May 3, 2020: Fourth Sunday of Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday)

Morning Prayer, Rite II

The service printed here is from The Book of Common Prayer (BCP).

Hymn 205 “Good Christians all, rejoice and sing!” Gelobt sei Gott

Good Christians all, rejoice and sing! Now is the triumph of our King! To all the world glad news we bring: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Praise we in songs of victory that love, that life which cannot die, and sing with hearts uplifted high: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Your Name we bless, O risen Lord, and sing today with one accord the life laid down, the life restored: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

To God the Father, God the Son, to God the Spirit, always One, we sing for life in us begun: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Opening Acclamation
Celebrant:  Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People:  The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

The Confession of Sin
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.

The Absolution
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.

Officiant:  Lord, open our lips.
People:  And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
All:  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia!

Pascha Nostrum (Hymnal S 47) chanted by the cantor; setting by Wm. Henry Walter

Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast, Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. Christ being raised from the dead will never die again;
death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia. Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gloria Patri. Alleluia, alleluia. Alleluia, alleluia.

Hymn 645  “The King of love my shepherd is” St. Columba; sung by all; a paraphrase of Psalm 23

The King of love my shepherd is, whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am his, and he is mine for ever.

Where streams of living water flow, my ransomed soul he leadeth, and where the verdant pastures grow, with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, but yet in love he sought me, and on his shoulder gently laid, and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill with thee, dear Lord, beside me; thy rod and staff my comfort still, thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight; thy unction grace bestoweth; and oh, what transport of delight from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days thy goodness faileth never: Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise within thy house for ever.

Spoken by all: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Alleluia.

The First Lesson Acts 2:42-47
hose who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.

Canticle 8  Cantemus Domino; sung by all to the tune Kingsfold

The Lord I sing, uplifted, high, and powerful to save; He hurled the rider and his horse beneath the Red Sea’s wave. My strength, my refuge, Savior, Lord, the God whom I acclaim, A warrior strong, my people’s God, and Yahweh is his Name.
 
The chariots of Pharoah has He hurled into the sea; The finest arms and army all lie drowned while we walk free. The deep has overwhelmed them all, they sank down like a stone; Your right hand, Lord, is glorious; the foe is overthrown.
 
What gods can be compared with you in holiness and dread? When you stretch forth your mighty arm your enemies fall dead. Yet with your constant love you led the people you redeemed And brought them safely to the land of which our fathers dreamed.
 
And you will bring them, plant them on the mountain called your own, The sanctuary, resting place, which you have made alone. Forever now our God will reign the Lord whom we adore; All glory to the Father, Son, and Spirit evermore.

The Second Lesson 1 Peter 2:19-25
It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God.
 

Canticle 7   Te Deum laudamus; sung by all to the tune Grosser Gott

Holy God, we praise thy Name, Lord of all, we bow before thee; all on earth thy scepter claim, all in heaven above adore thee; infinite thy vast domain, everlasting is thy reign.
 
Hark, the loud celestial hymn angel choirs above are raising; cherubim and seraphim, in unceasing chorus praising, fill the heavens with sweet accord: holy, holy, holy Lord!
 
Lo, the apostolic train join, thy sacred Name to hallow; prophets swell the loud refrain, and the white-robed martyrs follow; and, from morn till set of sun, through the Church the song goes on.
 
Holy Father, holy Son, Holy Spirit, Three we name thee, while in essence only One, undivided God we claim thee; then, adoring, bend the knee and confess the mystery

The Third Lesson John 10:1-10
Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

The Homily   The Rev. Sallie Schisler

Announcements

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
 
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Prayers

The Salutation
Officiant: The Lord be with you.
People:      And also with you.
Officiant:   Let us pray.
 
The Lord’s Prayer  Traditional
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Suffrages A
Officiant:     Show us your mercy, O Lord;
People:        And grant us your salvation.
Officiant:    Clothe your ministers with righteousness;
People:       Let your people sing with joy.
Officiant:    Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;
People:       For only in you can we live in safety.
Officiant:    Lord, keep this nation under your care;
People:       And guide us in the way of justice and truth. 
Officiant:    Let your way be known upon earth;
People:       Your saving health among all nations.
Officiant:    Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten;
People:       Nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Officiant:    Create in us clean hearts, O God;
People:       And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.

The Collect of the Day
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Office Anthem “The Lord is My Shepherd” setting by Thomas Matthews

Recorded on October 13, 2013, for an Hour of Sacred Song at Second Presbyterian Church, Portsmouth. The program was presented in memory of Mr. Charles P. Varney by the Portsmouth Civic Chorale & the chancel choir of Second Presbyterian Church; Amy Bergandine, soprano; Stanley E. Workman, Jr., organist; Justin M. Wiget, conductor

The General Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.
 
A Prayer of St. Chrysostom
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.
 
The Dismissal and Grace
   Officiant: Let us bless the Lord.
   People:    Thanks be to God.

Hymn 708  “Savior, like a shepherd lead us” Sicilian Mariners

Savior, like a shepherd lead us; much we need thy tender care; in thy pleasant pastures feed us; for our use thy folds prepare. Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus! Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

Early let us seek thy favor, early let us learn thy will; do thou, Lord, our only Savior, with thy love our bosoms fill. Blessèd Jesus! Blessèd Jesus! Thou hast loved us: love us still.

Permission to podcast/stream/reprint the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-721346. All rights reserved.

 

All Saints' Episcopal Church, Portsmouth, OH