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!
Fourth Sunday of Easter – 10:00
April 21, 2024
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
Preludes: The
First Day André
Gagnon; The Love of Jesus Medley arr. Mark Hayes; Jesus Loves Me,
arr. Craig Curry
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.
You,
Lord Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (text in Voices United 210)
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
First Reading: Acts 4:5-12
A Reading From The Book Of Acts
The rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with
Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the
high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst,
they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people
and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone
who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all
of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you
in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified,
whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is 'the stone that was rejected by
you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.' There is salvation in no one
else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we
must be saved."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
519 The Lord’s My Shepherd
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.
Anthem: Carry Me Home, arr. Jean Anne Shafferman
Sermon:
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
Jesus said: ‘I am the good shepherd' and so we pray: Good
Shepherd, watch over us these days, as you are aware of all that we face and
experience. Never leave us or forsake us and journey with us always. God of
love,
Hear our prayer.
Good
Shepherd, you know us as no-one else knows us. Guard us and keep us, as you
guard and keep those whom we love. You have blessed us with
green pastures and still waters—places in your world where we find rest and
renewal. We thank you for the beauty of the earth. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Good Shepherd, you call us to follow where you lead. Give us ears
to hear and know your voice. And give us the courage and strength and wisdom to
raise good and faithful servants in your Church. We pray for Linda, our
Primate, and Sandra, our bishop. For all the people of this parish, that we may
be transformed by the living Christ, and be made whole. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Good Shepherd, we pray for the sick and the lonely; For the
anxious and the bereaved; for those whose pain is beyond our comprehension. We
stand with them and commend them to your care. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Good
Shepherd, we pray for hospitals and care homes and for all who serve the needs
of others. May your example of living compassion inspire us. You love us so much that you call us each by name: We pray for the
healing of those
we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially:
-
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.
Good
Shepherd, you know the complexities of our being and we ask you to speak into
the depths of our hearts and calm our fears. You never leave your loved ones; even in the valley of the shadow of
death, you are present. Be with all victims of violence. Comfort them in their
distress. Bring peace to all war-torn places. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Good Shepherd, you are our salvation. Grant to all who have died a
dwelling place in your house forever, remembering especially,
-
…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever
with you. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Good Shepherd, you know us by our name and our identity is
not hidden from you. Gather us to yourself as a shepherd gathers the sheep,
that we might know your love, mercy and forgiveness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Shepherd of all, by laying down your life for your flock you
reveal your unconditional love. Lead us from the place of death to the place of
abundant life, that guided by your care for us, we may rightly offer our lives
in love for you and our neighbors. In the name of the Good Shepherd, we pray. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Halle, Halle, Hallelujah (SNC
192)
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 (Common Worship UK, Prayer A)
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.
It is indeed right, it is our duty and our joy, at all times
and in all places to give you thanks and praise, holy Father, heavenly King,
almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
For he is your living Word; through him you have created all
things from the beginning, and formed us in your own image.
Through him you have freed us from the slavery of sin, giving
him to be born of a woman and to die upon the cross; you raised him from the
dead and exalted him to your right hand on high.
Through him you have sent upon us your holy and life-giving
Spirit, and made us a people for your own possession.
Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the
company of heaven, we proclaim your great and glorious name, for ever 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.
Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through your Son our
Saviour Jesus Christ, and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant
that by the power of your Holy Spirit these gifts of bread and wine may be to
us his body and his blood; who, in the same night that he was betrayed, 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, heavenly Father, we remember his offering of
himself made once for all upon the cross; we proclaim his mighty resurrection
and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom, and with this
bread and this cup we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord.
Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come again.
Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice
of thanks and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence
of your divine majesty, renew us by your Spirit, inspire us with your love and
unite us in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you,
Father almighty, in songs of everlasting praise:
Blessing and honour and glory and power
be yours 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.
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
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.
Hymns-during-communion:
85
Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless
PB 7 Lamb of God (verses 1,2,3)
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB7
Lamb of God (verse 3)
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
Christ the good shepherd, who laid down his life for the
sheep, draw you and all who hear his voice to be one flock within one fold; and
the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be
among you and remain with you always. Amen.
459
Christ Is Our Cornerstone
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
