5/5/22

Fourth Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 8, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

Fourth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 8, 2022, 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.
 
444 Your Hand, O God Has Guided
 
The Collect
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
First Reading: Revelation 7:9-17
A Reading from The Book of Revelation to John
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
519: The Lord's My Shepherd
 
The Holy Gospel: John 10:22-30
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.
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
The Gospel of Christ.
                Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
The Prayers of the Community
Gathered before the throne of the Lamb, let us give God the glory and pray for the needs of all God’s flock, saying: hear our prayer.
 
For the Church: especially Linda, our Primate, and Sandra, our bishop, and that we may hear the voice of Christ the Good Shepherd, and allow our lives to be shaped and guided by Jesus. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
For this parish of St. Paul’s, that by our witness we may lead others to follow the Good Shepherd to green pastures and still waters, where we are revived and enabled to work for reconciliation, justice and peace. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
For the people of Ukraine: those living with the dangers of war, and those who have left the country, for aid agencies and those working to help, that you will strengthen them in their struggle for peace and justice. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
For all who have shepherded us, especially parents, spouses, teachers, clergy, and mentors, that you will continue to work through them, and lead us to wholeness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
For all mothers, and those who have been like a mother to us, that you will bless and strengthen them, and inspire us to greater love by their example. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
 
For all who walk through the dark valleys of life, remembering especially those we know who are ill at home or the hospital:
          
And other we may name out loud or in our hearts:
-           
…that they may find places of healing and refreshment. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
For those who have died, remembering especially,
-           
that they may rejoice forever around the throne of the Lamb. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
For the absolution and remission of our sins and offences; for the fire of the Holy Spirit upon us, that we may bear faithful witness to the resurrection. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
Blessed are you, O God, the fountain of joy and peace. Hear our prayers, and grant that we may never become separated from Christ, our Good Shepherd, who guides us to springs of life-giving water. Glory to the Holy and Undivided Trinity, now, and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
                and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements
 
336 Masithi: Amen
 
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 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.
 
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:
520 The King of Love My Shepherd Is
85 Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless
508 I Heard the Voice Of Jesus Say
P183 I Look to the Shepherd
 
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
Our loving and merciful God gave us Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
that he may lay down his life and rise again:
giving us grace to follow in his way;
and may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
276 For All the Saints (verses 1, 4, 5, 8)
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
 

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