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.
Hymn: Blue #203 Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia,
our triumphant holy day; alleluia,
who did once upon the cross; alleluia,
suffer to redeem our loss; alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing; Alleluia,
unto Christ our heavenly king; alleluia,
who endured the cross and grave; alleluia,
sinners to redeem and save: alleluia!
But the pains which he endured; Alleluia,
our salvation have procured; alleluia,
now above the sky he's King; alleluia,
where the angels ever sing: alleluia!
Collect of the Day
Leader: Lord of life and power, through the mighty resurrection of your Son, you have overcome the old order of sin and death and have made all things new in him. May we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, reign with him in glory, who with you and the Holy Spirit is alive, one God, now and for ever.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-6
He Is Risen (violin)
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Hymn: Blue #215 Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath ransomed Israel into joy from sadness;
loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke Jacob's sons and daughters,
led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.
'Tis the spring of souls today; Christ hath burst his prison,
and from three days' sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
all the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
from that Light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
with the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus' resurrection!
Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb's dark portal,
nor the watchers, nor the seal hold thee as a mortal;
but today amidst the twelve thou didst stand, bestowing
that thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.
"Alleluia!" now we cry to our King immortal,
who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb's dark portal;
"Alleluia!" with the Son, God the Father praising,
"Alleluia!" yet again to the Spirit raising.
The Gospel
Come Ye Faithful Raise The Strain (violin)
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
In joy and hope let us pray to our Father through our risen Lord. That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his glorious and life-giving resurrection, we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That isolated and persecuted churches, together with all Christians everywhere singing Christ’s praise at home today, may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter …we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That God may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love; that we may be more than ever mindful of those in need — those who are lonely; those without food or work or shelter; those who are fearful in this time — we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That by his power war, famine and pandemic may cease through all the world …we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick, the weak and the dying, [especially…] to comfort and strengthen them, we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That he may bless those who minister to the sick and the dying, giving them strength and hope in the risen Jesus, we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That, according to his promises, all who have died in the faith of the resurrection may be raised on the last day. We pray especially for victims of this pandemic, and all who have died alone and all who have been buried in haste, that with all who love you, they may know the joy of the resurrrection, we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people, so that even and especially in the midst of difficult times we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection, we pray to the Father. Lord of life, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy; through 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.
Hymn: Blue #222 All Shall Be Well
All shall be well! For on our Easter skies
see Christ the sun of righteousness arise.
All shall be well! The sacrifice is made,
the sinner freed, the price of pardon paid.
All shall be well! The cross and passion past,
dark night is done, bright morning come at last.
All shall be well! Lift every voice on high;
"Death has no more dominion but shall die."
Jesus alive! Rejoice and sing again;
all shall be well for evermore, Amen!
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.
Hymn: Blue #505 Be Thou My Vision
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art
High King of Heaven, my victory won
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav'n's Sun
Heart of my own heart, whate'er befall
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all
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: Giver of all, we are nourished with your Easter sacraments. Fill us with your joy and unite us in faith, that we may be witnesses to your love and show forth your glory to all the world, in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.
Hymn: Blue #212 Alleluia! The Strife Is O’er
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
now is the victor's triumph won;
O let the song of praise begun:
Alleluia!
Death's mightiest powers have done their worst,
and Jesus hath his foes dispersed.
Let shouts of praise and joy outburst:
Alleluia!
He closed the yawning gates of hell
the bars from heaven's high portals fell.
Let songs of praise his triumph tell:
Alleluia!
On the third morning he rose again,
glorious in majesty to reign.
O let us swell the joyful strain:
Alleluia!
Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee,
from death's dread sting thy servants free,
that we may live and sing to thee::
Alleluia!
Leader: Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Postlude: The Strife is O’er (violin)
We pray for: Audrey and Wing Chan, Vivien and Isabel Chan, Jennifer Chan, Cleveland Chester, Sarah Choi
Banns of Marriage
I publish the Banns of Marriage between Naomi Shewchuk and Patrick Larkin, both of this parish. If any of you know cause or just impediment why these two persons should not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are to declare it. This is the second time of asking.
Easter Donations
If you would like to make a special Easter donation to St. Matthew’s, you can donate online here
If you are giving in thanksgiving or remembrance, we would be pleased to list the names of your loved ones in next week’s bulletin. Please send names to David King at stmattsonline@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
