Easter Sunday

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A word about Spiritual Communion.  Since we are not all able to be together, for those of you at home, you are invited to partake at the table prepared for you by receiving "Spiritual Communion".  Just prior to the reception of the elements, we will pray a prayer together that will symbolize your own 'receiving' of the elements in spirit.  This is a practice throughout Anglican Churches, particularly during the pandemic.

 

Prelude:              Alleluia!              - Handel/Liebergen

                            Anne Lane, flute

 

Welcome

 

Opening Hymn:  Jesus Christ is Risen Today. CP#203

 

Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!

our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

who did once upon the cross Alleluia!

suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

 

But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!

our salvation have procured; Alleluia!

now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!

where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

 

The 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!

 

The Gloria (said)

 

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

The Collect Prayer

 

Lord of Life and Love, through the resurrection of your Son, you have overcome the old order of sin and death, and have made all things new in Jesus.  May we, restored to new life in Christ, bring about your Kingdom of love, peace and forgiveness in this world.  We pray in the name of the Trinity, One God, now and forever.  Amen

 

The Readings

Isaiah 25: 6-9

John 20: 1-18

 

The Homily

 

Anthem:            Jesus Christ Is Risen Today       - Michael Larkin

                          Ankelly Armstrong, soprano

 

The Prayers of the People

 

The Peace

 

Offertory Hymn:  Alleluia. CP #405 

 

Prayer over the gifts

 

We praise you Loving God, for the gift of your Son and the hope his Resurrection renews within us this day.  For your abiding presence through all of life, for food and drink, to remember that presence, and for community known to us in so many ways, we give you our deepest thanks.  Amen.

 

The Great Thanksgiving 

 

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.

 

We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. He is your living Word, through whom you have created all things. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh of the Virgin Mary and shared our human nature. He lived and died as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. In fulfilment of your will he stretched out his hands in suffering, to bring release to those who place their hope in you; and so he won for you a holy people. He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows, and to give up his life on the cross, that he might shatter the chains of evil and death, and banish the darkness of sin and despair. By his resurrection he brings us into the light of your presence. Now with all creation we raise our voices 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 the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread and gave you thanks, saying, “Take, and eat: this is my body which is broken for you.” In the same way he took the cup, saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this, you do it in memory of me.” Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup, giving thanks that you have made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon the offering of your holy Church. Gather into one all who share in these sacred mysteries, filling them with the Holy Spirit and confirming their faith in the truth, that together we may praise you and give you glory through your Servant, Jesus Christ. All glory and honour are yours, Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now and for ever.  Amen.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Prayer for Spiritual Communion  

I worship and adore you, Lord Jesus Christ, present in the Holy Sacrament and in your people, who are gathered in spirit.  In this moment I join with them to receive you in my heart, and in our community.  May you, enthroned on the altar, be now enthroned in my heart; may you, present in the bread and wine, feed and renew my soul; may you, who give yourself to us again, fill us with grace, and heavenly blessing.  Even as I am fed, may my hunger for you and for your reign of justice and peace increase, that I may, with your Spirit, work for that day when your reign shall come on earth as it is heaven.  Amen.

 

Communion is received.

 

Prayer after Communion

 

God of life, bring us to the glory of the resurrection promised in this Easter sacrament.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Risen One.  Amen.

 

The Doxology

Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do 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.

 

The Blessing

 

Closing Hymn:  The Day of Resurrection  CP#205   

 

1 The day of resurrection! 

Earth, tell it out abroad; 

the passover of gladness, 

the passover of God. 

From death to life eternal, 

from earth unto the sky, 

our Christ hath brought us over, 

with hymns of victory. 

 

2 Our hearts be pure from evil, 

that we may see aright 

the Lord in rays eternal 

of resurrection light; 

and listening to his accents, 

may hear, so calm and plain, 

his own "All hail!" and, hearing, 

may raise the victor strain. 

 

3 Now let the heavens be joyful! 

Let earth the song begin! 

Let the round world keep triumph, 

and all that is therein! 

Let all things seen and unseen 

their notes in gladness blend, 

for Christ the Lord hath risen, 

our joy that hath no end. 

 

Dismissal

 

Postlude:        Voluntary in D Major