Services
April 5th † Maundy Thursday ~ 7:00pm
April 6 † Good Friday – Noon & 7:00pm Services
April 7th † Saturday Vigil ~ 7:00pm
April 8th † Community Easter Sunrise Service -
Sunday 6:15am St Luke’s followed by
Breakfast at Benn’s United Methodist
Church
† Early Service 7:45am ~ Christ Church
† Celebration Service ~ 9:00am
† Easter Breakfast ~ 10am (please bring a dish to share)
† Traditional Service ~ 11:00am
Mon Apr 9 Office Closed
Wed Apr 11 Bible Study 4-5pm
Eucharist 5-6pm
Choir Practice 6:30pm
Thurs Apr 12 Worship & Christian Formation Meeting 7:00pm
Choir Practice 6:30pm
Sun Apr 15 Early Morning Service 7:45am
Celebration Service 9:00am
Traditional Service 11:00am
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for the resurrection of His Son
Community Easter Sunrise Service
At St Lukes April 8th (Easter Sunday). The Gates will open at 6:00am, Prelude starts 6:15am
The officiators of the service will be Gary Barker and O.H Burton from Benns United Methodist Church.
Breakfast will be served following the service at Benns Church
All are very welcome!!
The J2A youth group will be holding a yard sale in April (Date TBA) We are looking for household goods to include in the sale. Please bring items to Church. We can also arrange pick up for larger items
– Contact Dana 812 9268
Would you like to remember or honor someone with flowers on the altar?We have dates available: April 15, 22 & May 6th.
*Please contact Judy Cutler 757 357 5133
Chanco
Next week is Chanco’s Spring Thaw Open House! Don’t miss it! Visit Camp Chanco on Sunday, April 15th from 11 am-5 pm and take a tour, meet the camp director and staff, and for the young and young at heart, fly over a ravine along a zip line! One visit, and your child won’t want to leave! Visit www.chanco.org or call 1-888-7CHANCO for more information.
Women's Cursillo weekend April 19-22
It is not too late to consider making your Cursillo on Women's Team #148 April 19-22 at Chanco-on-the-James. We have a great team and would like to provide a wonderful weekend of learning, singing, fun and team building. Of course, we expect the presence of the Holy Spirit. If you have already decided to join us, please be sure your application is completed and mailed. You may get further information at www.cursillodsv.org.
Please be aware there is a Women's Weekend from April 19-22 at Camp Chanco. Please strongly consider coming out to the closing at the Surry Recreation Center for the closing of Cursillo #148's weekend to welcome the newest members of the Cursillo movement. Remember how great YOUR closing was?
Would you like to remember or honor someone with flowers on the altar?We have dates available: April 22 & May 6th.
*Please contact Judy Cutler 757 357 5133
Easter Sunday 11am Readings
+ A Reading from the Book of Acts (10:34-43) Lector
Peter has discovered that the resurrection of Jesus breaks all the usual bounds of human thought so that it includes all people everywhere. God, he says, shows no partiality.
Peter began to speak to the Gentiles: "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."
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you Lord Christ
A Reading from I Corinthians (15:1-11) Layreader
Paul speaks to the Christians of the church in Corinth
I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you Lord Christ
Easter Sunday 7.45am Readings
+ A Reading from the Book of Acts (10:34-43) Lector
Peter has discovered that the resurrection of Jesus breaks all the usual bounds of human thought so that it includes all people everywhere. God, he says, shows no partiality.
Peter began to speak to the gentiles: "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."
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you Lord Christ
Psalm 118: 1-2, 14-24
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; *
his mercy endures for ever.
his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let Israel now proclaim,*
"His mercy endures for ever."
"His mercy endures for ever."
14 The LORD is my strength and my song, *
and he has become my salvation.
and he has become my salvation.
15There is a sound of exultation and victory*
in the tents of the righteous:
in the tents of the righteous:
16 "The right hand of the LORD has triumphed! *
the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
the right hand of the LORD is exalted!
the right hand of the LORD has triumphed!"
17 I shall not die, but live, *
and declare the works of the LORD.
and declare the works of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me sorely, *
but he did not hand me over to death.
but he did not hand me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; *
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the LORD.
I will enter them;
I will offer thanks to the LORD.
20 "This is the gate of the LORD; *
he who is righteous may enter."
he who is righteous may enter."
21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me*
and have become my salvation.
and have become my salvation.
22 The same stone which the builders rejected*
has become the chief cornerstone.
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD'S doing, *
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 On this day the LORD has acted;*
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
we will rejoice and be glad in it.
A Reading from I Corinthians (15:1-11) Layreader
Paul speaks to the Christians of the church in Corinth
I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
Reader: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you Lord Christ
Easter Sunday 9am Reading
Reader: A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:34-43)
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
People: Open our ears to hear your Word
Peter has discovered that the resurrection of Jesus breaks all the usual bounds of human thought so that it includes all people everywhere. God, he says, shows no partiality.
Peter began to speak to the Gentiles: "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 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."
Reader: Here what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
People: Open our ears to hear your Word.
Easter Saturday Vigil Reading 7pm
Lesson I: Genesis (22:1-18)
After these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains that I shall show you." So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac; he cut the wood for the burnt offering, and set
out and went to the place in the distance that God had shown him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place far away. Then Abraham
said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the boy and I will go over there; we will worship, and then we will come back to you." Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together. Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "The fire and the wood are here, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So the two of them walked on together.
When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill his son. But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me." And Abraham looked up and saw a ram, caught in a thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place "The LORD will provide"; as it is said to this day, "On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided."
The angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, and said, "By myself I have sworn, says the LORD: Because you have done this, and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will indeed bless you, and I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of their enemies, and by your offspring shall all the nations of the earth gain blessing for themselves, because you have obeyed my voice."
Lesson II: Israel’s Deliverance at the Red Sea: Exodus (14:10-15:1)
As Pharaoh drew near, the Israelites looked back, and there were the Egyptians advancing on them. In great fear the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the very thing we told you in Egypt, 'Let us alone and let us serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." But Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the LORD will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to keep still."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the Israelites to go forward. But you lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the Israelites may go into the sea on dry ground. Then I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and so I will gain glory for myself over Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his chariot drivers. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gained glory for myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his chariot drivers."
The angel of God who was going before the Israelite army moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of them and took its place behind them. It came between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel. And so the cloud was there with the darkness, and it lit up the night; one did not come near the other all night.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and turned the sea into dry land; and the waters were divided. The Israelites went into the sea on dry ground, the waters forming a wall for them on their right and on their left. The Egyptians pursued, and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and chariot drivers. At the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and cloud looked down upon the Egyptian army, and threw the Egyptian army into panic. He clogged their chariot wheels so that they turned with difficulty. The Egyptians said, "Let us flee from the Israelites, for the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, so that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and chariot drivers." So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at dawn the sea returned to its normal depth. As the Egyptians fled before it, the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. The waters returned and covered
Lesson III : Ezekiel (36:24-28)
Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Then you shall live in the land that I gave to your ancestors; and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.
New Testament Reading: Romans (6:3-11)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 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.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Good Friday Readings
+The First Lesson: The Lord’s chosen Servant must endure agony and tremendous sorrow to atone for the sins of many. His sufferings, however, will bring righteousness and redemption of the people.
A Reading
See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him--so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals--so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed ?For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him ,nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him on account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted .But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the LORD shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong ;because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Reader: The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Psalm 22:1-11 Page 610, BCP
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? *
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?
and are so far from my cry
and from the words of my distress?
O my God, I cry in the daytime, but you do not answer; *
by night as well, but I find no rest.
by night as well, but I find no rest.
Yet you are the Holy One, *
enthroned upon the praises ofIsrael
enthroned upon the praises of
Our forefathers put their trust in you; *
they trusted, and you delivered them.
they trusted, and you delivered them.
They cried out to you and were delivered; *
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
they trusted in you and were not put to shame.
But as for me, I am a worm and no man, *
scorned by all and despised by the people.
scorned by all and despised by the people.
All who see me laugh me to scorn; *
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
they curl their lips and wag their heads, saying,
"He trusted in the LORD; let him deliver him; *
let him rescue him, if he delights in him."
let him rescue him, if he delights in him."
Yet you are he who took me out of the womb, *
and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
and kept me safe upon my mother's breast.
I have been entrusted to you ever since I was born; *
you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.
you were my God when I was still in my mother's womb.
Be not far from me, for trouble is near, *
and there is none to help.
and there is none to help.
+The Second Lesson: We are able to rejoice and live boldly because Jesus, who knows our temptations and weaknesses, leads us by example to God’s loving mercy.
A Reading 10:16 -25)
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts,and I will write them on their minds,"he also adds,
"I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more."
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Reader: The word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Maundy Thursday Readings
A Reading from Exodus (12:1-14) Lector
The Lord gives Moses detailed instructions for the commemoration of the Passover. The meal will become a yearly reminder for God's people of their deliverance from slavery in Egypt
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt Israel Israel
doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with
unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs.
You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.] This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the LORD. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and
animals; on all the gods of Egypt land of Egypt
This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance.
Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Psalm 116:1,10-17 page 759
I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
How shall I repay the LORD *
for all the good things he has done for me?
for all the good things he has done for me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people.
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the sight of the LORD *
is the death of his servants.
is the death of his servants.
O LORD, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
and call upon the Name of the LORD.
I will fulfill my vows to the LORD *
in the presence of all his people,
in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the LORD'S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
A Reading from 1 Corinthians (11:23-26) Layreader
Paul recounts the origin of the eucharistic meal. He emphasizes the importance of its continuing celebration until the coming of the Lord in glory.
For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Reader: The Word of the Lord:
People: Thanks be to God
