Liturgy and Prayers - Sunday, 16 April 2023 – Second Sunday of Easter, Year A

Liturgy in one document: Liturgy in One Document, Easter 2A

Opening sentence

On the first day of the week, Jesus came and stood among them, Alleluia.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Alleluia!  (John 20:19,20 NRSV)

OR
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Alleluia!
He has given us new birth through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Alleluia!  (1 Pet 1:3 NRSV alt)

Prayer of the day - (Collect):

Traditional

Almighty God,
grant that we who have celebrated the festival
of our Lord’s resurrection
may, by the help of your grace,
bear its fruits in our lives;
through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Modernised Traditional

Almighty God,
we have celebrated the festival
of our Lord’s resurrection.
Lead us, by your goodness,
to bear its fruits in our lives.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alternative

(Let us pray that we may live the new life of Christ. [silence])
Almighty and merciful God,
your Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life
for all who put their trust in him.
Raise us up from the death that comes with sin,
and give us the new life of faith in Christ,
so that we may always live to please you.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

New

(Let us pray for faith in our risen Lord. [silence])
Merciful God,
your Son Jesus Christ
is the resurrection and the life,
who gives hope and joy
to those who doubt.
Give to us who do not see you
faith and life and blessing,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Alleluia Verse

(after the second reading)

Alleluia.
(Since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again;
death no longer has any power over him.
Alleluia.)
Have you believed because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen
and yet have come to believe.  (John 20:29 NRSV)
Alleluia.

Prayer after the Gospel

This is the gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ (, raised to live forever).
Lord Jesus, thank you for letting Thomas doubt,
and for showing yourself after your resurrection.
Strengthen our faith in you as the living Son of God.
Amen.

Offering Prayer

Living God,
let the resurrection of your Son transform our lives.
Make us bold in serving you
and bringing your good news to other people.
Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Prayer points

Additional Prayer Points

LCA International Mission

Services with Holy Communion:

Preface

It is indeed right and good,
Lord God, holy Father,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks to you,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
But most of all we praise you
for the glorious resurrection of your Son,
the true Passover Lamb,
who has taken away the sin of the world.
By his death he has destroyed death,
and by his rising again he has restored life.
And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter
and all the other witnesses of the resurrection,
with earth and sea and all their creatures,
and with angels and archangels,
cherubim and seraphim,
we adore and praise your glorious name:

Communion Invitation

Jesus says: ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.’
(Thanks be to God.)
Come, everything is ready.

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.
Heavenly Father,
you gave your Son to die and raised him to give us eternal life.
Grant that we who have received his body and blood
may live in him and serve you as your children.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

OR use the third prayer of the day (as listed above) at this point. It may be modified as follows.

Almighty and merciful God,
your Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life
for all who put their trust in him.
As we have received his body and blood,
raise us up from the death that comes with sin,
and give us the new life of faith in Christ,
so that we may always live to please you.
We ask this through your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Dismissal

BLESSING
This seasonal blessing is used together with (ie before) the usual blessing in the order of service.

(May) the God of peace,
who raised from the dead our Lord Jesus,
provide you with every good thing you need
in order to do his will; . . .

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. The Lord is risen indeed.
Thanks be to God.

OR  In the name of Christ. Amen.