Miriam sang to them:  “Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”

Holy Word, Holy Wisdom.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 126 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (twice):  The Holy One does wonderful things for us.

1  When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
            then were we like those who dream.
2  Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
            and our tongue with shouts of joy.
Then they said among the nations, *
            ”The Lord has done great things for them.”
3  The Lord has done great things for us, *
            and we are glad indeed.

Refrain:  The Holy One does wonderful things for us.

4  Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
            like the watercourses of the Negev.
5  Those who sowed with tears *
            will reap with songs of joy.
6  Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
            will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Refrain:  The Holy One does wonderful things for us.

Collect

Let us pray.

God of steadfast love,
your wonderful deeds of old
shine forth even to our own day. 
By the power of your mighty arm
you once delivered your chosen people
from slavery under Pharaoh,
to be a sign for us of the salvation of all nations
by the water of baptism. 
Grant that all the peoples of the earth
may be numbered among the offspring of Abraham,
and rejoice in the inheritance of Israel. 
We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Third Reading, Response and Prayer

Reading

A reading from Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37.1-14).

            The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry.  He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?”  I answered, O Lord God, you know.”  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them:  O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.  Thus says the Lord God to these bones:  I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.  I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.

            So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.  I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them.  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath:  Thus says the Lord God:  Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.”  I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

            Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel.  They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’  Therefore prophesy, and say to them, “Thus says the Lord God:  I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people.  I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.”

Psalm 143 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (twice):  Holy One, when our spirits fail, help us to remember your faithful love.

1 Lord, hear my prayer,
and in your faithfulness heed my supplications; *
            answer me in your righteousness.
2 Enter not into judgement with your servant, *
            for in your sight shall no one living be justified.
3 For my enemies have sought my life;
they have crushed me to the ground; *
            they have made me live in dark places
            like those who are long dead.

Refrain:  Holy One, when our spirits fail, help us to remember your faithful love.

4 My spirit faints within me; *
            my heart within me is desolate.
5 I remember the time past;
I muse upon all your deeds; *
            I consider the works of your hands.
6 I spread out my hands to you; *
            my soul gasps to you like a thirsty land.
7 O Lord, make haste to answer me; *
            my spirit fails me;
do not hide your face from me *
            or I shall be like those who go down to the Pit.
8 Let me hear of your loving-kindness in the morning, *
            for I put my trust in you;
show me the road that I must walk, *
            for I lift up my soul to you.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord, *
            for I flee to you for refuge.

Refrain:  Holy One, when our spirits fail, help us to remember your faithful love.

10 Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; *
            let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
11 Revive me, O Lord, for your name’s sake; *
            for your righteousness’ sake, bring me out of trouble.
12 Of your goodness, destroy my enemies
and bring all my foes to naught, *
            for truly I am your servant.

Refrain:  Holy One, when our spirits fail, help us to remember your faithful love.

Collect

Let us pray.

Living God,
by the Passover of your Son
you have brought us out of sin into righteousness,
and out of death into life. 
Grant to those who are sealed by your Holy Spirit
the will and power to proclaim you to all the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Easter Proclamation

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!

The Great Noise

Hymn of Praise          

‘This Is the Feast of Victory for Our God’  Common Praise #242 vv. 1, 2

Collect

Let us pray.

Eternal Giver of life and light,
this holy night shines with the radiance of the risen Christ. 
Renew your Church with the Spirit given to us in baptism,
that we may worship you in sincerity and truth,
and shine as a light in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Epistle

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 6.3-11).

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

            For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin.  For whoever has died is freed from sin.  But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.  So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

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

The Psalm

Psalm 114 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (twice):  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!

1 Hallelujah! 
When Israel came out of Egypt, *
            the house of Jacob from a people of strange speech,
2 Judah became the sanctuary of the Lord *
            and Israel the dominion of God.
3 The sea beheld it and fled; *
            Jordan turned and went back.
4 The mountains skipped like rams, *
            and the little hills like young sheep.

Refrain:  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!

5 What ailed you, O sea, that you fled? *
            O Jordan, that you turned back?
6 You mountains, that you skipped like rams? *
            you little hills like young sheep?
7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, *
            at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the hard rock into a pool of water *
            and flint-stone into a flowing spring.

Refrain:  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!

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 Renewal of Baptismal Vows

The Thanksgiving at the Font

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O God, maker and ruler of all things.
Your voice thundered over the waters at creation.
You water the mountains and send springs
into the valleys to refresh and satisfy all living things.

Through the waters of the flood
you carried those in the ark to safety.
Through the sea you led your people Israel
from slavery into freedom.
In the wilderness you nourished them
with water from the rock,
and your brought them across the river Jordan
to the promised land.

By the baptism of his death and resurrection,
your Son Jesus has carried us to safety and freedom.
The floods shall not overwhelm us,
and the deep shall not swallow us up,
for Christ has brought us over to the land of promise.
He sends us to make disciples,
baptizing in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Pour out your Holy Spirit;
wash away sin in this cleansing water;
clothe the baptized with Christ;
and claim your daughters and sons,
no longer slave and free,
no longer male and female,
but one with all the baptized in Christ Jesus,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen. [i]

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Dear friends,
through the paschal mystery
we have been buried with Christ in baptism,
so that we may rise with him to a new life.
Now that our Lenten observance is ended,
let us renew the promises we made in baptism,
when we rejected Satan and all the works of evil,
and promised to serve God faithfully
in the holy catholic church.

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil
and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
I do.

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.

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.

Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?
I will, with God’s help.

God the creator, the rock of our salvation,
has given us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit,
and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins,
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
May God keep us faithful to our calling,
now and for ever.  Amen.

The people are sprinkled with the blessed water as the presider says

Remember your baptism and be thankful.

The Exchange of the Peace

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

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn                                

‘Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain’  Common Praise #215 vv. 2, 5

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                   

‘Be Thou My Vision’  Common Praise #505

The Sending Forth of the Community

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

‘Through the Red Sea Brought at Last’  Common Praise #226

Dismissal

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




[i] ‘Thanksgiving at the Font II’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 70.

[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.

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