At St. John's Episcopal Church in the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida
May 23, 2024
5:30pm
The People stand for the Procession.
Hymn 390 (All hymns found in The Hymnal 1982) Lobe den Herren
Proper Acclamation
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ is risen. People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
The Collect for Purity
Celebrant 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.
Hymn 405, Stanzas 1, 2, 4
The Collect
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Lesson
The People sit
6:4 - 9
Moses said, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Lector The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
Royal OakThe Epistle II Timothy 3:14 - 4:5
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
Lector The Word of the Lord. People Thanks be to God.
The People stand
Sequence Hymn 376 Hymn to Joy
The Gospel
Deacon The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
John 17:20-26
Jesus said, “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Deacon The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Prayers of the People (Form IV) BCP p. 388
The People kneel, joining in the response, Hear our prayer.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
The Peace
The People stand
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
Greetings and Announcements Father Wood
The People sit.
The Commencement
The People are asked to hold all applause or vocal affirmations until the Class of 2024 is presented at the conclusion of the Commencement section of the service
Welcome Mr. Jebson
Introduction of Student Speaker Mrs. Strauch
Student Address Emma McGuire
Presentation of Diplomas Mr. Jebson, Mrs. Harrington, Mrs. Strauch
Presentation of the Class of 2024
Alumni Welcome
Mrs. Strauch
Mrs. Fenlon
Offertory Anthem
O Sing Joyfully (sung by the St. John’s Quartet) Adrian Batten O sing joyfully unto God our strength: make a cheerful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take the song, bring hither the tabret: the merry harp with the lute. Blow up the trumpet in the new-moon: even in the time appointed, and upon our solemn feast-day. For this was made a statute for Israel: and a law of the God of Jacob.
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer A Hymnal p. S120
The People stand
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People 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. For you are the source of light and life, you made us in your image, and called us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name.
Sanctus and Benedictus (Hymnal S128)
The People kneel
William Mathias
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:
Celebrant and People
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 for ever. AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say:
Celebrant and People
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, forever and ever. Amen.
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Fraction Anthem S165
The Gifts of God for the People of God.
The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]
Communion Motet Ave verum corpus (sung by the St. John’s Quartet) Sir Edward Elgar Ave verum Corpus, natum ex Maria Virgine, vere passum, immolatum in cruce pro homine, Cujus latus perforatum unda fluxit sanguine: esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine. O dulcis, O pie! O Jesu Fili Mariae. Amen.
(Hail, real body, born of the Virgin Mary, who truly suffered, sacrificed on the cross for mankind, whose pierced side flowed with water and blood; be unto us the foretaste in the trial of death. O gentle, O holy one! O Jesu, Son of Mary. Amen)
William MathiasCommunion Motet
The Lord bless you and keep you (sung by the St. John's Quartet) John Rutter
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, And give you peace.
Post Communion Prayer
The People stand
Celebrant Let us pray.
Celebrant and People
Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing and Dismissal
The Celebrant gives the Blessing:
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” [Philippians 4:8]; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you always.
People Amen.
Head of School Alumnae et alumni delecti, valete; et Dominus vobiscum. (Alumnae and alumni, well-beloved, farewell; and may the Lord be with you.)
People Deo gratias. (Thanks be to God.)
Hymn 473
Crucifer
