4/21/25

Second Sunday of Easter April 27, 2025, 10:00 am St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI

 
Second Sunday of Easter
April 27, 2025, 10:00 am
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
Preludes: Larghetto G.F. Handel; Serenade Jeremiah Clarke; Peace I Leave with You Stanley Vann
 
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.
 
350 Stand Up and Bless the Lord
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith and receive the fullness of Christ's blessing, 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 5:27-32
When they had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
Psalm 118:14-29
The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. There is a sound of exultation and victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! the right hand of the Lord is exalted! the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!"
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. The Lord has punished me sorely, but he did not hand me over to death.
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord. "This is the gate of the Lord; he who is righteous may enter."
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
I will give thanks to you, for you answered me and have become my salvation. The same stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes. On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! Lord, send us now success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; we bless you from the house of the Lord. God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
"You are my God, and I will thank you; you are my God, and I will exalt you." Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures for ever.
On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad.
 
228 Alleluia! O Sons and Daughters
 
The Holy Gospel: John 20:19-31
The Lord be with you.
      And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John
      Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospel of Christ.
      Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen.                        cf 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
 
The Prayers of the Community
Gathered with the living Christ among us, let us offer prayers to God for the needs of all the world, saying: hear our prayer.
For the Church: especially Anne, 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, 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 the forgiveness of our sins and offenses, that by your love and mercy we may know the joy of freedom won by 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. And comfort all who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
In thanksgiving we acknowledge your power to save, and we pray that you will send the fire of your Holy Spirit upon us, your people, and that we may be forgiven all our sins and bear faithful witness to the resurrection of Jesus the Christ, God of love:
               Hear our prayer.
We pray for this nation in a time of election, keep us under your care: help us elect trustworthy leaders, who will contribute to wise decisions for the welfare of all. God of love:
               Hear our prayer.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who gives us peace through Jesus Christ. Hear our prayers which we offer in the hope of glory and breathe upon us with your Holy Spirit. This we pray in Christ’s name. 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
 
SNC 84 God for This Holy Ground
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of grace, you have freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Accept all we offer you this day, and strengthen us in the new life you have given us, through Jesus Christ our 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.
Alleluia! Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
               Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
 
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.
 
Hymn-during-communion:
SNC 1 O Breath of Life (repeated)
PB 135 Gathered in His Name (repeated)
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
 
PB 135 Gathered in His Name (repeated)
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Father, we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands the bread of life. Strengthen our faith that we may grow in love for you and for each other; through Jesus Christ the risen 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.
 
210 Yours Be the Glory, Risen, Conquering Son
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
 

No comments: