Join us in person or live-streamed at 10AM or find our recorded service at your convenience. Details on our Worship page. Service words are below.
Prelude: Rainbows and Crosses
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Hymn: 247 CP Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise
Hail the day that sees him rise, alleluia!
to his throne above the skies: alleluia!
Christ, the Lamb for sinners given, alleluia!
enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!
There for him high triumph waits; alleluia!
lift your heads, eternal gates: alleluia!
he hath conquered death and sin; alleluia!
take the King of glory in. Alleluia!
Highest heaven its Lord receives, alleluia!
yet he loves the earth he leaves; alleluia!
though returning to his throne, alleluia!
still he calls the world his own. Alleluia!
See! He lifts his hands above, alleluia!
See! He shows the prints of love; alleluia!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow alleluia!
blessings on his church below. Alleluia!
Still for us he intercedes; alleluia!
his prevailing death he pleads, alleluia!
near himself prepares our place, alleluia!
he the first-fruits of our race. Alleluia!
Lord, though parted from our sight, alleluia!
far above the starry height, alleluia!
grant our hearts may thither rise, alleluia!
seeking thee above the skies. Alleluia!
Gathering of the Community
Lord Jesus, breathe on me; give me strength today. Holy Spirit, work in me. For this I pray.
Come let us gather in the joy and wonder of the Easter Season
Let us celebrate Christ’s presence in our world today.
Jesus has promised that wherever we are, his Spirit will be in our midst.
Lord Jesus, breathe on me; give me strength today. Holy Spirit, work in me. For this I pray.
Prayer of the Day
Refreshing God, in times of dryness you are like cool, spring rains giving new life to the parched places of our lives. We come before you now to celebrate the new life you give to us and others each and every day. Amen
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord. Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of his peace, and bring the whole of creation to worship at his feet, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Children’s Ministry Time
Song: Hallelu, Hallelu
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
Hallelu, hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord hallelujah!
Praise ye the Lord hallelujah! Praise ye the Lord.
Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Living word of God live in our lives today
Clap Your Hands #69 Folk Celebration
All you peoples, clap your hands! x x And shout for joy!
The Lord has made all people one, So raise your voices high!
All creation shows the glory of the Lord,
The earth proclaims the handiwork, the sky cries out God’s Word;
Night and day sing out the glories all about,
So praise the Lord with shouts of joy! Chorus
The strength of God is great: God rules from sea to sea,
And all creation knows the might and glory of God’s deeds;
So ev’ry queen and king join in now as we sing,
And prise the Lord with shouts of joy! Chorus
The King of all the earth has made the message known,
That we should offer God ourselves and ev’rything we own;
We do this by the way we live through ev’ry day,
So live each day in peace and joy! Chorus
The kingdom of the Lord was made for all the good,
Those who want to live in peace and harmony;
So with all humanity let’s join hand in hand,
And praise the Lord with shouts of joy! Chorus
Let ev’ryone alive remember your command,
That ev’ry day in ev’ry way we love all humankind;
If this command is done, the vict’ry will be won,
And we’ll all live in peace and joy! Chorus
A Reading from the letter to the Ephesians 1:15-23 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Living word of God live in our lives today Gradual Hymn: 309 CP Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet
Praise the Lord with the sound of trumpet, praise the Lord with the harp and lute,
praise the Lord with the gentle sounding flute.
Praise the Lord in the field and forest, praise the Lord in the city square,
praise the Lord anytime and anywhere.
Praise the Lord in the wind and sunshine, praise the Lord in the dark of night,
praise the Lord in the rain or snow or in the morning light.
Praise the Lord in the deepest valley, praise the Lord on the highest hill,
praise the Lord never let your voice be still.
Praise the Lord with the crashing cymbal, praise the Lord with the pipe and string,
praise the Lord with the joyful songs you sing.
Praise the Lord on a weekday morning, praise the Lord on a Sunday noon,
praise the Lord by the light of sun or moon.
Praise the Lord in the time of sorrow, praise the Lord in the time of joy,
praise the Lord every moment; nothing let your praise destroy.
Praise the Lord in the peace and quiet, praise the Lord in your work or play,
praise the Lord everywhere in every way.
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke 24:44-53 Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
An Affirmation of Faith (Rex Hunt Liturgies)
In response to the word reflected on, let us stand and share an affirmation of faith.
We believe in a light that smothers darkness. It tears through every shadow in our world, and leaves a clarity brighter than the sun, and we name that light: God!
We believe in a love that crushes hatred, and leaves a space for forgiveness, to rebuild, redesign, and re-create our world, and we name that love: God!
We believe in a truth that rips through injustice revealing a different vision for our world: of freedom, fairness, and future, and we name that truth: God!
We believe in a hope that rattles oppressors, shaping the intent of the Creator for a people destined for love, and we name that hope: God!
We believe in a time towards which all history travels, where all our lives will be held, and bound into eternity, and we name that time: God!
The Prayers of Intercession
God worked to create this world with its order, its beauty and its unexplored possibilities. Let us thank the creator. Thank you, God, for the harmony of the seasons, the rhythm of the sun and rain, seed time and harvest. We look at the stars and we marvel at the vast unlimited space. We explore the moon and planets and rejoice in the amazing skills that you have given us and your trust in us to care for all of creation. Thank you for believing in us even when we mar your creation and become arrogant in our use of it rather than being the stewards of it.
Jesus came into the world to do the work of God. To embody all that God calls us to do and be. Jesus brought light where there was darkness. Jesus made the days holy by living them to exemplify the glory of creation. Thank you for the work of Jesus. Thank you for the example that he set in teaching, healing, reconciling. This example of his ministry was entrusted to the disciples and to each successive generation to us. Help us to be better disciples. Upholding the faith that Jesus lived and to be teachers, healers and reconcilers in our own time. Silently take some time and consider the life of Jesus and his invitation to each of us.
We think about the work of all the generations in between us and the early followers. The growth of faith. The care for each other as well as the creation that has been entrusted to us.
God our creator we give you praise for all those who have worked towards making the world a better place. For scholars and saints; for sensitive people who have cared for and loved their neighbour; for the pioneers who have dared to go off into the unknown and for those who quietly go about doing ministry and live their faith each day un-noticed. We give thanks for the tasks that test our skills and our strength. We thank you for helping us feel fulfilled with a job well done and for the new challenges that each new day will bring to us. We give thanks for those who work with us.
Silently give thanks for those that we share ministry with.
We give thanks for those who serve us through their daily work. We acknowledge with deep gratitude clerks, custodians, doctors, nurses, personal care attendants, orderlies, chaplains, drivers, educators, postal workers, police, fire fighters, delivery people, paramedics, morticians, parents, partners, children, janitorial staff, government officials at the municipal, provincial and federal levels. Help them to find joy in their service. Silently recall those who serve with generosity.
Give thanks for all who have finished their life journey and have passed into God’s eternal realm, lovingly received by the God who created them. We remember all those who have died. We pray for those whose lives have ended tragically and too soon. We give thanks for the lives and the light that each shone in the world and for those whose lives they touched and changed. We take time to give thanks for all that we have been blessed with during our life.
The Peace
Offertory Hymn: 374 CP Alleluia! Sing to Jesus
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! His the scepter, his the throne; alleluia! his the triumph, his the victory alone. Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood; Jesus, out of every nation, hath redeemed us by his blood.
Alleluia! Not as orphans are we left in sorrow now; alleluia! he is near us, faith believes, nor questions how. Though the cloud from sight received him, when the forty days were o'er, shall our hearts forget his promise, "I am with you evermore”?
Alleluia! Bread of heaven, thou on earth our food, our stay; alleluia! here the sinful flee to thee from day to day; Intercessor, Friend of sinners, earth's Redeemer, plead for me, where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.
Alleluia! King eternal, thee the Lord of lords we own; alleluia! Born of Mary, earth thy footstool, heaven thy throne. Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh, our great high priest; thou on earth both priest and victim in the eucharistic feast.
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus! His the scepter, his the throne; alleluia! his the triumph, his the victory alone. Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood; Jesus, out of every nation hath redeemed us by his blood.
Prayer over the Gifts
Eternal God, our Saviour Jesus Christ has promised to be with us until the end of time. Accept all we offer you this day, and renew us in his transfigured life; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Church of India Prayer C (page 201 Anglican Eucharistic Liturgies)
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Truly it is right and good to glorify you at all times and in all places, by offering you our thanksgiving O Lord, holy Parent.
You spoke and the light shattered darkness, order arose from confusion.
You breathed into the dust of the earth and we were formed in your image.
Through your Son, our Lord Jesus, you came to us while we wandered. He met us as a refugee, a threatened child.
He called us by name to leave what is comfortable to be his disciples, friends and partners. With his outstretched arms on the cross, and through his death he bore our sins and through his resurrection we are saved.
And through your Holy Spirit you brood over the chaos we create, mothering us and shaping a new creation.
You enlighten everyone coming into the world.
You inspired the prophets and apostles to find the right word at the right time.
You liberate, equip and commission your people for the continuance of your mission to make everything new.
Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we proclaim and sing your glory
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is one who comes in the name of the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night in which he was betrayed, took bread and when he had given thanks to you, broke it
and gave it to his disciples, saying: “Take, eat: this is my body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
In the same way after supper, he took the cup and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them saying:
“Drink this all of you: this is the blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Lord, we commemorate your death on the cross, we celebrate your resurrection, and we await your coming.
Eternal God, let your Holy Spirit move in power over us and over these earthly gifts of bread and wine, that they may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ, and that we may become one in him. May his coming in glory find us ever watchful in prayer, strong in truth and love, and faithful in the breaking of the bread.
Then, at last, all peoples will be free, all divisions healed, and with your whole creation, we will sing your praise, through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour are yours, almighty God, forever and ever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer (sung: Cameron)
The Sharing
When we break the bread, do we not share in the body of Christ?
We seek to share your life, Gracious God.
When we lift the cup, so we not share in the life-blood of Christ?
We seek to share your life, gracious God.
These are the gift of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God!
The Communion
Hymns during Distribution: Instrumental The Gift of Lov
Prayer after Communion
Holy parent of all people, who through our Lord Jesus Christ united all things in his fullness, we join your whole creation in exultant praise of your bountiful goodness. You have touched us with new life and filled us with new hope
that your reign will come, that the hungry will be fed, that the oppressed will be set free from evil, that your reconciling work will be done, that love and faithfulness will meet together, that justice and peace will kiss each other
and the whole creation will be filled with your glory. Amen
The Doxology
Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Blessing
Announcements
Closing Hymn: 383 CP Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun doth its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.
People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name.
Blessings abound where’er he reigns; the prisoners leap to lose their chains;
the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.
Let every creature rise and bring peculiar honours to our King,
angels descend with songs again, and earth repeat the loud Amen.
Commission and Benediction
As people of faith we have gathered for worship.
As people of faith we now return to the world.
Go out to share the story of faith, the story of life, with the world around us.
We share the faith in word and in deed, in speech and in action.
As we go out to give a living witness, as we go out to testify to God's love active in the world, go knowing that God goes with us, sharing the laughter and the hope, the fears and the tears.
Thanks be to God! Amen. Alleluia.
Postlude: Sing to the Mountains