Second Sunday of Easter
April 16, 2023
9 a.m.
We welcome you to Christ Church Cathedral. Since 1839, this Christian community has gathered for worship. To learn more about the ministries we share in this place, you are invited to fill in one of the welcome cards found in the pew rack. Masks are available at all welcome tables, and the south transept (to the right) usually has room for those desiring physical distancing. We are glad you are here! The Cathedral is equipped with a hearing loop for assisted listening via telecoil.
The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
The Very Rev. Gary Jones, Interim Dean Celebrant
The Liturgy is found in The Book of Common Prayer (BCP). Hymns and service music (S) are in The Hymnal 1982.
Opening Voluntary
Chorale Prelude on Llanfair
McNeil Robinson (1943-2015)
Hymn 208 Victory
The Word of God
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ is risen. BCP page 355
People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The Collect for Purity page 355
Gloria S 278
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
William Mathias (1934–1992)
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Reading
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
1 Peter 1:3–9
Hymn 178 Alleluia No. 1
The Holy Gospel John 20:19–31
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After the Gospel reading, the Deacon says The Gospel of the Lord. People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Kathy Rock Pfister, Canon Vicar
The Nicene Creed page 358
The Prayers of the People Form III, page 387
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you. People And also with you.
The People greet one another in the name of the Lord, after which the people are seated for brief announcements.
The Holy Communion
Offerings of alms and bread and wine are received.
At the Offertory
At the Offertory English traditional melody; Anthem arr. Simon Lindley (b.1948)
On Easter morn, ere break of day, The three Saint Mary’s sped Toward the tomb where Jesus lay, Already three days dead. Light seemed the burden that they bore Of myrrh and spice a goodly store When came they fast, the Sabbath past, To salve His body o’er.
But at His grave they saw a sight, The stone was rolled away: And thereon sat an angel bright, Which unto them did say:
“Fear not: Go tell the Elev’n that He precedes them into Galilee
O’er is the strife; the Lord of life Hath won the victory.”
Rise, New Jerusalem, and shine, For Christ thy light is ris’n!
Syon, exult! Thy Lord divine Hath burst His three-day pris’n. Thou, Mother too, of God, be glad, Because thy Son, whom foemen had On Friday slain, doth live again, In robe of glory clad.
— Greek Office of Easter Lauds; trans. George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848–1934)
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer B, page 367
Sanctus and Benedictus S 125
Richard Proulx (1937–2010)
The Eucharistic Prayer continues page 368
The Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
The sacrament of Holy Communion has been precious to Christians for 2,000 years. It is a way in which many sense the reality of God’s forgiveness, our union with God and each other, and the eternal life to which we belong. Please know that you do not have to be an Episcopalian to receive Communion. To receive, you may kneel or stand at the altar rail. Receive the Bread in the palm of your hand and the Wine either by drinking from the cup or by intinction, touching the Bread to the Wine. Gluten-free Bread is available; simply ask at the altar rail. If you need Communion brought to you in the pew, please tell an usher.
At the Administration anon. 15th century French melody; Anthem arr. Simon Lindley (b.1948)
Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain. Wheat that in 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 grave 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.
— John Macleod Campbell Crum (1872–1958)Prayer after Communion
The Blessing
page 365
Hymn 180 (omit * stanza) Unser Herrscher
The Dismissal
Celebrant Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia. People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Closing Voluntary Louis Vierne (1870–1937) Marche épiscopale trans. Maurice Duruflé
Readings this Week from the Revised Common Lectionary
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles Acts 2:14a, 22–32
Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd, “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know — this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning
him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.”
The Epistle 1 Peter 1:3–9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith — being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
The Gospel
John 20:19–31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he 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!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.
The Book of Remembrance
This week we remember Muffie Moroney, Robert McMillan Goble, and Barbara Goodhart Hornbeck.
The Beauty of Flowers
The flowers on the Cathedral Altar are given to the glory of God in loving memory of Cindi Blakely by her family.
TODAY
Welcome
Sunday, April 16, 2023 Announcements
Search Committee Update • Hear the latest from Senior Warden Guy Hagstette this morning during the Dean’s Hour at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. Additional updates from the committee are available at: www. christchurchcathedral.org/searchcommittee
May Fete Bowmaking • All are invited to the Dean’s Hour to prepare for our annual celebration of May Fete by learning how to make May Fete bows to adorn the Cathedral’s campus. No expertise required! Come to Reynolds Hall at 10 a.m. to participate.
Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul • Join The Rev. Kathy Pfister for this three-week series as she explores Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul, written by John Philip Newell in preparation for his visit to the Cathedral in May. April 16, 23, and 30 at 6 in Sanders Hall.
May Fete • Our annual May Fete celebration takes place on Sunday, May 7. Spend the day participating in one of the oldest Cathedral traditions! Gather at the Cathedral for a special bilingual worship service at 10 a.m. and stay for food, games, fellowship, and music. Come be a part of this wonderful tradition. Visit the cloister tables to learn more and volunteer, or visit: www. christchurchcathedral.org/mayfete.
Bishop Paul-Gordon Chandler: A Special Presentation on Kahlil Gibran
• On the 100th Anniversary of Kahlil Gibran’s best-selling book, The Prophet, Bishop Paul-Gordon Chandler will take the listener on a fascinating journey through the all-embracing spirituality of Kahlil Gibran. Co-hosted by Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, The American Lebanese Cultural Center, and Christ Church Cathedral. April 29, 4-6 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required: www.christchurchcathedral.org/bishopchandler
Six Pillars Builds a Bridge — Embracing “the other” in the way of Christ • Bishop Paul-Gordon Chandler, who has spent much of his life serving within the Islamic world, will present creative thinking in the area of Christian-Muslim relations, by exploring how these two major religions — which share much common heritage — can not only co-exist, but also enrich each other. April 30 at 10 a.m. in Reynolds Hall. Details at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/ deanshourchandler
Barbara Brown Taylor and John Philip Newell: Celebrating Casa Mateo • Join us for a series of events with two of the most celebrated authors and teachers of spirituality today, Barbara Brown Taylor and John Philip Newell, May 14 at 6 p.m. and May 15 at 6:30 p.m. Learn more at: www.christchurchcathedral. org/taylornewell
Spring Neighborhood Gatherings • Neighborhood Gatherings offer a fun evening of fellowship and offer a way to connect with new friends and learn more about our community. They are hosted in the homes of Cathedral members across Houston. Upcoming events will be April 27, and May 9 and 11. RSVP required. Contact Lisa Cantu at lcantu@christchurchcathedral.org.
Looking for Children’s Ministry • Follow Agnus to the Jones Building where you can find Sunday School at 10 a.m. for ages 2 years – 5th grade, as well as childcare for infants (6 weeks – 5 years), or the Huffington Playground. Have questions? Contact KariAnn Lessner at kalessner@christchurchcathedral.org
Make Your 2023 EMC Pledge • There’s still time to make your annual pledge. We invite you to join us as we renew our commitment to our beloved Cathedral in time, talent, and treasure. To submit your pledge, simply drop a pledge card into the offering plate or visit www.christchurchcathedral.org/pledge to pledge online. If you have questions, contact Minister for Stewardship Karen Kraycirik at kkraycirik@christchurchcathedral.org or 713-590-3338.
For more information about these and other events at the Cathedral, visit www.christchurchcathedral.org.
After-Hours Emergency Pastoral Care Line • 713-826-5332
Easter lilies from the Rood Screen need a good home. All lilies will be removed after the 1 p.m. service — starting at 2:30 p.m. and will remain in the columbarium until Thursday.
Weekday Services
Morning Prayer, 7:30 a.m., Monday-Friday on Zoom
Evening Prayer, 6 p.m., Monday- Friday on Zoom
Oración del mediodía, Mediodía, miércoles y viernes en Facebook
Contemplative Prayer, 11:15 a.m., Mondays in Mellinger Room
Holy Eucharist, Noon, Wednesdays in Golding Chapel
Bilingual Holy Eucharist, 6 p.m., Wednesdays in Golding Chapel
Links available at: www.christchurchcathedral.org/weekdayservices
Welcome to Christ Church Cathedral!
We are blessed by your presence. If you are new to the Cathedral, please fill out the WELCOME card in your pew and put it in the offering plate or give it to an usher.
Tours of the Cathedral are available after the 9 a.m. service on the third Sunday every month. If you would like a tour, meet the tour guide by the eagle lectern.
Welcome Team members are in the Cathedral Bookstore after the service to visit with you and answer any questions you may have. Or join us in the Dean’s Hour located in Reynolds Hall.
Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with a concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun. Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly. Please be advised that our services are livestreamed to Vimeo and Facebook. Your participation in the service serves as your consent to the broadcast of your image and voice and to the broadcast of the image and voice of your participating minor children.