Duccio di Buoninsegna

Prelude
Fairest Lord Jesus                                                                                           arr. Mark Hayes
 
(Officiant 1) Rules for the Road in Virtual Worship
 
Opening Hymn 450
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, vs. 1-3






Opening Acclamation
(Officiant 1- Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
 
(Officiant 1) - O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
A Reading from the Greek Testament                                                  Mary Gordon
Acts 3:12-19
Peter addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”
 
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
 
Pause to reflect on reading.
 
Psalm 4 (please read together the bolded lines)
 
Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause;
you set me free when I am hard-pressed;
have mercy on me and hear my prayer.
 
"You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory;
how long will you worship dumb idols
and run after false gods?"
 
Know that the Lord does wonders for the faithful;
when I call upon the Lord, he will hear me.
 
Tremble, then, and do not sin;
speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.
 
Offer the appointed sacrifices
and put your trust in the Lord.
 
Many are saying, "Oh, that we might see better times!"
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O Lord.
 
You have put gladness in my heart,
more than when grain and wine and oil increase.
 
I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep;
for only you, Lord, make me dwell in safety.
 
A Reading from the Greek Testament                                                               Allen Hill
1 John 3:1-7
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
 
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people. Thanks be to God.
 
(Deacon) The Gospel                                                                              Luke 24:36b-48
 
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
 
Jesus himself stood among the disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.
 
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
 
Homily                                                                                     The Rev. Jim Chapman
 
Hymn 488
Be Thou My Vision, vs. 1 and 2
 

 
Prayers of the People                                                                Scott McAllister-Dionne
O God, with faces touched by the light of a new day, and hearts warmed by our prayers and praises, we come before you to pray for the needs of our world.
 
Into the light of this Easter Season, we offer prayers for our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, and for all bishops, priests, seminarians and deacons, including Alan, Gayle, Marya, Brett and Jim. In our Diocesan cycle of prayer, we pray for the Parishes of the Concord River Deanery: Church of the Good Shepherd, Acton; St. Andrew’s Church, Ayer; Trinity Church, Concord; St. Andrew’s Church, Framingham; and the Margaret Coffin Prayer Book Society. In our Anglican cycle of prayer, we pray for The Church of Ireland. May your steadfast love support all who call upon you.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
 
Into the light of this Easter Season, we raise those who are struggling with illness, with despair over their lives, or with the breakdown of relationships. We pray for those who remain on waiting lists for vaccines, and for all those waiting for vaccines, especially those who are living in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and elderly housing. Give them strength to continue to keep themselves and others safe. For those who care for the sick, protect them. Let us also pray for our country as we strive for herd immunity from a virus that has politically divided us. Give to the sick your healing, and to the suffering your hope, especially Carol and Ken Bouffard, Carolyn Dennis, Lizzie, Harry, Susan Sahoveyor, Drew Howard, Mary Pettus, Frank and Pat Swasey, Gail, Paul, Rick, Julie, Tim, Amy, Charles Boulanger, Joe Maher, Victoria, Sharon, Peter, Amy and Charlotte, Nora, Anne, Marie, Erik, Sonya, Chris, Lindley, Marge, Anna Bone, Carol Pechinsky, Angie, Brad Gates, Ella and Stacy Williams. Are there others? May your steadfast love support all who call upon you.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
 
Into the light of this Easter Season, we bring those places in our world where war, violence, poverty and need are the experiences of everyday life. We bring the headline news of this weekend, as hate has become a virus, with gun violence, migrants seeking asylum and minorities seeking equity. May your steadfast love support all who call upon you.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
 
Into the light of this Easter Season, we pray for all who have died, especially Carol Quinn, longtime friend of Paula Gates, who died this week. Are there souls whose names you would like to offer in prayer? May your steadfast love support all who call upon you.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
 
Into the light of this Easter Season, we bring ourselves, our private struggles, our heart’s yearnings, our hidden dreams and our unfulfilled potential. May your steadfast love support all who call upon you.
May the light of Christ shine upon us.
 
Into the light of this Easter Season we give thanks for the blessings of this life. We pray for those who celebrate birthdays this week, especially Clarese Kirshen, Marie Heaphy, Helena
MacDonald, and Francine Flint. Are there others? May your steadfast love support all who call upon you.
May the light of Christ shine upon them.
 
(Officiant 1) - EASTER SEASON - GIVING THANKS FOR THE WEEK
You are now invited to UNMUTE yourself and call out a single word of thanks for something that happened during the week. Then immediately mute yourself. At the conclusion we will pray:
 
(Officiant 1) – Generous God, we thank you. Hear our prayers for those who are close to our hearts. In your resurrecting power, lift them up and give them renewed strength and hope; and give to us all, new faith by which to live our days with you. Amen
 
Pause to reflect on the prayers
 
Offertory Sentences
(Deacon) - God of great gifts: This morning we give you praise, we give you glory, we give you thanks! With resurrection humming in our hearts, our minds are tuned to your song of peace! We joyfully prepare our love feast as a tangible chorus of thanksgiving, a harmony of hope for your reign to come!
 
Please use this time for reflection about how to give gifts of love to your neighbors and your community.
 
(Deacon) – The Sanctuary Lamp burns in honor of the Blessed Sacrament, and in loving memory of Dorothy Noyes, given by Paula and Sam Noyes. The altar flowers are given to the glory of God.
 
Shared Agape Meal (bread and wine or juice before each person)
 
(Preacher) - Today, in faith and love, gathered in this place, we celebrate the brightness of community. Agape is the Greek word for love, and it was a love feast of the early Christians. It was a time for strengthening communal bonds to foster harmony and goodwill. The meal is another way of living out Jesus’ ‘mandatum,’ or commandment, that we love one another with mercy and forgiveness, with which he has loved and still loves
 
(Officiant 2) - Blessed are you, O God, who breaks open wide the tomb of our world, calls life out of death, and leads all creation into life eternal. Blessed is your son, Jesus, who in life and death, revealed your glory. Breaking forth from the grave's stronghold, he pushed back the stone, met us on the road as a beloved stranger, and awakened in us the hope that the earth will be saved from its enemies. Ascended into glory, he is everywhere present, gathering up all things in the surprise of new life and desire fulfilled.
 
(Deacon) - We give thanks for the invitation to be at our tables, for here we are shown our lives. The daily bread of our work and care, the wine of delight, pressed from the fruits of our creativity, and our brokenness, with all its pain and self-knowledge. We celebrate the life that is ours, for we know we are precious in God’s sight.

(Officiant 2) - We have gathered together to celebrate new life in Christ. We are ready to be fed. We take the food and drink of our love feast, the constant presence of the Spirit of Life, mindful of a relationship of love and trust between ourselves and God. Open our graves, unbind our eyes, and name us here; touch and heal all that has been buried in us; that we need not cling to our pain, but may go forth with power to release resurrection in the world. May it nourish our bodies and give us strength to carry out Your plan for peace in our lives.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we pray:
 
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.
 
Unmute your microphones while each person takes a portion of bread and a cup of wine or juice.
 
(Officiant 2) - Let us share the feast with each other! Experience the grace of God! Alleluia, Alleluia!!!
 
Agape Meal Voluntary
I Need Thee Every Hour
 
(Preacher) - Prayer of Thanksgiving
Loving God, we give thanks for our renewed friendships at this Love Feast! Grant us a heart wide open to the beauty of our relationships with You, Your Risen Son and Enduring Spirit. Save us from being so blind that we pass unseeing, the song birds, the never-resting winds, the salty sea and running waters, the everlasting hills and blessed sun, aflame with your glory. Renew us in body, mind, and spirit to work together for the coming of your reign of justice, love, and peace. Amen.
(Maureen Edwards, printed in Blessed be our Table, Wild Goose 2003)
 
The Passing of the Peace
(Officiant 2) Christ is here right now making peace among us. 
The peace of the Lord be always with you!
And also with you.
 
(Marya) - Announcements and Alleluia Prayers!
Final Blessing
(Officiant 2) –
Be a bright flame before me.
Be a guiding star above me.
Be a smooth path beneath me.
Be a kindly shepherd behind me.
Today and evermore. Amen
 
Closing Hymn LEVAS 43
Because He Lives, vs. 1 only
 


Benediction
(Mute your microphones and listen to the musical offering)
 
God be with you till we meet again;
By his counsels guide uphold you;
With his sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
 
(Deacon) – Dismissal
Our meal is ended, but God’s banquet continues. Alleluia Alleluia!
Let us take the banquet into the world, and never give up until all people are fed. Alleluia, Alleluia!
 
(Small pause)
 
(Officiant 2) - As we leave one another today with joyful voices of goodbye, let us remember the words of St. Augustine in his confessions:  “O God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” Stay in love with God as God’s light shines in your lives until we meet again! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Special thanks to our worship assistants this morning:
1^st Lesson and Psalm:              Mary Gordon
2^nd Lesson:                               Allen Hill
Prayers of the People:              Scott McAllister-Dionne
Voice of the People:                  Bruce Symmes
Counters:                                  Carol Bouffard
                                                  Erika Bianchi