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O God, you wipe away all tears from our faces. You have swallowed up death. Awaken and strengthen within us that hope into which you have called us: nothing will separate us from your love. Let us be glad and rejoice! We ask this all in the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.  Lord, have mercy.

Invocation

Alleluia! Christ is risen.

Christ is risen indeed.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

And also with you!

Psalmody

Psalm 118:1, 14-18

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

His steadfast love endures forever!

The LORD is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous: "The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

the right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly."

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the LORD.

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;

The LORD has punished me severely, but he did not give me over to death.

O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;


His steadfast love endures forever!

Scripture: Acts 10:34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: "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."

Holy Word, Holy Wisdom,

Thanks be to God.

Time for reflection

Song: Hallelujah chorus

Prayers of intercession

O God, you wipe away all tears from our faces. You have swallowed up death. Awaken and strengthen within us that hope into which you have called us: nothing will separate us from your love. Let us be glad and rejoice! We ask this all in the name of Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O God of all peoples, who shows no partiality, you invite all into your peace won for us through the resurrection of your son Jesus Christ. Embolden our work to dismantle all barriers and, in your Holy Spirit, renew our pursuit of reconciliation through Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

O God, our lives are hidden in Christ with you. Through your Holy Spirit shape us, mold us, conform us into Christ that our whole lives proclaim your justice, your compassion, and your praise. We ask this through Jesus, our Savior and Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

God, we pray that the nations of the earth, may seek ways that make for peace. Today we bring before you the countries and people of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia. Let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

We pray for continual healing of historic memories and pains that have been mutually inflicted in these countries, for those who continue to experience marginalization and injustice, especially the Roma, that religion will be a means of healing rather than of further separation and exploitation, and we pray for the nurturing and sustaining of pluralistic societies in the Balkans.

Lord, have mercy.

God, in the light from the empty grave, we pray that the whole creation, laboring to be born anew, may be set free to enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Lord, have mercy.

For all those needs for which we pray this day, we take a moment to name them before you now, either speaking aloud, writing them in the chatroom, or silently in our hearts ... let us pray to the Lord:

Lord, have mercy.

Prayer of the day

Living God! With the women who were the first to proclaim the good news, we gather in our many places – in our houses, apartments, rooms, in front of computers – to meditate and to sing your praises. Through your resurrection, a door has been opened and your peace is shared. Keep us in that peace throughout these exceptional times. We ask this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (in our different languages)

Blessing

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Lord bless us and direct our days and our deeds in peace.

Amen.

Sending

Go in peace.

Share with all that Christ is risen.

Thanks be to God!