the second sunday of easter

AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME

THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 27, 2025

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Hymn: The Day of Resurrection!                     #210

The Opening Acclamation                                               BCP p. 355

  Presider:      Alleluia, Christ is risen.

  People:       The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

The Summary of the Law                                               BCP p. 351

The Collect of the Day

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 First Reading                                              Acts 5:27-32

When the captain and the temple police had brought the apostles out of the temple, 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 become my salvation.

     15 There is a sound of exultation 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 declare 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 become my salvation.

     22 The same stone which the builders rejected 

          has become the chief cornerstone.

     23 This is the Lord’s doing, 

          and it is marvelous in our eyes.

     24 On this day the Lord has acted; 

          we will rejoice and be glad in it.

     25 Hosanna, Lord, hosanna! 

          Lord, send us now success.

     26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; 

          we bless you from the house of the Lord.

     27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; 

          form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.

     28 “You are my God, and I will thank you; 

          you are my God, and I will exalt you.”

     29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; 

          his mercy endures for ever.

Second Reading                                       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         We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight        #209             

The Holy Gospel                                  John 20:19-31

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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE          

Rejoicing in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we pray for the witness of the church, the wholeness of creation, and all who are in need.

Holy God, you speak peace in the presence of fear. Give us courage to testify to your grace with our lives. Embolden prophets, preachers, and teachers to speak your truth. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Holy God, you create peace in the midst of chaos. Where storms rage and winds howl, bring calm. Protect people and animals from the dangers of weather. Restore damaged lands and homes. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Holy God, you are peace in a violent world. Heal neighborhoods ravaged by crime. Reconcile political factions at war. Build relationships where suspicion keeps us apart, and bring us to the day of unity. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Holy God, you bring peace to a hurting world. Inspire us to feed the hungry, bind up the broken, give rest to the weary, and hope to the disillusioned. We pray for those who are persecuted for their faith; for the people of Ukraine; and for Cathy, Cory, Edward, Helena, Holly, Jeanne, Karin, Lee, Lori, Louise, Lyndon, Mary, Miriam, Pat, Ray, Ron, Zach, and others? (pause). Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Holy God, breathe your Spirit of peace into us. Enlivened by the Spirit, equip us to bring new life to all we meet in work and at play. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Holy God, you are our peace in this world and the next. Hear us as we remember  those who have died. Hold them in your tender care. Gather us at your table as we share the heavenly banquet. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We entrust our prayers to you, gracious God. Receive them by the power of the Holy Spirit and the love of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Confession of Sin                                                                      

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive The Sacrament

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people

at every altar of your Church

where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated:

I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving.

I remember your death, Lord Christ,

I proclaim your resurrection,

and I await your coming in glory.

and since I cannot receive you today

in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood,

I ask you to come into my heart.

Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus,

and let me never be separated from you.

May I live in you, and you in me,

in this life, and in the life to come.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer BCP p. 364

Closing Hymn       That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright         #193

The Blessing

May God the Father, by whose power Christ was raised from the dead

strengthen us to walk with him in his risen life;

and may the blessing of God Almighty: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

be with us, and remain with us always.  Amen. 

The Dismissal

Presider:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.  Alleluia, Alleluia.

People:        Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.