Leader: God is love, God gives us life,
People: We love because God first loves us.
Leader: Day by day, God declares that love;
People: In Christ God calls us to respond.
People: We love because God first loves us.
Leader: Day by day, God declares that love;
People: In Christ God calls us to respond.
A Song of Gathering – “Shall we gather at the river…?”
- Shall we gather at the river,
Where bright angel feet have trod,
With its crystal tide forever
Flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain:
Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
The beautiful, the beautiful river;
Gather with the saints at the river
That flows by the throne of God. - On the margin of the river,
Washing up its silver spray,
We will talk and worship ever,
All the happy golden day. - At the smiling of the river,
Mirror of the Savior’s face,
Saints, whom death will never sever,
Lift their songs of saving grace. - Soon we’ll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.
- Soon we’ll reach the silver river,
Soon our pilgrimage will cease;
Soon our happy hearts will quiver
With the melody of peace.
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and Holy Spirit, you have bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sin, and have raised us to the new life of grace. Sustain us, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give us an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and gift of joy and wonder in all your works. AMEN
A Gospel Reading: “After the sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it, and his raiment white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like the dead. But the angel said to women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
(A few days later) Jesus came and said to them, ”All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. God therefore and make disciples of all peoples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with always even to the close of the age.”
Reflection. A Litany of our Baptismal Covenant
Leader: We offer our prayers in thanksgiving for the gift and call of our Baptism to serve, lead, and care in your Spirit and power, O God.
Leader: That we may trust and believe in the grace and love of God, the Father and Creator, Jesus, the Son and Redeemer, and the Spirit, Sustainer and Guide.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may follow in the way of Jesus, in his pathways of life, vitality, and hope.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may persevere in resisting evil, and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourself.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That may strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: Give us your help, O God, that we may remember whose we are and what we are called to be. For your tender mercy’s sake. AMEN.
Leader: That we may trust and believe in the grace and love of God, the Father and Creator, Jesus, the Son and Redeemer, and the Spirit, Sustainer and Guide.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may follow in the way of Jesus, in his pathways of life, vitality, and hope.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may persevere in resisting evil, and whenever we fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That we may seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourself.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: That may strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.
People: Give us your help, O God.
Leader: Give us your help, O God, that we may remember whose we are and what we are called to be. For your tender mercy’s sake. AMEN.
A Blessing of Water
Bishop: Praise God who made heaven and earth,
People: Whose promise endures for ever.
Bishop: We thank you God for your love in all creation, especially for your gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
We thank you for your covenant with your people Israel; through the Red Sea waters, you led them to freedom in the Promised Land. In the water of the Jordan, your Son was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit.
We thank you that through the waters of baptism you have cleansed us, renewed us by the Spirit and raised us to new life. In this covenant we have been made members of your Church and share your eternal Spirit.
May this water be a sign and reminder of our covenant and identity as your beloved children and our call to serve you in ministry and mission to the world.
People: Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor, power and might, be to our God forever and ever. AMEN.
The Peace is exchanged.
People: Whose promise endures for ever.
Bishop: We thank you God for your love in all creation, especially for your gift of water to sustain, refresh and cleanse all life.
We thank you for your covenant with your people Israel; through the Red Sea waters, you led them to freedom in the Promised Land. In the water of the Jordan, your Son was baptized and anointed with the Holy Spirit.
We thank you that through the waters of baptism you have cleansed us, renewed us by the Spirit and raised us to new life. In this covenant we have been made members of your Church and share your eternal Spirit.
May this water be a sign and reminder of our covenant and identity as your beloved children and our call to serve you in ministry and mission to the world.
People: Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor, power and might, be to our God forever and ever. AMEN.
The Peace is exchanged.
A Song during the Preparation of the Gifts –
“Taste and See that the Lord is Good…”
Refrain:
Taste and see, taste and see
the goodness of the Lord.
Oh, taste and see, taste and see
the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times.
Praise shall always be on my lips;
my soul shall glory in the Lord;
for God has been so good to me. (Refrain)
2 Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us all praise God's name.
I called the Lord, who answered me;
from all my troubles I was set free. (Refrain)
3 Worship the Lord, all you people.
You’ll want for nothing if you ask.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
in God we need put all our trust. (Refrain)
Taste and see, taste and see
the goodness of the Lord.
Oh, taste and see, taste and see
the goodness of the Lord, of the Lord.
1 I will bless the Lord at all times.
Praise shall always be on my lips;
my soul shall glory in the Lord;
for God has been so good to me. (Refrain)
2 Glorify the Lord with me.
Together let us all praise God's name.
I called the Lord, who answered me;
from all my troubles I was set free. (Refrain)
3 Worship the Lord, all you people.
You’ll want for nothing if you ask.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
in God we need put all our trust. (Refrain)
At the Great Thanksgiving…
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Celebrant gives thanks to God the Father for his work in creation and his revelation of himself to his people; recalling before God the particular occasion being celebrated….
Celebrant: And so we join the saints and angels in proclaiming your glory, as we say,
Together: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Celebrant praises God for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ our Lord, continuing with words of Institution from the Book of Common Prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer
At the breaking of the Bread …
Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Communion is shared …
The Bishop’s Blessing
Bishop: Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
People: The maker of heaven and earth.
Bishop: Blessed be the Name of the Lord;
People: From this time forth for evermore.
Bishop: the blessing, mercy, and grace of God Almighty, the Father, the Sons, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. AMEN.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Celebrant gives thanks to God the Father for his work in creation and his revelation of himself to his people; recalling before God the particular occasion being celebrated….
Celebrant: And so we join the saints and angels in proclaiming your glory, as we say,
Together: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Celebrant praises God for the salvation of the world through Jesus Christ our Lord, continuing with words of Institution from the Book of Common Prayer.
The Lord’s Prayer
At the breaking of the Bread …
Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast.
Communion is shared …
The Bishop’s Blessing
Bishop: Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
People: The maker of heaven and earth.
Bishop: Blessed be the Name of the Lord;
People: From this time forth for evermore.
Bishop: the blessing, mercy, and grace of God Almighty, the Father, the Sons, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. AMEN.
Saturday Afternoon: Prayer of Farewell
Song of Farewell – “Soon and Very Soon, We’re Going to See the King…”
Soon and very soon
We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon
We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon
We are going to see the King
Hallelujah hallelujah
We're going to see the King
Verse 2
No more crying there
We are going to see the King
No more crying there
We are going to see the King
No more crying there
We are going to see the King
Hallelujah hallelujah
We're going to see the King
Verse 3
No more dying there
We are going to see the King
No more dying there
We are going to see the King
No more dying there
We are going to see the King
Hallelujah hallelujah
We're going to see the King
A Reading: Having our ministry by the grace of God, we do not lose heart. What we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as God’s servants for Jesus’ sake.
For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 1: 5 – 6)
The people are invited to offer words of thanksgiving for this gathering.
Leader: Blessed be God who called us together.
People: Praise to God who makes us one people.
Leader: Blessed be God who has forgiven our sin.
People: Praise to God who gives hope and freedom.
Leader: Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.
People: Praise to God who is revealed as love.
Leader: Blessed be God who has called us to new life and leadership.
People: Therefore we offer all that we are and all that we shall become.
Leader: Accept, O God, this sacrifice of service and of praise.
People: Amen. Accept our thanks for all you have done. Our hearts were hungry, and you have filled them.
Together: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, you Son Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Soon and very soon
We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon
We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon
We are going to see the King
Hallelujah hallelujah
We're going to see the King
Verse 2
No more crying there
We are going to see the King
No more crying there
We are going to see the King
No more crying there
We are going to see the King
Hallelujah hallelujah
We're going to see the King
Verse 3
No more dying there
We are going to see the King
No more dying there
We are going to see the King
No more dying there
We are going to see the King
Hallelujah hallelujah
We're going to see the King
A Reading: Having our ministry by the grace of God, we do not lose heart. What we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as God’s servants for Jesus’ sake.
For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 1: 5 – 6)
The people are invited to offer words of thanksgiving for this gathering.
Leader: Blessed be God who called us together.
People: Praise to God who makes us one people.
Leader: Blessed be God who has forgiven our sin.
People: Praise to God who gives hope and freedom.
Leader: Blessed be God whose Word is proclaimed.
People: Praise to God who is revealed as love.
Leader: Blessed be God who has called us to new life and leadership.
People: Therefore we offer all that we are and all that we shall become.
Leader: Accept, O God, this sacrifice of service and of praise.
People: Amen. Accept our thanks for all you have done. Our hearts were hungry, and you have filled them.
Together: O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, you Son Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
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