Sunday, 21st April, 2024
Said Eucharist
4th Sunday of Easter
Introduction
Greeting
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The president briefly welcomes the congregation.
I will go to the altar of my God:
Even to the God of my joy and gladness.
Confession and absolution
Our help is in the name of the Lord:
Who made the heavens and the earth.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we confess to you and to our siblings in Christ that we have sinned in our thoughts and in our words, in things done and in things left undone. We are truly sorry. Forgive and free us from our sins, we pray, give us strength and show us your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
May the Lord of compassion, who forgives all those who truly repent, have + mercy upon you, lay aside your sins and bring you to reign with Them in glory, through the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Will you not turn again, O Lord, and give us life:
That your people may rejoice in you?
Kyrie
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God's people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer, for you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Collects
Silence is kept.
Lord, who raised up from the dead your Son to be a good shepherd to your flock, let us not stray from him, so that he may watch over our footsteps and those of all his people forever; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First reading: Acts 4:5–12
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
The next day their 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.’
This is the word of the Lord, alleluia, alleluia:
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.
Psalm 23
A Psalm by David.
The Lord is my shepherd:I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the Lord’s house forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,as it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be forever, world without end. Amen.
Second reading: 1 John 3:16–24
A reading from the First Letter of John.
We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?
Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
This is the word of the Lord, alleluia, alleluia:
Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: John 10:11–18
Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me. Alleluia!
+++ Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John:
Praise to you, O Lord.
‘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.’
Thanks be to you, O Lord, for this your glorious Gospel:
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, creator 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 whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven; who was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became human; who was crucified for our sake under Pontius Pilate; who suffered, died and was buried; who rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; who ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead; of whose kingdom there will be no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the lifegiver, who procedes from the Father; who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified; who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We await the resurrection of the dead, and the + life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayers of intercession
Prayers of intercession are said.
Liturgy of the Sacrament
Peace
We meet in Christ’s name:
Let us share his peace.
The congregation offer one another a sign of peace.
Offertory
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for by your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made; it shall become for us the bread of life. Blessed be God forever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for by your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands; it shall become the cup of our salvation. Blessed be God forever.
Eucharistic prayer
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 God thanks and praise.
Heavenly Creator, all glory, praise and thanksgiving belong to you, for by your power you uphold our very being. Your Holy Spirit is eternally at work in us, breathing life into all things and weaving our lives into your dream for the world. Through your Word made flesh you have redeemed us, making us whole through his death and glorious resurrection.
As a holy people, reborn of your redeeming grace and rejoicing in the resurrection of your Son, we offer you our praise, with angels and archangels, with our Lady Mary and all the saints, and the whole company of heaven, singing the hymn of your unending glory:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
+ Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Almighty God, blessed is your name in all creation, for Christ your Son in whom all things are reconciled. Through him the broken are healed, the lost are found and the outcast made welcome. His table is set that all who hunger may eat and be satisfied.
For, on the night when he was betrayed to his death, at supper with his disciples, he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
In the same way, after supper, he took the cup, gave you thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
Therefore, merciful Lord, we recall all that Jesus did among us: his birth in Bethlehem; his death on the cross; his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension. In faith, hope and love we offer to God these our gifts of sacrifice, together with our souls and bodies, that Christ may dwell evermore in us and we in him.
To this end, O God, we humbly ask that you send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and this wine, that by the power of the Spirit they may become the body and blood of your dear Son, that we may be strengthened in faith, emboldened in love and empowered to walk in your grace and truth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord, by whom and with whom and in whom, in the union of the Holy Spirit, all praise and glory and honour be to you, Lord of all ages, world without end. Amen.
Breaking of bread
The president breaks the bread.
The living bread is broken for the life of the world:
Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.
Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, so we 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. Lead us not into the time of trial, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Agnus Dei
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace.
Communion
The ministers and congregation receive Communion.
At the giving of the bread:
The body of Christ, the bread of life. Amen.
At the giving of the cup:
The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Amen.
Prayers after communion
Give thanks to the Lord, for They are gracious:
And Their mercy endures forever.
Lord God Almighty, we thank you for this holy meal of the body and blood of your dear Son. Help us to be examples by his great example, and be witnesses to your justice and mercy in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing
May the Lord bless you and keep you safe. Amen.
May the Lord make Their face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Amen.
May the Lord lift Their face to you and give you peace. Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, + the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, alleluia, alleluia:
Alleluia, alleluia, + in the name of Christ. Amen.