Order of Service for Sunday
April 28, 2024
* Indicates stand as you are comfortably able.
Prelude
Welcome Words
* Opening Holy, Holy, Holy Hymnal 362
* Opening Acclamation
Alleluia, Christ is Risen.
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
*Prayer of Preparation
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.
* Prayer for the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, when we know you, we enter your eternal life: give us the longing to deeply know Jesus as our way, truth and life, so that daily we can follow where he leads and imitate his way of love, through Jesus Christ you son our Lord, who lives and rules with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Secular Reading― James P. Carse, Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility
“It is a highly valued function of society to prevent changes in the rules of the many games it embraces... Deviancy, however, is the very essence of culture. Whoever merely follows the script, merely repeating the past, is culturally impoverished.
[What is most significant are] those variations that bring the tradition into view in a new way, allowing the familiar to be seen as unfamiliar, as requiring a new appraisal of all that we have been- and therefore all that we are. Properly speaking, a culture does not have a tradition; it is a tradition.”
First Scripture Reading Please be seated Acts 8:9-13,18-24
Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Psalm 22:24-30
My praise is of you in the great assembly;
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek shall praise you:
"May your heart live for ever!"
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to you,
and all the families of the nations shall bow before you.
For yours is the royal power, O God;
you rule over the nations.
To you alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship;
all who go down to the dust fall before you.
My soul shall live for you;
my descendants shall serve you;
they shall be known as yours for ever.
They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn
the saving deeds that you have done.
Second Scripture Reading I John 4:17-21
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.
* Gospel Song Bless the Lord my soul Taize
Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. (repeat 5 x)
* 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.
Please be seated at the invitation of the Preacher.
The Sermon The Rev. Rebecca Ragland, Rector
Affirmation of Faith
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. Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped 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 look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*Prayers of the People
In faith and hope, let us pray,
Hear us risen Christ.
* The Exchange of Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
The Great Thanksgiving
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.
All thanks and praise
are yours at all times and in all places,
our true and loving God;
through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word,
the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things.
You laid the foundations of the world
and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb;
You brought forth all creatures of the earth
and gave breath to humankind.
Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing,
all you create is a sign of hope for our journey;
And so as the morning stars sing your praises
we join the heavenly beings and all creation
as we shout with joy
Sanctus Front of Hymnal S-129
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.
Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all,
your Word has never been silent;
you called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations,
you delivered them from bondage
and led them to a land of promise.
Of your grace, you gave Jesus to be human,
to share our life, to proclaim the coming of your holy reign
and give himself for us, a fragrant offering.
Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
you have freed us from sin,
brought us into your life,
reconciled us to you,
and restored us to the glory you intend for us.
We thank you that on the night before he died for us
Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, gave it to his friends and said:
“Take, eat, this is my Body, broken for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper Jesus took the cup of wine,
said the blessing, gave it to his friends and said:
“Drink this, all of you:
this cup is the new Covenant in my Blood,
poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
And so, remembering all that was done for us:
the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension,
longing for Christ’s coming in glory,
and presenting to you these gifts
your earth has formed and human hands have made,
we acclaim you, O Christ:
Dying, you destroyed our death.
Rising, you restored our life.
Christ Jesus, come in glory!
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon these gifts of bread and wine
that they may be to us the Body and Blood of your Christ.
Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power,
may be a people of hope, justice and love.
Giver of Life, draw us together in the Body of Christ,
and in the fullness of time gather us with
all your people into the joy of our true eternal home.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
we worship you our God and Creator
in voices of unending praise.
Blessed are you now and for ever. Amen
And now as Jesus taught us, 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.
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
Fraction Front of Hymnal S-152
Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Songs for Communion New Wine Hillsong
Blackbird Sarah Machlachlan
Reflection A blessing for the life you didn't choose Kate Bowler
*Postcommunion Prayer
Let us pray,
Loving God,
we give you thanks
for restoring us in your image
and nourishing us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.
Now send us forth
a people, forgiven, healed, renewed;
that we may proclaim your love to the world
and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
*Blessing
May you learn to return and rest in the beauty of your animal nature.
Learn to lean low, leave your locked mind, and live with freed senses,
feel the earth breathing within you.
May you learn to walk upon the earth with all with the confidence of animals and their clear-eyed stillness. So that your mind might be baptized into the creator.
In the name of the Light, and the rain and the wind. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
*Closing Song The church’s one foundation Hymnal 525
*Dismissal
Let us go forth, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia!
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, when we know you, we enter your eternal life: give us the longing to deeply know Jesus as our way, truth and life, so that daily we can follow where he leads and imitate his way of love, through Jesus Christ you son our Lord, who lives and rules with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Secular Reading― James P. Carse, Finite and Infinite Games: A Vision of Life as Play and Possibility
“It is a highly valued function of society to prevent changes in the rules of the many games it embraces... Deviancy, however, is the very essence of culture. Whoever merely follows the script, merely repeating the past, is culturally impoverished.
[What is most significant are] those variations that bring the tradition into view in a new way, allowing the familiar to be seen as unfamiliar, as requiring a new appraisal of all that we have been- and therefore all that we are. Properly speaking, a culture does not have a tradition; it is a tradition.”
First Scripture Reading Please be seated Acts 8:9-13,18-24
Now a certain man named Simon had previously practiced magic in the city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he was someone great. All of them, from the least to the greatest, listened to him eagerly, saying, “This man is the power of God that is called Great.” And they listened eagerly to him because for a long time he had amazed them with his magic. But when they believed Philip, who was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Even Simon himself believed. After being baptized, he stayed constantly with Philip and was amazed when he saw the signs and great miracles that took place.
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give me also this power so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God’s gift with money! You have no part or share in this, for your heart is not right before God. Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the chains of wickedness.” Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that nothing of what you have said may happen to me.”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gradual Psalm 22:24-30
My praise is of you in the great assembly;
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek shall praise you:
"May your heart live for ever!"
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to you,
and all the families of the nations shall bow before you.
For yours is the royal power, O God;
you rule over the nations.
To you alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship;
all who go down to the dust fall before you.
My soul shall live for you;
my descendants shall serve you;
they shall be known as yours for ever.
They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn
the saving deeds that you have done.
Second Scripture Reading I John 4:17-21
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.
* Gospel Song Bless the Lord my soul Taize
Bless the Lord, my soul, and bless God’s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul, who leads me into life. (repeat 5 x)
* 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.
Please be seated at the invitation of the Preacher.
The Sermon The Rev. Rebecca Ragland, Rector
Affirmation of Faith
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. Who with the Father and the Son is worshiped 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 look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*Prayers of the People
In faith and hope, let us pray,
Hear us risen Christ.
* The Exchange of Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
The Great Thanksgiving
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.
All thanks and praise
are yours at all times and in all places,
our true and loving God;
through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word,
the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things.
You laid the foundations of the world
and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb;
You brought forth all creatures of the earth
and gave breath to humankind.
Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing,
all you create is a sign of hope for our journey;
And so as the morning stars sing your praises
we join the heavenly beings and all creation
as we shout with joy
Sanctus Front of Hymnal S-129
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.
Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all,
your Word has never been silent;
you called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations,
you delivered them from bondage
and led them to a land of promise.
Of your grace, you gave Jesus to be human,
to share our life, to proclaim the coming of your holy reign
and give himself for us, a fragrant offering.
Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
you have freed us from sin,
brought us into your life,
reconciled us to you,
and restored us to the glory you intend for us.
We thank you that on the night before he died for us
Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, gave it to his friends and said:
“Take, eat, this is my Body, broken for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper Jesus took the cup of wine,
said the blessing, gave it to his friends and said:
“Drink this, all of you:
this cup is the new Covenant in my Blood,
poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
And so, remembering all that was done for us:
the cross, the tomb, the resurrection and ascension,
longing for Christ’s coming in glory,
and presenting to you these gifts
your earth has formed and human hands have made,
we acclaim you, O Christ:
Dying, you destroyed our death.
Rising, you restored our life.
Christ Jesus, come in glory!
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon these gifts of bread and wine
that they may be to us the Body and Blood of your Christ.
Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power,
may be a people of hope, justice and love.
Giver of Life, draw us together in the Body of Christ,
and in the fullness of time gather us with
all your people into the joy of our true eternal home.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ,
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
we worship you our God and Creator
in voices of unending praise.
Blessed are you now and for ever. Amen
And now as Jesus taught us, 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.
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
Fraction Front of Hymnal S-152
Alleluia, Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Songs for Communion New Wine Hillsong
Blackbird Sarah Machlachlan
Reflection A blessing for the life you didn't choose Kate Bowler
*Postcommunion Prayer
Let us pray,
Loving God,
we give you thanks
for restoring us in your image
and nourishing us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood.
Now send us forth
a people, forgiven, healed, renewed;
that we may proclaim your love to the world
and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior. Amen.
*Blessing
May you learn to return and rest in the beauty of your animal nature.
Learn to lean low, leave your locked mind, and live with freed senses,
feel the earth breathing within you.
May you learn to walk upon the earth with all with the confidence of animals and their clear-eyed stillness. So that your mind might be baptized into the creator.
In the name of the Light, and the rain and the wind. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.
*Closing Song The church’s one foundation Hymnal 525
*Dismissal
Let us go forth, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia!