Third Sunday of Easter April 23, 2023 @ 10 St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI

 
Third Sunday of Easter
April 23, 2023 @ 10
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
The Easter Proclamation  
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
                The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
May God’s Grace and peace be with you.
                May God fill our hearts with joy.
 
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you 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.
 
212 The Strife Is O’er
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
O God, your Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, "Let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, "Brothers, what should we do?" Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him." And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
                Thanks be to God
 
405 Alleluia No 1
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 24:13-35
The Lord be with you.
                And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
                Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
The Gospel of Christ.
                Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon:
 
An Affirmation of Faith (Colossians 3.10-16)
We affirm our faith in a compassionate God,
We clothe ourselves with the new self,
          according to the image of God our creator.
We clothe ourselves without distinction
          of race, Creed or colour,
          we are one humanity;
          but Christ is all and in all!
We clothe ourselves with compassion,
          kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 
 
We clothe ourselves with forgiveness;
          just as the Lord has forgiven us,
          so we also will forgive.
We clothe ourselves with love,
          which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
We clothe ourselves with the peace of Christ in our hearts.
We clothe ourselves with gratitude
                for all wisdom and praise. Amen.
 
The Prayers of the Community
O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection, teaching them to love all people as neighbors. As his disciples in this age, we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe in which we are privileged to live and our neighbors with whom we share it, saying: hear our prayer.
 
For the Church: for Linda, our Primate, and Sandra, our bishop, that signs and wonders born of faith and love may be worked among all peoples, through believers who bear testimony to the resurrection. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For this parish of St. Paul’s, that we may be transformed through our encounters with the living Christ, and be instruments of healing and forgiveness for those who are hurting. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all who struggle with their faith, that your presence and love may be made known to them, and bring light to their life’s journey. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For a renewed stewardship of the whole creation, that you will guide us to effectively care for the Earth, and preserve its beauty and resources and balance. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For peace in all the troubled areas of the world, particularly in Ukraine, that Christ's victory over death may bring an end to war, genocide, and inhumane treatment of people. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, remembering especially those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital:
–          
and those we may name out loud or in our hearts:
-           
…that they may find healing in the name of the Risen Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who have died in your peace, remembering especially,
-           
…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever with the Living One. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Elusive God, companion on the way, you walk behind, beside, beyond; you catch us unawares. Break through the anguish clouding our vision, that, with wide-eyed wonder, we may find our way and journey on as messengers of your good news. In Christs’ name we pray. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
                and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
 
460 Shine, Jesus, Shine
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Creator of all, you wash away our sins in water, you give us new birth by the Spirit, and redeem us in the blood of Christ. As we celebrate the resurrection, renew your gift of life within us. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer (EP3)
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.
 
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
 
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
 
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
 
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation;
 
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
 
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.
 
The Breaking of the Bread (Easter Season)
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.
 
Lamb of God
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
grant us your peace.
 
The Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
Hymns-during-communion:
209 Walk Softly in Springtime
476 God, You Have Caused to Be Written
74 For the Bread Which You Have Broken
405 Alleluia No 1 (see Gradual)
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Author of life divine, in the breaking of bread we know the risen Lord. Feed us always in these mysteries, that we may show your glory to all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The doxology
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.
 
Blessing
May the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 
658 Filled With the Spirit’s Power
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!