Hybrid Worship, April 14, 2024, EASTER III

Hybrid Worship, April 14, 2024, EASTER III

Rev. Suzanna Bates

Music Director: Dorothy Dittrich

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words for Worship

Words in bold italics, please say together

Prelude:  The Little Prelude                                                          J.S Bach

Gathering Hymn: Where Two of Three are Gathered               VU #14

Acknowledgment of the Land

Lighting Christ Candle

We are here. God is here

This place is sacred ground.

Call to Worship

Like the disciples who met the risen Christ, 

we come hoping for unexpected appearances of God’s love.

We come with our questions and doubts, 

and listen for Christ to appear in our midst saying:

 “Peace be with you.”

“Touch me and see who I am” says Jesus:

We look around at the lives of our neighbours and guests and seek the power of the risen Christ at work there, offering peace, offering hope, offering courage, offering transformation.

We are witnesses to the tangible love of Jesus! 

Come, let us worship God!

Opening Prayer

Hymn: You Tell Me That The Lord Is Risen                             VU #185

Gospel Reading                                        Reader: Nancy Hetherington Peirce

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel. 

God be with you. 

And also with you 

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Luke. 

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

Luke 24:36b–44 (The Message)

Jesus invites the disciples to touch his hands and feet.

While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, “Don’t be upset, and don’t let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it’s really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn’t have muscle and bone like this.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true. Jesus asked, “Do you have any food here?” They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes. Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”

Word: Eastertide

Life & Work of the Church

Offering

Prayer of Dedication

Loving God, we bring our gifts today believing that 

wonderful things can be done with them. 

We give them gladly. 

Bless and use them as you bless and use us 

for your work in this place. Amen.

Prayers of the People                                                         Paddy Waymark

Timeless God

 Hear our Prayers           

Hymn: Stay With Us Through The Night                                  VU #182

Holy Communion

The peace of Christ be always with you

        And also with you.

The Eucharistic Prayer

God is here.

   God gather us round.

Lift up your hearts.

   We lift them up to God,

Let us give thanks to Creator, our God.

   It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is right to praise you, God of all creation; in your love you made us for yourself. When we turned away you did not reject us, but came to meet us where we are. You embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you. In Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us. On the night he was betrayed, at supper with his friends he took bread, and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to them, saying: 

Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; 

do this in remembrance of me.

        We do this in remembrance of him.

        We share in the bread of life.

At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my life poured out in love for you. 

Do this in remembrance of me.

        We do this in remembrance of him.

        We share in the cup of life.

As we proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory, send your Holy Spirit and bless this this bread and wine and water. May be a blessing to us and a reminder of your love for us as we share in communion with you. 

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, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. 

Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

Though we are many, we are one body, 

because we all share in one bread.

Sharing Together

Prayer after Communion

        In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, 

     help us, O God, to trust your love, 

     to serve your purpose and to praise your living name. Amen.

Hymn: All The Way My Saviour Leads Me                               VU #635

Blessing

People of God, go out this day knowing that you are witnesses to the risen Christ.

With our eyes open to wonder,

with our minds attuned to goodness,

with our souls aware of what fears and doubts still 

remain but with our hearts open to joy and forgiveness,

we will go in peace to love and serve the world.

Postlude: Minuet in G