Today Is: Easter
Sun, 04 Apr 2021 -- The Lectionary Cycle is: B

Click for Responsorial Psalm

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Collect for: Easter O God, who for our redemption gave your only begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. New Testament Acts 10:34-43 34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all -- 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.' Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Psalm Psalm 118 14 The LORD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. 17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the LORD. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the LORD. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 20 This is the gate of the LORD, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the LORD's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. *At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. New Testament 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God. Gospel John 20:1-9 Introduction to the Gospel: Deacon:The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John. People: Glory to You, Lord Christ. Deacon: We are reading from John's Gospel chapter 20, beginning at verse 1. 1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, 'They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.' 3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. 5 And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says: Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to You, Lord Christ. Prayers of the People Prayers of the People for: Easter Brothers and sisters, Christ is risen, and the power of His resurrection gives us new life. With hope and expectation, let us bring our needs and the needs of the whole world before Him. That the Church, anointed with the Holy Spirit, will clearly bear witness of Christ's redeeming work. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That God will supernaturally comfort and sustain the persecuted Church and that by their witness their oppressors will be converted. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That nations will acknowledge that all rule and authority comes from God. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we who believe in Jesus, Who is the Resurrection and the Life, will defend life and pray for an end to abortion and euthanasia. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That God will raise up young men and women into Christian ministry, holy and pleasing unto Himself, to lead His people in future generations. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That we, having been touched by the love of God, will express that love to those we meet. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. That those who have lost loved ones, will find comfort in the promises of the Risen Christ. Lord in Your mercy,            Hear our prayer. Risen Lord, this is the day that You have made, and we are thankful for it. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to live as faithful witnesses to Your Most Holy saving work through Christ our Lord. AMEN