Podcast: Play in new window | Download
May 2 — St. Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373)
Invitation to Worship
Our Love is truly risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!
O Holy One + open my lips.
~And my mouth will proclaim your praise.
The stone which the builder rejected, Alleluia
~Has become the cornerstone, Alleluia!
Hymn for Easter Mornings
Alleluia! Alleluia! Let the holy anthem rise,
And the choirs of heaven chant it in the temple of the skies;
Let the mountains skip with gladness, And the joyful valleys ring,
As “Hosannas in the highest” To our Savior we now bring.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Like the sun from out the wave,
Christ has risen up in triumph From the darkness of the grave.
He’s the splendor of the nations, And the Life, the Truth, the Way;
Let us sing with jubilation For our Savior rose today!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Blessed Jesus make us rise
From a life of self-destruction to the life that never dies.
May your glory be our portion, when the days of time are past,
And the dead shall be awakened By the trumpet’s mighty blast.
Text: Edward Caswall (1814-1878), alt; Tune: HOLY ANTHEM 87 87 D St. Basil’s Hymnal (1889)
PSALMODY
Antiphon
The skies proclaim your wonders, Adonai
and the stars announce your love. Alleluia!
Psalm 88/89a
I will sing your love all my days, Adonai
In every age I will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am certain: your love lasts forever;
Your faithfulness outlasts the heavens.
“With my chosen one, I have made a covenant;
I have sworn to David, my servant”
I will establish your house forever
and uphold your reign from age to age.
The skies proclaim your wonders, Adonai,
the assembly of the stars proclaims your love.
Is anyone in the heavens your equal?
Can any of the gods compare with you?
Revered in the council of holy ones,
Great and dreadful to all around.
Who indeed is your equal, God of strength,
Clothed in truth, O God of power?
You rule the stormy seas,
you calm the roaring waves,
You split the sea monster in two
and scatter opponents with a mighty arm.
Yours is the sky, yours the Earth,
yours the whole world of creatures.
You created the North and the South,
Our mountains–Tabor and Hermon–sing out your name.
Yours is a mighty arm, Adonai;
your hand is strong, your right hand ready.
Justice and right anchor your throne,
love and truth serve in your presence.
Your people rejoice to have you as ruler,
are grateful to walk in your light.
Your Name is itself our joy
Your justice the source of our bliss.
For you, Adonai, are the glory of our strength,
it is your favor that leads us to victory.
May our leaders have you as their keeper,
their shield, the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the ONE and to the WORD
And to the BREATH of Love!
As always before,
so now and evermore. Amen
The skies proclaim your wonders, Adonai
and the stars announce your love. Alleluia!
READING Acts 13: 23-25
[At the synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, Paul recounted the history of Israel from Moses to David. Then he continued:] From David’s descendants God, according to the promise,
has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John the Baptist heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say,‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me;
I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’“
Responsory
R. Baptized into union with Christ we have all put on Christ as a garment * we are all one person in Christ Jesus our Lord: alleluia, alleluia! V. There is no such thing as Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female* we are all one person in Christ Jesus our Lord, alleluia, alleluia! V. Glory to the Abba and the Word and the Holy Breath of Love.
Canticle of Zachariah
Antiphon
O Risen One, we are sheep without a shepherd.
Guide us and teach us your way of life, 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
O Risen One, we are sheep without a shepherd.
Guide us and teach us your way of life, alleluia!
SERVICE OF PRAYER
Litany of Intercession
O Gentle Shepherd, you are the living bread that came down from heaven,
~free us to share all that you give us to sustain and nourish life.
O Gentle Shepherd, you gave your flesh and blood for the life of the world;
~free us to use our hearts, minds and bodies to become bread for the world.
O Gentle Shepherd, you revealed yourself as the Way and Truth of eternal Life , ~free us to embrace your way of life with its loving, forgiving, valuing, including and serving others.
O Gentle Shepherd, you sent the apostles to proclaim the good news of God’s all-inclusive and unconditional love; ~ free us to share this love with all those we encounter, especially those whom society, culture and religion exclude or oppress for being different in any way.
O Gentle Shepherd, the Universe celebrates the glory and beauty of your resurrection with every sunrise, the sprouting of every seed, and the birth of every new life; ~free us to live mindfully and in harmony with Mother Earth and all of Earthkind.
Prayer of Jesus
Our Father…
Closing Prayer
Good and Gracious God, creator and ruler of the universe, in every age you have called human beings to develop and use their gifts, talents and abilities to contribute to the common good. Help us to do the special work you have asked from each of us so that we can join you and the rest of Earthkind in the ongoing work of creation where the power and glory of your love is revealed now and forever. Amen
Blessing
May the God of Life and Light who raised Jesus from the dead + bless us and grant us peace. ~Amen.
Let us bless Adonai, Alleluia, Alleluia!. ~Thanks be to God, Alleluia, Alleluia!