March 31, 2024 Easter Day Service

The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Prelude

Flowering of the Cross

Opening Hymn #180: He is risen, He is risen!

Priest           Alleluia. Christ is risen!

People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Priest           Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: 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.

Now we will sing a version of the Te Deum, an ancient hymn of praise to God. This substantial hymn is also a summary of the Christian faith. Sing with gusto and joy! Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Priest           The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Priest           Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 10, Verses 34 – 43

Peter began to speak to Cornelius and the other Gentiles: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ–he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Word of the Lord / Thanks be to God!

Psalm 118: 1 – 2, 14 – 24

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let Israel now proclaim, *
“His mercy endures for ever.”                                                    (ANT.)

14 The Lord is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.

15 There is a sound of exultation and victory *
in the tents of the righteous:

16 “The right hand of the Lord has triumphed! *
the right hand of the Lord is exalted!
the right hand of the Lord has triumphed!”                           (ANT.)

17 I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the Lord.

18 The Lord has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.                                    (ANT.)

19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the Lord.

20 “This is the gate of the Lord; *
he who is righteous may enter.”

21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me *
and have become my salvation.                                                (ANT.)

22 The same stone which the builders rejected *
has become the chief cornerstone.

23 This is the Lord’s doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.                                       (ANT.)

24 On this day the Lord has acted; *
we will rejoice and be glad in it.                                                        

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 1 – 11

I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you–unless you have come to believe in vain.

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them–though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.

The Word of the Lord / Thanks be to God!

Sequence Hymn #184: Christ the Lord is risen again!

Priest           The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.                   

People Glory to you, Lord Christ.

A reading from the Gospel according to John, Chapter 20, Verses 1 – 18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Priest           The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon

The people may be seated for the sermon.

The Nicene Creed

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 of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary

    and became truly human.

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,

    who with the Father and the Son is worshiped 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.

Sermon

The people may be seated for the sermon.

Prayers of the People

Priest           With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying “Lord, have mercy.”

Intercessor    For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For Michael, our Presiding Bishop; for Jos, our Bishop; and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For our government, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For this city of Boise, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For those on our hearts, especially Kim B., Cheryl W., Cathy & Del, Susan F., Daryl C., Debbie L., Margaret L., Annette F., Margo, the Mathison Family, the Munro Family, Chris K., Susan B., the Walsh Family, Liz D., William R., the Dahlquist Family, Donna E., Jenny H., Heidi B., Mary H., Rick B., Cliff C., and Paul B., let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For the intercessions of the diocese, especially the Church in the Province of the West Indies, Grace, Nampa, and for peace in war torn countries, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.

People Lord, have mercy.

Intercessor    In the communion of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

People To you, O Lord our God.

Priest           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.

Priest           The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People And also with you.

The peace is briefly shared. After the peace, a time for sharing and celebrating blessings and birthdays will follow.

The Offertory begins with the following:

Priest           Through Christ let us offer to God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;

People          With gladness we present the offerings of our life and labor to the Lord.

Offertory Choir Hymn: He is risen

The people stand to sing or sit as able

After the Altar is prepared, the following is said:

Priest           Everything in heaven and earth is yours, O Lord; 

People          All things come from you, and of your own have we given you.

Eucharistic Prayer A

The people remain standing.

Priest           The Lord be with you.

People          And also with you.

Priest           Lift up your hearts.

People          We lift them to the Lord.

Priest           Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People          It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Priest           It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Priest           Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

All               Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

Priest           We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,               

The bread is now broken, and a moment of silence is observed before the Fraction Anthem below is said or sung.      

Priest           The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Communion Hymn:

People may be seated while waiting to come forward. All are welcome to share in communion. Gluten-free bread is available. Hold out your hands to receive the bread. If you wish to come forward for a blessing only, cross your arms over your chest.

After Communion, the Priest says Let us pray.

All               Eternal God, heavenly Father,

you have graciously accepted us as living members

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,

and you have fed us with spiritual food

in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage

to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Priest           May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing. Amen.

May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever. Amen.

May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

Priest           Alleluia, alleluia! Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. 

People          Thanks be to God! Alleluia, alleluia! 

Closing Hymn #207: Jesus Christ is risen today

Postlude

Serving today:

10:00 A.M.

Celebrant: Fr. Joseph Farnes

Lectors: Brian Kiester & Kelsey Bullinger

Eucharistic Ministers: David Hutchins & Pat Webb

Altar Guild: Linda Stark, Holly Melgard, & ElsieLee McKlveen

Ushers: Ray Stark & Laura Harbert

Music Director: Shauna Emara

Camera: Dean Hagerman

Sunday School: Barb Tool

Coffee Hour Hosts: Jen LaForge & Pat Webb