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Many Mansions in My Abba’s House, Alleluia!
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 Sunday
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
Alleluia! Glorious is our God on high
with majesty enrobed and girded with power. Alleluia!
Psalm 92/93
Adonai, you reign with glory,
draped in splendor, robed with light.
You have girded yourself with the power of love.
The world you made firm, it will not be shaken;
even so, your reign is eternal–
for your Love has existed forever.
Onward roll the waves, O Holy One,
onward the waters lift their voices,
onward like a fury of thunder.
Greater than the roaring of the waters,
More glorious than the surging of the sea,
Your Love is glorious on high.
Your decrees are firm and worthy of trust;
the beauty of holiness and worship
fills your dwelling place forever.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
and to the BREATH of Love.
As always before
so now and evermore. Amen.
Alleluia! Glorious is our God on high
with majesty enrobed and girded with power. Alleluia!
Antiphon Two
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive thanksgiving and honor. 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.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive thanksgiving and honor. Alleluia!
Antiphon Three
Alleluia! Praise God in the holy place,
praise God for such powerful deeds. Alleluia!
Psalm 150
Praise God in the holy place,
praise in the mighty heavens.
Praise God’s powerful deeds
praise the surpassing greatness.
O praise with sound of trumpet,
praise with lute and harp.
Praise with timbrel and dance,
praise with strings and pipes.
O praise with resounding cymbals,
praise with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes
give praise to Adonai!
Alleluia! Praise God in the holy place,
praise God for such powerful deeds. Alleluia!
READING Acts 6: 1-4
As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said,
“It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.
Select from among you seven who have a good reputation and are filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Responsory
R. I am the true vine * alleluia, alleluia!.
V. Those who abide in me, and I in them, they are the ones that bear much fruit *alleluia, alleluia!
V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
In my Abba’s House there is room for all;
and I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, Alleluia, 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
In my Abba’s House there is room for all;
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, Alleluia, Alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
O Jesus the Light of the World, shine on all those who are sitting in the darkness of isolation and the shadows of depression.
O Jesus the Bread of Life, feed us that we may become bread for the world.
O Jesus the Good Shepherd, guide us to the pastures of eternal life.
O Jesus the 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 laid 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!