The Holy Eucharist
PRELUDE
THE PROCESSIONAL: LOVE DIVINE, ALL LOVES EXCELLING
THE OPENING ACCLAMATION
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no
secrets are hid: 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.
THE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
THE FIRST LESSON ACTS 8:26-40
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.
PSALM 22:24-30
Deus, Deus meus
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: * "May your heart live for ever!"
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, * and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the LORD; * he rules over the nations.
28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; * all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29 My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; * they shall be known as the LORD's for ever.
30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn * the saving deeds that he has done.
THE SECOND LESSON 1 JOHN 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, "I love God," and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
SEQUENCE HYMN: COME MY WAY, MY TRUTH, MY LIFE
THE GOSPEL: JOHN 15:1-8
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said to his disciples, ”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 the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
THE SERMON: The Rev’d Hank Tuell
THE NICENE CREED
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, Eternally begotten of the Father. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Gathered as believers in Christ, made one body through baptism, let us offer
prayers to God for the living hope of all the world.
For peace from on high and for our salvation.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For this parish family of Saint John’s, that we will faithfully bear witness to the
risen Christ in word and deed.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the peace of the whole world, for the welfare of the holy churches of God,
and for the unity of all. Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For this holy gathering and for those who enter with faith, reverence, and fear
of God. For our new brothers and sisters illumined by the light of Christ.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us
For Mathew, Allen and Mary our bishops and Hank our priest, and all who
minister in Christ, and for all the holy people of God.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the world and its leaders, our nation and its people.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For all those in need, the suffering and the oppressed, travelers and prisoners,
and the dying.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For those who have gone before us under the sign of faith, and for all the
departed.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For ourselves, our families, and those we love, especially Dr. John, Generosa, Jim, Bernard, Darrin, Rodney, Harold, Lauren, Matthew, Gweneth, Trevor, Juli, Ondeene, Carole, George, Paul, Michael, Francine, Arthur, Anthony, Robert, Barbara, Dillon, Henrietta, Phillip, Dice, Christopher, Donald, Dan, Teresa, Chris, and all those on our prayer list.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
Remembering our most glorious and blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John and all the
saints, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ.
To you, O Lord, our God.
CONCLUDING COLLECT
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who gives us the Easter word of peace
through Jesus Christ. Hear the prayers, which we offer in the hope of glory, and
breath upon us with your Holy Spirit. Glory to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
THE CONFESSION
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought,
word and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our
neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake
of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may
delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord
Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy
Spirit keep you in eternal life.
Amen.
THE PEACE
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
THE OFFERTORY HYMN: THE COMMISSION (CAIN) Voice & Guitar by TONY GONZALEZ
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING - B
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 him thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to
you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with
all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn 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. Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest,.
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, 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 stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and 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.”
Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore, let us keep the feast, Alleluia!
THE FRACTION ANTHEM S-165
THE COMMUNION
COMMUNION HYMN: TASTE AND SEE
THE POST COMMUNION PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual
food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the
Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send
us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as
faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be
honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
THE BLESSING
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, through the
power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you now, and remain with you always.
Amen.
THE RECESSIONAL: IN CHRIST THERE IS NO EAST OR WEST
THE DISMISSAL
The Mass is ended. Our service now begins! Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!
Thanks be to God.
THE POSTLUDE