+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
Opening Sentences
Through the Paschal mystery, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life.
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Reading: Hosea 5:15-6:2 (ESV)
I will return again to my place, until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face, and in their distress earnestly seek me.
“Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him….”
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Reading: Romans 6:5-11 (ESV)
If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
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Prayer:
Christ our Redeemer, who suffered for us, was buried, and rose from the dead – have mercy on us.
+ Christ, our Lord, you saw your mother standing by the cross; may we share your saving passion in our time of suffering.
+ Christ, our Savior, you died like a grain of wheat falling into the ground; gather us to yourself in the harvest of redemption.
+ Christ, our shepherd, lying in the tomb you were hidden from men; teach us to love our real life, which is hidden with you in God.
+ Christ, the new Adam, you went down into the world of the dead to free the just; may those who are dead in sin hear your voice and live.
+ Son of the living God, we were buried with you in baptism; let us rise with you, alive to God for ever.
Almighty, ever-living God, whose Only-Begotten Son descended to the realm of the dead, and rose from there to glory, grant that your faithful people, who were buried with him in baptism, may, by his resurrection, obtain eternal life. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
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Beneath The Waters – Hillsong
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Blessing
May Almighty God deliver us from the powers of darkness and evil, and lead us into the light and obedience of the kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence and prayer:
I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.
Most powerful Holy Spirit, come down upon us and subdue us. Bathe us with the brilliance of Your light like dew from heaven, where the ordinary is made glorious, and glory seems but ordinary.
A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 9:1-3 (NLT)
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 (NLT)
The Lord is my light and my salvation — so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?
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The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most — is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
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Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
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One thing I desire / One thing I seek / To gaze upon Your beauty / And Your Majesty / God of my salvation / Lifter of my head / Teach me how to live oh Lord / And Your righteousness / So I pray to You / So I pray to You
Lord, Your name / Is higher than the heavens / Lord, Your name / Is higher than all created things / Higher than hope / Higher than dreams / The name of the Lord
In the days of trouble / You cover me / In the secret place of refuge / Lord, I will sing / So I pray to You, I pray / So I pray to You
Lord, Your name / Is higher than the heavens / Lord, Your name / Is higher than all created things / Higher than hope / Higher than dreams / The name of the Lord
A Reading from the Letters of Paul: 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 (NLT)
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.”
Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!
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For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News — and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.
A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 4:12-23 (NLT)
When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he left Judea and returned to Galilee. He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This fulfilled what God said through the prophet Isaiah:
“In the land of Zebulun and of Naphtali, beside the sea, beyond the Jordan River, in Galilee where so many Gentiles live, the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light. And for those who lived in the land where death casts its shadow, a light has shined.”
From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers — Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew — throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him.
A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.
Intercessions:
“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.” (Isaiah 9:2)
Heavenly Father – Let the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, shine on us.
+ That the people of God may be like greats light shining in the darkness – announcing the Good News of Your Kingdom to every tribe and nation.
+ That the leaders of this world may turn away from the darkness of evil in all its forms – abandoning all self-interest to follow Jesus.
+ That the people of God may bring rays of hope into the lives of those who suffer – giving justice to the oppressed, human dignity to every person, and aid and comfort to those who cannot help themselves.
+ That those who search and grope in life may discover Christ as the answer to their quest for love, goodness and truth – experiencing for themselves Your healing mercies.
+ That the people of God may become one in You – bringing peace and unity into our homes, our communities, our nation.
+ That the world-wide community of faith may live together in harmony in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives… delighting in Your beauty and dwelling in Your presence.
Most powerful Holy Spirit, come down upon us and subdue us. Bathe us with the brilliance of Your light like dew from heaven, where the ordinary is made glorious, and glory seems but ordinary. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord, I want to feel your heart / And see the world through your eyes / I want to be your hands and feet / I want to live a life that leads / Ready yourselves, ready yourselves / Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night / Ready yourselves, ready yourselves / May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears, Lord, we are calling out / Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound / Like voices in the wilderness, we’re crying out / And as the day draws near / We’ll sing until the whole world hears
Lord, let your sleeping giant rise / Catch the demons by surprise / Holy nation sanctified / Let this be our battle cry
Ready yourselves, ready yourselves / Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night / Ready yourselves, ready yourselves / May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise
Until the whole world hears, Lord, we are calling out / Lifting up your name for all to hear the sound / Like voices in the wilderness, we’re crying out / And as the day draws near / We’ll sing until the whole world hears
We’ll sing until the whole world hears / We’ll sing until the whole world hears
I want to be your hands and feet / I want live a life that leads / To see you set the captive free / Until the whole world hears / And I pray that they will see / More of you and less of me / Lord, I want my life to be / The song You sing
Until the whole world hears, Lord, we are calling out / Lifting your name up for all to hear the sound / Like voices in the wilderness, we’re crying out / And as the day draws near / We’ll sing until the whole world hears…
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence and prayer:
Today Jesus was baptized in the Jordan; the Father recognized Him as His beloved Son; the Holy Spirit prepared Him for His mission of service. May the Lord’s Spirit of sonship and service be always with you.
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God our Father, with Jesus you call us to be your beloved sons and daughters and with Him you give us the mission to become humble and dedicated servants. Grant that we may not break those crushed by sin and sorrow. Help us to serve always the cause of right, to be eyes to the blind and a voice for the downtrodden. May we please you in all we do. We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord.
A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 (NLT)
“Look at my servant, whom I strengthen. He is my chosen one, who pleases me. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not falter or lose heart until justice prevails throughout the earth. Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”
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“I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations. You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.”
A Reading from the Psalms: Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10 (NLT)
Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength. Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
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The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare. In his Temple everyone shouts, “Glory!” The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever.
A Reading from Acts of the Apostles: Acts 10:34-38 (NLT)
Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel — that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”
A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)
Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?”
But Jesus said, “It should be done, for we must carry out all that God requires.” So John agreed to baptize him.
After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”
Intercessions:
Heavenly Father: You sent Jesus to live among us as a servant… to set us free… and to make us new. Lord, hear me as I pray.
+ For the Church and its leaders – that they may not seek compromises with wealth and power but serve and help the poor, the sick, and the broken-hearted. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For all those who are baptized – that we may follow Christ and that, like Him, we may learn to serve rather than to be served. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For Christian communities around the world – that the eucharist may strengthen in us the gifts of the Holy Spirit and make us ever more faithful to our calling as Your beloved children. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For Christians and for all people – that the Holy Spirit may guide us to respect all who are little and defenseless, particularly the unborn; and that we may not crush them but offer them justice, mercy and grace. Lord, hear my prayer.
+ For all those who don’t know Christ or who are estranged from the Church – that the way I live out my Christian life may reveal to them the love of Christ. Lord, hear my prayer.
Lord God, You have called me to become a new creation when I was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Forgive me my fears and anxieties and keep on renewing me through Your Spirit – that I may have the courage to go with Christ all the way, for He is Your Son and my Lord for ever. Amen.
Spiritual Song:“Take Us to the River” – Robin Mark
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.
There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – Soften the hearts of your children towards one another. May all who have been united with you in baptism, be united with one another in spirit… respecting our differences, yet encouraging one another as children and heirs of God. For your name’s sake I ask it. Amen.
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Prayer: Lord Jesus – Make us your ambassadors here and now… people who speak your Word of mercy and grace – “Come back to God!” Holy Spirit – Bring to our mind, at this moment, the people we know who need to be made right with God… (name them). Heavenly Father – we plead for them. Make them new creations in Jesus Christ – body, mind, soul, and spirit. Make this Easter the day that they know, without a doubt, they have been born again. I ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hymn:“Born Again” – Third Day (YouTube)
Today I found myself / After searching all these years / And the man that I saw, he wasn’t at all who I thought he’d be / I was lost when you found me here / And I was broken beyond repair / Then you came along and you sang your song over me
It feels like I’m born again / It feels like I’m living / For the very first time / For the very first time / In my life
Make a promise to me now / Reassure my heart somehow / That the love that I feel is so much more real than anything / I’ve a feeling in my soul / And I pray that I’m not wrong / That the life I have now, it is only the beginning
It feels like I’m born again / It feels like I’m living / For the very first time / For the very first time / It feels like I’m breathing / It feels like I’m moving / For the very first time / For the very first time
I wasn’t looking for something that was more / Than what I had yesterday / Then you came to me and you gave to me / Life and a love that I’ve never known / That I’ve never felt before
It feels like I’m born again / It feels like I’m living / For the very first time / I’m living for the first time / It feels like I’m breathing / It feels like I’m moving / For the very first time / I’m living for the first time / In my life
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