Lectionary Readings
Acts 16:16–34
Paul and Silas are arrested, but an earthquake destroys the prison.
Psalm 97
The Lord reigns over all the earth; light dawns for the righteous.
Revelation 22:12–14, 16–17, 20–21
The Lord says: See, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
John 17:20–26
Jesus prays that his disciples may be one as he is one with the Father.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The Lord is sovereign; let the earth rejoice!
Righteousness and justice
are the foundation of God’s throne.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord.
The heavens proclaim God’s righteousness,
and all peoples behold God’s glory.
For the Lord is most high over all the earth;
God is exalted above all gods.
Let us worship God!
Prayer of the Day
Almighty God,
you are indeed the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end.
We give thanks
that you have revealed yourself in Jesus Christ,
whom we have come to know only by your grace.
Christ prayed for the world to know
your loving care through his disciples.
Inspire us to serve as one among them.
Make our lives examples
of your steadfast love for your people. 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.
Creator God,
you drew out life-giving water from a desert rock.
We give you thanks for the water of baptism.
In being joined with Christ,
we die to what destroys
and are raised to new life with Christ.
As streams rush into rivers,
may our lives flow into yours,
joining your creative work for a world in need.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
Having defeated sin and conquered death,
the risen Christ beckons to us,
welcoming our confession and promising new life.
Trusting in the promise of the gospel,
let us confess our sin.
Holy God,
you have shown yourself to us in Jesus,
perfect in every way,
compassionate and kind,
faithful and loving,
gracious and hospitable.
We stumble and fall as we seek to follow him,
struggling to make his ways our ways.
Our sins are real, and they are many.
Forgive our failings
and encourage us to start again.
Lifting water from the font:
Neither sin nor doubt nor death,
nor anything else in all creation can separate us
from the love of God in Jesus Christ.
This is good news!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Gracious God, Living Word,
as you revealed yourself to Mary
that Easter morning,
so reveal yourself to us.
By the power of your Spirit,
give each of us faith,
that hearing your Word
we, too, may proclaim,
“I have seen the Lord!” Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Testimony for the church
from Jesus, the Alpha and Omega.
Revelation 22:13–14
After the readings:
These words are trustworthy and true.
Thanks be to God.
Revelation 21:5
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might be to our God
forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 7:12
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
Rejoicing in God’s promise of new creation,
let us pray to the Maker of heaven and earth,
saying: God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Feed us with good fruit from the tree of life
and let us drink at the spring of your grace
while we wait for the coming of the Lord.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Let the earth celebrate your goodness.
Hasten the coming of your new creation
of righteousness, justice, and peace.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Send us into the streets and prisons
to share the message of the gospel
with all who are longing to be set free.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Guard the lives of those we love.
Rescue them from the grip of suffering.
Let your healing light dawn upon them.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, keep us working and praying
for the coming of your holy realm of peace,
when we will share abundant life with you;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
As God gave us Christ,
the firstfruit of creation,
let us humbly offer
the substance of our lives
in thanksgiving to our God.
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 sovereign and holy,
surrounded by cloud and fire.
The heavens proclaim your righteousness,
and the peoples extol your glory.
All worshipers of false idols are put to shame.
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 came to us to make your name known—
He is one with you in glory and love,
and we are one in him.
Now all the world may believe in him,
and have eternal life.
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.
Keep us faithful as we await the coming of Christ, the Alpha and Omega.
Let us be witnesses with the Holy Spirit
and the holy church,
ever praying: “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
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:
At your table, Giving God,
we have been fed;
our thirsty spirits have been quenched.
We give you thanks
for this taste of your kingdom meal
when wolf and lamb will feed together
and peace will reign
on your holy mountain;
in Jesus’ name. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the eternal, triune God—
Alpha and Omega,
first and last,
beginning and end—
be with you all. Alleluia!
Revelation 22:13
Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
Revelation 22:20
The Mission to the World
JESUS MAFA
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
This Joyful Eastertide (ARG) VRUECHTEN GTG 244
-
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation (ARG) WESTMINSTER ABBEY GTG 394, PH 416
-
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (AR) PICARDY GTG 347, PH 5
-
Praise with Joy the World’s Creator (G) LAUDA ANIMA VT 428
WORD
-
Steal Away (ARG) STEAL AWAY GTG 358
-
O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (R) WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET GTG 827, PH 69
-
Christ Is Coming! (R) UNSER HERRSCHER GTG 360
EUCHARIST
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Come Now, O Prince of Peace (RG) O-SO-SO GTG 103, STF 2232
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Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers (RG) LLANGLOFFAN GTG 362, PH 15
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I Come with Joy (G) DOVE OF PEACE GTG 515, PH 507
SENDING
-
The Church’s One Foundation (ARG) AURELIA GTG 321, PH 442
-
Freedom Is Coming (ARG) FREEDOM IS COMING GTG 359, STF 2192
-
Live into Hope (AR) TRURO GTG 772, PH 332
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 97
Metrical
-
God Reigns! Let Earth Rejoice [MARION]; GTG 365, PCW 97
-
Lord, You Reign, the Earth Rejoices [8.7.8.7.8.7]; SGP 143
-
God Reigns: Let Earth Rejoice! [GENEVAN 97]; PAS 97B
Responsorial
-
Rejoice and Give Thanks to the Lord; HTP1 95
-
Sing, Rejoice [NOËL NOUVELET]; PP 177
Organ Music
-
“HYFRYDOL,” Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 1, Paul Manz, MSM (M)
-
“Come, Join the Dance of Trinity,” KINGSFOLD, Praise and Thanksgiving, Set 8, Michael Burkhardt, MSM (ME)
-
“HYFRYDOL,” Glad Praises We Sing: Four Preludes for Organ, Craig Phillips, SEL (M)
-
“Chorale Prelude on WESTMINSTER ABBEY,” Chris Kovarik, SMP (A)
Piano Music
-
“The Church’s One Foundation,” AURELIA, 20 Hymn Settings for the Developing Pianist, John Purifoy, KBM (M)
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“They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love, with Blest Be the Tie,” THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS / DENNIS, Medleys for Blended Worship, Carol Tornquist, ALF (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“You Do Not Walk Alone,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SSATBB, pno (M)
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“Amazing Grace,” arr. Bruce Stevenson, BP, SATB, pno, opt vc (E)
-
“Amazing Grace,” arr. Eurydice V. Osterman, GIA, SAATTB, keybd (M)
-
“Jesus, My Song to You,” arr. Sean Paul, HAL, SATB, pno, opt solo (ME)
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“One Song,” Pepper Choplin, ALF, SATB, pno (E)
Art
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Revelation 22:20, Timothy R. Botts, 2016 (EYE)
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The Mission to the World, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
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Art 2 Life Prayer, Wayne Forte, 2016 (EYE)
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John 17:20–21, Timothy R. Botts, 2016 (EYE)
