May God be gracious to us
Oh, let all the peoples praise you
And cause his face to shine on us
Oh, let all the peoples praise you

chorus:

The nations will be glad
Be glad and sing for joy
Oh, let all the peoples praise you (2x)

For you will judge with equity
Oh, let all the peoples praise you
The earth has yielded its increase
Oh, let all the peoples praise you

Let the peoples praise you, God
Oh, let all the peoples praise you
The earth will see your salvation
Oh, let all the peoples praise you

chorus

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,down on the collar of his robe.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore. (Psalm 133)

The strife is o’er, the battle done
The victory of life is won
The song of triumph has begun
Alleluia! Alleluia!

The powers of death have done their worst
But Christ their legions hath dispersed
Let songs of holy joy outburst
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Lord, by the stripes which wounded thee
From death’s dread sting thy servants free
That we may live and sing to thee
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

The three sad days are quickly sped
He rises glorious from the dead
All glory to our risen head
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Second Sunday of Easter Collect:
from the Book of Common Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Easter mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

from 1 John 1:5-2:2—

5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

2 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not

Prayer of Confession:

Most merciful God,

I confess that I have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what I have done, and by what I have left undone.
I have not loved you with my whole self or my neighbors as myself.
I ask that you would lead me to a place of humble repentance.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me and forgive;
that I may delight in— and walk in— your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.

from Mark 1:15; Colossians 1:13-14—

Jesus began his ministry saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

God’s grace abounds for us, even in our weakness.

Let us remember the promise of the gospel: In Christ, we are forgiven.

Stay close, my child, through this dark night
Rest in the shadow of these wings
Hope in the Lord whose day will come
The dawn of “making all things new”

Alleluia...

All wars will cease, suffering end
Justice will roll, the Kingdom come
Love will arise, grace will uphold
Mercy will heal where the Lamb reigns

Alleluia…

O brothers, rejoice, O sisters, rejoice
All children of God, we are all coming home

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen. (Numbers 6:24-26)

Let us go forth and serve our world as those who love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God!