The Fifth Sunday of Easter - May 2, 2021

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Glenside, Pennsylvania May 2, 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 Musical Prelude: Pavane and Galliard for Lord Lumley

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John Bull

Opening Hymn: 376, Joyful, joyful, we adore thee

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The Opening Acclamation Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ is risen!

People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!

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 Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ 4

your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Listening for God’s Word The First Reading -Acts 8:26-40 An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 22:24-30

BCP 612

My praise is of him in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.

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The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: "May your heart live for ever!"

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All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.

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For kingship belongs to the Lord; he rules over the nations.

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To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust fall before him.

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My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; they shall be known as the Lord's for ever.

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They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that he has done.

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Gospel Hymn: 204, Now the green blade riseth

The Gospel –John 15:1-8 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Response: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 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 6

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.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon

The Rev. Mike Haines

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.

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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.

The Prayers of the People

from Glimpses of Glory

Lord, we rejoice that we abide in you and in your great love; you accept us when we find it hard to accept ourselves or each other. We pray that you will strengthen the fellowship of your people, that you will sustain us in our unity and help us to know we are one in you. We pray for all who are striving to realize the unity that you give to your church. We pray for inter-church relationships and all groups that help to break down barriers. We pray for Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, our Presiding Bishop, Daniel, our Bishop, Silvestre, Bishop of Guatemala, Emily, Laura and Mike Haines, 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 Iglesia Episcopal Espiritu Santo, (The Church of the Holy Spirit), Guatemala City, The Rev. Iván del Cid. In our own Diocese, we pray for Diocesan Coordinator for Episcopal Relief and Development, Linda Miller.

Lord, lead us from despair to hope, from division to wholeness.

Lord, we remember before you all areas of ethnic violence and racial hatred, for all places where there is division, strife and animosity. We pray for the United Nations and for all who work for peace and unity, for all peoples that work for the building up of community and fellowship. We remember all who are scorned, rejected or belittled by others.

Lord, lead us from despair to hope, from division to wholeness.

We give thanks for our own homes and the love we share within them. We pray for homes of strife and discord, homes where there is neglect, abuse or violence. We remember homes where there is no love or where love is betrayed. We pray for all families suffering from a breakdown in their relationships.

Lord, lead us from despair to hope, from division to wholeness.

We pray for all who suffer from mental illness, for those whose lives are torn apart by memories or fears. We pray for all who have suffered from any form of breakdown. We ask your blessing on loved ones and friends who are suffering at this time: we pray especially for Emily, Pat, Karen, Lynn, Mark, Debbie, Frances, 8

Katie, Bob, Art, Doris, Warren, Mary, Barbara, Linda, Rhonda, Ruth, those who have Covid, and all those we name now….

Lord, lead us from despair to hope, from division to wholeness.

We look forward to the day when we will share fully in the communion of saints, when we will be one in the Spirit and one in the Lord. We pray for loved ones departed, for all who have gone before us in the faith, for those who died from Covid, and for the day when we will share with them in your kingdom, and all those we name now…

Lord, lead us from despair to hope, from division to wholeness.

The Celebrant concludes with this prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Father, give us wisdom and faith to trust in you. When we cannot see your presence, when the way is full of darkness and doubt, increase our faith and help us to know that you will never leave us or forsake us, for you are ever with us, Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be all honor and glory, now and for 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: 420, When in our music God is glorified

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: The Call

Ralph Vaughan Williams Dave Mosteller, baritone soloist

The Post-Communion Prayer during a Time of Separation Priest 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 12

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: 657, Love divine, all loves excelling (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: Fughetta

Buxtehude

Special thanks to the Rev. Mike Haines who is serving as our guest preacher this morning and Dave Mosteller, our guest soloist this morning.

The cover image was taken in the St. Peter’s Memorial Courtyard.

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

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Closing Hymn: Love divine, all loves excelling

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