Year A / Año A

12 April 2026    12 de abril 2026

The Service of the Word

Welcome

Processional — Come Christians — Christian H. Bateman, 1843

[Sheet music: Come Christians — MADRID 6.6.6.6.D. Text: Christian H. Bateman; Music: Traditional Spanish melody, arranged by David Evans]

Salutation

Celebrant: Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People: His mercy endures for ever.

Collect for Purity

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Gloria

Collect of the Day

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

The First Lesson Acts 2:14a, 22-32

Lector: A reading from the Book of Acts.

Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, "You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,

'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
moreover my flesh will live in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One experience corruption.
You have made known to me the ways of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'

"Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,

'He was not abandoned to Hades,
nor did his flesh experience corruption.'

This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses."

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people.
People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm 16, Conserva me, Domine.

Lector: Please join me in reverently praying the Psalm pausing briefly between the phrases,

The Epistle 1 Peter 1:3-9

Lector: A reading from the first letter of Peter.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith— being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire— may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Lector: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.
People: Thanks be to God

Sequence Hymn — Glorify Thy Name

[Sheet music: Glorify Thy Name — Text and Music: Donna Adkins; GLORIFY THY NAME, Irregular meter. © 1976, 1981, arr. © 1986 MARANATHA! MUSIC. All Rights Reserved. International Copyright Secured. Used by Permission.]

The Gospel John 20:19-31

Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Sermon

After the Sermon there will be a moment of silence for reflection.

The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of the People

Presider: O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection, teaching them to love all people as neighbors. As his disciples in this age, we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe in which we are privileged to live and our neighbors with whom we share it, saying: Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Intercessor: For a new birth of peace on the earth among all human families and nations, that hatred and violence and war may cease, we pray:
People: Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For the whole body of Christ and all who bear his holy name, and for bishops, clergy, and all who offer ministries, that we may serve Christ with glad and generous hearts, we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For this nation and all nations of the world, that those who lead may know truth and practice integrity, that all peoples may grow together in concord, we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all in mental anguish and whose faith is racked by doubt, that they may be led with Thomas the apostle to cry out, "My Lord and my God," we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those imprisoned unjustly by force, that they may be liberated and not be abandoned to the dominion of death, we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all gathered here out of love for Christ, or seeking a deeper truth, that we may know the gospel as an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those we find difficult to love: for those who have hurt us, those who have wronged us in any way, for our enemies, for those we have misjudged or harmed, we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those who find it difficult to forgive themselves…for those who struggle with anxiety or shame…for those who cannot accept the mercy and forgiveness of God…we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For all who are sick or in need of guidance, especially, Larry, Lena, Maggie, Carrie, Dawna, Anita, Nat, Bev, Kirk, Michael, Alex, Pam, Jim, Marty, Judy, Roberta, Brad, Nancy, Kit, Bob, Joyce, Erin, Vivian, and Andy, and all those on the Daughters of the King Prayer List, and those we now name out loud or silently in our hearts…. May they, and those who care for them, know the healing power of God's love in their lives today and every day, we pray:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

For those having died in faith, and for those who mourn their loss…May they and all those known to you alone, know the love of God:
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, make us worthy this day to serve our fellow man. Grant to all this day their daily bread and by our mutual understanding and love, grant them peace and joy.
Christ, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Presider: 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.

The Confession and Absolution

Celebrant: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People:

The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says,

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.

The Liturgy of the Table

The Offertory

Celebrant: God of mercy and compassion, your Word calls us home to faith and love. Accept all we offer you this day; in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. (CofE CW)

Doxology — Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow — Hymn 380, v. 3 only

Eucharistic Prayer D

Celebrant: The Lord is here
People: God's Spirit is with us
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts
People: We lift them to the Lord
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God
People: It is right to give thanks and praise

It is truly right to glorify you, Father, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and for ever. Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance. Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we sing:

Sanctus Hymnal S-129

[Sheet music: Sanctus — Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.]

We acclaim you, holy God, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures. When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again, you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.

Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.

When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them he took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, 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."

Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption. Recalling Christ's death and his descent among the dead, proclaiming his resurrection and ascension to your right hand, awaiting his coming in glory; and offering to you, from the gifts you have given us, this bread and this cup, we praise you and we bless you.

Lord, we pray that in your goodness and mercy your Holy Spirit may descend upon us +, and upon these gifts +, sanctifying them and showing them to be holy gifts for your holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation, the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ.

Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit, a living sacrifice in Christ, to the praise of your Name.

Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the blood of your Christ. Reveal its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace. Remember Michael and John our bishops and all who minister in your Church. Remember all your people, and those who seek your truth. Remember all the newly baptized who seek your truth. Remember all who have died in the peace of Christ, and those whose faith is known to you alone; bring them into the place of eternal joy and light.

And grant that we may find our inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, with Veronica and Mary Magdalene and all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them and give you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty God and Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

Fraction Anthem

Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following invitation:

God's holy gifts for God's holy people.
Jesus Christ is holy, Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God. Amen.

Post-Communion Prayer

Let us pray.

Easter Blessing

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Recessional Hymn — He's got the whole world

Dismissal

Celebrant: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia!
People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

Announcements

Forthcoming Services and Events: