Lectionary resources for Easter 2 Year B

Lectionary -- Easter 2 Year B

Acts 4:32-35 Everything they owned was held in common
Psalm 133 How good it is to live together in unity
1 John 1:1 to 2:2 We declare to you what we have heard and seen and touched
John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples and Thomas believes

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Suggested Hymns (From Denis Towner. TIS = Together in Song; AHB = Australian Hymn Book; SA = Sing Alleluia)

Acts 4: 32-35
Jesus united by thy grace AHB.365
Now we come, our heavenly Father TIS.462

Psalm 133
All praise to our redeeming Lord TIS.442 AHB367
Come Holy Spirit, Lord of grace TIS.403 AHB.312
Heart and heart unite together AHB.363

1 John 1: 1 - 2: 2
Christ is the world's true light TIS.238 AHB.179
I want to walk as a child of the light TIS.643
My daughters and my sons hear tell TIS.363 AHB.281
When we walk with the Lord AHB.531

John 20: 19-31
Blessed Jesus at your word TIS.437 AHB.352
Breathe on me, breath of God TIS.407 AHB.320
Christ is risen! Shout hosanna! TIS.394
Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands TIS.364 AHB.283
Dona nobis pacem: I will hear what the Lord has to say TIS.713 SA.27
Love divine all loves excelling TIS.217 AHB.148
That Eastertide with joy was bright TIS.360/2 AHB.276/2
These things did Thomas count as real TIS.649

Other Possible Hymns
(Numbers refer to The Australian Hymn Book and Sing Alleluia.)
SA 9 At the dawning of salvation
SA 84 The Son of God proclaim
12 The Lord of heaven confess
58 Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore him
101 O praise the King of heaven
191 Christ is the world's light, he and no other -
284 Now glad of heart be everyone
295 Hail thou once despised Jesus -
297 Come, let us with our Lord arise
303 Thine be the glory
328 Filled with the Spirit's power, with one accord
407 Father of peace, and God of love
427 Jesus, we thus obey
522 O Master let me walk with thee

Sermon Summary (click here for complete sermon)

The faithful doubter

What a marvellous encounter it was between Thomas and Jesus that second Sunday night after he was raised from the dead (John 20:25-29). Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Then comes the great affirmation of faith which is the climax of the story and, indeed, the climax of the whole gospel according John: (John 20:28) Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

The role of the apostles and evangelists was to provide a witness to what Jesus had done so that others could come to faith without having the advantage that Thomas had. (See 1 Corinthians 15:3-5; Acts 4:33; 1 John 1:1.) Thomas was one of those witnesses. There is a strong tradition that Thomas took the gospel to India where there is a continuing body of believers from the early centuries.

Thomas was not a "bad guy" or a bad example, in spite of being known as "Doubting Thomas". I would go so far as to say Thomas provides us with a good example in not being too easily convinced by what others say. In our search for the truth Christians have much in common with scientists, being inspired in our search and in our worship with a sense of wonder. But there is more to faith than seeking the evidence. There was a personal challenge in his encounter with Jesus. (See also John 11:16 and 14:5). The final response could only be one of personal commitment.

The Easter Candle
The Uniting Church, in common with other churches in recent years, has revived some ancient symbols. The Easter or Pascal candle signifies the resurrection and is lit for services throughout the Easter season until Pentecost, and again whenever there is a baptism when the candidate's candle is traditionally lit from it. In some churches it is lit for funerals to signify new life in Christ after death, and in some places it is also lit on other occasions when the Eucharist is celebrated.

The Easter Banner
A butterfly emerging from a chrysalis is a traditional symbol of the resurrection. In our banner today we see the splendid creature in flight over the world leaving behind the signs of death and the old life from which it has come. This new life is now let loose in the world and ascends above the world.

Order of service - Easter 2 Year B - | DB Home | RCL Resources Index | Questions and Comments |

The Gathering of the People of God

CALL TO WORSHIP

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
-- 1 John 1:5,7

HYMN 297 Come, let us with our Lord arise
PRAYER OF ADORATION

CONFESSION [In three parts, concluding ...] Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Christ have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Lord have mercy.

DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS
If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -- 1 John 1:9
Hear then Christ's word of grace to us: Your sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

DOXOLOGY: Gloria in Excelsis [Sing Alleluia 100b]

Service of the Word

INTRODUCTION OF THEME: The freedom of belief
FIRST READING Acts 4:32-35 Everything they owned was held in common
PSALM 133 How good it is to live together in unity
Choir: Lifting up my eyes to the hills
EPISTLE 1 John 1:1 to 2:2 We declare to you what we have heard, seen and touched
GOSPEL John 20:19-31 Jesus appears to the disciples and Thomas believes

HYMN SA 9 At the dawning of salvation
SERMON
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Let us confess that faith in the words of scripture which are called the Easter anthems:

For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. -- 1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Alleluia!

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. -- Romans 6:9-11
Alleluia!

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; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ. -- 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
Alleluia!

OFFERING
SHARING TIME [Notices, Celebrations and requests for intercessions]
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

The Salvation of the whole world
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light,
Look favourably on your whole church,
that wonderful and sacred mystery;
and by the peaceful operation of your providence,
carry out the work of our salvation.
And let the whole world feel and see
that things which were cast down are being raised up,
and things which had grown old are being made new,
and all things are returning to perfection
through him from whom they took their origin;
even through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Gelasian Sacramentary, 7th century.

THE COLLECT FOR THE DAY
Let us pray (as Christians thirsting for the risen fife):

Heavenly Father and God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. From the waters of death you raise us with him and renew your gift of fife within us. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people towards the fulness of eternal fife with you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Lord's Supper

THE PEACE
HYMN 427 Jesus, we thus obey
GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Thanks and praise ..... in the eternal hymn: [SA 100c and 100d]

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

We thank you ....

[The great prayer of thanksgiving continues, recalling God's goodness in caring for his people, the life and saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, how he commanded his disciples to remember him with the bread and the wine, and we pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit on us and what we do.]

THE LORD'S PRAYER [Front of hymn book]
BREAKING THE BREAD
THE LAMB OF GOD [Sing Alleluia 100e]

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,
grant us peace.

COMMUNION
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

The Sending Forth of the People of God

HYMN 303 Thine be the glory
WORD OF MISSION
BLESSING
DISMISSAL Go in peace to love and serve the Lord:
In the name of Christ. Amen.