Holy Communion
First Sunday of Easter
27 April 2025
Then 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" John 20: 27 - 28
Guercino, The Incredulity of St Thomas, 1621, Oil on Canvas. (c) Creative Commons and The National Gallery, London.
A warm welcome to our services of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of Easter. Revd Dr Tati Gutteridge, Curate, is presiding and preaching at 8am. Revd Simon Winn, Vicar, is presiding at 10am. The Choir and Children's Church are taking a well-earned break today.
You can download the full order of service for the 10am service with details of readings, prayers, hymns and choral music here.
The music for this service and the rest of the month can be found here.
Prayers for Pope Francis
Father in heaven, we praise your name
for all who have finished this life loving and trusting you,
for the example of their lives,
the life and grace you gave them
and the peace in which they rest.
We praise you today for your servant Francis
and for all that you did through him.
Meet us in our sadness
and fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving,
for the sake of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour,
we commend your servant Francis.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold,
a lamb of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Enfold him in the arms of your mercy,
in the blessed rest of everlasting peace
and in the glorious company of the saints in light.
Amen.
A Prayer for Peace in the Middle East
Compassionate and loving God, we stand with those who cry in anguish in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon.
With those who have lost their lives to violence, those who mourn, those who have been displaced, those who are held unjustly against their will, those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
We pray for an end to the fighting and violence
We pray for the courage to speak up for peace, to challenge the hatred in our own hearts and minds, and to do all that we can to make for the peace that builds our common life as the nations of your world.
Lord, move our hearts.
(A Prayer from Embrace the Middle East)
You can follow a livestream of our 10am Holy Communion services on our YouTube Channel: @StAlfegeChurch.
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