The Gathering of the Community
Hymn: Blue #207 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing
At the Lamb's high feast we sing praise to our victorious King,
who hath washed us in the tide flowing from his pierced side;
praise we him, whose love divine gives his sacred Blood for wine,
gives his Body for the feast, Christ the victim, Christ the priest.
Where the Paschal blood is poured, death's dark angel sheathes his sword;
Israel's hosts triumphant go through the wave that drowns the foe.
Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, Paschal victim, Paschal bread;
with sincerity and love eat we manna from above.
Mighty victim from on high, hell's fierce powers beneath thee lie;
thou hast conquered in the fight, thou hast brought us life and light:
now no more can death appall, now no more the grave enthrall;
thou hast opened paradise, and in thee thy saints shall rise.
This, our gift of Easter joy, sin alone can now destroy;
from sin's power do thou set free souls newborn, O Lord, in thee.
Hymns of glory and of praise, Father, unto thee we raise;
risen Lord, all praise to thee, with the Spirit, ever be.
Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Leader: May his grace and peace be with you.
All: May he fill our hearts with joy.
Collect for Purity
All: Almighty God to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. 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
Collect of the Day
O God, your Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread. Open the eyes of our faith, that we may see him in his redeeming work, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23
Jesus Christ Is Risen Today (Violin)
The Gospel
The Nicene Creed
All: 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 worshipped 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.
The Prayers of the People
Jesus, our exalted Lord, has been given all authority. Let us seek his intercession that our prayers may be perfected by his prayer.
Jesus Christ, great high priest, living for ever to intercede for us, pray for the Church, your broken body in the world. Pray for us now when we cannot gather, that we may know your living presence, and hope in you … Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, King of righteousness, enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high, pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule … Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, Son of Man, drawing humanity into the life of God, pray for your sisters and brothers in need, distress, or sorrow. We pray for the poor and the hungry and all those suffering in this time of the virus. We pray for the sick, especially those known to us … Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, Lord over all things, ascended far above the heavens and filling the universe, pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for work in your service. Help us to remember those who are lonely, sorrowful and in need in this time; help us always to serve your people … Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus, pioneer of our salvation, bringing us to glory through your death and resurrection, surround with your saints and angels those who have died trusting your promises.We commend into your loving care your servant Locksley, and ask your blessing upon his family. Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus, Lord of all life, you bless the children and hold them in your arms. We thank you for Loretta Froese McLean, gift of joy born in our parish this week; guard and keep her and lead her into fullness of life in you. Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Jesus Christ, keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at your feet; for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace (Eph. 2:13, 14).
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn: Blue #239 Jesus Lives! Thy Terrors Now
Jesus lives! thy terrors now can, O death, no more appall us;
Jesus lives! By this we know thou, O grave, canst not enthral us.
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! henceforth is death but the gate to life immortal;
This shall calm our trembling breath when we pass its gloomy portal.
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! For us he died; then, alone to Jesus living,
pure in heart may we abide, glory to our Saviour giving.
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! our hearts know well nought from us his love shall sever;
Life nor death nor pow'rs of hell tear us from his keeping ever.
Alleluia!
Jesus lives! to him the throne over all the world is given:
May we go where he is gone, rest and reign with him in heaven.
Alleluia!
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst. …Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 …I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:35-40; 51)
All: 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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn: Blue #237 Now the Green Blade Rises
Now the green blade rises from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many years has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
In the grave they laid Him, Love whom we had slain,
Thinking that He’d never wake to life again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
Up He sprang at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;
Up from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
When our hearts are saddened, grieving or in pain,
By Your touch You call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again, like wheat that springs up green.
All: Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
Leader: Author of life divine, in the breaking of bread we know the risen Lord. Feed us always in these mysteries, that we may show your glory to all the world. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: Blue #231 That Eastertide with Joy Was Bright
That Eastertide with joy was bright; the sun shone out with fairer light,
alleluia, alleluia!
when, to their longing eyes restored, the apostles saw their risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
He bade them see his hands, his side,
where yet the glorious wounds abide;
alleluia, alleluia!
the tokens true which made it plain their Lord indeed was risen again.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
From every weapon death can wield thine own redeemed forever shield:
alleluia, alleluia!
O Lord of all, with us abide in this our joyful Eastertide.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus, the king of gentleness, do thou thyself our hearts possess,
alleluia, alleluia!
that we may give thee all our days the tribute of our grateful praise.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Leader: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
We pray for: Aubrey Duffy and Peter McMillian, Alexander; Paul Francis and Heather
Announcements
Last night, after a long illness, Locksley died with Lilla by his side. We give thanks for the gift he was to his family and to us at St. Matthew’s, and we commend him into God’s good hands. Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting.
Reg and Ainslie McLean announce with joy the birth of their daughter, Loretta Froese, born April 14. She is a beauty; her sister Marcia is excited to have a little sister, and we are thrilled to welcome her too!
ZOOM Coffee Hour: May 3, 11:00 a.m.
Next week, May 3, we will celebrate May Day (a little late) with a Zoom coffee hour. Join Mtr Catherine and our St. Matt’s friends at 11:00 a.m.; bring a cup of coffee as we catch up with each other.
Prayer: Tuesday Afternoons and Friday Mornings
Join Susie and Aubrey on Tuesday afternoons from 5-5:30pm for an online Zoom prayer meeting. Please contact us if you are interested and we will send you a Zoom invite.
On Fridays follow along with Susie as she leads a short service of Morning Prayer starting at 8:30am on Facebook Live at the St. Matthew’s page.
Mid-Week Meditation with Mtr Catherine
A weekly encouragement to help us stay strong in our faith. Check your inbox for it each Wednesday and read the latest instalment here
Don’t fear, Pre-Authorized Giving is here!
Your generosity allows St. Matthew’s to maintain the church building as well as minister to our parishioners, refugees and the Riverdale neighbourhood. We have a monthly pre-authorised remittance system, through the United Church of Canada which allows for ease of giving. Please contact Audrey Chan for more information. Her email is: ahtchan@gmail.com
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale,
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Catherine Sider-Hamilton – Priest-in-charge: 416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to Peter Oakes, Peoples’ Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
