Fourth Sunday of Easter April 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 25, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
The Gathering of the Community
Alleluia! Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
May his grace and peace be with you.
May he 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.
 
Hymn 224: Awake, Arise, Lift Up Your Voice
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
O God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
make us perfect in every good work to do your will,
and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
Psalm 23
^1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.
⁴ Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.
⁵ You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.
⁶ Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.
(Psalm 23 from the Message)
 
The Holy Gospel: John 10:11-18
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 good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."
The Gospel of Christ.
               Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. cf Ephesians 3
 
The Prayers of the Community
On this Good Shepherd Sunday, let us pray through Jesus – God’s Son, risen from the dead, saying: Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to care for those who are close to us, we pray that our families and friends will have joy and satisfaction in all that they do.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to protect those who are threatened, those who are lonely, sick, hungry, persecuted, or ignored, that they will find comfort and be sustain by the Easter Gospel.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to welcome those who are rejected, and to spread compassion to those who are far away, grant salvation to all in danger, all who are far from home, prisoners, exiles, and victims of oppression.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to forgive those who are burdened by guilt, that we too may be absolved of our sins and offences.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to heal those who are broken and sick, and we pray especially for those who are known to us…
-         
… and others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-         
… that they may know your healing power and presence. And we pray for those who have died, remembering especially,
-         
-         
… that they may rejoice and be glad in fellowship with the Risen Christ.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – that even in a pandemic we take time to really know one another and to love as you have loved us, and that we may be generous in sharing the good things you provide.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to speak for those who are voiceless, to work for justice, to defend those who are oppressed and abused, to find new and just ways of righting wrongs, of struggling against exploitation, greed, or lack of concern: that we may find joy together.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you – to take the time to recognize our connectedness, and in this time of a pandemic we pray for perseverance for health care and other essential workers, give us strength to be vigilant in our responsibilities, and teach us to love as you have loved us.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Good Shepherd, teach us to follow you and to be faithful to the calling you gave us to be shepherds in your name. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
               and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
 
Hymn 585: Lord Whose Love In Humble Service
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of loving care,
you spread before us the table of life,
and give us the cup of salvation to drink.
Keep us always in the fold of your Son Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and our shepherd. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer F (From Common Worship of the Church of England)
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 thanks and praise.
 
You are worthy of our thanks and praise, Lord God of truth, for by the breath of your mouth you have spoken your word, and all things have come into being. You fashioned us in your image and placed us in the garden of your delight. Though we chose the path of rebellion you would not abandon your own. Again and again you drew us into your covenant of grace.
 
You gave your people the law and taught us by your prophets to look for your reign of justice, mercy and peace. As we watch for the signs of your kingdom on earth, we echo the song of the angels in heaven, evermore praising you and saying:
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.
 
Lord God, you are the most holy one, enthroned in splendour and light, yet in the coming of your Son Jesus Christ you reveal the power of your love made perfect in our human weakness.
 
Embracing our humanity, Jesus showed us the way of salvation; loving us to the end, he gave himself to death for us; dying for his own, he set us free from the bonds of sin, that we might rise and reign with him in glory.
 
On the night he gave up himself for us all he took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
 
In the same way, after supper he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying: 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. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
 
Therefore we proclaim the death that he suffered on the cross, we celebrate his resurrection, his bursting from the tomb, we rejoice that he reigns at your right hand on high and we long for his coming in glory.
 
As we recall the one, perfect sacrifice of our redemption, Father, by your Holy Spirit let these gifts of your creation be to us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; form us into the likeness of Christ
and make us a perfect offering in your sight.
 
Look with favour on your people and in your mercy hear the cry of our hearts. Bless the earth, heal the sick, let the oppressed go free and fill your Church with power from on high.
 
Gather your people from the ends of the earth to feast with all your saints at the table in your kingdom, where the new creation is brought to perfection in Jesus Christ our Lord; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory be yours, almighty Father, for ever and 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.
 
Lamb of God
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
grant us your peace.
 
Giving of Communion
The gifts of God for the people of God.
               Thanks be to God.
 
Hymn-during-communion:
85: Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless
 
Anthem: Our Saviour Lives
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
God of steadfast love,
watch over the Church redeemed by the blood of your Son.
May we who share in these holy mysteries
come safely to your eternal kingdom,
where there is one flock and one shepherd.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen 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
The peace of God which passes all understanding
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
Hymn 425: Joyful, Joyful
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! God forth into the world
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!