The Fourth Sunday of Easter - April 25, 2021

The Fourth Sunday of Easter

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Glenside, Pennsylvania April 25, 2021 10:00 A.M.

Welcome to St. Peter’s!

Please wear your mask throughout the service.

Socially distance with your neighbors before, during and after worship.

Enjoy listening to the music. We ask that you do not sing the hymns.

The restrooms in the chapel hallway are available for use during the service.

Thank you.

Gathering In Joy Prelude: The Bells

William Byrd

Opening Hymn: 199, Come, ye faithful, raise the strain (on following page)

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The Opening Acclamation Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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BCP 355

Collect for Purity 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 Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his 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.

The Celebrant says to the people The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Collect of the Day BCP 225 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.

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Listening for God’s Word The First Reading - 1 John 3:16-24 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.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 23

BCP 612

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.

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He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.

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He revives my soul and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

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Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

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You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

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Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

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Gospel Hymn: 645, The King of love my shepherd is (1,2,4 & 5 before Gospel)

The Gospel –John 10:11-18 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Response: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

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The Sermon

The Rev. Emily Richards

The Nicene Creed

BCP 358

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.

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The Prayers of the People from Glimpses of Glory Good Shepherd, we ask you to be our guide: lead s out of darkness, lead us out of trouble, lead us out of fear, lead us out of death, and bring us to the fullness of life eternal. We rejoice with the saints and the whole company of heaven and say, “salvation belongs to our God”.

We pray for all pastors and those who have the care of your people; we remember those who are spiritual directors and counsellors.

We pray for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Daniel, our Bishop, Silvestre, Bishop of Guatemala, Emily and Laura, our clergy, Sacramento and Juan, our Companion clergy in Guatemala and each one of us in our vocation and ministry. In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Nippon Sei Ko Kai. In our companion Diocese of Guatemala, we pray for Iglesia Episcopal Cristo Rey, (Church of Christ the King), Guatemala City, The Rev. Alfredo Corzo. In our own Diocese, we pray for Soul Support Spiritual Growth Resources Committee.

Faithful Shepherd, lead us from darkness to light, from death to life eternal.

We pray for all who direct the minds of the young, for teachers, and for all who broadcast through radio and television. We give thanks and pray for those who provide us with food through farming and agriculture, for those who provide for us in shops and supermarkets.

Faithful Shepherd, lead us from darkness to light, from death to life eternal.

We remember before you all who have been our teachers and guides; we pray for our local schools and places of learning. We ask your blessing upon our communities, our homes and our loved ones. We pray for all who have lost direction, for all who have lost faith in themselves, in the world and in their God. We pray for the despondent, the disillusioned and the despairing, for all who feel desperate and distressed, that they may know that God seeks for them and loves them. We pray for all who are ill or struggling at this time, especially Emily, Pat, Karen, Lynn, Mark, Debbie, Frances, Katie, Bob, Art, Doris, Warren, Mary, Barbara, Linda, Rhonda, Ruth, those who have Covid, and all those we name now.

Faithful Shepherd, lead us from darkness to light, from death to life eternal.

We rejoice that you lead us through the valley of the shadow of death and offer us life eternal. We pray for all who rejoice in your love and in your kingdom.

Faithful Shepherd, lead us from darkness to light, from death to life eternal.

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The Celebrant continues with this prayer: Good and gracious God, be our shepherd and our guide: lead us out of darkness and death and into life and light eternal; deliver us from all evil, guide us into the ways of goodness and peace, and when we wander bring is back to you and your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Peace Please remain in your pews for this exchange.

Greet one another with a wave and words of peace.

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

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Celebrating Holy Communion Presentation Hymn: 343, Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless

The Great Thanksgiving

from Enriching Our Worship

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 our thanks and praise.

Celebrant: All thanks and praise are yours at all times and in all places, our true and loving God… And so as the morning stars sing your praises we join the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout with joy: 10

Sanctus S-128, Holy, holy, holy Lord

William Mathias

The Celebrant continues Glory and honor are yours, Creator of all your Word has never been silent . . .

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: Celebrant and People Dying, you destroyed our death.

Rising, you restored our life.

Christ Jesus, come in glory!

The Celebrant continues Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts of bread and wine . . .

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.

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And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, The Lord’s Prayer

BCP 364

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.

The Breaking of the Bread The Celebrant breaks the consecrated bread. A period of silence is kept.

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The Communion of the People When instructed, please come down the center aisle standing six feet apart from your neighbor. You will see tape on the floor marking safe distances. Proceed to the hand sanitizer station near the altar. After sanitizing your hands come forward to the altar to receive the wafer in the paper cup. Return to your pew with the paper cup.

Communion Music: Let’s break bread together Gus Mercante, countertenor soloist

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The Post-Communion Prayer during a Time of Separation Celebrant and people together Lord of the Feast, we thank you for gathering us as your people. We call to remembrance the many times we have been fed at your table and we lament our distance now. Be present Lord Jesus as you were present with your disciples, be known to us in the breaking of the bread, and may your Holy Spirit sustain us and all your Church until we can gather together again. We ask this for the sake of your love. Amen.

Sending Out The Blessing Closing Hymn: 708, Savior, like a shepherd lead us (on page 14) Birthday & Anniversary Prayer BCP 830 O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace; and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Announcements The Dismissal Celebrant: Let us go forth in the name of the risen Christ! Alleluia! Alleluia!

People: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Postlude: Ride On, King Jesus

Special thanks to Gus Mercante, our countertenor soloist this morning.

The cover image is Shepherd and Sheep by Camille Pissarro.

All copyright licensing for music during this service through: OneLicense.net License #A-719834 and LicenSing License # 620603.

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Closing Hymn: Savior, like a shepherd lead us

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