Praying Together in the Easter Season
@St Lukes, Holmes Chapel
note: you can download a copy of this prayer-sheet for printing here
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O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Let your ways be known on earth,
Your saving power among the nations.
In your resurrection, O Christ,
Let heaven and earth rejoice. Alleluia.
Risen Christ,
You filled your disciples with boldness
And with fresh hope:
Strengthen us to proclaim your risen life
And fill us with your peace,
To the glory of God the Father. Amen.
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Hearing and responding to the Word of God
Bible readings can be found on the church website or Facebook page.
Read them out loud then finish with this response:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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Canticles
Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace:
Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation,
Which you have prepared in the sight of every people
A light to reveal you to the nations
And the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now
And shall be for ever. Amen.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us:
So let us celebrate the feast,
Not with the old leaven of corruption and wickedness:
But with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
Christ has been raised from the dead:
The first fruits of those who sleep.
For as by man came death:
By man has come also the resurrection of the dead;
For as in Adam all die:
Even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1 Corinthians 5:7, 15:20-22
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
Into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you
Who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation,
Ready to be revealed in the last time.
You were ransomed from the futile ways of your ancestors
Not with perishable things like silver or gold
But with the precious blood of Christ
Like that of a lamb without spot or stain.
Through him we have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope are set on God.
1 Peter 1:3-5, 18-19, 21
Ye choirs of New Jerusalem,
Your sweetest notes employ,
The Paschal victory to hymn
In strains of holy joy.
How Judah’s lion burst his chains
And crushed the serpent’s head;
And brought with him, from death’s domains,
The long imprisoned dead.
Triumphant in his glory now
His sceptre ruleth all,
Earth, heaven, and hell before him bow,
And at his footstool fall.
While joyful thus his praise we sing,
His mercy we implore,
Into his palace bright to bring
And keep us evermore.
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I cast my mind to Calvary
Where Jesus bled and died for me.
I see his wounds, his hands, his feet
My Saviour on that cursed tree.
His body bound and drenched in tears
They laid him down in Joseph’s tomb
The entrance sealed by heavy stone
Messiah still and all alone.
O praise the name of the Lord our God
O praise his name forever more
For endless days we will sing your praise
O Lord, O Lord our God
Then on the third, at break of dawn,
The Son of heaven rose again.
O trampled death, where is your sting?
The angels roar for Christ the King
He shall return in robes of white
The blazing Son shall pierce the night
And I will rise among the saints,
My gaze transfixed on Jesus’ face.
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Prayers
Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Almighty and everlasting God,
we thank you that you have brought us safely to the beginning of this day.
Keep us from falling into sin or running into danger;
order us in all our doings and guide us to do always what is righteous in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray to God,
who alone makes us dwell in safety:
For all who are affected by coronavirus,
through illness or isolation or anxiety,
that they may find relief and recovery:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For those who are guiding our nation at this time,
and shaping national policies,
that they may make wise decisions:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For doctors, nurses and medical researchers,
that through their skill and insights
many will be restored to health:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the vulnerable and the fearful,
for the gravely ill and the dying,
that they may know your comfort and peace:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
May the risen Christ grant us the joy of
eternal life. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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note: you can download a copy of this prayer-sheet for printing here