Hybrid Worship 19 APRIL 2026 Easter III

Christ Church Gabriola

A Collaborative Anglican – United Church

Open to All

 

“When Jesus was at the table with them,

he took bread, blessed and broke it

and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened,

and they recognized him .”              

 Luke 24:30-32

 

Hybrid Worship

19 APRIL 2026

Easter III

Minister: Mona Smart

Music: Ian Cox

 

We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

 

Prelude

 

Gathering Word

The lectionary reading for this Sunday, “Jesus’ Appearance on the Road to Emmaus,” is unique to the gospel of Luke. After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples have returned to their previous lives of fishing nets, tax offices, missed appointments, but then Jesus suddenly makes an appearance.

 

Acknowledgement of the Land

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen.

 

Call to Worship        

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Sprit, be with you all.

And also with you.

 

Lighting of Candle                                                                             Episcopal Church

As we light this candle, we remember

your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbors.

As his disciples in this age, we take up Jesus’ two great commandments, to love God, with all our heart, mind, and strength, and to love others as ourselves.

 

Opening Hymn: Morning Has Broken                                            VU #409

 

Prayer of Forgiveness                                                               Episcopal Church

Loving God,

Cleanse from our hearts all that impedes your love.

Loving God,

Renew in us the desire to live in your grace and mercy.

Loving God,

Fill us with the will to persevere.

Loving God,

We bless your name and the power of your love to heal all that is broken.

 

 

2

Prayer for Illumination and Grace                                      Episcopal Church

Open our hearts to your power moving within us, between us, and among us, until your goodness, mercy, and strength is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy, and in communities transformed by justice and compassion. Amen.

 

Affirmation of Faith

We are not alone; we live in God’s world.

 

We believe in God: who has created and is creating,

who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,

to reconcile and make new, who works in us and others

by the Spirit. We trust in God.

 

We are called to be the Church: to celebrate God’s presence,

to live with respect in Creation, to love and serve others,

to seek justice and resist evil, to proclaim Jesus,

crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

 

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.

We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

 

Peace of Christ

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another.

 

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture                        ACC & UCC Sources

O God, your Word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.

Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love.

 

Psalm 116 (VU #836)                                                    Reader: Mona Smart

Refrain: (sung)

How can I repay you God, for all the goodness you show to me!

 

I love you, God, you heard my voice when I made supplication,

      you turned your ear to me,

      when I called upon your name.

The cords of death entangled me,

and the pangs of Sheollaid hold on me;

      I suffered distress and anguish.

Then I called upon the name of God:

       'O God, I prayed, save my whole being .'  R

 

3

How can I repay you, God,

for all the good things you have done for me?

      I will take up the cup of salvation,

      and call upon the name of God.

      I will pay my vows in the presence of all God's people.  R

 

Precious in the sight of God is the trust of the devoted .

      O God, I am your servant;

I am your servant.

      You have freed me from my bonds.

I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving,

      and will call upon the name of God.

I will pay my vows to God in the presence of all God's people,

      in the courts of the house of God, in your midst O Jerusalem.  R  

Scripture: Acts 2:14a, 36-41                                          Reader: Paddy Waymark

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

 

“Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

 

This is the Word of God

Praise be to God.

 

Gospel Reading: Luke: 24: 13-35                           Reader: Paddy Waymark

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

 

God be with you.

And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

 

 

4

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept

from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

 

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

 

This is the Gospel of Christ.

Thanks be to God

 

Word: The Road to Emmaus

 

5

Hymn of Response: Long Before the Night                                  VU #282

 

Life & Work of the Church

 

Prayers of the People                                                                Susan Brockley

God with us

      Hear our Prayer.

 

The Lord’s Prayer (sung)                                                            VU #959

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

 

Offering (offering now to be collected)

 

Offering Prayer

Living God, receive all we offer this day as a symbol of our love. Increase in us our desire to work according to your will and show the fruits of your love at work in the world.

 

Closing Hymn: We Are Pilgrims (The Servant Song)                   VU #595

 

Blessing & Sending 

God be in my head, and in my understanding;               5^th Century Prayer

God be in my eyes, and in my looking;

God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;

God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at my end, and at my departing.

 

Go out into the world in peace;              United Church, Celebrating God’s Presence, 2000

Have courage;

Hold on to what is good;

Return no one evil for evil;

Strengthen the fainthearted;

Support the weak, and help the suffering;

Honour all people;

Love and serve the Lord,

Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

 

Postlude