The Parish of Christ Churchwith St Mary Magdalen and St Peter and

St PaulSt Leonards on Sea

3rd

SUNDAY OF EASTER 26 April 2020

THE GATHERING

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain

Of triumphant gladness;God hath brought his Israel Into joy from sadness;Loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters;Led them with unmoistened foot Through the Red Sea waters.

'Tis the spring of souls today; Christ hath burst his prison,And from three days' sleep in death As a sun hath risen;All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flyingFrom his light, to whom we give Laud and praise undying.

Neither might the gates of death, Nor the tomb's dark portal,Nor the watchers, nor the seal, Hold thee as a mortal;But today amidst thine own Thou didst stand, bestowingThat thy peace which evermore Passeth human knowing.

Words: St John of Damascus circa AD 750 trans. JM Neale

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Penitential Rite

You raise the dead to life in the Spirit Lord, have mercyYou bring pardon and peace to the sinner Christ, have mercy

You bring light to those in darkness Lord, have mercy

May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth,Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father; we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer.For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen

Collect

May your people exult for ever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection; through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE WORDActs 2. 14, 22-33; 1 Peter 1. 17-21; Luke 24. 13-35

First ReadingA reading from the Acts of the Apostles

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed thecrowd in a loud voice: ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say:Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miraclesand portents and signs that God worked through him when he was amongyou, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by thedeliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucifiedby men outside the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeinghim from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in itspower since, as David says of him: I saw the Lord before me always,for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.So my heart was glad and my tongue cried out with joy;my body, too, will rest in the hope that you will not abandon my soul to Hadesnor allow your holy one to experience corruption.You have made known the way of life to me,you will fill me with gladness through your presence.‘Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead andburied: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew thatGod had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed himon the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of theChrist: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose bodydid not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all ofus are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand,he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised,and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.’The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles,to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deepimpression on everyone. The faithful all lived together and ownedeverything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and sharedout the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses forthe breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; theypraised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lordadded to their community those destined to be saved.

The word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Psalm from Psalm 16 (15)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.’O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;it is you yourself who are my prize.

I will bless the Lord who gives my counsel,who even at night directs my heart.I keep the Lord ever in my sight,Since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

And so my heart, rejoices, my soul is glad;even my body shall rest in safety.For you will not leave my soul among the dead,nor let your beloved know decay.

You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence,at your right hand happiness for ever.

Second ReadingA reading from the First Letter of St Peter

If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites andjudges everyone according to what he has done, you must be scrupulouslycareful as long as you are living away from your home. Remember, theransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestorshanded down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold,but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ;who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealedonly in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake. Through him you nowhave faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for thatvery reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.

The word of the Lord Thanks be to God

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia Lord Jesus, explain the Scriptures to us.

Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us. Alleluia

GospelThe Lord be with you And also with youA reading from the holy Gospel according to LukeGlory to you, O Lord

Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village calledEmmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking togetherabout all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himselfcame up and walked by their side; but something prevented them fromrecognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as youwalk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.  Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the onlyperson staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have beenhappening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All aboutJesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet bythe things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people;and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentencedto death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would bethe one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone bysince it all happened; and some women from our group have astoundedus: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not findthe body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels whodeclared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and foundeverything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full messageof the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and soenter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all theprophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures thatwere about himself.  When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he madeas if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them.Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said theblessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes wereopened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight.Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked

to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’ They set out thatinstant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembledtogether with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lordhas risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of whathad happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breakingof bread.

This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Homily (Bishop Peter)

‘O fools, and slow of heart to believe the full message of the prophets. Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and so enter into his glory.…And he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.’ 'Slow of heart to believe all that the prophets said'. The prophets of the Old Testament speak about many things, but their core message is about Israel returning to their true vocation. God had chosen the people of Israel to be a beacon of light to enlighten all the other nations. He had made a solemn agreement with them, a covenant sealed by the sacrifice of an animal when Moses sprinkled God's altar and the people with the blood. The prophets pointed out how often Israel failed in their vocation to be a holy people but the prophets also promised a new beginning. On Maundy Thursday we saw Jesus fulfilling this. 'This is my blood of the new covenant.' So a new people of God is created, and Jesus shows the way by which the new Israel, the Church, is to live – by sacrifical love.'Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things?' says the stranger. Scholars tell us that you will not find an exact text which promises a suffering Messiah, but Jesus has redrawn the character of the promised Messiah. He takes into Messiahship the figure from Isaiah

whom God calls 'my servant Israel' (e.g. Isaiah 49.3), whose innocent punishment acts like the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement driven away into the desert, taking away the people's sins. So the new people of God are to imitate their Lord. Our pattern of life is to be one of sacrifical love, putting up with people's frailties and our own, knowing that in imitation of Christ we enter into his glory.

In the context of the new Israel the distinction between Jew and Gentile has gone. So as we heard in our First Reading, on the Day of Pentecost St Peter speaks in the market place: 'God has made this Jesus both Lord and Messiah' . Speaking to a Jew. Jesus is the promised Messiah, and speaking to a Gentile, Jesus is Lord, someone worthy of worship as a deity. 'What shall we do?' they cry. The answer is 'Repent and be baptised.' Through Baptism and the laying on of hands, you are Christened, Christed: we identify ouselves with Jesus Christ, to die to the old life and live with a new way of living. The way that we are renewed in our life in Christ is by coming together in church to imitate what the stranger does: 'While he was at table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him.’ We are painfully aware that we are cut off from the Mass and fellowship, but what we can do is read the scriptures. As you do so, imagine that the stranger is walking beside you. Tell him what strikes you in the passage of scripture. Ask him questions when you are puzzled. Take time in the silence to see whether a response rises in the heart. May our experience be that of Cleopas and his wife, Mary, as they walked to Emmaus. 'Did not our hearts burn within us as he explained the scriptures to us?

The CreedWe believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (all bow) was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Prayers of the People After each petition this response may be usedLord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Holy Spirit of God, give us for our hallowing, thoughts that pass into prayer, prayer that passes into love, and love which passes into life with you now and for ever

Heavenly Father, enable your Church to be a source of inspiration for a new way of living together in harmony. We pray for Pope Francis as he speaks to the world, and for Martin, our Bishop as he guides our diocese in these troubled times.

May the worldwide suffering at this time from the Coronavirus epidemic kindle a desire for a world of peace and harmony. May the leaders of the nations heed the cry of the afflicted for a fairer sharing of human resources.

Father, surround those dear to us with your love, especially those from whom we are separated at this time. We pray for our Church family at Christ Church, that those who feel lonely and cut off may be uplifted by our prayer.

Father, your Son Jesus, like every human being, experienced fear, sadness and a sense of abandonment. By your Holy Spirit reassure the fearful, uphold the sorrowful, comfort the bereaved and inspire in us all a sense of renewed trust in your love for us.

Jesus, risen Lord, already here on earth you enable us to know the beginning of a life that will have no end. Hear our prayers for those who have passed beyond the veil of death.

May Our Lady who supported the apostles in Upper Room with her prayers support us also:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed by thy name.

Thy kingdom come,thy will be done, on earth as it is in heavenGive us this day our daily breadand forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil. Graciously grant us peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen

Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you; look not on our sins, but the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will; who live and reign for ever ad ever. Amen

Agnus Dei

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

The disciples recognized the Lord Jesus in the breaking of bread, alleluia.

Act of Spiritual Communion

In union, dear Lord, with the faithful at every altar of your Church where your blessed Body and Blood are being offered to the Father, I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I believe that you are truly

present in the Holy Sacrament. And since I cannot receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, and embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Let me never be separated from you. Let me live and die in your love. Amen.

Prayer of St Richard of Chichester

Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits you have won for us, for all the pains and insults you have borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen Hymn

Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain,Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain.Love lives again, that with the dead has been:Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

In the grave they laid him, Love whom men had slain,Thinking that never he would wake again,Laid in the earth like grain that sleeps unseen,Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

Forth he came at Easter, like the risen grain,He that for three days in the grace had lain,Quick from the dead, my risen Lord is seen:Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

When our hearts are wintry, grieving or in pain,Thy touch can call us back to life again,Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been:Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.

Prayer God of life, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection have delivered us from the power of our enemy: grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his risen life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

May almighty God bless us, keep us free from evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen

Let us bless the Lord, alleluia, alleluia. Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.

During the weekThe calendar, intentions and readings for Mass are below.

Readings Easter weekday Acts 6. 8-15 St Richard’s House

John 6. 22-29

Easter weekday Acts 7. 51 – 8.1 Medical staff and care workers John 6. 30-35

Catherine of Siena 1 John 1.5 – 2.2 Schoolteachers and school staff Matthew 11. 25-30

Easter WeekdayActs 8. 26-40 The bereavedJohn 6. 36-51

Joseph the Worker Acts 9. 1-20 Trade unions

John 6. 52-59

Athanasius BD Acts 9. 31-42 Theological colleges and courses

John 6. 60-69

The cycle of readings at Mass continues readings from the Acts of the Apostles.The Gospels for Eastertide are taken from the Gospel according to St John. This daily cycle is interrupted by the feast of St Catherine of Siena, who was a powerful force for peace in the Church of her times and whose writings have

merited her being called a Doctor of the Church. Perhaps using some of the outline from the Sunday booklet, you could use these to form a daily offering of prayer with the clergy saying Mass in Church.

NEXT SUNDAY 3rd May 2020 4th Sunday of Easter Next Sunday’s Readings: Acts 2. 14, 36-41; 1 Peter 2. 20-25; John 10. 1-10 Intention: The parish

For Your PrayersThe sick & those in need Fr Christopher Hopkins, Noreen Knight, Monica Ellis, Jan & Howard Hill, Roger Clark, Rosemary Smith, Elliot Fowler, Jonathan Davies, Wil Jewitt, Pam Simmons, Maria Maslin, Julie Langdon, Cath Towner, Denise Sweatman, Fr Bill Campen, Fr Mike Havell, Debbie Heneke, Tanya Stanley, Ollie Spencer, Helen, Anne Brice, Timothy Chapel, Mathew Chapel, Kieran Clark, Celia Fleming, Merle Lynch, Stephen Gurden, Adela, Barbara Crofts, David Dawkins, Diane Tarling – all suffering from the Coronavirus and all caring for the sick

The long-term sick & in need Lesley Manser, Kathleen Hughes, Sheila Johnston, Maureen Pocock, Mary Perry, Gemma Bruno, Antonella Lewis, Christine Lee, Miranda and family, Margaret Buck, Denny and Marley Nassey

This list is revised monthly and if you wish someone to continue to be remembered at Mass or added to the list (with their consent if possible), please let Fr Nick know (details on the Directory below).

THE DEPARTED

The Recently Departed: Doris Tomlinson, Peter Kraus, Will Eldridge, Maggie Jackson, Colin Campbell, Christopher Langdon. Colin Tolworthy, priest

Anniversaries:

26th Douglas Davis (2015)28th Ronald Victor Glazebrook priest Rosemary Blundell29th Gailene Stock30th John Roderick Osborne, Elsie Victoria Sherwood 1st Marjorie Edith Pyefitch2nd Emily Ellen Godfrey

NoticesChristopher Langdon RIP Members of the Church will be very sorry to learn of the sudden death of Christopher Langdon, just a week after he was taken into hospital on Good Friday. We hold him and his wife, Julie, in our prayers. Julie is recovering gradually and well from a severe accident in the winter. She thanks everyone for their prayers at this time.

Toilet Twinned One of the toilets in the crypt has been twinned with an outside toilet in Uganda through the gift of two members of the Church as a Lenten offering (the expectation being that this will enable better sanitary facilities to be installed).

Parish Directorywww.christchurchstleonards.co.uk christchurchstleonards@hotmail.co.uk

Priest in Charge: Bishop Peter Wheatley (01424) 424814(Email: peter.wheatley@outlook.com)

Assistant Curate: Fr Nick Archer (01424) 259231(Email: nw.archer@hotmail.com)

Self Supporting Priest: Fr Richard Ralph (01424) 422722

Hon Asst Priests (Retired): Fr Richard Rushforth (01424) 755554Fr David Sherwood SSC (01424) 254510Fr Christopher Hopkins (01424) 883024

Churchwardens: Mrs Maureen Harman 0777 4044 901Mrs Sue Shaw (01424) 255898

Parish Office The Parish Centre 2 Christ Church Courtyard St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6GL (01424) 447784

Safeguarding Officer: Jane Hart (01424) 716599Assistant Safeguarding Officers: Jessica Campbell, Anne Hanney

Director of Music: David Smith 07795 550708

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