May 16, 2021 | The Seventh Sunday of Easter
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 16, 2021 | 10 a.m.
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | Williamsburg VA
The Word of God
Opening Hymn Hail the day that sees him rise
Hail the day that sees him rise, Alleluia! glorious to his native skies; Alleluia!
Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia! enters now the highest heaven! Alleluia!
Lord, beyond our mortal sight, Alleluia! raise our hearts to reach thy height, Alleluia!
there thy face unclouded see, Alleluia!find our heaven of heavens in thee. Alleluia!
Opening Acclamation
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
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.
Song of Praise
God’s Paschal Lamb is sacrificed for us. Therefore with joy we keep the Easter feast;
Forsaking sin, we share the bread of truth. Alleluia, alleluia!
The Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
O, 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 First Reading 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. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 1 (in unison)
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!
Their delight is in the law of the Holy One, * and they meditate on that law day and night.
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.
It is not so with the wicked; * they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *
nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.
For the Holy One knows the way of the righteous, * but the way of the wicked is doomed.
The Second Reading 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.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The Gospel Acclamation Celtic Alleluia
The Gospel John 17:6-19
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Glory to you, O 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Cathy Boyd A period of silence follows the sermon.
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
Alleluia! What was dead shall live; what was dark shall shine; what was forgotten shall be remembered, for the Lord is risen and walks among us. Let us bring before God the needs of all our world, claiming that renewal and proclaiming, Christ is risen indeed.
God of life, in gratitude and great joy we praise you for the gifts of Christ’s resurrection. Give us hope, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.
In this season which brings joy to all Christians, inspire us to work toward the unity of the church, that Christ’s body may be one, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.
For all who the gift of Easter; for all who journey from illness to health, from despair to hope, from grief to consolation, from loneliness to love. We pray for Audrey, Elizabeth, Anna, Kim, Gary, Frank, and the Benton, Jordan and Rodriguez families. We give thanks for medical workers, scientists, and others working to fight the pandemic. We pray for all our neighbors, that death may have no more power over us, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.
For all who suffer and all who mourn, that today you will wipe away all tears, for Christ is risen:
Christ is risen indeed.
Grant us the persistent faith of Mary Magdalene and the surprised belief of Peter and John. May we long to be your sign of life in our world, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.
May we be one in faith with Benton, stepmother of Cindy Jordan, and Ramon Rodriguez Jr. father of Ramon Rodriguez and all who have died in Christ, for Christ is risen: Christ is risen indeed.
God of life, we thank you for the mystery planted in us, the paradox of life from death and community from scattered disciples. We praise you for the dying which saves us from death and for the rising which brings us life. We pray, as we live, through Jesus the risen one, in the power of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
The Peace and Announcements
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
The Holy Communion
The Offertory
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer A
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, through your dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord. After his glorious resurrection he openly appeared to his disciples, and in their sight ascended into heaven, to prepare a place for us; that where he is, there we might also be, and reign with him in glory. 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:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power, God of might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
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: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
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.
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 Bread
Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Music at Communion The Risen Christ
The Post-Communion Prayer
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
May the God who shakes heaven and earth, whom death could not contain, who lives to disturb and heal us, bless you with power to go forth and proclaim the gospel, and the blessing of God Almighty, Source and Savior and Friend, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
The Closing Hymn This little light of mine
1 This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine (sung three times) Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
2 Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine (sung three times) Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!
The Dismissal
Alleluia! Alleluia! Let us go forth in the name of the Risen Christ.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God.
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