The Second Sunday of Easter

April 27, 2025 8:00 am

Prelude: Variations on a Dutch Easter Carol - George Brandon

Opening Welcome & Announcements

Processional Hymn: #206 O sons and daughters, let us sing!

Opening Acclamation and Collect for Purity

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria: S-278

Collect of the Day

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Word of God

First Lesson:  Acts 5:27-32

When the temple police had brought the apostles, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 118:14-29

14 The Lord is my | strength and • my | song, *

and he has be | cöme | my sal | vation.

15 There is a sound of exul | tation • and | victory *

– | in the | tents of • the | righteous:

16 "The right hand of the | Lord has | triumphed! *

the right hand of the Lord is exalted! the right | hand • of the | Lord has | triumphed!"

17 I shall not | die, but | live, *

and de | clare the | works of • the | Lord.

18 The Lord has | punished • me | sorely, *

but he did not | hand me | over • to | death.

19 Open for me the | gates of | righteousness; *

I will enter them; I will | offer | thanks • to the | Lord.

20 "This is the | gate of • the | Lord; *

– | he • who is | righteous • may | enter."

21 I will give thanks to you | for you | answered me *

and have be | cöme | my sal | vation.

22 The same stone which the | builders • re | jected *

has be | come the | chïef | cornerstone.

23 This is the | Lörd's | doing, *

and it is | marve • lous | in our | eyes.

24 On this day the | Lord has | acted; *

we will re | joïce | and be | glad in it.

Second Lesson: Revelation 1:4-8

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail. So it is to be. Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn: #57 Lo! He comes, with clouds descending (v1-3)

The Gospel:  John 20:19-31

Gospeller: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Homily: The Rev. Joseph Wolyniak

The Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father, God from God,
Light from Light, true God from true God,
begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: 
by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; 
he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People

Let us offer our intentions and prayers to our resurrected Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Risen Christ, we ask that you give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous, and all for your love’s sake. 
Hear us and be with us, Risen Lord. 

Risen Christ, you have called each of us by name into relationship with you, pour out the Holy Spirit upon us that we might desire more deeply to be your whole-life disciples for the world.
Hear us and be with us, Risen Lord.

Risen Christ, create in us the hunger and thirst to be with you. 
Hear us and be with us, Risen Lord.

Risen Christ, we surrender ourselves to you. By the power of the Holy Spirit, transform us into reflections of yourself that we might become like you in every aspect of our lives.
Hear us and be with us, Risen Lord.

Risen Christ, we offer you our lives, animated by the Holy Spirit, so that you might bless the world through us as we strive to live like you in the world.
Hear us and be with us, Risen Lord.

I invite your petitions and intercessions on behalf of others and the world.

Almighty God, in this Easter season, as we celebrate with joy the triumph of your Son Jesus Christ over sin and death, we pray for grace to be continually at work within us, that we might become whole-life disciples––to be with, become like, and life like Jesus in our everyday lives––bearing witness to our resurrection hope in word and deed. For this and all the cares and concerns we lift up before you, we pray: Amen.

The Holy Communion

The Peace and Offertory Sentence

Offertory Music: Of the glorious body telling - arr. Alan Bullard

Doxology

The 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 him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said,

"Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant breaks Bread; silence is kept.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

Invitation to Communion

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Communion Music

Now the green blade riseth - arr. Simon Lindley

Post-Communion Prayer

Let us pray.

Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord.Amen.

Sending Forth of the Eucharistic Visitors

Will the Lay Eucharistic Visitors please come forward.

In the name of this congregation, we send you forth bearing these holy gifts, that those to whom you go may share with us in the communion of Christ’s Body and Blood. 

We who are many are one body, for we all share one bread, one cup.

The Blessing

May the author of life, the risen Lord Jesus, pour out the Holy Spirit upon you this day so that you will live a new resurrected life all of your days, and on the last day rise to eternal life in God’s kingdom. And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always.

The Dismissal

Recessional Hymn: #494 Crown him with many crowns (v1-4)

Dismissal & Closing Announcements

Postlude: O Sons and Daughters - George Brandon

Musicians for Today’s Service:
Denise Lanning, Guest Organist, Sarah Kanyok, Kayla Fore, Alex Wilkins