Please stand Leader: Alleluia! Christ is risen. People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia! Please kneel if you are able Confession and Absolution of Sin Leader: Dearly beloved, the Scriptures teach us to acknowledge our many sins and offenses, not concealing them from our heavenly Father, but confessing them with humble and obedient hearts that we may obtain forgiveness by his infinite goodness and mercy. We ought at all times humbly to acknowledge our sins before Almighty God, but especially when we come together in his presence to give thanks for the great benefits we have received at his hands, to declare his most worthy praise, to hear his holy Word, and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things which are necessary for our life and our salvation. Therefore, draw near with me to the throne of heavenly grace. All: 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. Leader: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who in his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all those who sincerely repent and with true faith turn to him, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please stand Leader: O Lord, open our lips; People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise. Officiant: O God, make speed to save us; People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; People: As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Officiant: Praise the Lord. People: The Lord’s Name be praised. 1 GLORIA The Gloria is an ancient Christian hymn that praises the three members of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Glory to God. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer, receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. Amen. Please be seated Scripture Lessons First Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10 [2] Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—[3] if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. [4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [6] For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” [7] So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” [8] and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” 2 They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; * deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Incline your ear to me; * make haste to deliver me. 3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; * for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me. 4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, * for you are my tower of strength. 5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, * for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth. 15 My times are in your hand; * rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, * and in your loving-kindness save me.” Second Reading: John 14:1-14 [1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 3 [8] Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” [9] Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? [10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. [11] Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. [12] “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. [13] Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. [14] If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. Reader: The Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God. Children’s Reflection Homily Please stand YOU ALONE CAN RESCUE Who O Lord could save themselves Their own soul could heal Our shame was deeper than the sea Your grace is deeper still And You alone can rescue You alone can save You alone can lift us from the grave You came down to find us led us out of death To You alone belongs the highest praise You O Lord have made a way The great divide You healed For when our hearts were far away Your love went further still. Words and Music: Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin © 2008 Said and Done Music.. CCLI License #4761526. 4 FIRST SONG OF ISAIAH Surely it is God who saves me. I will trust in him and not be afraid, for the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and He will be my Savior. Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing from the springs of salvation and on that day you shall say give thanks to the Lord and call upon His Name (Chorus) Make His deeds known among the people, see that they remember that His Name is exalted. Sing the praises of the Lord, for He has done great things and this is known in all the world. (Chorus) Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out our joy for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel. (Chorus) Music by Jack Noble White © 1977 The H.W. Gray Company Nicene Creed Each week we say the words of this 4th century statement of faith to remind ourselves and each other what we believe. We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.