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Prelude: 368 CP He Came Down
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Hymn: 382 CP Praise to the Lord
Praise to the Lord, all of you, God’s servants. Blessed be the name of our God now and ever. From the rising up of the sun May the Lord be praised, praise to the name of the Lord! There is none like our God in the heav’ns or on earth,
Who lifts the weak out of dust, placing them with the mighty, Who stoops to raise the weak and low: May the Lord be praised, praise to the name of the Lord! Praise to the Lord, all of you, God’s servants. Blessed be the name of our God now and ever. From the rising up of the sun May the Lord be praised, praise to the name of the Lord! From the rising up of the sun May the Lord be praised, praise to the name of the Lord!
The Gathering
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He gave us new life and hope by raising Jesus from the dead.
Rejoice, then, even in your distress.
We shall be counted worthy when Christ appears.
God has claimed us as his own.
He called us from our darkness into the light of his day.
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia
The Gloria: Bruce Carlson
Together we pray the Collect of the Day
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. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (11.1–18)
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’ Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.” But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.” And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Psalm 148 Refrain: O Praise the Name of the Lord
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise God in the heights. Praise the Lord all you angels; sing praises, all you heavenly host. Praise the Lord, sun and moon; sing praises, all you shining stars. Praise the Lord, heaven of heavens, sing praises, you waters above the heavens.
O Praise the Name of the Lord
Let them praise the name of the Lord; who gave the command and they were created, who made them stand fast for ever and ever, who gave them a law which shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea-monsters and all deeps; 8 fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing God’s will; mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds; sovereigns of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; young men and young women, old and young together.
O Praise the Name of the Lord
Let them praise the name of the Lord, whose name only is exalted, whose splendour is over earth and heaven. The Lord has raised up strength for this people and praise for all loyal servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near to the Lord. Hallelujah!
O Praise the Name of the Lord
A Reading from the Revelation of John (21.1–6)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.’
And the one who was seated on the throne said, ‘See, I am making all things new.’ Also he said, ‘Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ Then he said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn 508 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down thy head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was, so weary, worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one, stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus and I drank of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived, and now I live in him.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise, and all thy day be bright.”
I look to Jesus and I found in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk till travelling days are done.
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (13:31-35)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
When he had gone out, Jesus said, ‘Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, “Where I am going, you cannot come.” I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
An Affirmation of Faith (from pilgrimwr.unitingchurch.org.au)
We believe in God, maker of all things, provider of all things, who loves all people. We follow Jesus, in whom salvation has come to us: God sees us for who we are, heals the wounds of our hearts, and makes us new.
In Jesus’ death and resurrection, we see the deepest truth of life. We live by the power of the Holy Spirit, which empowers us for self-giving love. We give thanks for the Church, the Body of Christ, and for the gift of forgiveness, the power of resurrection and the mystery of eternal life. Amen.
Prayers of the People
Let us pray, saying,
Be with us, God of love.
O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbours.
As his disciples in this age,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe
in which we are privileged to live
and our neighbours with whom we share it.
For the church, the body of Christ, that we as disciples may be known by our love,
we pray, saying, Be with us, God of love.
For reminders of your love of creation – green leaves, returning birds, blossoms and buds – help us care for this world (as we hope for a new heaven and new earth)
we pray, saying, Be with us, God of love.
For the food banks and community ministries in our city, that they may have abundance to feed everyone in need and moreover that we will work towards a just society with shelter and income for all,
we pray, saying, Be with us, God of love.
For people displaced from their homes near and far, by circumstances like flooding and war, that they may return home with joy,
we pray, saying, Be with us, God of love.
For those who have died and those who mourn – especially holding love for the families of the victims of hate in Buffalo
we pray, saying, Be with us, God of love.
I invite you to share the prayers and thanksgivings in your heart either silently or aloud...
we pray, saying, Be with us, God of love.
Open our hearts to your power moving
around us and between us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken.
Amen
(opening and closing stanzas from https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/prayers.php?id=137)
The Peace (Iona)
God makes peace within us. Let us claim it.
God makes peace between us. Let us share it.
Let us greet another as a sign of God’s peace.
The peace of God is here… to stay. Thanks be to God.
Offertory Hymn: 73 CP One Bread One Body, One Lord of All
REFRAIN: One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless—
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more. REFRAIN
Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all. REFRAIN
Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one for all. REFRAIN
Prayer over the Gifts
Gracious God, you show us your way and give us your divine life. May everything we do be directed by the knowledge of your truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer (S3)
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.
It is indeed right to thank you and praise you, holy and gracious God, creator of all things, ruler of heaven and earth, sustainer of life, for you are the source of all goodness, rich in mercy and abounding in love; you are faithful to your people in every generation, and your word endures for ever.
Therefore with angels and archangels, with the fellowship of saints and the company of heaven, we glorify your holy name, evermore praising you and singing,
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;
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.
We praise you, merciful Father, not as we ought, but as we are able, because in your tender love you gave the world your only Son, in order that the world might be saved through him. He made you known by taking the form of a servant, healing the sick, liberating the oppressed, reaching out to the lost.
Betrayed, reviled, and nailed to the cross, he confronted the power of sin and disarmed it for ever. In his offering of himself, he became the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Redeemed by Christ, we have been adopted as your children; by your pardon you have made us worthy to praise you.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take and eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
In obedience to him and with grateful hearts we approach your holy table, remembering our Saviour’s sacrifice, and rejoicing in his victory. Confident in his sovereign purpose, we declare our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
Send your Holy Spirit on us that as we receive this bread and this cup we may partake of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving. May we be renewed in his risen life, filled with love, and strengthened in our will to serve others; and make of our lives, we pray, a pure and holy sacrifice, acceptable to you, knitting us together as one in your Son Jesus Christ, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and forever. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins.
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory are yours.
Now and forever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share in your resurrection.
Live in us, that we may live in you.
The Communion
These are the Gifts of God for the people of God
Thanks be to God
Communion Hymns:
Rainbows and Crosses
Refrain: Why it’s rainbows and crosses, our hopes and our losses,
light from the darkness, the Spirit provides.
Dance with the world, in joy and despair,
dance with the heavens, God’s wind in your hair.
Move on the waters, move on the land;
fashion the earth from the clay in your hand,
forming the prayers and the music of dance;
alive in the lives that give hope a chance. Refrain
Bread for our hunger, wine for our thirst;
spirit for freedom, for evil’s reverse
form in the heart, and form on the will;
form in the laughter no struggle can still. Refrain
Be alive in the voices, alive in the cries;
alive in the weeping all loving survives.
Be alive in the marches, alive in the streets,
alive in the vic’tries alive in defeats. Refrain
A Jubilant Song
Cantate Domino canticum novum.
Sing to the Lord a new jubilant song!
Cantate Domino canticum novum omnis terra.
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
Cantate Domino canticum novum.
Sing to the Lord a new jubilant song!
Cantate Domino canticum novum (omnis terra)
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
Let the sea roar and the floods clap their hands!
Let the hills sing together for joy!
Let the heavens and the earth all rejoice,
for the Lord is greatly to be praised!
Proclaim God’s salvation!
Declare God’s great glory!
Lift up a jubilant song and make joyful noise,
make joyful noise, make joyful noise!
Cantate Domino canticum novum.
Sing to the Lord a new jubilant song!
Cantate Domino canticum novum (omnis terra)
Sing to the Lord all the earth! (omnis terra)
Sing to the Lord all the earth!
O, sing! Cantate Domino.
Prayer after Communion
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. Amen
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 662 CP Trees of the Field (You Shall Go Out with Joy)
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace,
the mountains and the hills will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands,
while you go out with joy.
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace,
the mountains and the hills will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands,
the trees of the field will clap their hands,
while you go out with joy.
You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace,
the mountains and the hills will break forth before you.
There’ll be shouts of joy and all the trees of the field
will clap, will clap their hands.
The Dismissal
Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
Postlude: Graves into Gardens