Seventh Sunday of Easter Sunday, May 29, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

Seventh Sunday of Easter
Sunday, May 29, 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.
 
379 Rejoice the Lord is King
 
The Collect
Let us pray,
Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord. Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of his peace, and bring the whole of creation to worship at his feet, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Acts 1:1-11
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. While staying with them, he ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" He replied, "It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 24:44-53
The Lord be with you.
               And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
               Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
The Gospel of Christ.
               Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
The Prayers of the Community
Let us join our prayers with those of our Saviour Christ, seeking God’s blessing and the gifts of the Spirit.
 
Lift up our hearts and inspire us to serve you in all that we do: We ask you, the God of creation, to send a blessing upon us and upon Linda, our Primate, and Sandra, our bishop. And upon the rich earth send a blessing, O Lord. Let the earth be fruitful and its resources be hallowed. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Let all peoples acknowledge your power and grant on earth the blessing of peace: 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 ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Send us the gift of your Spirit and renew your Church with love and justice: 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 world. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Be with those who labour in poverty, are oppressed by unjust laws, are prevented from speaking the truth, and long for a harvest of justice; increase our commitment to truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people, that trust and authentic partnership may be achieved. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
May peace abound and righteousness flourish, praying for the people of Ukraine and other war-torn places: Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord. Teach us to cherish the waters of the earth, and to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Help us to proclaim the good news and to celebrate your grace: 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. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Send your Holy Spirit to be with all those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially…
–        
… and others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-         
… that they may know your love, forgiveness and presence. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Receive into your presence all who have died in your peace and whose faith is known to you alone, remembering especially,
-         
… that they may share in the risen life of Christ. And we ask you to be with and comfort those who mourn. Our sadness and anger increases with each report of yet another mass shooting – please, somehow, enable us to turn our anger to positive and real change and keep everyone safe from this madness. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
We pray for those who are filled with guilt, or who are broken-hearted, we pray for the absolution and remission of our sins and offences. Cleanse our hearts of prejudice and selfishness and inspire us to hunger and thirst for what is right. We ask in faith:
we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Save us from all that holds us captive, restore our vision, that our mouth may be filled with laughter and our tongue with songs of joy. We ask you to hear us, good Lord, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
The Peace
Alleluia! The peace of the risen Christ
be always with you
               and also with you. Alleluia!
 
Announcements
 
378 Crown Him With Many Crowns
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Eternal God, our Saviour Jesus Christ has promised to be with us until the end of time. Accept all we offer you this day, and renew us in his transfigured life; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer 3
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 through Jesus Christ our Lord, who after his glorious resurrection appeared to his disciples, and in their sight ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us; that where he is, there we might also be, and reign with him in glory. Therefore we praise you with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your name.
 
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.
 
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:
80 We Hail You Now, O Jesus
408 Wind Upon the Water
84 Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendour
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Eternal Giver of love and power, your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom. Confirm us in this mission, and help us to live the good news we proclaim; through Jesus Christ our 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 Spirit,
who set the Church on fire upon the day of Pentecost,
bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
565 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
 
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Alleluia! Go forth into the world
rejoicing in the power of the risen Lord
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!