Prelude
The Gathering Of The Community
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 of the Day
Leader: Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, 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 4:32-35
Psalm 133
Second Reading: 1 John 1:1-2:2
Sermon
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 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
We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.
Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations …Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, bread of life, give food to the hungry … and nourish us all with your word. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, our way, our truth, our life, be with us and all who follow you in the way …Deepen our appreciation of your truth and fill us with your life. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep, recover the straggler, bind up the injured, strengthen the sick and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, the resurrection and the life, we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you … Raise us with them to eternal life. Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us, accept our prayers, and be with us always. Amen.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone, and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:54-58)
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.
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: Father, we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands the bread of life. Strengthen our faith that we may grow in love for you and for each other; through Jesus Christ the risen Lord.
Hymn: Hail Thee Festival Day
Leader: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
We pray for: Nell Bradshaw, Natasha and Lisa Varjacic; Jeff Buchyns
Announcements
Refugee Committee Meeting
Today online at noon.
Emmaus Experience: Zoom Bible Study with Jeff Boldt!
Meets on Tuesdays in May: 4 weeks starting Tuesday May 4, 7:30 p.m. Please sign up: we will run it with a minimum of 5 people. (email Mtr Catherine at cath.hamilton@utoronto.ca or Jeff to sign up)
Sunday April 18
On Sunday April 18 our preacher will be Jeff Boldt. Welcome Jeff!
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
