May 2nd Service – Easter 5 – St. Matthew's Riverdale

Prelude

The Gathering Of The Community

Hymn: Blue #425 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee

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 God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another and walk in the way of his commandments, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading: Acts 8:26-40

The Psalm

Second Reading: 1 John 4:17-21

Hymn: Blue #487 Where Charity and Love Prevail

The Gospel

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

In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.

That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his glorious and life-giving resurrection … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

That isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

That God may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter … we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

That by his power war and famine may cease through all the world …we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick, the weak and the dying, to comfort and strengthen them, remembering especially today Tiriz and all suffering from COVID, that he may comfort and strengthen those who love them, and those who care for them…we pray to the Father. 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 remember especially Jasmine: rest eternal grant unto her O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon her… we pray to the Father. Hear our prayer.

That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people, so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection, we pray to the Father. 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.

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.

Hymn: Blue #177 A Spendthrift Lover Is the Lord

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: God of love, in this eucharist we have heard your truth and shared in your life. May we always walk in your way, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Hymn: Blue #60 I Come With Joy