Easter Day, April 4, 2021

 
Easter Day
April 4, 2021
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
The Gathering of the Community
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
            The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Praise the God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ:
            he has given us new life and hope
            by raising Jesus from the dead.
God has claimed us as his own:
            God has made us light to the world.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
            The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
Hymn: 203: Jesus Christ is Risen Today
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.
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Lord of life and power, through the mighty resurrection of your Son, you have overcome the old order of sin and death and have made all things new in him. May we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, reign with him in glory, who with you and the Holy Spirit is alive, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First: Acts 10:34-43
The Holy Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
 
Sermon:
Solo: Who Is There on This Easter Morning, Katherine Lowings
 
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
In joy and hope let us pray to the source of all life:
That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his holy and life-giving resurrection, God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the Easter gospel, God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That you may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love, that you will bless the clergy and people of St. Paul’s Parish to minister with love and that we will be a people of justice. God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That you will help us provide for those who lack food, work, or shelter; that governments and aid agencies will work together to bring about your mercy in the world. God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That by your power wars and famine may cease through all the earth, and we pray for people on this globe affected by the pandemic, and by drought and famine; and for people in war torn places, that we may stop our warring madness. God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That you may reveal the light of your presence to the sick, the weak, and the dying, that they may be comforted and strengthened, we pray for those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially;
-         
… and for others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-         
that they may experience the healing and renewing touch of Jesus. God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That those who have died in your peace, and for those whose faith is known to you alone, especially…
-         
… may have the hope of the resurrection and a share in the victory of Jesus Christ, and be with and strengthen all who mourn. God of love:
            Hear our prayer.
That you may send the fire of the 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.
Eternal God, you create us by your power and redeem us by your love. Guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves today in love and service to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
            and also with you. Alleluia!
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Hymn 233: He Rose
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God our strength and salvation, receive all we offer you this day, and grant that we who have confessed your name, and received new life in baptism, may live in the joy of the resurrection, through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer (E), from Common Worship, Church of England
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 thanks and praise.
 
Father, you made the world and love your creation. You gave your Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour. His dying and rising have set us free from sin and death. And so we gladly thank you, with saints and angels praising you, and saying:
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 praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
 
On the night before he died he had supper with his friends and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and said: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
 
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he praised you, 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. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
 
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross. Bringing before you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes in glory. Jesus Christ is Lord:
Lord, by your cross and resurrection
you have set us free. You are the Saviour of the world.
Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth. Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.
 
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, for ever and 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.
 
Giving of Communion
Alleluia! Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
            Therefore let us keep the feast.
Alleluia!
 
Hymn-during-communion:
237: Now the Green Blade Rises
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Anthem: Risen Indeed
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
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 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
God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;
and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
Hymn 210: Yours Be the Glory, Risen, Conquering Son
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Alleluia!
He is not here. He is risen.
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!