The Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day
Sunday, May 16, at 10:00 am
The form for this service can also be found in The Book of Common Prayer, page 355. Spoken responses are in bold typeface.
Prelude: “Aria” Leon Nelson
The Entrance Rite
Hymn 215: “See the Conqueror mounts in triumph”
1. See the Conqueror mounts in triumph;
see the King in royal state,
riding on the clouds, his chariot,
to his heavenly palace gate!
Hark! the choirs of angel voices
joyful alleluias sing,
and the portals high are lifted
to receive their heavenly King.
2. He who on the cross did suffer,
he who from the grave arose,
he has vanquished sin and Satan;
he by death has spoiled his foes.
While he lifts his hands in blessing,
he is parted from his friends;
while their eager eyes behold him,
he upon the clouds ascends.
Opening Acclamation
Celebrant ✠ Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
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.
Gloria: “Glory to God in the highest”
The Collect of the Day
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Let us pray.
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
First Lesson: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, “Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus—for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 1 The cantor sings the Psalm.
1 Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *
nor lingered in the way of sinners,
nor sat in the seats of the scornful!
2 Their delight is in the law of the Lord, *
and they meditate on his law day and night.
3 They are like trees planted by streams of water,
bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *
everything they do shall prosper.
4 It is not so with the wicked; *
they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, *
but the way of the wicked is doomed.
Second Lesson: 1 John 5:9-13
If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Alleluia
The cantor sings the Alleluia.
The Gospel: John 17:6-19
Celebrant The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus prayed for his disciples, “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Celebrant The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
After the sermon, cantor sings a sentence of Scripture in response.
The Nicene Creed Said in unison
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
The leader and people pray responsively
Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;
That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;
That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;
That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
Give to the departed eternal rest.
Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.
Silence. The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Lord, hear the prayers of your people; and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
Celebrant The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The ministers and the people greet one another with a sign of peace.
The Holy Communion
The Celebrant begin the Offertory with a sentence of Scripture.
During the Offertory an anthem is sung, and the Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.
To give an offering, choose one of the following:
Text: message 73256 with the phrase saintpauls $X (insert an amount in place of X)
Check: mail your offering to St. Paul’s Church, 84 E Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901
Offertory Anthem: “Our Lord Indeed Is Risen” Eugene Butler
Light’s glitt’ring morn bedecks the sky;
Heav’n sounds forth its victor cry;
Our Lord indeed has risen,
Our Lord indeed has risen,
O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia!
Now he, the King, the mighty King,
Defying death with all its sting;
Our Lord indeed has risen,
Our Lord indeed has risen,
O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia!
That Easter day with joy was bright;
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When to their longing eyes restored,
The apostles saw their risen Lord!
O Lord of all, with us abide
In this our joyful Eastertide;
Our Lord indeed has risen,
Our Lord indeed has risen,
O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia!
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
The people stand and the priest says
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.
The Celebrant continues
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:
Sanctus: “Holy, holy, holy Lord”
The Celebrant continues
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.
The Celebrant continues
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,
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
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.
Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God.
Spiritual Communion: Act of Reception
During Communion, you are invited to say the following prayer form for receiving Spiritual Communion. Know that the grace of God is made present in your heart, even though the Sacrament is not received with the mouth.
In union, blessed Jesus, with the faithful gathered at every altar of your Church where your blessed Body and Blood are offered this day, I long to offer you praise and thanksgiving, for creation and all the blessings of this life, for the redemption won for us by your life, death, and resurrection, for the means of grace and the hope of glory.
I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen.
Come Lord Jesus, and dwell in my heart in the fullness of your strength; be my wisdom and guide me in right pathways; conform my life and actions to the image of your holiness; and, in the power of your gracious might, rule over every hostile power that threatens or disturbs the growth of your kingdom, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Hymn 483: “The head that once was crowned with thorns”
1. The head that once was crowned with thorns
is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns
the mighty victor’s brow.
2. The highest place that heaven affords
is his, is his by right,
the King of kings, and Lord of lords,
and heaven’s eternal Light;
3. the joy of all who dwell above,
the joy of all below,
to whom he manifests his love
and grants his name to know.
After Communion, the Celebrant says
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.
Welcome & Announcements
Blessing & Dismissal
The Celebrant blesses the people and dismisses them.
The people respond Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Postlude: “Thine is the Glory” G.F. Handel
Service Participants
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
Organist: W. Edward McCall
Eucharistic Minister: Christopher McCall
Acolyte: Madeleine Moore
Cantor: Jim Shute
Lector: Christina Hopkins
Ushers: Ted Hopkins, John Fraser
Altar: Linda Chinn, Jacky Grande
Flowers: Audrey Jackson
A/V: Liam Kelly
Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Jill Dulany, Muriel Hastings, Nick Lindberg, Lisa Nordland, Laura Pankoe, Shelley Reed, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Anne Shute, Jim Shute, Caitlin Stein, David Taylor, Deborah Taylor, Marian Wentworth
Online giving is available through Realm E-Giving and PayPal. We thank you for your generous giving to St. Paul’s.
The Deacon’s Purse
May 9 was Deacon Matthew's last Sunday at St. Paul's. As a token of our thanks for his ministry, we are sending him off with a "purse"—a financial gift from the church given to departing clergy. All contributions received will be combined and given as a single gift. If you wish to contribute to the Deacon's Purse, write a check to St. Paul's with "Deacon's Purse" in the memo line, or contribute online using the button below:
Geraniums for Pentecost
Calling all gardeners! Many of you have participated in the Great Geranium Grow since the start of Lent. It is now time to “harden off” your beloved plants by putting them outside. Bring them to St. Paul’s on Pentecost Sunday, which is May 23. You can also pick up Geraniums at your local nursery. They will be planted in front of the St. Paul’s sign. The goal is to have a sea of red flowers. If questions, call George Wiemann at 215 512 7550 or Lisa Farina at 484 633 6000.
RUMMAGE SALE UPDATE:
Due to current COVID restrictions, the usual June Rummage Sale will not take place. However, we are cautiously optimistic that we can have an indoor sale in early November. If so, we are planning to combine the Christmas Attic with only the best things from our rummage donations (think Tag Sale). For now, if you have rummage to donate, we are requesting that you screen it carefully, taking your donations directly to Goodwill, Good Stuff, Green Drop, Nova Thrift Shop or Habitat’s Restore. If you have something really nice to donate to the Tag Sale, please contact Kay Johnson using the church directory with a description and/or photo. We continue to accept Christmas Attic donations. Many thanks.
Thank You for Doyle Elementary Food Drive Donations
To Saint Paul’s parishioners, thanks for your generosity for the food drive for Doyle Elementary. We collected about $500 worth of food and $500 worth of supermarket gift cards. The guidance counselor from Doyle is so very grateful for all the assistance from Saint Paul’s. Thanks, Mary Smith
Book Study – Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM (via Zoom)
A new book study is forming at St. Paul’s. The book is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi. Stamped “reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers.” This study is being facilitated by the Rector, and commended by our Social Justice Committee. As we read it, we will attend to how the church in America bears responsibility for the sin of racism, and the responsibility we have for repentance, reconciliation, and reparation—i.e., we will read it in the context of Christian formation and discipleship. This book is equally accessible to adults and teen youth, who are invited to participate in the study. You can find it online, as an audiobook, or at local libraries and bookstores. RSVP for this study by contacting Fr. Daniel Moore. Join us!
Cantus Novus Virtual Concert
Our recordings are complete, and we are putting the finishing touches on our virtual concert and are excited to be able to share it with our audiences very soon! Cantus Novus concludes our virtual 2020-2021 season with a program of hope, faith, and love. We Rise Again seeks to inspire and transform, create hope in the face of fear, speak truth to injustice, and bring healing to spirits brought low by the pandemic. In harmony, we rise again, rebuilding our community through song. Mark your calendars for our premiere on Friday, May 21st, at 8 pm on both our Facebook page and YouTube channel. We will continue to have the video available for your viewing after the premiere date. Please share with friends and family!
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew Annual Beach Retreat
All men of the parish are invited to join us for an exciting weekend of spiritual exploration and fellowship at our 32nd Annual Retreat June 11-13, 2021 at The DuPont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The DuPont Memorial House, an adult conference and retreat center, nestled among whispering pines, is located in a quiet residential area of Rehoboth Beach, just two blocks from the ocean. The very large house sleeps 34 and provides a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere for prayer, study, fellowship and more. Much of the weekend is “free time”, to spend as you wish. Opportunities to take time alone or in fellowship abound. You can crawl up in a quiet spot and read, go fishing in the ocean or bay, biking, golfing, shopping at the nearby Rehoboth Outlets or take a dip in the ocean. There is a large deck behind the house to relax on and a fire pit to enjoy in the evening. The weekend agenda provides for several hours of group discussion as well as morning and evening prayer and the Eucharist on Sunday morning. All meals (6) are included in the price, which for 2021 will be $285.00. Reservations are on a first come basis. Space is limited this year to 15. Any cancellations after June 6 must be paid in full. Please use the church directory to contact Sam Palermo with any questions.
Grounds and Gardens Committee
Lisa Farina will be heading up the new/reestablished “Grounds and Gardens Committee”. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact her using the church directory.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Today’s flowers are given to the glory of God, and in loving memory of Roland Gardner, Roger Gardner and Lorna Gardner Ludvik. Given by Valerie Gardner and arranged by Audrey Jackson.
