5/7/25

Fourth Sunday of Easter May 11, 2025, 10:00 am St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI

 
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 11, 2025, 10:00 am
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
Preludes: Toccata Johann Pachelbel; Pastorale Charles Wesley; Trumpet Voluntary Simon Stubley
 
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.
 
274 Here From All Nations, All Tongues
 
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: 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
 
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
God of comfort and compassion, through Jesus, your Son, you lead us to the water of life and table of your bounty. May we who have received the tender love of our Good Shepherd be strengthened by your grace to care for your flock. And at this hour be with us as we offer prayers for the world, saying: hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the Church: for all bishops, priests and deacons that together we will proclaim the risen Christ in word and action. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for this parish of St. Paul’s, that we may be transforming community of love and justice, promotors of healing and forgiveness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all mothers, in thanksgiving for those who gave birth, and all those who have been like a mother to us, that you will bless and strengthen them, and inspire us to greater love by the example of their leadership, intelligence, patience and wisdom. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray 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.
We pray for peace in the world, that Christ's victory over death may bring an end to war, genocide, and the inhumane treatment of people. Grant that we may know the things that make for peace, and may strive for the reconciliation of all people in your realm of justice and love. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, we remember 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 Lord. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the forgiveness of our sins and offenses, that by your love and mercy we may know the joy of freedom won by the Risen Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray 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.
In thanksgiving we acknowledge your power to save, and we pray that you will send the fire of your Holy Spirit upon us, your people, and that we may be forgiven all our sins and bear faithful witness to the resurrection of Jesus the Christ, God of love:
               Hear our prayer.
Open our hearts to your power moving around us and between us and within us, until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy, in communities transformed by justice and compassion, and in the healing of all that is broken. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
               and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements & Birthday Song
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
 
309 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet
 
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 (EP3)
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.
 
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true paschal lamb who has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us eternal life.
 
Therefore, joining our voices with the whole company of heaven, we sing our joyful hymn of praise 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.
 
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son.
 
For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
 
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, 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.”
 
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
 
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
 
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation;
 
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are 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.
Alleluia! Christ our passover
is sacrificed for us.
               Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
 
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.
 
Hymn-during-communion:
PB 148 The Lord is Holy
PB 43 Commune With Me
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 43 Commune With Me
 
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
May the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in you that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 
320 Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Risen Lord.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!