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Sample Liturgy for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

This liturgy is under development.

On the Liturgy

Artwork for Bulletins/Slideshows

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The Liturgy

For prelude, selections from the Easter Playlist may be played.

THE PROCESSIONAL

As the Minister(s) enter, the processional may be sung or played. The Minister(s) may kneel at the Lord’s Table for prayer and take their seat before rising to say the acclamation.

THE ACCLAMATION

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

CALL TO WORSHIP

Good morning, brothers and sisters, and happy Easter!

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Let us pray.

OPENING PRAYER

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THE GLORIA PATRI (SAID OR SUNG)

Then the Gloria Patri is sung joyfully, a capella or with instruments.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost,
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE

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PRAYER BEFORE THE LESSONS

As we prepare for God to speak to us through his Word, let us pray.

O God, your Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

FIRST READING: ACTS 2:42–47

A reading from the Book of Acts, Chapter 2, at the 42nd verse.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

THE GRADUAL: PSALM 23

Let’s say Psalm 23 together.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

HYMN

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SECOND READING: 1 PETER 2:19–25

A reading from the First Letter of Peter, Chapter 2, at the 19th verse:

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

HYMN

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THE GOSPEL READING: JOHN 10:1–10

Please stand for the reading of the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John, Chapter 10, at the first verse:

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.

THE SERMON

The Minister expounds the Scripture lessons.

THE CREED

Let us confess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed.

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. I believe one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

THE INVITATION

Brothers and sisters, we have heard the Word of the Lord: Christ our Passover is alive from the dead. Now, the Lord invites all who have answered his call to repent and be baptized to share in the Paschal feast. Let us confess our sin, and cleanse out the old leaven, that we may be a new lump, as we really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, in your great mercy you have promised forgiveness to all who turn to you with sincere repentance and true faith. Have mercy upon us; pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE COMFORTING WORDS AND THE PEACE

Hear the good news: Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. In him we are forgiven and set free. Hallelujah!

Peace be with you.
And also with you.

THE OFFERTORY

THE SURSUM CORDA AND THE SANCTUS

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.

O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God, it is very fitting, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto you. But chiefly we are bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, for he is the very Paschal Lamb which was offered for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death, he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again, he has restored to us everlasting life.

Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you, and saying,
All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Glory be to you, O Lord most high. Amen.

SONG

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THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION

Almighty God, our heavenly Father; of your tender mercy, you gave your only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. By once offering himself there, he made a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, offering, and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world.

So now, most merciful Father, we humbly ask you to bless and sanctify, with your Word and Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine; and grant that we may receive them according to the holy institution of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of his death and passion, and be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

In the same night that he was betrayed, he took* bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake* it; and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this* is my Body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise after Supper he took* the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink you all of this; for this* is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins: Do this as often as you shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died;
Christ is risen;
Christ will come again.

CHORUS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name; your kingdom come; your 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 yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE MINISTRATION

With hands raised to heaven,

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.
Have mercy on us, and grant us your peace.

With palms open towards the bread and wine on the Table,

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast.

Raising the bread and the cup in the sight of the people,

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

The Ministers receive the Bread and Cup, and then invite the people to come forward to partake. When delivering the bread to each person, one of the following may be said:

  • The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you.
  • The body of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
  • The body of Christ; take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you.
  • The body of Christ; feed on him in your heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
  • The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

When delivering the cup to each person, one of the following may be said:

  • The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you.
  • The blood of Christ, preserve your body and soul unto everlasting life.
  • The blood of Christ; drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
  • The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.

During the distribution, a fitting song may be played.

  • Keep the Feast

THE POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Look upon your Church, O God, with unfailing love and favor, so that, renewed by the paschal mysteries, she may come to the glory of the resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE DOXOLOGY

Then is sung,

Praise God from whom all blessings flowPraise him all creatures here belowPraise him above, you heavenly hostPraise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE BLESSING AND SENDING

May the God and Father who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead fill you with new and living hope through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Go and tell the world that Christ is risen!
Thanks be to God!

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