Easter | Friday 17 Apr 2026
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening prayer:
Almighty and everlasting God,
who in the Paschal mystery
established the new covenant of reconciliation:
Grant that all who have been reborn
into the fellowship of Christ’s Body
may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
“Now you must be holy in everything you do,
just as God who chose you is holy.”
(1 Peter 1:15)
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Psalms: Psalm 116 | Poor Bishop Hooper
i love the lord for he heard my voice
he heard my cry for mercy
i will call on him as long as i live
for he turned his ear to me
the cords of death
the anguish of the grave
i was overcome i was overcome
then i called on the name
the lord is gracious and righteous and full of compassion
he protects the simple he’s saved me when i’m low
once more be at rest oh my soul for the lord has been good to you
o lord you’ve delivered my soul from death
my eyes from tears my feet from stumbling
that i may walk before you
in the land of the living
oh how can i repay the lord
for all of his goodness to me
i will lift up the cup of salvation
and i’ll call on the name
the lord is gracious and righteous and full of compassion
he protects the simple he’s saved me when i’m low
once more be at rest oh my soul for the lord has been good to you
so every vow i have made i will pay
oh lord i’m your servant
with my offerings i will give thanks
and i’ll call on the name
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OT Reading: Isaiah 26:1-4 (NLT)
A Song of Praise to the Lord
26:1 In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song:
Our city is strong!
We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation.
+ Open the gates to all who are righteous;
allow the faithful to enter.
+ You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
+ Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.
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Trust in the Lord – GracefulNotes
1: We have a strong city, our refuge and our grace,
In the Lord’s deliverance, we find our sacred place.
Walls of salvation, a rampart so divine,
Trust in His protection, He’ll never decline.
Chorus:
Open the gates, let the righteous come in,
Those who are faithful, with hearts free from sin.
We trust in the Lord, our strength and our light,
Our city of refuge, through the day and the night.
2: In Him we find shelter, our hearts safe and sure,
The faith of the righteous, forever secure.
He keeps us in peace, when we trust in His name,
Our hope in the Lord, forever the same.
3: Through the trials of life, His promise will stand,
The Lord is our rock, the firmest in the land.
We’ll trust in His power, His peace, and His might,
Forever and ever, He’ll be our guiding light.
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NT Reading: 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
A Call to Holy Living
1:13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
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Holiness – Sarah Hart [OCP music]
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O God, without whose beauty and goodness our souls are unfed, without whose truth our reason withers: Consecrate our lives to your will, giving us such purity of heart, such depth of faith, and such steadfastness of purpose, that in time we may come to think your own thoughts after you; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen. | Thomas Aquinas
O God, our heavenly Father, you manifested your love by sending your only-begotten Son into the world, that all might live through him: Pour out your Spirit on your Church, that we may fulfill his command to preach the Gospel to all people. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May the risen Christ grant us the joys of eternal life.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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