Lectionary Readings
Acts 7:55–60
An angry crowd stones Stephen; he prays: Jesus, receive my spirit.
Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16
Deliver me, O Lord; into your hand I commit my spirit.
1 Peter 2:2–10
Now you are God’s people, built into a temple like living stones.
John 14:1–14
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; he prepares a place for us.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Christ is a living stone, precious in God’s sight,
and on him we build our lives.
We are God’s people,
and we proclaim God’s mighty acts,
for we have been called out of darkness
and into the light.
Once we were not a people,
but now we are God’s people;
once we had not received mercy,
but now we have received mercy.
With hearts lifted in praise, we come to worship.
Prayer of the Day
God of all journeys, the road we travel is stony,
and often we struggle to hold fast to hope.
But in you, we find new courage,
new purpose, and new life.
By your grace, teach us to live as your Easter people,
with mercy, compassion, and justice.
Guide us with your light,
that in your all-sufficient presence,
we might raise our voices in endless praise. 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:
Jesus taught us mercy
by praying for the forgiveness
of those who killed him.
This miraculous grace assures us
that no matter what we have done,
no matter the words we have left unsaid,
we can come to Christ with our honest confession.
you have shown us the way,
so clearly and fully.
You have not simply told us how to live,
you have shown us.
But we still don’t get it.
We do not believe all you have said to us;
we do not trust the way you have shown us.
Help us, O God.
Forgive us.
Open our ears to your truth,
open our eyes to your way,
and lead us into new life.
Beloved, believe the good news.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Jesus prepares a place for us,
Jesus brings us close to him,
Jesus answers us even in our unbelief.
We are God’s own people.
Thanks be to God. 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
New life in Christ takes shape in a community
in which people know
that God loves and accepts them
in spite of what they are.
They therefore accept themselves
and love others,
knowing that no one has any ground
on which to stand,
except God’s grace.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.22
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 . . .
Be our way, our truth, our life.
As you have come to us in Christ,
lead us, through Christ, to come to you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for the earth . . .
Show us how precious your creation is—
from the great wonders of the world
to small things, deemed of little worth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for all nations . . .
Protect those who are attacked or persecuted
because of who they are or what they believe.
Provide for the peace and safety of all people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for this community . . .
Give shelter to those who have no homes.
Comfort those whose hearts are troubled.
Help the lost to find their way.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Through Christ, we pray for loved ones . . .
Be merciful to those who need your mercy;
let them know that they are yours,
precious, chosen, and beloved.
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:
You are a rock of refuge and a strong fortress for us.
In times of trouble and seasons of shame you deliver us,
for you are our redeemer, O Lord, our faithful God.
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 Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
He goes ahead of us, to make a place for us in your house.
We believe in you and we trust in him to lead us home.
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.
Build us up, like living stones, into a spiritual house,
and let us be your chosen people, your royal priesthood,
proclaiming your mighty and marvelous work.
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
“Sun”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Holy God, We Praise Your Name (AEG) GROSSER GOTT GTG 4
- Christ Is Alive! (AG) TRURO GTG 246
- Let Us Build a House (E) TWO OAKS GTG 301
- Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather (G) TOKYO GTG 311
- I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art (EG) TOULON GTG 624
WORD
- Jesus, Remember Me (A) REMEMBER ME GTG 227
- The Church’s One Foundation (AEG) AURELIA GTG 321
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul (A) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 440
- Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (G) MIT FREUDEN ZART GTG 645
- I Will Be Your Standing Stone (E) by Melanie DeMore on In the Mother House album and at riseupsinging.org
EUCHARIST
- Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna! (A) HYMN TO JOY GTG 248
- Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen (AEG) SURGE ECCLESIA GTG 536
- Lord, Prepare Me (EG) SANCTUARY GTG 701
SENDING
- Day of Delight and Beauty Unbounded (G) IN DIR IST FREUDE GTG 242
- For All the Saints (AEG) SINE NOMINE GTG 326
- To God Be the Glory (G) TO GOD BE THE GLORY GTG 634
- The First Time That Death Came for Jesus (A) BORREVIK At the Weaving of Creation, Benjamin Brody, GIA, 153
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 31:1–5, 15–16
Metrical
- Holy God, We Praise Thy Name [GROSSER GOTT]; OLOF 69
- Make Your Face to Shine [GLÁUCIA]; GTG 811
- You Are My Refuge, Faithful God [MORNING SONG]; GTG 214
Responsorial
- In You, O Lord, in You I Have Taken Refuge; PSA 28
- Lord, You Are My Refuge; in You Alone I Trust; PP 58
Organ Music
- “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation,” WESTMINSTER ABBEY, Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Richard Proulx, AF (M)
- “Let All Give Thanks and Praise,” Come, Ye Thankful People: Easy Organ Music for Thanksgiving, Richard A. Williamson, LOR (E)
- “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” Music for the Paschal Season, Mark Sedio, AF (M)
- “Trio on Ash Grove,” Come, Ye Thankful People: Easy Organ Music for Thanksgiving, Douglas E. Wagner, LOR (ME)
Piano Music
- “Nocturne in E-flat Major, H. 24,” Nocturnes, John Field, Peters (M)
- “Romance,” Germaine Tailleferre, IMSLP.org (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “The Call,” Tony Alonso, GIA, SAB, pno, opt vc, opt C inst, opt gtr, opt cong (E)
- “At the Name of Jesus,” Michael Burkhardt, MSM, SATB, org, opt brass (E)
- “Hiding in Thee,” Cindy Berry, JM, SATB, pno (ME)
- “I’ll Fly Away,” Brandon Boyd, MSM, SATB div, pno, opt bass, opt drum set (MA)
- “The Call,” Z. Randall Stroope, MSM, SATB, org (MA)
- “Nada Te Turba,” Joan Szymko, SBMP, SATB, vc (A)
Art
- Sun, Edvard Munch, 1909 (VDL)
- Stoning of St. Stephen, Vittore Carpaccio, 1520 (VDL)
- Lift Every Voice and Sing, or, The Harp, Augusta Savage, 1939 (VDL)
- In My Father’s House Are Many Mansions, #4,392, Howard Finster, 1985 (WA)
