A morning service during the Covid-19 restrictions
2nd Sunday of Easter - April 24, 2022

Prelude: “Hallelujah, We Sing Your Praises” Text and music: South African © 1984 Utryck. Reprint/Podcast/Streamed with permission granted under One License #606702-A 

Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast. 1 Corinthians 5.7–8

Christ our Passover
1 Corinthians 5.7–8; Romans 6.9–11; 1 Corinthians 15.20–22
Alleluia!
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; * therefore let us keep the feast,
Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *
	but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia!
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *
	death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *
	but the life he lives, he lives to God.
So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *
	and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia!
Christ has been raised from the dead, *
	the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, *
	by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, * so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia!

Awake, Arise, Lift up Your Voice
Awake, arise, lift up your voice, let Easter music swell;
rejoice in Christ, again rejoice and on his praises dwell.

Oh, with what gladness and surprise the saints their Saviour greet;
nor will they trust their ears and eyes but by his hands and feet:

those hands of liberal love indeed in infinite degree,
those feet still free to move and bleed for millions and for me.

His enemies had sealed the stone as Pilate gave them leave,
lest dead and friendless, and alone he should their skill deceive.

O Dead arise! O Friendless stand by seraphim adored!
O Solitude again command your host from heaven restored!
Text: Christopher Smart (1722-1771) alt. Music: Thomas Haweis (1734 -1820); adapt. Samuel Webb the younger (1770?-1843). Public domain.  Reprint/Podcast/Streamed with permission granted under One License #606702-A 

The Proclamation of the Word
Acts 5:27-32 
				Psalm 118:14-29
					
14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *
	and he has become my salvation.
15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
	in the tents of the righteous:
16 ”The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
	the right hand of the Lord is exalted! the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”
17 I shall not die, but live, *
	and declare the works of the Lord.
18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *
	but he did not hand me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
	I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord.
20 ”This is the gate of the Lord; *
	he who is righteous may enter.”
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
	and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
	has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
	and it is marvellous in our eyes.
24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
	we will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! *
	Lord, send us now success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; *
	we bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; *
	form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar.
28 ”You are my God, and I will thank you; *
	you are my God, and I will exalt you.”
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
	his mercy endures for ever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning is now and will be for ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:4-8
John 20:19-31.  A reflection on the readings (written by the Ven. Glen MIller)

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
 
Dear Lord, We Long to See Your Face
Dear Lord, we long to see you face, to know you risen from the grave,
but we have missed the joy and grace of seeing you, as others have;
yet in your company we’ll wait, and we shall see you, soon or late.

Dear Friend, we do not know the way, nor clearly see the path ahead;
so often, therefore, we delay and doubt your power to raise the dead;
yet we with you will firmly stay - you are the truth, the life, the way.

We find it hard, Lord, to believe. Long habit makes us want to prove:
to see, to touch, and thus perceive the truth and person whom we love;
yet when in fellowship we meet, you come yourself, each one to greet.

You come to us, our God, our Lord. You do not show your hands and side,
but give, instead, your best reward as in your promise we abide.
By faith we know and grow and wait to see and praise you, soon or late.
Text: J.R. Peacey (1896-1971) © 1991 Hope Publishing Co. Music: Henri F. Hemy (1818-1888); adapt James G. Walton (1821-1905). Reprint/Podcast/Streamed with permission granted under One License #606702-A 

Prayers (see litany below)
Parish Prayer cycle: David & Cathy White, Brenda & Bob Ulrichsen
Our prayers have been requested for: Thelma, Wendy, Vivian & Junior, Glenora,  the front line workers who continue to serve in the midst of this pandemic, our Archbishop Anne, the Parish of Muskoka Lakes which includes: St. Mark’s, Milford Bay, St. John’s, Beaumaris, Christ Church, Gregory, St. James’, Port Carling, St. George’s, Port Sandfield, The Rev. Dr. Gail Marie Henderson (Interim). We also give thanks for those who have recovered from their illnesses.

15 Easter
(In joy and hope let us pray to the source of all life, saying, “Hear us, Lord of glory!”)
That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his holy and life-giving resurrection, let us pray to the Lord.							Hear us, Lord of glory!
That isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the Easter gospel, let us pray to the Lord.							Hear us, Lord of glory!
That he may grant us humility to be subject to one another in Christian love, let us pray to the Lord.									Hear us, Lord of glory!
That he may provide for those who lack food, work, or shelter, let us pray to the Lord.
									Hear us, Lord of glory!
That by his power wars and famine may cease through all the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
									Hear us, Lord of glory!
That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick, the weak, and the dying, that they may be comforted and strengthened, let us pray to the Lord.	Hear us, Lord of glory!
That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people, that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection, let us pray to the Lord. 		Hear us, Lord of glory!	

We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence may be kept.
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, to the honour and glory of your name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Celebrant:
Almighty God have mercy upon you (us), pardon and deliver you (us) from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you (us) in all goodness, and keep you (us) in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect of the day
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 Lord’s prayer
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 Pharoah’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 splendour, 
with the royal feasts 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 dost 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.
Text: John of Damascus (696?) Translated by John Mason Neale (1818-1866), alt. Music: Melody, Johann Horn (? - 1547) Public Domain. Reprint/Podcast/Streamed with permission granted under One License #606702-A 

An Easter Blessing
May the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you
may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.

Dismissal
Then may be said or sung,
Officiant Let us bless the Lord. People Thanks be to God!

Postlude: “Jesus is Risen From the Grave”, text and music: John L. Bell and Graham Maule © 1989 WGRG The Iona Community (Scotland). Reprint/Podcast/Streamed with permission granted under One License #606702-A 

The text above is taken from the Book of Alternative Service published by the Anglican Church of Canada and used with permission. The words of the Hymns are all in public domain unless otherwise noted.