The Great Fifty Days—Eastertide 6 Atonement—Christ as Priest

Published October 3, 2026

Updated October 3, 2026

Great Fifty Days Color Enhanced Cropped

This is part of the worship series, 
"The Great Fifty Days”

Series Introduction 
Easter Morning  | Eastertide 2 | Eastertide 3 | Eastertide 4  
Eastertide 5 | Eastertide 6 | Ascension Sunday

Sixth Sunday of Eastertide 

Theme: Atonement—Christ as Priest

Opening hymn

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Wesley

Psalm: Psalm 72

Read responsively as follows:

Leader: Give the king your justice, O God,
    and your righteousness to a king’s son.
May he judge your people with righteousness
    and your poor with justice.
May the mountains yield prosperity for the people,
    and the hills, in righteousness.
May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
    give deliverance to the needy,
    and crush the oppressor.
Congregation: For he delivers the needy when they call,
    the poor and those who have no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy
    and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
    and precious is their blood in his sight.
Leader: May his name endure forever,
    his fame continue as long as the sun.
May all nations be blessed in him;
    may they pronounce him happy.
Congregation: Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
    who alone does wondrous things.
All: Blessed be his glorious name forever;
    may his glory fill the whole earth.
                Amen and Amen.
Hymn

“I Will Sing of My Redeemer” Bliss

Pre-resurrection gospel reading

Matthew 1:18–21: He will save his people from their sins.

Post-resurrection reading

Hebrews 9:24–28: Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many.

Sermon

Sacrificed King

Sermon Outline:
  1. Jesus was sacrificed in our place.
  2. Jesus was sacrificed once for all.
  3. Jesus will come again to bring salvation.
Hymn

“Man of Sorrows—What a Name” Bliss

We Celebrate the Lord's Supper

Prayer of Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise. 

It is our joy and our peace, 
at all times and in all places, 
to give thanks to you, 
holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God, 
through Christ our Lord.

When we were unfaithful to you, you kept faith with us; 
your love remained steadfast. 
We thank you that you did not abandon us in our sin, 
 but sent prophets and teachers to lead us into the way of salvation.

Above all, we thank you for sending Jesus, your Son, 
to deliver us from the way of sin and death 
by the obedience of his life, 
by his suffering upon the cross, 
and by his resurrection from the dead. 

We praise you that he now reigns with you in glory
and ever lives to pray for us.

We thank you for the Holy Spirit, 
who leads us into truth,
defends us in adversity, 
and out of every people unites us into one holy church. 

Therefore with the whole company of saints in heaven and on earth 
we worship and glorify you, God most holy, and we sing with joy.

Hymn

“Holy, Holy, Holy Lord” Sanctus

Institution

According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with two of his followers, he took the bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.

This is the Lord’s table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast, which he has prepared.

In thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, in the joy of his resurrection, in the assurance of our union with him, we offer our very selves to you to be a living and holy sacrifice dedicated to your service.

Great is the mystery of our faith.
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.

Prayer of Consecration 

Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine, that the bread we break and the cup we bless may be the communion of the body and blood of Christ.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, that we may be one with all who share this feast, united in ministry in every place. As this bread is Christ’s body for us, send us out to be the body of Christ in the world.

Communion

Our breaking of the bread is our sharing in the body of Christ. Take, eat, remember, and believe that the body of our Lord was offered for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

Our giving thanks for the cup of blessing is our sharing in the blood of Christ. Take, drink, remember, and believe that the precious blood of our Lord was shed for the complete forgiveness of all our sins.

[For Easter Sunday, or throughout Eastertide, consider placing the baptismal font at the front of your center aisle and inviting people to come forward for communion: “As you pass by the baptismal font on your way to partake, you are invited to place the sign of the water on your forehead as a reminder that through your baptism, you have been united with Christ in his death and resurrection.”]

Communion songs

“To God Be the Glory”Crosby
“O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart’s Desire”Latin
“Hail, O Once-Despised Jesus”Bakewell
“Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed”Watts