Sixth Sunday of Easter

Rogation Sunday

April 27, 2008

Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m.

The Rev. J. R. Keith Hudson, Ph.D., Rector

WELCOME TO CALVARY CHURCH

The Service is from the red Book of Common Prayer (page numbers listed). The Hymns are from the blue Hymnal (hymn numbers listed) and usually relate to the lessons for the day.

All baptized Christians are invited to share in the communion of bread and wine. Those who wish to receive laying-on-of-hands and anointing for healing should kneel at the Healing Station on their way back from Communion.

Prelude

Processional Hymn: 405 “All things bright and beautiful”

THE WORD OF GOD

Blessing page 355

Collect for Purity page 355

Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God) (S-280) page 356

Collect for the Day:

O God, 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.

Lessons:

Acts 17:22-31

Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Psalm 148:7-14

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, *

you sea-monsters and all deeps;

8 Fire and hail, snow and fog, *

tempestuous wind, doing his will;

9 Mountains and all hills, *

fruit trees and all cedars;

10 Wild beasts and all cattle, *

creeping things and winged birds;

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, *

princes and all rulers of the world;

12 Young men and maidens, *

old and young together.

13 Let them praise the Name of the Lord, *

for his Name only is exalted,

his splendor is over earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up strength for his people

and praise for all his loyal servants, *

the children of Israel, a people who are near him.

Hallelujah!

Epistle: 1 Peter 3:8-18

All of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For “Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer fordoing good, if suffering should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.

Sequence Hymn: 292 “O Jesus, crowned with all renown”

Gospel: John 15:1-8

Jesus said, “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.”

Homily

Nicene Creed page 358

Prayers of the People Form II page 385

Confession of Sin page 360

Exchange of the Peace page 360

Offertory: “Ring Alleluia” H. Starks

The St. Andrew Bell Choir

Doxology:

Praise God from Whom all Blessings flow:

Praise Him all Creatures here Below: Alleluia, Alleluia.

Praise Him Above, Ye Heavenly Host: Praise Father, Son

and Holy Ghost.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Holy Eucharist: Prayer A page 361

Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy) (S-125) page 362

Consecration page 362

The Lord’s Prayer page 364

Breaking of the Bread page 364

Agnus Dei (Jesus, Lamb of God) (S163)

Prayers for Healing

Communion Anthem: “Processional on ‘Westminster Abbey’” P. Young

Post-Communion Prayer page366

Blessing

Recessional Hymn: 412 “Earth and all stars vs. 1-3, 6

Dismissal page 366

Postlude

Participants in Today’s Service
Celebrant The Rev. Keith Hudson, Ph.D.

Organist Twyla Evitts

Eucharistic Assistant Sharon Parker

Lector Ellen Baum

Crucifer Alexandra Evitts

Healing Station Cas Knox

Ushers Mike Kendig and Chuck Moore

Altar Guild Kathryn Jakabcin

Counters Bill Vanneman and Frank Webb

Altar Flowers:

Altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Linda Moran from Kyle and Michael Miscoski.

This week please pray for:

Our Armed Forces: We commend to your gracious care all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them with your heavenly grace, strengthen them in their trials, give them comfort, and grant them a sense of your abiding presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Pray especially for: Arthur Brumbley, Jeff Steinberg and Timothy Thomas.

For Health and Healing: David Bailey, Bill and Dorothy Bayless, Robert Corey Belet, Bill and Rea Bomberger, Tiffany Carney, Barbara Cleary, Joan Dugan, Murray Goodwin, Dusty Grim, Anna Hartman, Charles Hise, Beverly Kendig, Isabella Kirtland, Dot McLane, Rosalee Mitchell, John Moore, Steve Morton, Harold Murray, William Sparks, David Stepp, Joyce Towers, Ray and Ilse Townsend, Jill Webster, Arthur Whitehead and Betty Jane Wickersham To add (or remove) someone on the Sunday Prayer list please call the church office at 302-764-2027