April 18, 2021 | The Third Sunday of Easter

The Third Sunday of Easter

April 18, 2021 | 10 a.m.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | Williamsburg VA

The Word of God

Opening Hymn     Now the green blade riseth

1 Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.	3 Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain, He that for three days in the grave had lain. Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen: Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green.
2 In the grave they laid him, Love whom hate had slain, Thinking that never he would wake again. Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen: Love is come again, like wheat that springeth green,

Opening Acclamation          

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The Collect for Purity                                                             Book of Common Prayer, p. 355

Song of Praise

God’s Paschal Lamb is sacrificed for us.

Therefore with joy we keep the Easter feast;

Forsaking sin, we share the bread of truth.

Alleluia, alleluia!    

The Collect of the Day                                       

The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Let us pray.

O, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Amen.

The First Reading     Acts 3:12-19    

Peter addressed the people, “You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

“And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.”   The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 4  (responsively by half-verse)

Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; * you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.

“You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; * how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?”

Know that God does wonders for the faithful; * when I call, God will hear me.

Tremble, then, and do not sin; * speak to your heart in silence upon your bed.

Offer the appointed sacrifices * and put your trust in the Most High.

Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” *

Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O God.

You have put gladness in my heart, * more than when grain and wine and oil increase. 

I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; * for only you, God, make me dwell in safety.

The Second Reading     1 John 3:1-7

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.   The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Acclamation     Celtic Alleluia

The Gospel     Luke 24:36b-48

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.  Glory to you, O Christ. 

Jesus himself stood among the disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

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

The Sermon                                                                                                                           The Rev. Lisa Green

A period of silence follows the sermon.

The Nicene Creed    

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. 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: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.  He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The Prayers of the People

Alleluia! What was dead shall live; what was dark shall shine; what was forgotten shall be remembered, for the Lord is risen and walks among us. Let us bring before God the needs of all our world, claiming that renewal and proclaiming, Christ is risen indeed.

God of life, in gratitude and great joy we praise you for the gifts of Christ’s resurrection. Give us hope, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.

On this day which brings joy to all Christians, inspire us to work toward the unity of the church, that Christ’s body may be one, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.

For all who at this challenging time have particular need of the gift of Easter; for all who journey from illness to health, from despair to hope, from grief to consolation, from loneliness to love. We pray for, Amelie and Dick, Patricia, Barbara, Spencer, Ken, Cornelius, Ione, Tom, Tony and Anna and all our, that death may have no more power over us, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.

For all who suffer and all who mourn, that today you will wipe away all tears, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.

Grant us the persistent faith of Mary Magdalene and the surprised belief of Peter and John. May we long to be your sign of life in our world, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.

May we be one in faith with all who have died in Christ, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.

God of life, we thank you for the mystery planted in us, the paradox of life from death and community from scattered disciples.  We praise you for the dying which saves us from death and for the rising which brings us life.  We pray, as we live, through Jesus the risen one, in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.  Amen. 

The Peace and Announcements

The peace of the Lord be always with you.  And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn     My soul is at rest in God alone

My soul is at rest in God alone, my salvation comes from God.

The Great Thanksgiving     Eucharistic Prayer A                             

The Lord be with you.  And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.  We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.  It is right to give God thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed 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 won for us everlasting life. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of 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.  Hosanna in the highest.

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ 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.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer                                                                      

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy 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 thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Breaking of Bread

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

Music at Communion    Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place    

The Post-Communion Prayer         

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Blessing of Easter

May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.  Amen.

May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.  Amen.

May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance.  Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.  Amen.

The Closing Hymn     Lord of all hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray, your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm, whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray, your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

The Dismissal

Alleluia! Alleluia!  Let us go forth in the name of the Risen Christ.

Thanks be to God.  Alleluia, alleluia!

The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God in memory of Carole VanOrden.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | Williamsburg VA 23185 | 757-229-1111 | martinburg.org