Fifth Sunday of Easter – 10:00 April 28, 2024 St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI

 
Fifth Sunday of Easter – 10:00
April 28, 2024
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
Preludes: Voluntary in D John Alcock; Koraal (from 'Modale Suite') Flor Peeters; Chorale Prelude Christopher Tambling
 
The Easter Proclamation  
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
               The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
May God’s Grace and peace be with you.
               May God fill our hearts with joy.
 
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
425 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another and walk in the way of his commandments, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Acts 8:26-40
A Reading From The Book Of Acts
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, "Go over to this chariot and join it." So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth." The eunuch asked Philip, "About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?" Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?" He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
Psalm 22:24-30
My praise is of him in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: "May your heart live for ever!" All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
All the ends of the earth shall turn to the Lord.
For kingship belongs to the Lord; he rules over the nations. To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust fall before him.
All the ends of the earth shall turn to the Lord.
My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; they shall be known as the Lord's for ever. They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that he has done. 
All the ends of the earth shall turn to the Lord.
 
635 Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song
 
The Holy Gospel: John 15:1-8
The Lord be with you.
               And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
               Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon: Lawrence Roche
 
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles: this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen.                        cf 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
 
The Prayers of the People
Risen and ascended Christ, you surround us with witnesses and send us your Holy Spirit who opens our minds to understand your teaching. Bless us with such grace that our lives may become a blessing for the world now, in the age to come, and in our prayers, as we say: hear our prayer.
 
For the Church: especially Linda, our Primate, and Sandra, our bishop, that signs and wonders born of faith and love may be worked among all peoples, through those who bear testimony to the resurrection. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For this parish of St. Paul’s, that we may be transformed by the living Christ, and be instruments of healing and forgiveness for those who are hurting. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all who struggle with their faith, that your presence and love may be made known to them, and bring light to their life’s journey. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For a renewed stewardship of the whole creation, that you will guide us to effectively care for the Earth, and preserve its beauty and resources and balance. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For peace in all the troubled areas of the world, that Christ's victory over death may bring an end to war, genocide, and the inhumane treatment of people. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, remembering especially those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital:
- …
and those we may name out loud or in our hearts:
-
…that they may find healing in the name of the Risen Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who have died in your peace, remembering especially,
-
…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever with the Living One. And we pray for all who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty, and restore all things in glory through the victory of Jesus Christ. We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed, the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace, to the glory of your name. Amen.
 
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
 
Announcements
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
 
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Gracious God, you show us your way and give us your divine life. May everything we do be directed by the knowledge of your truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.
 
The Great Thanksgiving
Eucharistic Prayer 1
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
 
It is indeed right that we should praise you, gracious God, for you created all things. You formed us in your own image: as your children you created us. When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to care for us, but opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a covenant with Israel, and through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave the promise of a blessing to all nations. Through Moses you led your people from bondage into freedom; through the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation.
 
Therefore, with them, and with all your saints who have served you in every age, we give thanks and raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
 
Holy God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise. In the fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; he opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and to those in need. In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.
 
On the night he freely gave himself to death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
Gracious God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him to life you give us life for evermore.
 
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
 
Recalling his death, proclaiming his resurrection, and looking for his coming again in glory, we offer you, Father, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table may be one body and one holy people, a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
 
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory is yours, almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
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 for ever. Amen.
 
The Breaking of the Bread (Easter Season)
Lord, we died with you on the cross.
               Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
               Now we share in your resurrection.
               Live in us, that we may live in you.
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
Lamb of God
 
Hymns-during-communion:
52 O God, Unseen Yet Ever Near
56 I Am the Bread, the Bread of Life
PB 231 To Bless Your Heart (repeated)
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 231 To Bless Your Heart
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
God of love, in this eucharist we have heard your truth and shared in your life. May we always walk in your way, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
The doxology
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine.
Glory to God
from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Blessing
May God, whose Son invites the world to abide in his risen life
help us bear the fruit of love for one another and know the fullness of joy.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
486 Love Divine, All Love’s Excelling
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!