Fifth Sunday of Easter May 18, 2025, 10:00 am

 
Rogation
Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 18, 2025, 10:00 am
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
Preludes: Air Jonathan Battishill; Voluntary in C John Travers; Aria da Chiesa Georg Muffat
 
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.
 
330 O Praise Ye the Lord
 
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 11:1-18
A Reading From The Book Of Acts
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
Psalm 148
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all you angels of his; praise him, all his host. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.
Alleluia!
Praise him, heaven of heavens, and you waters above the heavens. Let them praise the Name of the Lord; for he commanded, and they were created. He made them stand fast for ever and ever; he gave them a law which shall not pass away.
Alleluia!
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea-monsters and all deeps; Fire and hail, snow and fog, tempestuous wind, doing his will; Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars; Wild beasts and all cattle, creeping things and winged birds;
Alleluia!
Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the world; Young men and maidens, old and young together. Let them praise the Name of the Lord, for his Name only is exalted, his splendour is over earth and heaven.
Alleluia!
He has raised up strength for his people and praise for all his loyal servants, the children of Israel, a people who are near him.
Alleluia!
 
The Holy Gospel: John 13:31-35
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.
When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
The Gospel of Christ.
               Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
We Are One in the Spirit (They Will Know We Are Christians)
 
The Prayers of the People
Gathered here, with the risen and living Christ, we pray to God for the needs of all the world, saying: hear our prayer.
Upon the rich earth send a blessing, O Lord. Prosper the work of our hands: forgive our delusion of self-sufficiency so that we may praise you for your goodness. Let the earth be fruitful and its resources be hallowed; we pray for all farms, all who work them, and for the whole farming industry, God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon human labour send a blessing, O Lord. Prosper the work of our hands; may all find dignity and just reward in their work; free the exploited and oppressed. We pray for all cities, towns and villages, and for their well-being and prosperity, God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon the produce of the earth send a blessing, O Lord. Guide us into a sustainable future and give us the will to share the fruits of the earth. We pray for those who tend the countryside and preserve its order and beauty, God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord. Teach us to cherish the water of the earth, and to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers. We pray for the rural economy and for its regeneration, for traditional skills and crafts and for those who exercise them, God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon the Church send a blessing, O Lord: for this Diocese as we prepare for the Synod; we pray for the wider community during Family Violence Week, be with all who endure the immediate and generational effects of violence. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon the leaders of the nations send a blessing, O Lord: for those who make farming policy, and for all with authority in government; for the peace and stability of all peoples; for justice and reconciliation throughout the world. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon aid agencies send a blessing, O Lord. Where the earth is parched and the well has run dry; where war brings want, and children go hungry; where the poor cry out for bread and for justice, give hands to care and heal, and compel us to be generous, God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon those who are in need send a blessing, O Lord; for those who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially those known to us…
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And others that we may name out loud or in our hearts.
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We pray for all who bring comfort, care and healing. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Upon those who have died in your peace send a blessing, O Lord; remembering especially,
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…that by the resurrection of Jesus, they may rejoice forever with you. And we pray for all who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Grant favourable weather, temperate rains and fruitful seasons, that there may be food and drink for all creatures. Grant your blessing upon the lands and waters, and all who work upon them, to bring forth food and all things needful for your people. Prosper all who care for the earth, the water, and the air, that the riches of your creation may abound from age to age.
 
Living God, long ago, faithful women proclaimed the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, and the world was changed forever. Teach us to keep faith with them, that our witness may be as bold, our love as deep, and our faith as true. Amen.
 
The Peace
By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
               and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
 
259 For the Fruit of All Creation
 
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.
 
Prayer G (from Common Worship, CofE)
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 and good to give you thanks and praise, almighty God and Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. Through him you have created us in your own image, and made us stewards of your good creation.
 
Through him you teach us to exult in the birds of the air, the lilies of the field, the precious and life-giving crops of the earth. Through him you free us from the slavery of sin, giving him to die upon the cross and to rise again for our salvation. Through him, you begin your work of new creation, as we look for a new heaven and a new earth in which your righteousness dwells.
 
Therefore, we join with angels and archangels, and give voice to every creature under heaven, 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.
 
How wonderful the work of your hands, O Lord. As a mother tenderly gathers her children, you embraced a people as your own. When they turned away and rebelled your love remained steadfast.
 
From them you raised up Jesus our Saviour, born of Mary, to be the living bread, in whom all our hungers are satisfied. He offered his life for sinners, and with a love stronger than death he opened wide his arms on the cross.
 
On the night before he died, he came to supper with his friends and, taking bread, he gave you thanks. He broke it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.
 
At the end of supper, taking the cup of wine, he gave you thanks, 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. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
 
Praise to you, Lord Jesus:
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life:
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
 
Father, we plead with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross; we remember his dying and rising in glory, and we rejoice that he intercedes for us at your right hand. Pour out your Holy Spirit as we bring before you these gifts of your creation; may they be for us the body and blood of your dear Son.
 
As we eat and drink these holy things in your presence, form us in the likeness of Christ, and build us into a living temple to your glory. Bring us at the last with all the saints to the vision of that eternal splendour for which you have created us;
 
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, by whom, with whom, and in whom, 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.
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.
 
Hymns-during-communion:
73 One Bread, One Body, One Lord of All
PB 99 Great is the Lord (repeated)
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 99 Great is the Lord (repeated)
 
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.
 
Blessing of the Seeds
Blessed are you, God of planting and of harvest,
you have called us to till the earth and make it fruitful.
Bless these seeds and all seeds and transplants
that all creation may shout with joy.
Work in our lives the beauty, peace, abundance, and joy
which are the tokens of your presence in creation,
that by these signs we may see the splendour of your love
and praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Blessing
May God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who is the source of all goodness and growth,
pour blessing upon all things created, and upon us,
that we may use these gifts for the benefit of all people;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
SNC 88 Give Thanks for Life
 
Packets of seeds will be available as you leave.
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Tend the earth, care for God’s good creation,
and bring forth the fruits of righteousness.
Go in the peace of Christ.
Thanks be to God.