Saint Paul s Episcopal Church Concord, New Hampshire

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Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church Concord, New Hampshire

The Sixth Sunday of Easter

May 9, 2021

The Prelude Be Thou my Vision arr. M. Byrne Catharine Dornin The Opening Hymn I come with joy to meet my Lord Hymn 304

I come with joy to meet my Lord, forgiven, loved, and free;

in awe and wonder to recall his life laid down for me.

And thus with joy we meet our Lord; his presence, always near, is in such friendship better known: we see and praise him here.

Together met, together bound, we'll go our different ways;

and as his people in the world, we'll live and speak his praise.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

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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 Alleluia, give thanks to the risen Lord Hymn 178 The Collect

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding:

Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:44-48) Deb Baker While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised

believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?"

So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 98 Ginnie Schartner 1 Sing to the LORD a new song, *

for he has done marvelous things.

2 With his right hand and his holy arm * has he won for himself the victory.

3 The LORD has made known his victory; *

his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.

4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, * and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

5 Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands; * lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.

6 Sing to the LORD with the harp, * with the harp and the voice of song.

7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn * shout with joy before the King, the LORD.

8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, * the lands and those who dwell therein.

9 Let the rivers clap their hands, *

and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD, when he comes to judge the earth.

10 In righteousness shall he judge the world * and the peoples with equity.

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A reading from the first letter of John (5:1-6) Jean Gillespie Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his

commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn God is Love, Let Heav’n Adore Him Hymn 379 The Gospel The Rev. Steve Ekerberg The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (15:9-17).

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be

complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Homily The Rev. Peggy Schnack 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.

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The Prayers of the People We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity, saying,

Jesus, Lord of life:

in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, Light of the World, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations.

Jesus, Bread of Life, give food to the hungry and nourish us all with your word.

Jesus, our Way, our Truth, our Life, be with us as we journey on your way;

deepen our appreciation of your truth; and fill us with your life.

Jesus, our friend and our guide, as we pray through our parish list, we lift the following people to you, giving thanks for each of them and asking for your blessing on their lives:

Patrick, Missy, Lucy & Mary Martinson; Florence & Christopher McAllister; Jack & Linda McAllister;

Nancy McCall; Brandon, Molly, Caroline, Annabel & Vivian McCrum;

Keith, Ami, Abby, Jake & Kamden McGilvray; Mary McGilvray; Mike & Liz McKinney;

Cynthia McLeod; Fred, Dott & Zachary McMenemy Jesus, Lord of life:

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep,

bind up those who are injured, strengthen those who are sick, and lead all your children to play.

Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life, we give thanks for all those whom we have loved and who are now with you. Raise us with them to eternal life.

We pray especially today for Rob Dulla, Betty Outwin, Anne Pike, Fanny Kimball and Dorothy Pike, in whose memory altar flowers were given.

in your mercy, hear us, accept our prayers, and be with us always. Amen

A Mother’s Day Prayer from Women’s Uncommon Prayer

On this Mother’s Day, we give thanks to God for the divine gift of motherhood in all its diverse forms.

Let us pray for all the mothers among us today;

for our own mothers, those living and those who have died;

for the mothers who loved us, and for those who fell short of loving us fully;

for all who hope to be mothers someday, and for those whose hope to have children has been frustrated;

for all mothers who have lost children;

for all women and men who have mothered others in any way

– those who have been our substitute mothers, and for our own gift of mothering those in need;

and we give thanks for the earth that bore us and provides us with our sustenance.

We pray this all in the name of our great and loving God.

Amen.

The Peace and the Announcements

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The Agapé Meal

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Luke 22:14-20

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, Creator of the universe.

You bring forth bread from the earth; you have fed us with the bread of life in the Body of your Son.

Feed us now with your presence among us and your presence in your Word.

As grain scattered upon the earth is gathered into one loaf,

so gather your Church in every place into the kingdom of your Son.

To you be glory and power for ever and ever.

Amen.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, Creator of the universe. You create the fruit of the vine;

and you refresh us with the cup of salvation in the Blood of Jesus Christ, crucified yet risen.

May the time come quickly when we can share that cup again,

even as you are with us now in our very thirst for you. Glory to you for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Closing Prayer

Generous God, we have shared together this sacred meal. Kindle us with the fire of your Spirit that when Christ comes again, we may shine like lights before his face;

who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Blessing for Eastertide

God the Father, by whose glory Christ was raised from the dead, strengthen you to walk with Christ in his risen life;

and the blessing of God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon you, and remain with you always.

Amen.

The Closing Hymn All Creatures of our God and King Hymn 400 1 All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voices, let us sing:

alleluia, alleluia!

Bright burning sun with golden beams, Pale silver moon that gently gleams, O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

4 Dear mother earth, you day by day unfold your blessings on our way;

O praise him, Alleluia!

All flowers and fruits that in you grow, let them his glory also show:

O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

5 All you with mercy in your heart, forgiving others, take your part, O sing now: Alleluia!

All you that pain and sorrow bear, praise God, and cast on him your care:

7 Let all things their creator bless, and worship him in humbleness, O praise him, Alleluia!

Praise God the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One:

The Dismissal

The Postlude Doxologyarr. D. Wyrtzen Heather Maconaghy

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We are all (including you!) called to be ministers to one another and to those around us by participating in God’s work in the world.

Ministers participating in this service

Clergy The Rev Kate Atkinson The Rev. Peggy Schnack The Rev Steve Ekerberg Director of Music Ministries Heather Maconaghy Musicians Catharine Dornin, Larry Maconaghy Lectors Deb Baker, Ginnie Schartner, Jean Gillespie

Intercessor Barbara Collins

Altar flowers were given to the glory of God and in loving memory of

Rob Dulla by his St. Paul’s family

Betty Outwin by Holly and Jerry Tepe

Anne Pike, Fanny Kimball and Dorothy Pike by Anne K. Pike

Would you like to make a gift to St. Paul’s via your credit card? St. Paul’s has partnered with Tithe.ly, a reputable mobile platform designed to help churches meet their fundraising goals. Donating via Tithe.ly is as simple as sending a text from your smartphone:

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church 21 Centre Street, Concord, NH 03301 (603) 224-2523, office@stpaulsconcord.org, www.stpaulsconcord.org