Easter Tide Celebration – Sunday Evening Prayer
Diocesan Synod, Saturday 9 September 2017
These liturgical materials are taken from Celebrating Sunday
© Anglican Church of Southern Africa 2016
All Rights Reserved. Used with Permission.
Procession Led by the Paschal Candle
The church is dark before the liturgy begins.
The Paschal Candle is processed to in front of the Altar.
The presider remains standing in the gate to the sanctuary.
When the Altar candles are lit, they are lit from the Paschal candle.
Greeting:
Alleluia! Christ is risen:
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
LIGHTING THE EVENING CANDLES
Blessing of the Light
Blessèd are you, O Lord our God,
time and eternity are yours
you bring the abundance of summer sunshine
into the harvest that sustains us in winter.
Let the resurrection of Christ
empower us to confront with confidence
all that threatens to diminish and destroy us
through Christ who is our victory and our joy,
and who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God,
in glory everlasting:
Blessèd be God for ever!
Evening Canticle
The Altar candles are lit during the Evening Canticle
Hail Gladdening Light
Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured,
who is immortal Father, heavenly blest;
Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord!
Now are we come to the sun’s hour of rest;
the lights of evening round us shine,
we hymn the Father, Son and Holy Spirit divine.
Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung,
with undefilèd tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone!
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.
John Keeble; Metre: Irregular
Evening Responsory
O Lord we call to you, make haste to help us.
Let our prayer rise before you as incense
the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice
Our eyes are turned to you Lord God, in you we take our refuge.
Let our prayer rise before you as incense
the lifting up of our hands as the evening sacrifice
Evening Prayer
Let us pray.
As our evening prayer rises before you, O God,
so may your mercy come down upon us
to cleanse our hearts
and set us free to sing your praise,
now and for ever. Amen.
WORD OF GOD
First Reading: Job 22: 21 – 23: 7
The Psalm: 87, 88
Gospel Responsory
Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead:
And Christ shall give you light.
You have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God:
Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead.
Set your minds on things that are above,
not on things that are on the earth:
And Christ shall give you light.
When Christ our life appears
you will appear with him in glory:
Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,
and Christ shall give you light.
Gospel Canticle
Song of Mary.
The Gospel Book may be processed into the midst of the Assembly.
The Gospel is proclaimed from there.
Gospel reading: Mark 15: 33-39
Gospel Procession after the Proclamation
After the Proclamation of the Gospel, the Gospel Book may be processed among the People who are invited either to kiss or reverently touch it.
During this Procession a Chant, Song or Hymn be sung.
Hymn:Bless the Lord my soul
RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD
Affirmation of Faith
The following Affirmation of Faith may be used in place of the Baptismal Creed or Apostles’ Creed.
Let us declare our faith
in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.
Christ died for our sins was buried.
and was raised to life on the third day,
in accordance with the Scriptures.
This we believe with confidence.
Christ appeared to Peter,
to the twelve disciples
and to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time.
This we have received, and this we believe with joy.
Amen. 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
Litany of Intercessions
Particular petitions may be added at the end of the written petitions, where indicated …
Filled with joy and hope at the victory of Christ over sin and death, let us pray that Christ’s resurrection will transform and renew our lives,
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, we pray that the isolated and persecuted churches may find fresh strength in the good news of Easter ...
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, we pray that the new life we share with you will build us more fully into the Body of Christ …
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, let the power of your love impel us to care for those around us, providing for those without food, work or shelter
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, by your victorious power over sin, and darkness and death, work in and with people everywhere that war and famine will cease in the world, and all the nations live in peace and prosperity …
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, reveal the light of your presence to the sick, the weak and the dying, to comfort and strengthen them ...
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, by the power of your risen life gather all who have died in the faith of the resurrection into the joy of eternal life with you …
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
Risen Lord, send upon us the fire of the Holy Spirit that we will be faithful witnesses to the abundant new life your resurrection brings,
Lord have mercy:
Christ have mercy.
God of grace and glory, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant that, as his death has recalled us to life, so his continual presence in us may raise us to eternal joy; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Seasonal Collect
God of grace and glory,
through the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ our saviour,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your love:
grant that, as Christ was raised from the dead
so we may walk in newness of life;
through our risen Lord
who lives and reigns with you
and the holy Spirit
in glory everlasting. Amen.
SENDING RITE
Seasonal Sentences
One of the following sentences is used.
Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. Isaiah 49:13
For he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ Mark 9:31
Jesus said, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day. Luke 24:46
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 religious authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ John 20:19
Jesus presented himself alive to the disciples by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over the course of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3
Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being. 1 Corinthians 15:20-21
As all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:22
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. 1 Peter 1:3
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. Acts 1.10-11
`
It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Romans 6.9
Christ Jesus died, yes, Christ was raised, and is at the right hand of God; indeed Christ intercedes for us. Romans 8.34
Blessing
May the Spirit of truth lead you into all truth,
give you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
and strengthen you to proclaim the word and works of God;
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son,
and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.
Amen.
Dismissal
Let us go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Alleluia. Alleluia
In the name of Christ. Amen. Alleluia. Alleluia.