4th Sunday of Easter

St Michael & All AngelsHoly Communion

Sunday 25 April 2021

The GatheringThe Minister welcomes everyone and announces the first hymn Entrance Hymn – Amazing Grace (choir & organ)

1 Amazing grace! How sweet the soundthat saved a wretch like me.I once was lost, but now I'm found;was blind, but now I see.2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,and grace my fears relieved.How precious did that grace appearthe hour I first believed.3 Through many dangers, toils and snaresI have already come.'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far,and grace will lead me home.4 The Lord has promised good to me,his word my hope secures;he will my shield and portion beas long as life endures.5 When we've been there a thousand years,bright shining as the sun,we've no less days to sing God's praisethan when we first begun.

President Alleluia, Christ is risen.All He is risen indeed. Allelulia!

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Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

All And also with you

Prayer of PreparationAlmighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires known,and from whom no secrets are hidden:cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly love you,and worthily magnify your holy name;through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Prayer of PenitenceChrist our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart. Lord Jesus, you raise us to new life. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.Lord Jesus, you forgive us our sins. Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.Lord Jesus, you feed us with the living bread.Lord, have mercy.Lord, have mercy.

Absolution May the God of love and power forgive you and free you from your sin, heal and strengthen you by the Spirit,and raise you to new life in Christ. Amen.

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Gloria in Excelsis Glory to God in the highestand peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,Lord God, Lamb of God,you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.Amen.

The CollectRisen Christ, faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God the Father.

 The Liturgy of the WordNew Testament Reading: Acts 4: 5—125 The next day their rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John,  and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,

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‘Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. 11 This Jesus is

“the stone that was rejected by you, the builders;    it has become the cornerstone.”

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’ At the end, the reader says

This is the word of the LordThanks be to God

Gradual Hymn – He is Lord (choir & organ)1 He is Lord, he is Lord.He is risen from the dead and he is Lord.Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is Lord.2 He is King, he is King.He is risen from the dead and he is King.Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is King.3 He is love, he is love.He is risen from the dead and he is love.Ev'ry knee shall bow, ev'ry tongue confessthat Jesus Christ is King.

The Gospel ReadingThe Gospel Acclamation is sung

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

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Reader Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.Glory to you, O Lord.

John 10: 11—1811 ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’ At the end, the reader says:

This is the Gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Sermon

The CreedWe believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.

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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, was incarnate from the Holy Spirit

and 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 againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand 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,who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,who has spoken through the prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

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We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come.Amen.

Prayers of Intercession The response to ‘Lord, in your mercy’ is ‘Hear our prayer’or to ‘Lord, hear us’, ‘Lord, graciously hear us.’At the end of the intercessions the leader says

Merciful Father Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our

Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Liturgy of the SacramentThe Peace

The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then were they glad when they saw the Lord. Alleluia!The peace of the Lord be always with you. Alleluia! Alleluia!And also with you. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

We offer those near to us a sign of peace. We say to each other, “Peace be with you”, and respond, “and also with you”. And we wave to each other. Offertory During which the collection is taken and the bread and wine are brought to the altar.This church relies on donations to provide care and support to everyone in this community. Now more than ever, please consider giving generously to support our mission and ministry. Thank you for your support. Collection can be made by online transfer or cheques payable to ‘ST MICHAELS&ANG’ Sort code 20-49-81 Account No. 80800007; you can also put money into your envelopes to bring to church.

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Offertory Hymn – Give me joy in my heart (choir & organ)

1 Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising.Give me joy in my heart, I pray.Give me joy in my heart, keep me praising.Keep me praising till the break of day.Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,sing hosanna to the King of kings!Sing hosanna, sing hosanna,sing hosanna to the King! 2 Give me peace in my heart, keep me resting…3 Give me love in my heart, keep me serving…4 Give me light in my heart, keep me shining…

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation through your goodness we have this bread to set before you, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life.Blessed be God forever. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation; through your goodness we have this wine to set before you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become for us the cup of salvation.Blessed be God forever.

The Eucharistic PrayerThe Lord is here.God’s spirit is with us.Lift up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.

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Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give thanks and praise.It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,always and everywhere to give you thanks,almighty and eternal Father,and in these days of Easterto celebrate with joyful heartsthe memory of your wonderful works.For by the mystery of his passionJesus Christ, your risen Son,has conquered the powers of death, restored us to the image of your gloryand opened the gates of eternal life.And so, in the joy of this Passover,earth and heaven resound with gladness,while angels and archangels and all the powers of creation sing forever the hymn of your glory:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,God of power and 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.Father of all, we give you thanks for every gift that comes from heaven. To the darkness, Jesus came as your light. With signs of faith and words of hope he touched untouchables with love and washed the guilty clean. The crowds came out to see your Son, yet at the end they turned on him. On the night he was betrayed he came to table with his friends to celebrate the freedom of your people. Jesus blessed you, Father, for the food;

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he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and said:  Take eat, this is my body, given for you all. Do this in remembrance of me. Jesus then gave thanks for the wine; he took the cup, gave it to them and said: This is my blood, shed for you all for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in remembrance of me. Great is the mystery of faith.Christ has died:Christ is risen:Christ will come again.

Therefore, Father, with this bread and this cup we celebrate the cross on which he died to set us free. Defying death he rose again and is alive with you to pray for us and all the world. Send your Spirit that by these gifts we may feed on Christ with opened eyes and hearts on fire. May we and all who share this food offer ourselves to live for you and be welcomed at your feast in heaven where all creation worships you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours forever and ever. Amen

The Lord’s PrayerWe say together the prayer Jesus taught his friends:Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name,your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as in heaven.

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Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and for ever. Amen.

Breaking of the BreadThe priest breaks the consecrated bread saying:

We break this bread to share in the body of ChristThough we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one bread.

Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,have mercy on us.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,have mercy on us.Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world,grant us peace.

The priest invites the people to communion saying:Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to his supper.

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Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.

If you are baptized you are welcome to come and receive the bread and the wine or, if you prefer, to come to the altar for God’s blessing. The Welcomers will guide you forward.

At the distribution of the bread and wine, the minister says to each communicant:

The body of Christ broken for you.The blood of Christ shed for you.

The response is: Amen

Communion Hymn – Broken for me, broken for you (choir & organ)

Broken for me, broken for you,The body of Jesus, broken for you.1 He offered his body, he poured out his soul;Jesus was broken, that we might be whole.2 Come to my table and with me dineEat of my bread and drink of my wine

3 This is my body given for you;Eat it remembering I died for you.4 This is my blood I shed for you,For your forgiveness, making you new.

After communion, silence is kept. Then the priest says a short prayer followed by:

All Lord we have broken your bread and received your life. By the power of your Spirit keep us always in your Love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Amen.

Notices

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The BlessingGo out into the morning to live boldly in the light of the resurrection, for death no longer has power over you. Live knowing that your lives count for something new and hear God calling you to abundant love. Serve one another, be filled with life, know that the way back home has been opened for us all; and the blessing of God, the one who makes us, the one who walks with us in his risen life and the one who inspires us, fill you with light and love, this day and always.

Amen. Recessional Hymn – Alleluia, sing to Jesus (choir & organ)

1 Alleluia, sing to Jesus,his the sceptre, his the throne;alleluia, his the triumph,his the victory alone:hark, the songs of peaceful Sionthunder like a mighty flood;Jesus out of ev’ry nationhath redeemed us by his blood.2 Alleluia, not as orphansare we left in sorrow now;alleluia, he is near us,faith believes, nor questions how:though the cloud from sight received him,when the forty days were o'er,shall our hearts forget his promise,'I am with you evermore'?3 Alleluia, bread of angels,here on earth our food, our stay;

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alleluia, here the sinfulcone to you from day to day.Intercessor, friend of sinners,earth's redeemer, plead for me,where the songs of all the sinlesssweep across the crystal sea.4 Alleluia, King eternal,thee the Lord of lords we own;alleluia, born of Mary,earth his footstool, heav’n his throne:he within the veil has entered,robed in flesh, our great High Priest;he on earth both priest and victimin the Eucharistic Feast.

The Dismissal Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia! Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!

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Some material included in this service is copyright: The Archbishops' Council 2000

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