Lectionary Readings
Acts 3:12–19
Peter speaks of Jesus’ rejection and calls the people to repent.
Psalm 4
Answer me when I call, O God; in you I will find joy and peace.
1 John 3:1–7
See what love the Father has given us; we are children of God.
Luke 24:36b–48
The risen Lord eats with the disciples and interprets the Scriptures.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We live in the radiance of your glory.
Our worship comes from
the gladness you have put in our hearts.
We give you thanks for the peace of your salvation.
Oh, hear the joy of our praise
for your grace and mercy.
Prayer of the Day
Blessed Savior,
you keep showing up for us in unexpected places.
When we face uncertainty, you are there.
When we worry about our tomorrows,
you are there.
And even in the doubt-filled lonely hours,
you are there.
Hear our prayer of thanks for your constant love,
which convinces us to sing aloud,
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.” Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the new life you raise up in us
through the mystery of our baptism—
the sorrow of the heavy cross,
the surprise of the empty tomb,
the love that death could not destroy.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
fill us with the joy of resurrection,
so that we may be a living sign
of your new heaven and new earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
The Spirit of God helps us in our weakness,
interceding with sighs too deep for words.
Romans 8:26
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
What love you have given us, O God,
that we should be called your children.
What love you have given us, O Christ,
that we should share a table with you.
Forgive us when we act as if we were your only children:
when we do not recognize your image
in the faces of strangers, enemies, or friends;
when we do not share our own tables,
forgetting that we need each other.
Forgive us, O Christ, maker of peace,
and teach us to follow in your way.
Lifting water from the font:
Hear the good news of God’s promise:
I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.
Acts 2:17, 21
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Living God, with joy we celebrate
the presence of your risen Word.
Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit
so that we may proclaim the good news
of eternal and abundant life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
O dry bones,
hear the world of the Lord.
Ezekiel 37:4
After the readings:
This is the good news
which we have received,
in which we stand,
and by which we are saved.
Thanks be to God.
1 Corinthians 15:1–2
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
All authority and power and dominion
to the name that is above all names—
Jesus Christ our Lord—
now and in the age to come. Amen.
Ephesians 1:21
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Season of Easter, Ascension of the Lord
Life in Christ is life eternal.
The resurrection of Jesus is the sign
that God will consummate the work
of creation and reconciliation beyond death
and bring to fulfillment
the new life begun in Christ.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.26
Prayers of the People
In the blessed hope of the resurrection,
we pray to the Lord of endless life, saying:
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for the church . . .
Bless and keep us, as your beloved children,
so that your goodness and grace may be known in us.
Strengthen us in hope and save us from our sin.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for the world . . .
Lead the rulers and people of every nation
to repent of their violence and corruption
and trust instead in your way of life and peace.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for this community . . .
Transcend the walls and boundaries that divide us.
Stand among us as our living Lord.
Cast out our fear so that we may live in your peace.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Life-giving God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Be gracious to all who are in trouble or distress.
Show them your goodness; put gladness in their hearts,
so that they may find peace and safety in you.
By your grace, O God, raise us from death to life.
Eternal God, show forth in us and in our world
the good news of your saving power and love,
so that all may believe and have life in you;
through Jesus Christ, who is risen indeed. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods
yet refuses to help a sister or brother in need?
Remembering God’s great love for the world,
let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 John 3:16–17
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
Eternal God, take and use these gifts
for your purpose in the world—
giving food to the hungry,
hope to the despairing,
and new life to the dead.
Teach us to live each day for you,
so that future generations
will know your goodness
and praise your glory;
in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 22:25–31
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.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are the God of our ancestors, of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
You spoke through your prophets of the Messiah who would come to suffer
so that all might repent and be delivered from sin.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Christ is our peace. He still comes among us to eat with us, to speak with us,
and to open our minds so that we may understand the Scriptures.
We are witnesses: Through Christ your word is fulfilled.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Help us to show the world the great love that you have given us,
that, in Jesus Christ, we should be called children of God—
and that is what we are!
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
Thank you, O God, for giving us communion
with our risen and glorious Lord.
Now send us out to be a sign
of the new life that has come into the world;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the love of the holy triune God—
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
abide with you forever. Alleluia!
1 John 4:13–16
Now go forth in Jesus’ name,
remembering his new commandment
to love one another,
just as he has loved us. Amen.
1 John 3:23
Breaking Bread
Christa Prema Seva Ashram, Prune, India
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Christ Is Alive! (AG) TRURO GTG 246
- Crown Him with Many Crowns (G) DIADEMATA GTG 268
- O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (EG) DEO GRACIAS GTG 618
- This Joyful Eastertide (EG) VRUECHTEN GTG 244
WORD
- Fairest Lord Jesus (EG) CRUSADERS’ HYMN GTG 630
- For You, Dear Child (E) YE BANKS AND BRAES David Gambrell Breathing Spirit into Dust GIA
- Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (EG) ST. AGNES GTG 629
- My Song Is Love Unknown (AG) LOVE UNKNOWN GTG 209
EUCHARIST
- For the Bread Which You Have Broken (EG) KINGDOM GTG 516
- Here, O Our Lord, We See You (G) MORECAMBE GTG 517
- Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (A) QUEBEC GTG 494
- Oh, How He Loves You and Me (E) PATRICIA AAHH 228, SSS 536, STF 2108
SENDING
- Go in Grace and Make Disciples (G) WONDROUS LIGHT GTG 296
- Go to the World! (G) SINE NOMINE GTG 295
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (AEG) HYFRYDOL GTG 366
- May the Love of the Lord (E) SOON TI GTG 549
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- O God, Be Gracious [TALLIS’ ORDINAL]; GTG 776
- O God, Defender of the Poor [DUNFERMLINE, BROTHER JAMES’ AIR]; LUYH 890, PAS 4A
Responsorial
- In the Night I Can Take My Rest; PH 160, PSA 3, PAS 4B
- Lord, Hear My Prayer [SLANE]; PP 10
- Night Has Fallen [NIGHT HAS FALLEN]; PAS 4B (alt. refrain), SSS 477/8 (with Spanish translation)
Organ Music
- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” God of Grace, Paul Manz, MSM (M)
- “Prelude on DEO GRACIAS,” Peace Like a River, Brenda Portman, LOR (ME)
- “Recessional on DEO GRACIAS,” Lift Your Hearts, Douglas E. Wagner, LOR (ME)
- “Voluntary on For All the Saints,” Funeral Music for Manuals, Charles Callahan, MSM (E)
- “Christ Is Alive,” When I Survey, Lynn Trapp, LOR (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “With Prayer and Supplication,” Amy Beach, BH, SATB, acap (M)
- “Stetit Iesus,” There Came Jesus, Jacob Handl/arr. Anne Heider, GIA, SATB, acap (M)
- “Children of the Heavenly Father,” Eric Nelson, MSM, SATB, pno (E)
- “Thixo Onothando,” arr. Michael J. Barrett, WAL, SATB, djembe (E)
- “See What Love,” Felix Mendelssohn, AF, SATB, org (M)
- “I Am His Child,” Moses Hogan, AMP, SATB, pno (E)
- “Christ Is Alive,” Hall Hopson, MSM, SATB, cong, brass, hb, org (E)
- “Pues Si Vivimos,” Alice Parker, HAL, SATB, cong, keybd (E)
Handbell Music
- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” Kimberlee Strepka, 5 oct w/C-inst, GIA, G8940, Level 3-
- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” Matthew Compton, 3–6 oct, opt hc, HOPE, 2862, Level 3+
- “Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing,” Cathy Moklebust, 2–6 oct, opt hc, opt Bv/C/F or bass inst, CGA, CGB876 (2–3 oct), CGB877 (3–5 oct), Level 2
Art
- Christ Appears to the Disciples at the Table, Duccio, di Buoninsegna (VDL)
- Christ Breaking Bread, Angelo da Fonseca, Christa Prema Seva Ashram, Pune, India (VDL)
- Love and Revelation, Jan Richardson (JR)
- I Am the Resurrection and the Life, Timothy Botts (EYE)
