Lectionary Readings
Acts 2:14a, 22–32
Peter addresses the people: Jesus is risen, and we are witnesses.
Psalm 16
You protect me from death, O God, and show me the path of life.
1 Peter 1:3–9
We have a new birth into a living hope through Jesus’ resurrection.
John 20:19–31
Jesus shares the Holy Spirit; a week later, he appears to Thomas.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The good news resounds:
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
We celebrate the God who is our refuge.
In God’s presence there is gladness and rest.
God is always before us;
we shall not be shaken.
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:
God shows us the path of life,
offering companionship along the way.
Therefore we trust in God,
knowing that we can admit the ways
we struggle to stay on that path.
Embodied God,
you pour out your Holy Spirit upon us,
imbuing us with the grace and patience
that you have shown to us time and again.
We experience your presence,
but are quick to judge those who do not believe as we do.
We look down on those who ask for proof,
we scorn those who scoff at our faith.
Forgive us and soften our hearts.
Remind us of our own human doubts,
that we might have compassion for all
and freely share your grace.
Lifting water from the font:
God has given us a new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
and into an inheritance that is imperishable,
undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for us.
Thanks be to God for such a hope. Alleluia!
— 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 word 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
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 Intercession
We offer our prayers through Christ,
who lives and reigns forever,
and prays for us in heaven.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the church . . .
By the gift of your Holy Spirit,
let us be agents of reconciliation
and signs of your grace in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the earth . . .
By the power of Christ’s resurrection,
make of this world a new creation:
imperishable, undefiled, unfading.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for all nations . . .
Send forth the breath of your Spirit:
where there is war, breathe peace;
where there is fear, breathe forgiveness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for this community . . .
Teach us not to lock our doors in fear
but to open our hearts to our neighbors,
trusting in the peace of Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for loved ones . . .
Heal the wounds of body, mind, and spirit.
Be present in the actions of those who believe
and in the questions of those who doubt.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all power and glory, receive these prayers,
and continue your mighty work among us,
through Jesus Christ, our living Lord. Amen.
Ephesians 1:15–23
— 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:
Great God, to you we give our thanks;
your steadfast love endures forever.
With gratitude we bring our gifts to you.
Bless us and our gifts,
that our lives and our resources
may be a source of healing and hope,
of joy and justice in our world. Amen.
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:
Our hearts are glad, our tongues rejoice, and we live now in hope—
for you have made known to us the way of life
in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
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:
With Thomas we confess that Christ Jesus is our Lord and our God!
He breathes on us with the gift of the Spirit and the power of forgiveness.
By the gift of faith we have eternal life in his name.
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.
Give us a share of that imperishable, unfading inheritance—
new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead—
and, believing in him, may we rejoice with indescribable and glorious joy.
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
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
“Christ Shows Himself to Thomas”
Rowan LeCompte and Irene LeCompte
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing (G) O FILII ET FILAE GTG 255, PH 116, 117
- To God Be the Glory (E) TO GOD BE THE GLORY GTG 634, PH 485
- You Are Holy (G) YOU ARE HOLY GTG 705
- I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy (E) I’VE GOT THE JOY AAHH 622
WORD
- Womb of Life and Source of Being (EG) RAQUEL GTG 3
- That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright (AG) PUER NOBIS NASCITUR GTG 254, PH 121
- You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy! (E) WAYFARING STRANGER GTG 437
- Building a Just Society (G) BUNUNAR STB 259
EUCHARIST
- These Things Did Thomas Count as Real (G) KEDRON GTG 256
- Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts (E) QUEBEC, JESU DULCIS MEMORIA GTG 494, PH 510, 511
- Dona nobis pacem / Sim shalom / Rabbu habna salamann tamman (G) DONA NOBIS PACEM GTG 752
- Low in the Grave He Lay (O) CHRIST AROSE LUYH 186
SENDING
- The Risen Christ (G) WOODLANDS GTG 257
- Hope of the World (E) DONNE SECOURS GTG 734, PH 360
- We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight (E) DUNLAP’S CREEK GTG 817, PH 399
- Moment by Moment / Cada momento (E) WHITTLE SSS 310
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- When in the Night I Meditate [ST. FLAVIAN, MAITLAND, MORNING SONG/CONSOLATION]; GTG 810, PH 165, PAS 16A, PP 28 (with refrain)
- Protect Me, God [MEPHIBOSHETH]; PAS 16C, LUYH 411
Responsorial
- My Heart Is Glad; PAS 16D (alt. refrain)
- Harbor of My Heart; PAS 16B, PND 9
Organ Music
- “O Filii et Filiae / O Sons and Daughters,” Five Liturgical Pieces for Organ, Lynn Trapp, MSM (ME)
- “Halle, Halle, Hallelujah,” Three Global Songs, John A. Behnke, HOPE (E)
- “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain,” GAUDEAMUS PARITER, Augsburg Organ Library: Easter, Robert Buckley Farlee, AF (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Day of Arising,” David Cherwien, MSM, SATB, org, fl, vln, cl (ME)
- “Alleluia! Jesus is Risen!,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SATB, org, opt brass qrt, timp (ME)
- “Now Let the Heavens Be Joyful,” S. Drummond Wolff, CON, SATB, org, brass qrt (M)
- “May You Abound in Hope,” Anne Krentz Organ, MSM, SATB div, org (ME)
- “Thy Kingdom Come,” Karen Marrolli, MSM, SATB, pno, vln (ME)
- “The Storm Is Passing Over,” Charles Albert Tindley, arr. Barbara Baker, BH, SATB, pno, opt bass, perc (M)
Handbell Music
- “To God Be the Glory,” Jason W. Krug, 3–5 oct, opt 2 oct hc, LOR, 20/1764L, Level 3
- “That Easter Day with Joy Was Bright,” Robert James Lamb, 2–5 oct, opt 2–5 oct hc, AGEHR, AG25007, Level 2+
- “Raise Your Joys and Triumphs High,” Sandra Eithun, 3–6 oct, LOR, 20/1468L, Level 2+
Art
- Christ Shows Himself to Thomas, Rowan LeCompte and Irene LeCompte (VDL)
- Jesus Appears to Thomas, JESUS MAFA (VDL)
- Christ Appearing to His Disciples, ivory carving, Munich (VDL)
- Messiah, Timothy Botts (EYE)
- Into the Wound, Jan Richardson (JR)
