The fifth Sunday of Easter
Sunday, April 28, 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: “More Love to Thee” Van Denman Thompson
The Entrance Rite
Hymn 379: “God is love; let heaven adore him”
1. God is Love, let heaven adore him;
God is Love, let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him
and exalt him with one voice.
God who laid the earth’s foundation,
God who spread the heavens above,
God who breathes through all creation:
God is Love, eternal Love.
2. God is Love; and love enfolds us,
all the world in one embrace:
with unfailing grasp God holds us,
every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow’s iron rod,
then we find that selfsame aching
deep within the heart of God.
3. God is Love; and though with blindness
sin afflicts all human life,
God’s eternal loving kindness
guides us through out earthly strife.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o’er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love forever
o’er the universe must reign.
Opening Acclamation
Priest ✠ Alleluia. Christ is risen.
People 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.
The Gloria in Excelsis Missa Paschalis, W. Edward McCall
The Collect of the Day
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Priest Let us pray.
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Word
First Lesson: Acts 8:26-40
An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.”
The eunuch asked Philip, “About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?” He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Psalm 22:24-30
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
"May your heart live for ever!"
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.
28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *
all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29 My soul shall live for him;
my descendants shall serve him; *
they shall be known as the Lord's for ever.
30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that he has done.
Second Lesson: 1 John 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us.
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Reader The Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
Hymn 448: “O love, how deep, how broad, how high”
1. O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
how passing thought and fantasy,
that God, the Son of God, should take
our mortal form for mortals’ sake.
2. For us baptized, for us he bore
his holy fast and hungered sore;
for us temptations sharp he knew;
for us the tempter overthrew.
3. For us he prayed; for us he taught;
for us his daily works he wrought:
by words and signs and actions, thus
still seeking not himself, but us.
4. For us to wicked men betrayed,
scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
he bore the shameful cross and death;
for us gave up his dying breath.
5. For us he rose from death again;
for us he went on high to reign;
for us he sent his Spirit here
to guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.
6. All glory to our Lord and God
for love so deep, so high, so broad;
the Trinity whom we adore
for ever and for evermore.
Alleluia
The choir sings the Alleluias, then all repeat them.
The Gospel: John 15:1-8
Priest The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John.
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
Priest The Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
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
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.
Remembering ___ : We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;
That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
Remembering ___ : 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.
Remembering ___ : Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;
That they may be delivered from their distress.
Remembering ___ : 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 priest adds a concluding Collect.
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you:” Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen.
The Peace
Priest The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
The ministers and the people greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying “He is risen!”
The Holy Communion
The Celebrant introduces the Offertory with a sentence of Scripture.
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
During the Offertory an anthem is sung, and the Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.
The Offering is brought forward.
Offertory Anthem: “Just as I Am, without One Plea” Matthew Culloton
Just as I am, without one plea
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bid’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thou will receive,
will welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Just as I am, thy love unknown,
has broken every barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer A
The people stand and the priest sings
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Priest Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Priest Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him thanks and praise.
The priest 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 et Benedictus qui venit Missa Paschalis, W. Edward McCall
The priest 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:
Priest and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
The priest 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,
The Fraction
The priest breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.
Agnus Dei Missa Paschalis, W. Edward McCall
Priest 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.
Communion Anthem: “For He is Our Peace” Philip Stopford
For this cause I bow my knee unto
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family
in heaven and earth is named.
That he would grant you,
according to the riches of his glory,
to be strengthened by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;
that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints
what is the breadth, and length,
and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ,
which passeth knowledge,
that ye might be filled with the fullness of God.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one.
Hymn 704: “O thou who camest from above”
1. O thou who camest from above
the fire celestial to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
upon the altar of my heart.
2. There let it for thy glory burn
with every bright undying blaze,
and trembling to its source return
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
3. Jesus, confirm thy heart’s desire
to work and speak, and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire
and still stir up the gift in me.
4. Still let me prove thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat,
till death thy endless mercies seal
and make the sacrifice complete.
After Communion, the priest says
Let us pray.
Priest 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
The Easter Blessing
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Dismissal
Priest Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.
People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.
Postlude: “Loving Spirit” Edwin Childs
Service Participants
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore
Organist: W. Edward McCall
Eucharistic Minister: John Black
Thurifer: J. T. Massey
Crucifer: John Wilkinson
Lector: Trudie Benton
Ushers: Rob Wilkinson, Ted Hopkins
Altar: Sara Frister, Susan Nejako
Livestream: Emery Kohut
Flowers: Kim Jacobsen
Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Alexander Famous, Carol Fox, Laura Pankoe, Shelley Reed, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Amber Robinson, Annie Rogers, Anne Shute, Jim Shute, Caitlin Stein, Marian Wentworth
Online giving is available through Realm E-Giving and PayPal. We thank you for your generous giving to St. Paul’s.
Children’s Sunday School
Sunday school is available during the 10 o’clock service for children grades K-5 beginning Sunday, April 14. Drop-off at 9:45 am downstairs in the “Green Room” of the Education Wing. Children will rejoin their families in church during the Peace. If you have any questions or are interested in helping, please contact Rachel Morse or Laura Pankoe. Nursery care is not provided at this time.
Bible Studies at St Paul’s - good news!
We have had a strong interest in running our Bible Study! With this welcome encouragement Nancy and John Humphreys will be running a four-session study starting on Sunday April 28th, and taking place on the following three Sundays. We will be looking at the events and readings from the liturgical year including Ascension and Pentecost. It will take place in the Education wing from 9 to 9:45. No prior experience in opening a Bible is required. If you can contact us ahead of time it will be helpful: Nancy or John.
Women of St. Paul’s
We are back! Join us as we gather for an evening of fellowship, fun, laughter…and good food! We want to reinvigorate the Women’s group and are planning a May Day Potluck Supper. May Day is a day to celebrate the halfway mark between Spring and Summer with friends, both old and new! All the women of St. Paul’s are invited, Wednesday May 1st, 5:30p – 7:30p, in Paxson Hall. Please R.S.V.P. by following this link or contacting Jen Prater.
Weekday Worship
Mass for the Feast of St. Philip and St. James will be held this week on Wednesday, May 1, at noon in the Church.
SAVE THE DATE:
Saturday, June 1st, 9:30a, the women will be gathering to discuss and study a book which is still yet to be decided. If you have any great books you think would be suitable for a study group, please bring your suggestions to the Potluck on May 1st! (Or email Jen Prater the suggestion). Looking forward to joining together for food and fellowship on May 1st.
Community Meal
Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with today’s community meal. Your generous gifts of food, gift cards and your time to those in need is wonderful and greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance for your continued help and support. Mary Lou Parry, Outreach Committee Chair
Brotherhood Breakfast May 19
Brotherhood Breakfast is scheduled for Sunday, May 19. We will be serving eggs, pancakes, sausage, breakfast casserole and bagels. All will be available from 9 am to noon. There is no charge, but we will accept a freewill donation to the Friends of Music program at St. Paul’s. It is our way of thanking Ed McCall and our wonderful choir for another magnificent year of spiritual music.
Spiritual Prayer Practices:
Come and explore some ancient and some not-so ancient ways of opening and deepening your prayer life. You will be among friends in an informal environment. Meet once a month – as you wish and can – for about an hour. The final gathering (before a break for Summer) is planned for Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 in Paxson Hall. Questions? Contact Leigh DeTato.
Feed My Starving Children
Once again, Del Valley University will be hosting Feed My Starving Children. This event is a meal packing event to feed starving children around the world. The meals consist of rice, soy, veggies and vitamins which are formulated to prevent and even reverse the impact of severe malnutrition.
Saturday 5-18: 4:30-6:30pm and Sunday 5-19: noon-2pm and 5:30-7:30pm are currently the times available. Please let me know if you are interested...children over the age of 5 years old are welcome.
Thank you. Mary Lou Parry, Outreach Committee Chair
Healing Prayer Ministry
The Healing Prayer ministry is looking for a few new members. As you know, members of this ministry say a healing prayer and anoint parishioners on the first Sunday of the month. If you are called to this Ministry, please contact Chris McCall or George Wiemann.
Brotherhood Retreat June 7-9
Brotherhood Retreat is scheduled for June 7-9. All Christian men are welcome to join us for a weekend full of fellowship, prayer, spiritual study, good food and recreation at the DuPont Memorial House in Rehoboth, Delaware. The inclusive cost is $340 per person. Please contact Sam Palermo or George Wiemann for information and to reserve a spot.
AVAILABLE FLOWER MEMORIAL/THANKSGIVING DATE
Are you interested in having a flower memorial or thanksgiving? There is an open date that would be wonderful to have a memorial on or even share a date with someone!
If you are interested in making a donation for this date the recommended cost is $80 or find a friend or two looking to have memorials too and share the date!
Open Date: June 30
Your memorial or thanksgiving may be for this year or continued annually. Please contact Lisa Farina if you are interested.
Forward Day by Day Devotionals for May-July
Forward Movement is a ministry of The Episcopal Church dedicated to forming adult Episcopalians in the faith. Forward Day by Day is one of its publications: a devotional booklet with brief meditations on a passage of Scripture appointed for each day. Paper copies for the three-month period of May-July are now available in the entranceway to the Parish Hall.
Cantus Novus presents Beauty Surrounds Us… with Equality and Peace
May 3 (Solebury), May 4 (Doylestown) May 5 (Morrisville)
Spring is a time of renewal, of fresh starts, of new life. Spring inspires expectation, awakens the spirit, and stimulates the senses. The desire for equality and peace form the core of our singing in this series of concerts. To paraphrase, where there is peace, beauty, and where there is equality, joy.
Cantus Novus is pleased to present to you a concert of music across the ages. From the golden age of the Renaissance to Bach and the Beatles, the program celebrates diversity in style, compositional form, text, and dynamic expression. Be surrounded by messages of hope, resilience, encouragement, and spirit. Let yourself be surrounded by beauty at our Cantus Novus spring concerts.
● Friday, May 3, 8:00PM, Trinity Episcopal Church, 6587 Upper York Road, Solebury,
● Saturday, May 4, 8:00PM, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 84 E. Oakland Ave., Doylestown
● Sunday, May 5, 4:00PM, Morrisville Presbyterian Church, 771 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Morrisville
Tickets are available online or by phone at 215-968-3414. If you have any questions, email contact@cantusnovus.org.
ALTAR FLOWERS
Today’s flowers are given given by Whitney Chandor to the glory of God, and in loving memory of Adelaide and Herbert Rorer. Arranged by Kim Jacobsen