A SERVICE FOR THE SUNDAYS IN EASTER

Gathering of God’s People

Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God’s kingdom, now and for ever.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
 Christ is risen! Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Let us pray.
Almighty God,
To whom all hearts are open,
All desires known,
And from whom no secrets are hidden:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
By the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
That we may perfectly love you,
And worthily magnify your holy name,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
In the breaking of the bread and in prayers
Jesus is among us
In the telling of stories and in signs
Jesus is among us
In the sharing of resources and in justice
Jesus is among us
In this place and in this moment
Jesus is among us in joy
A great mercy and a sure hope,
a new birth and a deep peace,
a strong love and a rich sending
The risen and holy one is with us in joy.
  

Glory to God in the highest

And peace to God’s 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. 
have mercy on us.
 
 

The Ministry of the Word

Prayer of the Day

Jesus, good shepherd of the sheep,
by whom the lost are sought
and guided into the fold:
feed us and we shall be satisfied,
heal us and we shall be whole,
and lead us
that we may be with you,
where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and for ever. Amen.

After each Bible reading

Hear the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm
1 The Lord is my shepherd:
therefore can I lack nothing.
2 He will make me lie down in green pastures:
and lead me beside still waters.
3 He will refresh my soul:
and guide me in right pathways for his name’s sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil:
for you are with me, your rod and your staff comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me
in the face of those who trouble me:
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup shall be full.
6 Surely your goodness and loving-kindness
will follow me all the days of my life:
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Psalm 23, The Liturgical Psalter, Inclusive Language Version © English Text 1976.

When the Gospel is announced

Glory to you Lord Jesus Christ.
After the Gospel
For the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 The Sermon
 

Creed

[Let us stand and affirm as our own the faith of the Church].
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
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 from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
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 Blessings

How happy are we when we are humble-minded;

For then the kingdom of heaven is ours!
How happy are we when we know what sorrow means;
For God will give us courage and comfort.
How happy are we when we claim nothing;
For then the whole earth is ours to serve!
How happy are we when we are hungry and thirsty for God’s
goodness;
For that alone can satisfy us.
How happy are we when we are merciful
For then we know our need of God’s mercy.
How happy are we when our inner thoughts are sincere;
For then we will see God clearly.
How happy are we when we make peace;
For we will be the children of God.
How happy are we when we are discriminated against because we
are on the side of justice;
Because then we are citizens of God’s kingdom!
 

Confession And Absolution

 
Let us confess to God the sins and shortcomings
of the world;
its pride, its selfishness, its greed;
its evil divisions and wars.
Let us confess our share in what is wrong,
and our failure to seek and establish that peace
which God wills for his children.
(Silence)
 
In penitence and faith, we pray:
 
Merciful God,
our maker and our judge,
we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
and in what we have failed to do:
we have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves;
we repent, and are sorry for all our sins.
Father, forgive us.
Strengthen us to love and obey you
 in newness of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The priest pronounces this Absolution
 
 

Almighty God,
who has promised forgiveness to all who turn to him in faith:
pardon you and set you free from all your sins,
strengthen you in all goodness
and keep you in eternal life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

  Greeting Of Peace

Christ is risen. Alleluia!

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 The peace of the risen Christ be always with you.
and also with you.
 

The Prayers Of The People

Intercessions this week were prepared by Gaye Moses.

The response to "Lord hear my voice" is "Lord hear our prayer."

Then the priest says

Almighty and eternal God,

from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted,
either by death or life:
hear our prayers and thanksgivings
for all whom we remember this day;
fulfil in them the purpose of your love;
and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The prayers conclude:

Risen Lord Jesus
you promised that when we gather in your name
and pray together
you will be present among us.
Give us grace that our prayers
may be so grounded in your Father’s love
that we may be one as you and your Father are one. Amen.

As our Saviour Christ has taught us, we are confident to 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.
 

 The Sending Out Of God’s People 

Let us pray.
 
Most glorious Lord of life,
we thank you that you nourish us in these Easter mysteries.
Fill us with the Spirit of love
and unite us in faith,
that we may witness to the resurrection
and show your glory to all the world.
Living God, make us apostles of the risen Christ.
Give us joyful hearts,
words of hope,
and grace to recognise the Lord Jesus when he meets us
wherever we are on the road. Amen.

The God of peace,

who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you what is pleasing in his sight;
and the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you today
and remain with you always. Amen.
 
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.