8:45 A.M. and 11:15 A.M.

The Fifth Sunday of Easter: Year B

The Holy Eucharist in Social Distance for the Common Good

The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler, Celebrant

The Reverend Canon Catherine Zappa, Preacher

Grace and peace to you! We are the Body of Christ, connected spiritually and emotionally, and visually, even when we cannot gather together in person. Prepared in social distance for the common good, this liturgy honors the patterns of our tradition and is intended to facilitate our continued common prayer, as we share spiritual communion.

Voluntary

Set me as a seal upon thine heart

(Based on Song of Solomon 8:6-7)

Margaret Vardell Sandresky (b. April 28, 1921)

The Welcome from the Dean

THE WORD OF GOD

The Opening Hymn: 518

music: Westminster Abbey, Henry Purcell (1659-1695), adapt.; desc. James Gillespie (b. 1929) words: Latin ca. 7th cent.; tr. Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1861, after John Mason Neale (1818-1866), alt.

The Opening Acclamation

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ is risen.

All: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The 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 in excelsis

S 278, William Mathias

The Collect of the Day: Fifth Sunday of Easter

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

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

The Lesson: Acts 8:26-40

Lector: A Reading from The Acts of the Apostles.

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.

Lector: The Word of the Lord.

All: Thanks be to God.

The Sequence: Hymn 529

music: McKee, African-American spiritual, adapt. & harm. Harry T. Burleigh (1866-1949) words: John Oxenham (1852-1941), alt.

The Holy Gospel: John 15:1-8

Gospeler: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

All: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “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.”

Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon: Canon Zappa

The Nicene Creed

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.

The Prayers of the People

We offer the concerns of our lives, with the congregation responding, “Hear our prayer.” Join us today and throughout the week in praying for all of those on our parish prayer list, found after “Parish Notices.”

Intercessor: We pray for the church throughout the world. Within the Anglican Communion of Churches, we pray today for The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem & The Middle East. Within the Episcopal Church, we pray for the Diocese of Atlanta; Robert our Bishop; and all ministers, lay and ordained. Within this Cathedral parish, we pray for our ministry of the day: The Cathedral Sexton and Security staff. We pray for the newly baptized: Bonnie Elizabeth Bohon, Thomas Bishop Bohon Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for the world and its leaders, that the forces of darkness and violence may be overcome by peace and justice. We pray for Joe, our President; for the Congress and the Courts; for Brian, our Governor; and for Keisha, our Mayor. We pray for those serving their country and for their families and communities. Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for the sick, the suffering, and those who are persecuted for their faith, that the Risen Christ may visit them with healing power, restoring their strength. Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom. We pray for: Elizabeth James Earnest, Gregory George Hardwick, Don Harp, Hailey Watts Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We give thanks for the many blessings of this life. We pray in thanksgiving for the birth of Addison Christopher Mize, son of Mary Chase and Christopher Mize. Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. Intercessor: We pray for all those on our prayer list, including those with new or immediate concerns: Renea Dunn, Jill Mahaffey, Einar Sagstuen Let us pray, either silently or aloud, for our own needs and those of others. Risen Lord, All: Hear our prayer. Celebrant: Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Peace

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

All: And also with you.

The Parish Notices

The 2021 Cathedral Antiques Show Check Presentation

Those for whom prayers have been requested:

For Immediate Needs: Renea Dunn, Jill Mahaffey, Einar Sagstuen

Long Term Prayers: R. Huntley Allen, Penny Barnett, Edgar & Judith Beach, Perry Benton, Virginia Bicksler, Cornelia Bird, Heather Clark, Sharon Crews, Lynne D’Huyvetter, Terry Dornbush, Sarah duBignon, Deborah Ellington, Dan Elson, Jane Jones, Louise Kan, Lisa Krysiak, Sandy Land, Carol McDonald, Glenn Miller, Ashley Minear, Royce Mitchell, Laura Moore, Susan Myers, Charlie Neal, Linus Nickel, Marion Palmore, Beth Pitzer, Joann Lewis Pobst, Garry Pryor, Rowland Radford, Rubye & Wayne Reid, Lorraine Reynolds, Agnes Elizabeth Robertson, Louis “Skip” Schueddig, Leticia Justo Serrano, Linda Stallcup, Julie Sutton, Tommy Truesdale, Ron Wallace, Faye Van Winkle

For Family & Friends: Bettina Bass, Bella Bond, David Bond, Kerrigan Casey, Andrew Clark, Vickie & Bob Coffman, Marie Corrigan, Ava Corroon, The Darmon Family, Marg Denny, David Elmore, Carleton Fuller, Patricia Plummer Glowatsky, Robert Hoder, Cadel Ingraham, Stephen Jones, Robin Kemp, Grace Lawson, Pete Livezey, Lauren Makhlouf, Pat Martin, Marge Massey, Michelle Maxwell, Katie McRae, Betsy Moore, Mary Nelson, Steven Norman, Bella Emerson Plummer, Francis Powers, Courtney Rosenthal, Carol Russell, James Sands, Cindy Snell, Paul Sturtz, Caroline Southerland, Tina Susco, Yvonne Tate, Pierson Thames, Jeffrey Thomas, Wayne Thurman, Roger Traylor, Whit A. Wright, Hollis Youngner

THE HOLY COMMUNION

The Offertory

At the time of the Offertory, you may offer whatever you have to God. Each of us has something to offer, and every one of those offerings is accepted by God. In a few minutes, when the celebrant prays the Eucharistic Prayer, God blesses all those offerings, wherever they are today. If you would like to make a financial offering to the ministry of the Cathedral, you may do so by visiting: cathedralATL.org/contribute.

The Offertory Anthem

music: Gerald Near (b. 1942), Christ Hath a Garden words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Christ hath a garden walled around, a paradise of fruitful ground, Chosen by love and fenced by grace from out the world’s wide wilderness. Like trees of spice his servants stand, there planted by his mighty hand; By Eden’s gracious streams, that flow to feed their beauty where they grow. Awake, O wind of heaven, and bear their sweetest perfume through the air: Stir up, O south, the boughs that bloom, till the beloved Master come: That he may come, and linger yet among the trees that he hath set; That he may evermore be seen to walk amid the springing green.

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer A, The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 361

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world.

By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.

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:

The Sanctus and Benedictus

S 128, William Mathias

Celebrant: 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:

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Celebrant: 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 Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, 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,

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

All: Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The Communion

During these next moments of meditation, wherever you are, please receive whatever gifts God makes available to you, in whatever form God makes available to you. We share spiritual communion today.

The Meditation Music

music: Thomas Tallis (c. 1505-1585), A New Commandment words: John 13:34-35

A new commandment give I unto you, saith the Lord, that ye love together as I have loved you, that e’en so ye love one another. By this shall every man know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

The Postcommunion Prayer

Celebrant: Let us pray.

All: 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

The Closing Hymn: 379

music: Abbot’s Leigh, Cyril Vincent Taylor (1907-1991) words: Timothy Rees (1874-1939), alt.

The Dismissal

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!

All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Voluntary

Paean (from Six Pieces for Organ)

Herbert Howells (1892-1983)

All music is reprinted by permission under ONE LICENSE (license number A-717455). Music from The Hymnal 1982 © Church Publishing, Inc., unless noted otherwise below: Hymn 379 words © A.R. Mowbray & Co. Ltd; music © 1970 Hope Publishing Co. Hymn 529 words by permission of The American Tract Society; music © 1940 Henry T. Burleigh, used by permission of the Estate of Henry T. Burleigh. Hymn S-128 by permission of Oxford University Press. Hymn S-278 by permission of Oxford University Press.