May 9, 2021 | The Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Sixth Sunday of Easter May 9, 2021 | 10 a.m.

St. Martin’s Episcopal Church | Williamsburg VA

The Word of God

Opening Hymn     We know that Christ is raised

1     We know that Christ is raised and dies no more. Embraced by death, he broke its fearful hold, and our despair he turned to blazing joy. Alleluia!

2     A new creation comes to life and grows as Christ’s new body takes on flesh and blood. The universe, restored and whole, will sing:  Alleluia!

Opening Acclamation          

Alleluia. Christ is risen. 

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The Collect for Purity                                                                   Book of Common Prayer, p. 355

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, 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.

The First Reading     Acts 10:44-48  
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. 

     The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 98  (alternating male and female voices by half-verse)

1    Sing a new song to God, * who has done marvelous things.

2    With your right hand, O God, and your holy arm, * you have won for yourself the victory.

• You have made known your victory; *

              your righteousness have you openly shown in the sight of the nations.

• You remember your 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 God, all you lands; * lift up your voice, rejoice and sing.

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

     7    With trumpets and the sound of the horn * shout with joy before God who reigns in      

                    majesty.

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

• Let the rivers clap their hands, * and let the hills ring out with joy before God, who will come to judge the earth.

10  God shall judge the world in righteousness * and the people with equity.

The Second Reading     1 John 5:1-6

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.

The Word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Acclamation     Celtic Alleluia

The Gospel     John 15:9-17

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.  Glory to you, O 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, O Christ.

The Sermon                                                                                                     The Rev. Lisa Green

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.

On this day 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 need 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 Anna, Kim, Gary, Frank, Marian, Joyce, Meggie, Amelie and Dick, Patricia, Barbara, Spencer, Ken, Cornelius, Sandy, Anna, and our, 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 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     Mothering God                                                                                                               

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. 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:

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.

Communion Hymn     Let us be bread 

     Refrain: Let us be bread, blessed by the Lord, broken and shared, life for the world.

                   Let us be wine, love freely poured. Let us be one in the Lord.

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

Live without fear:  your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother.  Go in peace to follow the good road and may God’s blessing be with you always.  Amen.

The Closing Hymn     Come away to the skies

1    Come away to the skies, my beloved, arise and rejoice in the day thou wast born;

      On this festival day, come exulting away, and with singing to Zion return.

2    Now with singing and praise let us spend all the days by our heavenly Father

      bestowed, While His grace we receive from His bounty, and live to the honor and glory

      of God!

3    Hallelujah! we sing to our Father and King, and His rapturous praises repeat:

      To the Lamb that was slain, Hallelujah again!  Sing all heaven and fall at His feet!

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 in celebration of the Boyds’ 40 years of marriage.

1333 Jamestown Rd | Williamsburg VA 23185  | 757.229.1111 | www.martinburg.org