Third Sunday of Easter - 26 April 2020
Click here if you want to download the service sheet, or just follow from this page.
Kitchen Maid with Supper at Emmaus, by Diego Velazquez
On this, the third Sunday of Easter, we hear the story of Jesus meeting two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They do not recognise who he is until he breaks bread at the table. This will be our first broadcast of the Mass and we pray that, although we are not able to receive the sacrament, Jesus will be made known to us in the breaking of the bread as we make our spiritual communion. The picture above perhaps reflects our experience. The kitchen maid is not physically present in the room where Jesus is breaking the bread, but she can sense that something special is happening. Notice the light on her face, as she inclines her head to listen to what is going on in the other room. Christ reaches her, even though she is isolated in the kitchen.
To participate in our service today, you will need a Bible and a candle. If there is more than one of you, you can share out leading, and the readings; but it is perfectly possible to participate just on your own.
Light the candle to begin, and pray that Jesus will make himself known to you in the breaking of the bread this morning. Our service begins as it normally would at 9.30am. Please click on the link, and make the responses yourself. If you would like to sing along to the hymn the words are below.
Opening Hymn and Welcome
Love’s redeeming work is done;
fought the fight, the battle won,
Lo, our Sun’s eclipse is o’er!
Lo, he sets in blood no more!
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal!
Christ has burst the gates of hell;
death in vain forbids him rise;
Christ has opened paradise.
Lives again our glorious King;
where, O death, is now thy sting?
Dying once, he all doth save;
where thy victory, O grave?
Hail the Lord of earth and heaven!
Praise to thee by both be given:
thee we greet triumphant now;
hail, the Resurrection thou!
Priest + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen
Priest The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Priest Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Confessing our sins
We have not always lived our lives as we might have done. We have done wrong and hurt others. Let’s seek God’s forgiveness. We pray together:
Priest: Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers,
Christ, have mercy. All: Christ, have mercy.
Priest: Like Thomas in the upper room
we are slow to believe.
Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.
The priest gives the absolution, and we respond. Amen.
Praising God’s glory
We sing to praise God’s glory. Please join in with Jonathan by clicking on the link.
Glory be to God in heaven,
peace to those who love him well;
on the earth let all his people
speak his glace, his wonders tell:
Lord, we praise you for your glory,
mighty Father, heaven’s king;
hear our joyful adoration
and accept the thanks we bring.
Only Son of God the Father,
Lamb who takes our sin away,
now with him in triumph seated -
for your mercy, Lord, we pray:
Jesus Christ, most high and holy,
Saviour, you are God alone
in the glory of the Father
with the Spirit: Three-in-One!
Please pray the Collect – the prayer for the day
All
Almighty Father,
who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples
with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life
and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
Readings
Sophie is going to read the first reading from Acts 2.14a, 36-41.
If you can, please stand to read the Gospel out loud from your Bible.
Gospel of the Day: Luke 24.13-35
Homily
Please click on the link to hear Mthr Cynthia's homily for today
Creed
Let’s remind ourselves of the beliefs of the Christian faith
All
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Prayers
David is leading our intercessions today. Please click on this link to pray with him.
The Eucharistic Prayer
We now come to the heart of the mass, the prayer of consecration. Please join in with singing or saying the responses. Click on this link
Priest The Lord be with you
All And also with you.
Priest Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Priest Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give thanks and praise.
The Acclamation:
Priest Great is the mystery of faith
All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
The Sanctus and Benedictus (Sanctus means ‘holy’, Benedictus means ‘blessed’):
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.
The Agnus Dei (which means ‘Lamb of God’)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, Grant us peace.
This is a prayer for you to say at the point at which you would be receiving the bread and wine. You are making a spiritual communion in place of a sacramental communion, as that is not possible at this time.
In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I present to you my soul and body with the earnest wish that I may always be united to you. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, and embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Let nothing ever separate you from me. May I live and die in your love. Amen.
Music
As we reflect on our spiritual communion, let’s listen to Catherine singing ‘Now the Green Blade riseth’.
The Blessing and Regina Coeli
Please click on this link for the end of the service. If you would like to sing along with the Regina Coeli, please do! Regina coeli means ‘Queen of Heaven’ and is sung in Eastertide. In it we rejoice with Mary in the resurrection of her son Jesus.
All: Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Allelulia!
He whom thou wast meet to bear. Alleluia!
As he promised hath arisen. Alleluia!
Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!
Pr: Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
All: For the Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The priest prays the collect.
After the Regina coeli, we hear Jonathan’s closing voluntary, which is Chopin’s, Prelude in C minor.