Lectionary Readings
Acts 9:1–6 (7–20)
On the road to Damascus, Saul sees a blinding light and is converted.
Psalm 30
O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; my soul praises you.
Revelation 5:11–14
The choirs of heaven sing: Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Amen!
John 21:1–19
A miraculous catch of fish; Jesus tells Simon Peter: Feed my sheep.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We glorify you, O Lord,
for you have lifted us up.
O Lord, our God, we cried out to you,
and you healed us.
Sing praises to the Lord, O faithful ones,
and praise God’s holy name.
For God’s anger is but for a moment,
but God’s favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
O God, you have turned our mourning
into dancing!
Let us worship God!
Prayer of the Day
Selfless Christ,
though we rejected your teachings,
you poured out your life for us anyway.
In your resurrection,
you continue to nourish us
with your steadfast love
and the power of your Spirit.
Enliven our hearts,
that we might share the nourishment
we have received and feed 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:
Risen from the dead,
Jesus Christ longs for us to know
life in all of its fullness,
offering us renewal and refreshment,
hope and forgiveness.
Let us trust in the promise of Easter
as we make our confession.
Generous God,
in Jesus you have shown us love—
love that seeks,
love that suffers,
love that survives all things.
You call us, even command us,
to show that love in our lives.
Yet we turn away
from what you would have us do.
We confess that the ways of love
are not our ways.
We deny and ignore,
hurt and hate,
despise and reject.
Have mercy on us.
Help us to receive your love
so that we can love others.
Help us to receive your love
so that we can love ourselves.
Lifting water from the font:
The resurrection of Jesus
shows us the grace of God
is stronger than death
and the love of God has no boundary.
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 . . .
Give us glad hearts and full voices
to sing glory and honor and blessing to you
with all the saints around your throne.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Protect those who are the victims
of violence, threats, and persecution.
Convert oppressors to your way of peace.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Help us to feed, tend, and care for
those you have entrusted to us.
Let our love show your love.
God of new life, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Remember all who suffer or grieve.
Turn their mourning into dancing
and their sorrow into joy.
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 our light in darkness,
our way in the world.
When, like Saul,
we resist your sovereign voice,
you come with blinding insight,
calling us to conversion.
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:
The risen Christ
still surprises us with his presence,
inviting us to follow him,
to come and eat with him;
calling us to love him
and to feed the sheep of his flock.
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.
Teach us the songs of saints
and angels around your throne,
so that we too may fall down and worship you,
singing: “Worthy is the Lamb!”
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
Adoration of the Lamb
Jan Van Eyck
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
Blessing and Honor (EG) O QUANTA QUALIA GTG 369, PH 147
-
Lift High the Cross (AEG) CRUCIFER GTG 826, PH 371
-
Open the Eyes of My Heart (A) OPEN THE EYES GTG 452
WORD
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Your Only Son (AEG) LAMB OF GOD GTG 518, STF 2113
-
Jesus Calls Us (AG) GALILEE GTG 720
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Be Thou My Vision (A) SLANE GTG 450, PH 339
EUCHARIST
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I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (AG) HERE I AM GTG 69, PH 525
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This Is the Feast of Victory (E) FESTIVAL CANTICLE GTG 513, PH 594
-
Holy Lamb of God (EG) YA HAMALALLAH GTG 602
SENDING
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Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness (AG) CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT GTG 314
-
From the Nets of Our Labor (AG) HAMILTON GTG 751
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 30
Metrical
-
All with Joyful Exultation [YISRAEL V’ORAITA]; GTG 798, PAS 30C, PP 56
-
Come Sing to God (I Will Extol Your Name) [ELLACOMBE]; GTG 805, PH 181, SGP 47 (with additional stanza)
-
I Worship You, O Lord [BISHOP TUCKER]; PAS 30A, LUYH 668
Responsorial
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You Have Turned My Sorrow to Dancing [GREEN GROWS THE LAUREL]; CP2 2
-
Te ensalzaré, Señor / I Will Praise You, O Lord; PAS 30B
-
O choro pode durar / Though Weeping and Deepest Sorrow; PAS 30D
-
You Have Restored My Life [TRURO]; HTP1 90
Organ Music
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“MIDDLEBURY,” Augsburg Organ Library: Easter, David Evan Thomas, AF (MA)
-
“Day of Arising,” RAABE, Wondrous Image: Eight Hymn Impressions for Organ, Harold Stover, AF (M)
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“O QUANTA QUALIA,” Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funerals, Raymond H. Haan, AF (M)
Piano Music
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“When Morning Gilds the Skies,” LAUDES DOMINI, Hymn Tunes A to Z, Lloyd Larson, LOR (M)
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“Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness,” CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT, Reflections for Worship 2, Mark Hayes, HOPE (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“All Things New,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SATB, pno (M)
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“To the Lamb on the Throne,” Dan Forrest, BP, SATB, org, opt brass, opt timp, opt cong (M)
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“Glory,” arr. Terry Price, OUP, SATB, org, opt inst, opt timp (MA)
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“The Time of Singing,” Anne Krentz Organ, AF, 2 pt mx, pno, opt fl (E)
Art
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The Resurrection (as the Apocalyptic Lamb), stained glass, Chapel of Nazareth House, Dublin, Richard King, 1969–70 (VCS)
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The Great Catch, John August Swanson, 1993 (VDL)
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Adoration of the Lamb detail, Ghent Altarpiece, Jan Van Eyck, 1432 (VDL)
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Breakfast on the Beach, Peter Koenig, 20th century (VDL)
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Christ and the Great Catch, Nicholas Markell, 2016 (EYE)
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Miraculous Draught of Fishes, Peter Paul Rubens, 1618 (PD)
