Order of Mass for Easter II, Divine Mercy Sunday (19 April 2020)

The Mass for the Second Sunday of Easter

Divine Mercy Sunday, 19 April 2020

THE GATHERING

Hymn

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem

Ye choirs of new Jerusalem,
your sweetest notes employ,
the Paschal victory to hymn
in strains of holy joy.

For 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, heav'n 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.

All glory to the Father be,
all glory to the Son,
all glory, Holy Ghost, to thee,
while endless ages run.

[NEH 124, omitting v.3]

Introit

The celebrant prays the Introit

Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk,

that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia.

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

All      Amen.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

All      He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The celebrant welcomes the people and introduces the service

Prayer of Preparation

All   Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer of Confession

The Celebrant introduces the Confession with words appropriate to the season.

All      Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have sinned against you

and against our neighbour

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

we are truly sorry

and repent of all our sins.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

who died for us,

forgive us all that is past

and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name.

Amen.

The celebrant proclaims God’s forgiveness

The Gloria

All   Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,

almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,

with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

The Collect

Let us pray

Almighty Father,

you have given your 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 you

in pureness of living and truth;

through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

The Celebrant prays the Collect set for the day

LITURGY OF THE WORD

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Jude

and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

‘You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him,

“I saw the Lord always before me,

   for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken;

therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

   moreover, my flesh will live in hope.

For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

   or let your Holy One experience corruption.

You have made known to me the ways of life;

   you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”

‘Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying,

“He was not abandoned to Hades,

   nor did his flesh experience corruption.”

This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

[Acts 2.14a, 22-32]

This is the word of the Lord.

All      Thanks be to God.

A reading from the First Letter of St Peter.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and 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. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

[1 Peter 1. 3-9]

Hymn

Now the green blade riseth

Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,
Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain;
Love lives again, that with the dead has been:
Love is come again,

Like wheat that springs up green. 

In the grave they laid Him, Love Whom we had slain,
Thinking that never he would wake again,
Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love is come again,

Like wheat that springs up green. 

Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,
He that for three days in the grave had lain;

Quick from the dead my risen Lord is seen:
Love is come again,

Like wheat that springs up green. 

When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain,
Thy touch can call us back to life again;
Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:
Love is come again,

Like wheat that springs up green. 

[NEH 115]

Gospel reading

The Celebrant announces the Gospel using the acclamation

proper to the season then introduces the Gospel with these words

Alleluia, alleluia.

I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;

I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore.

All    Alleluia.

The Lord be with you.

All      And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John.

All      Glory to you, O Lord.

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

[John 20.19-31]

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All      Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The Creed

All      We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is,

seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father;

through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,

who has spoken through the prophets

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

These responses is used

Lord, in your mercy

All      hear our prayer.

And at the end

Merciful Father,

All   accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT

The Peace

The celebrant introduces the Peace with words proper to the season and then says

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All      and also with you.

Hymn

And can it be that I should gain

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father's throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace;
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race;
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
For, O my God, it found out me.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quick'ning ray,
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

My chains fell off, my heart was free;
I rose, went forth and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

[Hymns Old & New 30]

Prayer over the gifts

Accept, O Lord, we pray,

the oblations of your people

(and of those you have brought to new birth),

that, renewed by confession of your name and by Baptism,

they may attain unending happiness.

Through Christ our Lord.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

All      and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

All      We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All      It is right to give thanks and praise.

The Celebrant praises God for his mighty acts and all respond

All      Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The president recalls the Last Supper,

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:

All      Dying you destroyed our death,

rising you restored our life:

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

The Prayer continues and concludes with these words

[…] Through him, and with him, and in him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you, Father almighty,

in songs of everlasting praise:

All   Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All      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 trespassas 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.

The Breaking of the bread

Every time we eat this bread

and drink this cup,

All      we proclaim the Lord’s death

until he comes.

The Agnus Dei

All      Jesus, Lamb of God,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

grant us peace.

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

All      Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon

Bring your hand and feel the place of the nails,

and do not be unbelieving but believing, alleluia.

We make our spiritual communion

Communion Anthem

Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord.

Post Communion Prayers

Lord God our Father,

through our Saviour Jesus Christ

you have assured your children of eternal life

and in baptism have made us one with him:

deliver us from the death of sin

and raise us to new life in your love,

in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

All   Father of all,

we give you thanks and praise,

that when we were still far off

you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, he declared your love,

gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.

May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;

we who drink his cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise your name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

Notices

Hymn

Crown him with many crowns,

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.

Crown him the Virgin's Son!
The God Incarnate born,
whose arm those crimson trophies won
which now his brow adorn!
Fruit of the mystic Rose
as of that Rose the Stem:
The Root, whence mercy ever flows,
the Babe of Bethlehem!

Crown him the Lord of love;
behold his hands and side,
rich wounds, yet visible above,
in beauty glorified;
no angel in the sky
can fully bear that sight,
but downward bends his burning eye
at mysteries so bright.

Crown him the Lord of peace!
Whose power a sceptre sways,

from pole to pole, that wars may cease,
absorbed in prayer and praise:
His reign shall know no end,
and round his pierced feet
fair flowers of paradise extend
their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown him the Lord of years,
the potentate of time,
creator of the rolling spheres,
ineffably sublime.
Glassed in a sea of light,

where everlasting waves

reflect his throne, the Infinite!

Who lives, and loves and saves.

[NEH 352]

Final blessing

The celebrant introduces the blessing with words proper to the season and then says

[…] and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All      Amen.

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

All      Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which 

is included in this service, is copyright of the Archbishops' Council 2000

The New English Hymnal, material from which is included in this service, is copyright of 

The Canterbury Press, 2010

Hymns Old and New, The New English Hymnal material from which is included in this service, is copyright of Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 1996