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Invitation to Worship
Alleluia! Christ is risen! Alleluia!
O Holy One,+ open my lips.
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
This is the day Adonai has made, alleluia;
~Let us rejoice and be glad in it, alleluia!
Hymn for Easter Sundays
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain Of triumphant gladness;
God has now brought Israel Into joy from sadness.
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters;
Led them with unmoistened foot Through the Red Sea’s waters.
‘Tis the spring of souls today: Christ has burst his prison,
And from three day’s sleep in death As a Sun is risen;
All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying
From his Light, to whom we sing joy and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright With the day of splendor,
With the royal Feast of Feasts, Comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem Who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection!
Text: St. John of Damascus, (ca. 750) Tr. JM Neale ); Tune: GAUDEAMUS PARITER 76.76.D
PSALMODY
Antiphon One
I am ascending to my Abba and to your Abba,
to my God and to your God. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Psalm 62/63
O God, you are my God, I long for you from early morning.
for you my soul is thirsting
My whole being desires you
Like a dry, worn out and waterless land;
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary;
let me see how mighty and glorious you are.
Your constant love is better than life itself
and so I will praise you.
I will give you thanks as long as I live;
I will raise my hands to you in prayer.
My soul will feast and be satisfied
and I will sing glad songs of praise to you.
As I lie in bed I remember you,
all night long I think of you
for you have always been my help.
In the shadow of your wings I sing for joy;
My heart clings to you
and your hand keeps me safe.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
I am ascending to my Abba and to your Abba,
to my God and to your God. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Antiphon Two
I go to prepare a place for you.
I shall come again and take you to myself,
so that where I am, you may be also. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Psalm 22/23
You, O LOVE, are my shepherd,
There is nothing more I need.
Fresh and green are the pastures,
Where you take me to rest;
Leading me near calming waters
You renew my drooping spirit.
You guide me in the path of goodness,
Always true to your Loving-kindness.
If I walk in the valley of death’s darkness
No evil would I fear
You are there with your shepherd’s staff
To strengthen, guide and give comfort.
You spread a feast before me
In the presence of all that I fear,
You soothe my head with oil;
My cup is more than full.
Your goodness and love will tend me
All the days of my life.
I will dwell in the Heart of your Love
For ever and ever.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
I go to prepare a place for you.
I shall come again and take you to myself,
so that where I am, you may be also. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Antiphon Three
We are citizens of heaven, and from heaven
we expect our deliverer to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia!
Psalm 149
Sing a new song to Adonai,
sing praise in the assembly of the faithful!
Let Israel rejoice in her Maker,
let the children of Zion exult in their God.
Let us all praise the Holy Name with dancing
and make music with timbrel and harp.
For Adonai takes delight in this people,
And crowns the poor with salvation.
Let the faithful rejoice in their glory,
shout for joy and enjoy the feast.
Let the praise of God be on our lips
and the sword of truth near at hand,
to teach God’s justice to the nations
revealing the consequences of their actions;
to break the chains of oppression
and unbind its fetters of iron;
to do God’s will on earth as in heaven,
the joy and honor of all who are faithful.
Glory to the ONE through the WORD
In the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
We are citizens of heaven, and from heaven
we expect our deliverer to come, the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia!
READING ACTS 8:14-17
Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
Responsory
R. I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you, * alleluia, alleluia! V. I go away and I will come to you.*alleluia, alleluia! V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
I will not leave you orphans, Alleluia.
I go away and I am coming to you, Alleluia;
and your heart shall rejoice, Alleluia!
Blessed + be Adonai, the God of Israel,
Who visits this people to set us free
Raising for us a sign of salvation
In the house and family of David.
God promised throughout past ages
In words of holy prophets
To save us from our enemies,
And from the control of our oppressors.
Adonai favored our ancestors
And remembered the sacred covenant.
The pledge to Abraham and Sarah
Is now renewed for us;
That freed from the grip of our foes
We might worship without fear
And be both just and holy
For the rest of our days.
And you, child, called “prophet of the Most High,”
Will go ahead to prepare the way,
By teaching this people of salvation
Through forgiveness of their sins.
For the loving compassion of the Holy One
As the Rising Sun will shine upon us
To illumine the darkness and dispel death’s shadow
To guide our feet on the way of peace.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
I will not leave you orphans, Allelluia.
I go away and I am coming to you, Alleluia;
and your heart shall rejoice, Alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
O Jesus, Light of the World, shine on all those who are sitting in the darkness of isolation and the shadows of depression.
O Jesus, Bread of Life, feed us that we may become bread for the world.
O Jesus, Good Shepherd, guide us to the pastures of eternal life.
O Jesus, Great Vine, graft us to yourself that we may bear much fruit.
O Jesus the Way, show us the path and how to walk with you to freedom, flourishing and the fullness of life.
O Jesus the Truth, teach us to seek and embrace the reality of God’s love revealed in the whole of creation and in the mystery of your life, death and resurrection.
O Jesus the Life, fill us with your life-giving Spirit that we may live as you live as one with your Abba.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
We bless and thank you, O Gracious God, for you have revealed to the nations your saving power and filled all ages with the words and melody of a new song in the resurrection of Jesus our Love. May our celebration of this Easter Season be an echo of this great hymn. Give each of us a voice to sing your praise throughout the day in the way we live our lives and love our neighbors, for yours is the power and glory of love both now and forever. Amen
Blessing
May the Good Shepherd, who lay down his life for the sheep + bless and guide us to peace. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia, Alleluia! ~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!