Fifth Sunday of Easter May 2, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 2, 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.
 
Hear, O Israel
Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
Love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength.
This is the first and the great commandment.
The second is like it:
Love your neighbour as yourself.
There is no commandment greater than these.
 
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 487: Where Charity and Love Prevail
 
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
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
 
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
In peace let us pray to the Lord, saying: Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God of life, you are the vine, we are your branches, and you nourish us and care for us with love. You call us to see the beauty of each branch, the beauty of each person. Yet too often the differences in others make us afraid. Grant us to live more fully in your forgiveness so that we may love as you love.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God of love, throughout the generations you seek us and invite us into relationship with you and to abide in your love. Help us respond more deeply to your invitation, and we thank you for the Church, for Linda our Primate and Sandra our bishop.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Holy Spirit, you hear the pain of a wounded creation and the cries of those suffering from climate change. Guide us toward new behaviours that will help heal and restore the balance, beauty and wonder of this world.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God who gathers, you graft us together as one vine. May your loving Spirit abide in us when we worship together, when we meet, work, and play together. Abide in us when we are anywhere in this world, so that we may celebrate you with joy.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God of the vineyard, you call us to abide in your love in all we do and say. Touched by your goodness, help us be a reflection of your love in our homes and workplaces. Be with all who are afflicted by this pandemic and all who are helping on the front lines of healthcare and goods and services.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God of eternity, you create and re-create us. Light the fire of your love in us so that we will be open to reconciliation, transformation and peace.  Help us welcome your grace.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God of life, we thank you for the gift of our many cultures, traditions and ethnicities. Grant us the courage to stand against injustice and hatred based on race, class, gender, religion, and fear.
Alleluia! Lord, hear our prayer.
 
God of healing, you came into the world and shared fully in our humanity. You know the hardships of life for people who suffer in so many different ways. May your Spirit be with and heal those who are 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.
 
Merciful God, you have shown us in Christ that we are one in you. Teach us to use this gift in the world so that all people will be able to listen to each other and live in peace. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
 
Commissioning of Parish Council
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one body, and given gifts for a variety of ministries for the common good. Our purpose today is to recognize and affirm the ministry for which these people have offered themselves.
 
According to Canon 35, the diocesan Canon on Parochial Government the purpose of a parish is:
“… to live the plurality of the Christian identity within the Anglican Communion.”
 
Canon 35,
“… is based on the concept of shared ministry.”
 
A parish council is the governing body that orders the life of the congregation.
 
Every parish council shall
(a) exercise general oversight over the life, worship and governance of the parish..., including responsibility for all guilds, societies and organizations of the parish;
 
(b) regularly evaluate the overall life of the parish and recommend ideas for effective ministries;
 
(c) carry out such duties as are imposed on it by law, including the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese and the by-laws of the parish.
 
The presiding minister then continues,
Is it your will that these people fulfil this ministry?
It is.
 
The presiding minister addresses those to be commissioned.
You have been called to this ministry. Will you, as long as you are engaged in this work, perform it with care, to the honour of God and the benefit of the Church?
I will.
 
The presiding minister addresses the congregation.
Will you uphold the members of the Parish Council in this service?
We will.
 
The presiding minister continues,
Let us pray.
Blessed are you, gracious God, our creator and redeemer. In every age you call people to minister in your name. May the work of these your servants so build up your Church, that we may faithfully serve you and show your love in all the world. Blessed are you, O God, now and for ever. 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 368: He Came Down
 
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.
 
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 (# 4)
“I am the bread which has come down from
heaven,” says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
“I am the vine, you are the branches.”
May we dwell in him, as he lives in us.
 
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: 56: I Am the Bread
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
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
God the Father,
by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his risen life;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
Hymn 482: Come and Journey with a Saviour
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! God forth into the world
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!