Holy Communion – First Sunday after Easter

We’re going to try again to broadcast a live service on Sunday, April 19th, at 10:30 A.M.   The Gospel reading is Jesus’ appearance in the Upper Room, or the Cenacle, which is the Scriptural authority for the Sacrament of Penance/Confession.  In order to test that the broadcast is actually on the air live we will start about 20 minutes early.

While we cannot remedy the lack of access to the Sacraments, at least with the live broadcast you can hear the service and receive the Pardon and Absolution and the closing blessing.

A Service of Holy Communion

First Sunday after Easter
April 19th, A.D. 2020

Please respond or say with Minister all the words in Bold

The people always say the Amen.
Page numbers are from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

A Prayer In Time of Calamity   Page 41

O God, merciful and compassionate, who art ever ready to hear the prayers of those who put their trust in thee; Graciously hearken to us who call upon thee, and grant us thy help in this our need; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Collect for Purity Page 67

ALMIGHTY God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Decalogue  Page 68

GOD spake these words, and said:

I am the Lord thy God; Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.  

II.  Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them;.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

III.  Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain;

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

IV.  Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath-day. 

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

V.  Honour thy father and thy mother; 

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

VI.  Thou shalt do no murder.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

VII.  Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

VIII.  Thou shalt not steal.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

IX.  Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.

X.  Thou shalt not covet 

Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

The Kyrie  Page 70

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Christ, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

The Prayer of Sanctification  Page 70

O ALMIGHTY Lord, and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and govern, both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy commandments; that, through thy most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Salutation  Page 70

  The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

The Collect for the  Octave of Easter  Page 163

ALMIGHTY God, who through thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ hast overcome death, and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life; We humbly beseech thee that, as by thy special grace preventing us thou  dost put into our minds good desires, so by thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost ever, one God, world without end.  Amen.

The Collect for First Sunday after Easter  Page 170

ALMIGHTY Father who hast given thine only Son to die for our sins, and to rise again for our justification; Grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve thee in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Old Testament Lesson Page xxii

The Old Testament lesson is written in the 43rd Chapter of Isaiah,
beginning at the 1st verse.

BUT now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.   When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.  Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;  I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;  Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.  Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.  Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.  Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.   I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.  I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed, when there was no strange god among you: therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God.

Here endeth the Old Testament lesson.

The Psalm Reading Page 466

The Psalm appointed for this day in Psalm 103.  Please respond with the half verse.

Benedic, anima mea.

PRAISE the Lord, O my soul; * and all that is within me, praise his holy Name.

2. Praise the Lord, O my soul, * and forget not all his benefits:

3. Who forgiveth all thy sin, * and healeth all thine infirmities;

4. Who saveth thy life from destruction, * and crowneth thee with mercy and loving-kindness;

5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, * making thee young and lusty as an eagle.

6. The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment * for all them that are oppressed with wrong.

7. He showed his ways unto Moses, * his works unto the children of Israel.

8. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, * long-suffering, and of great goodness.

9. He will not alway be chiding; * neither keepeth he his anger for ever.

10. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; * nor rewarded us according to our wickednesses.

11. For look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth; * so great is his mercy also toward them that fear him.

12. Look how wide also the east is from the west; * so far hath he set our sins from us.

13. Yea, like as a father pitieth his own children; * even so is the Lord merciful unto them that fear him.

14. For he knoweth whereof we are made; * he remembreth that we are but dust.

15. The days of man are but as grass; * for he flourisheth as a flower of the field.

16. For as soon as the wind goeth over it, it is gone; * and the place thereof shall know it no more.

17. But the merciful goodness of the Lord endureth for ever and ever upon them that fear him; * and his righteousness upon children’s children;

18. Even upon such as keep his covenant, * and think upon his commandments to do them.

19. The Lord hath prepared his seat in heaven, * and his kingdom ruleth over all.

20. O praise the Lord, ye angels of his, ye that excel in strength; * ye that fulfil his commandment, and hearken unto the voice of his word.

21. O praise the Lord, all ye his hosts; * ye servants of his that do his pleasure.

22. O speak good of the Lord, all ye works of his, in all places of his dominion: * praise thou the Lord, O my soul. 

The Gloria Patri Page 9

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Epistle Page 170

The Epistle is written in the 5th Chapter of the 1st. Epistle of St. John,
beginning at the 4th verse.

WHATSOVER is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?   This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.  If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.  And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Here endeth the Epistle

The Gospel Page 171

The Holy Gospel is written in the 20th Chapter of the Gospel of St. John,
beginning at the 19th verse.

Glory be to thee, O Lord.

THE same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had so said, He shewed them His hands and His side. Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.   Then said Jesus to them again, “Peace be unto you! As my Father hath sent Me, even so I send you.”  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and saith unto them, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosover sins ye retain, they are retained.”

Praise be to thee, O Christ.

The Nicene Creed  Page 70

I BELIEVE in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And of all things visible and invisible: 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God; Begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of very God; Begotten, not made; Being of one substance with the Father; By whom all things were made: Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, And was made man: And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried: And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures: And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father:  And he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose kingdom shall have no end.  

And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord, and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son; Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; Who spake by the Prophets: 

And I believe one Catholic and Apostolic Church:  I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins:  And I look for the Resurrection of the dead: And the Life of the world to come.  Amen.

The Prayer for Christ’s Church Page 74

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men; We humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept our [alms and] oblations, and to receive these our prayers, which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant that all those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.

We beseech thee also, so to direct and dispose the hearts of all Christian Rulers, that they may truly and impartially administer justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and other Ministers, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.

And to all thy People give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service, and to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.  Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate.  Amen.

Invitation to Holy Communion Page 75

YE who do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling.

The General Confession Page 75

ALMIGHTY God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things,  Judge of all men;  We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed, By thought, word, and deed, Against thy Divine Majesty, Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us. We do earnestly repent, And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings; The remembrance of them is grievous unto us; The burden of them is intolerable. Have mercy upon us, Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, Forgive us all that is past; And grant that we may ever hereafter Serve and please thee In newness of life, To the honour and glory of thy Name; Through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Pardon & Absolution Page 76

ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all those who with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Comfortable Words Page 76

Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all who truly turn to him.

COME unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.  St. Matt. xi. 28.

So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  St. John iii. 16.

Hear also what Saint Paul saith.

This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received, That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  1 Tim. i. 15.

Hear also what Saint John saith.

If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the Propitiation for our sins.  1 St. John ii. 1, 2.

The Sursum Corda Page 76

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

Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
It is meet and right so to do. 

The Proper Preface/Preface Completed  Pages 77 & 78

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, Everlasting God.  

BUT chiefly are we bound to praise thee for the glorious Resurrection of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord: for he is the very Paschal Lamb, which was offered for us, and hath taken away the sin of the world; who by his death hath destroyed death, and by his rising to life again hath restored to us everlasting life.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

The Sanctus Page 77

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory:
Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.  Amen.

The Canon of the Mass Page 80

ALL glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption; who made there (by his one oblation of himself once offered) a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again:  For in the night in which he was betrayed, (a) he took Bread; and when he had given thanks, (b) he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat, (c) this is my Body, which is given for you; Do this in remembrance of me.  Likewise, after supper, (d) he took the Cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of this; for (e) this is my Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. 

WHEREFORE, O Lord and heavenly Father, according to the institution of thy dearly beloved Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, we, thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here before thy Divine Majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; rendering unto thee most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured unto us by the same.

AND we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us; and, of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, these thy gifts and creatures of bread and wine; that we, receiving them according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution, in remembrance of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood.

AND we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness, mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; most humbly beseeching thee to grant that, by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we, and all thy whole Church, may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion.  And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice unto thee; humbly beseeching thee, that we, and all others who shall be partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him. And although we are unworthy, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice; yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service; not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences, through Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honour and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer Page 82

And now, as our Saviour Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

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 Prayer of Humble Access  Page 82

WE do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.  We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.  But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.  Amen.

The Agnus Dei Page 82

O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world,
grant us thy peace.

Words of Administration of the Elements Page 82

The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.  Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee, and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life. Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee, and be thankful.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving Page 83

Let us pray.

ALMIGHTY and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee, for that thou dost vouchsafe to feed us who have duly received these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favour and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, which is the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs through hope of thy everlasting kingdom, by the merits of his most precious death and passion. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

The Gloria in excelsis Page 84

GLORY be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will towards men.  We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.  Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. 

For thou only art holy; thou only art the Lord; thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

The Blessing Page 84

THE Peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord:  And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always.  Amen.

Thank you for joining us for this live broadcast of Holy Communion for the First Sunday after Easter.  Please join us again next Sunday, Second Sunday after Easter, April 26th, at 10:30 A.M.   We will continue live broadcasts of Holy Communion until regular Church services can be resumed across the country.