Greeting
Let us give praise
to the FATHER
who gave us his only SON to be our Savior.
And may the SPIRIT, who raises us up with Christ, be with you all.
Introduction and
Litany of Praise
Option A
Jesus was lifted
up on the cross for our salvation.
By the lifting up of the bread and wine in the Eucharist,
Jesus' saving sacrifice is remembered and renewed.
How worthy are we to partake in this saving mystery?
Lord Jesus, you are the Son of Man lifted up on the Cross
so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you
are the Son of God in whose name we are saved:
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you
came as light into the world
to dispel the powers of darkness:
Lord, have mercy.
Option B
Paul's proclamation
that we hear today gives us good reason to
gather in hope.
We bless God for the generosity of his grace, for the lavishness of
his
mercy. In that mercy we hope to have a share.
Let us ask the
Lord to renew our lives in the power of his forgiveness.
Through your grace, Lord, we are saved.
Lord, have mercy.
Through your gifts,
Lord, we are blessed.
Christ, have mercy.
Through your love,
Lord, we know peace.
Lord, have mercy.
Opening Prayer
Option A
O God, rich in
mercy,
you so loved the world
that when we were dead in our sins,
you sent your only Son for our deliverance.
Lifted up from the earth, he is light and life;
exalted upon the cross, he draws all to himself.
Raise us up with Christ
and make us rich in good works,
that we may walk as children of light
toward the paschal feast of heaven.
Grant this through Christ, our liberator from sin,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.
Option B
O God, the source
of all light,
You gaze into the depths of our inmost hearts.
Never permit the powers of darkness to hold your people captive,
but open our eyes by the grace of your Spirit,
that we may be able to look upon your Son
and see the one you sent to be the light of the world,
so that, seeing, we may believe and worship Jesus as the Lord
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. AMEN.
PRAYER OF THE
FAITHFUL
Presider
With confidence
we bring our cares and concerns before God the
Father who loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that
everyone who believes in him may not be lost but have eternal life.
CM Our
response is: Have mercy on your people, Lord.
Please
repeat:
For the church: (pause)
may it may always be a living sign of God's love and mercy in times
of
darkness and despair. We pray:
For all those
holding public office: (pause)
that the light of truth and justice may shine in their words and
actions. We pray:
For the followers
of Christ gathered here in prayer (pause)
that they may attract people to Christ who is the Light. We pray:
For the adults preparing for baptism here in our church on
Easter Sunday. (pause)
that their faith be enriched by the example of our good works. We pray:
[The Presider
may add a Petition that is local / relevant]
Presider
God of love and
mercy,
you call us to walk in the light
that Christ your Son brought into our world.
Free us from darkness and keep us in the radiance of the truth.
We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Prayer over the
Gifts
O God,
You so loved the world that you sent your only Son into our world
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but may have eternal life.
Through him, we bring before you the aspirations of all humankind
for a world where honesty and justice will reign.
This we ask through Christ our Lord. AMEN.
Invitation to
the Lord's Prayer
Option A
Let us pray to
the Father of all mercies
for the coming
of the kingdom among us:
Option B
Let us pray that
God might show the immeasurable riches of his
grace by praying
in the words of Jesus:
Deliver us Lord
Deliver us, Lord,
from evil deeds,
especially when we love darkness rather than light.
We know that you are with us even in the darkness
Let your kindness always shine on us
as we wait
in joyful hope
for our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
Prayer for Peace
Lord, Jesus Christ,
you said to Nicodemus:
"Those
who do what is true come to the light".
Look not
on our blindness,
but on the
faith of your Church,
and grant
us the peace and unity of your kingdom,
where you
live for ever and ever.
Exchange of Peace
Blessed are those
who make peace:
they shall be called sons and daughters of God.
We meet in the name of Christ and share his peace.
Optional Prayer to accompany the Breaking of Bread
The bread we now
break is the Lord's blessed bread
divided into
many pieces
so that we
may share and live in his life.
For in the
partaking of this bread
we partake
of his Spirit of love
and his promise
of life-everlasting.
Invitation to
Communion
Behold Jesus, the
Lamb of God,
who was lifted up on the cross
to redeem us from the darkness of sin and death.
Blessed are we who are called to receive him.
Prayer after Communion [ Based
on the 2nd Reading]
O God, who is rich
in mercy,
out of the great love with which you love us
you have made us alive together with Christ;
you have raised us up with him
and seated us with him in the heavenly places,
so that you might show the immeasurable riches of your grace;
for it is by your grace that we have been saved.
We are what you have made us.
And we thank you for your gift in Christ Jesus the Lord. AMEN.
Solemn Blessing
May God the FATHER
who created you in love
bring you to the light. AMEN.
May the grace of his SON who was lifted up on the cross
draw you to himself. AMEN.
And may the power of his SPIRIT help you to believe
so that you may have eternal life. AMEN.
Dismissal
Option A
Saved by faith
and created in Christ for good works,
go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Option B
Our celebration
is ended.
Walk in the light of Christ
so that it may be clearly seen
that your deeds have been done in God.
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