The Anglican Parish of Gisborne
Third Sunday of Easter
Sung Eucharist
April 30 2017
10.00am
The Church of the Resurrection Macedon
Welcome
We extend a very warm welcome to everyone who joins us for worship. Whether you are a visitor or a regular parishioner of the Anglican Church, you are invited to join us in Holy Communion. Please make yourself known to us and if you would like more information about our community, our ministry or any needs please visit our website anglicanparishgisborne.org.au or ask one of our sidespersons.
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Today’s worship. Fr Greg is the Presider and preacher at this Eucharist as he finishes his priestly ministry with us. This is to be followed by a special thanksgiving afternoon tea at 3pm today at Jubilee Hall in Macedon.
Hymns and music for today’s Eucharist are included in the order of service. Fr Greg has chosen the hymns for this service and for the recessional.
Communion anthems: J. S. Bach, Christians shout for joy and gladness
Colin Mawby, Jubilate Deo
The postlude is , Charles-Marie Widor, Toccata in F from Organ Symphony No. 5, Op. 42, No. 1
Scripture readings:
This Sunday: Third Sunday of Easter - Acts 2.14a, 36-41; Psalm 116.1–3, 10–17;1 Peter 1.17-23; Luke 24.13-35 [copies of readings are available from the back of the church in last week’s pewsheet]
Next Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Easter - Acts 2.42–47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2.19–25; John 10.1–10 [copies of these readings together with a short commentary are printed on pages 13-15 and can be used for preparation for next week’s worship.]
The Rev’d Sheridan Hannah will be the locum priest from this coming week and will be residing in the vicarage. Her contact details are as follows:
Tel. 0412 367 442 or email: . To contact Sheridan directly please use this information. The Parish email will be forwarded to the Church Wardens.
Sheridan intends to be in the Parish from Saturday to Tuesday or Wednesday.
Anzac Day Street Stall: Thank you to everyone who supported the Anzac Day stall.
Leading Your Church into Growth Program - The steering committee has met and a summary of our Lenten Gatherings and plans for the next steps have been made. Please refer to the separate LyCiG leaflet with all the details. Important dates for our Congregational Conversations are:
May 20th – St John’s Riddells Creek
May 21st – St Paul’s Gisborne
May 28th – The Church of the Resurrection
The conversations will take place over coffee after the Eucharist on those dates. Please continue to keep this program in your prayers.
Cakeless Cake Stall – This event is sponsored by the Gisborne Guild with proceeds to the Gisborne College Chaplaincy Fund. If you would like to give your assistance by submitting a donation, in lieu of making a cake, envelopes are available from Elaine Millar and to be returned by 5 June.
Biggest Morning Tea – This annual fundraising event will be held in the Parish Centre on Thursday 18 May commencing at 10am. Sponsored by the Gisborne Guild for the past 13 years, the proceeds help fund cancer research, prevention and support services. We ask you to come along and join us for a cuppa. Entry is by donation at the door. Enquiries to Elaine, 5428 2522.
This Week!
Monday 10.00am Play Group – Parish Hall
1.30pm St Paul’s Guild – Parish Centre
Tuesday 10.00am Play Group – Parish Hall
1.30pm Resurrection Guild – CoR
Wednesday 10.00am Holy Eucharist – St Paul’s
7.30pm Choir - CoR
Thursday 7.45pm Education for Ministry – CoR
Saturday 2.00pm Eucharist - Oaks
The Gathering of the People
The people stand on the ringing of the bell and sing the following
Sing choirs of heaven! Let saints and angels sing!
Around God’s throne exult in harmony!
Now Jesus Christ is risen from the grave!
Salute your Lord in glorious symphony!
Sing choirs of earth! Behold, your light has come!
The glory of the Lord shines radiantly!
Lift up your hearts, for Christ has conquered death!
The night is past; the day of light is here!
Sing Church of God! Exalt with joy outpoured!
The gospel trumpets tell of victory won!
Your Saviour lives: he’s with you evermore!
Let all God’s people shout the loud Amen!
Presider +Blessed be God: Father Son and Holy Spirit.
People Blessed be God’s Kingdom now and for ever.
The Presider greets the people in these words
Christ is risen! Alleluia.
He is risen indeed! Alleluia.
The Presider welcomes the people
The gloria is sung
People Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God's 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 prayer of the day
Presider O God,
your Son made himself known to his disciples
in the breaking of bread:
open the eyes of our faith,
that we may see him in his redeeming work;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Ministry of the Word
The people sit for the reading from the scriptures
First Lesson
After the lesson
Reader For the Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
In response to the first reading Psalm 16 is sung by the choir with the people joining in the following response
People I will walk in the presence of the Lord,
in the land of the living.
A second reading may be read here
The people sing the ‘Alleluias’ for the gospel procession
Minister The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Minister +The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to ……
People Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The appointed Gospel is now proclaimed
After the Gospel
Minister For the Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sermon
Following the sermon a short period of silence is observed
During Eastertide the Apostle’s Creed is said
All stand
Minister Let us together affirm the faith of the Church.
People I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father;
from there he will come to judge
the living and the dead.
I believe in the holy spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
The people may stand or sit for the prayers
Presider Let us pray for the world and for the church.
Intercessor Let us pray to the Lord.
People Lord of glory hear us.
At the conclusion of the prayers
Presider Almighty God, you have promised to hear our prayers.
People Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may by your grace receive,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
During Eastertide the confession and absolution are omitted
The Greeting of Peace
All stand for the Greeting of Peace with these words
Presider Christ is risen. Alleluia!
People He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Presider The peace of the risen Lord be always with you.
People And also with you.
All exchange a greeting of peace
The offertory hymn is sung during which the gifts of the people – bread, wine, and money are collected and brought forward
All people that on earth do dwell,
sing to the Lord with cheerful voice:
him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
come ye before him and rejoice.
Know that the Lord is God indeed;
without our aid he did us make:
we are his folk, he doth us feed,
and for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise,
approach with joy his courts unto;
praise, laud and bless his name always,
for it is seemly so to do.
For why the Lord our God is good;
his mercy is for ever sure;
his truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
William Kethe d. 1594 alt.
Presider Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation.
Through your goodness we have these gifts of
bread, wine and money to share.
Accept and use our offerings for your glory
and for the service of your kingdom.
People Blessed be God for ever.
The Great Thanksgiving
The people remain standing
Presider The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Presider Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give our thanks and praise.
The Presider continues with the prayer
The Sanctus and Benedictus is sung
The Presider continues with the prayer
Minister Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
The Presider continues with the prayer
Presider As our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are confident to pray,
People Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread and the Communion
Presider We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.
We who are many are one body,
People for we all share in the one bread.
The Agnus Dei is said or sung
The Presider invites the people to come forward and receive Holy Communion
Presider Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
Come let us celebrate the feast.
People Alleluia!
All are welcome! “This is the Lord’s table; there are no strangers here.” There is a place here for everyone-distinctions of race, religion, colour, orientation or age don’t matter to Christ. Please join us often, in this circle of blessing and belonging.”
Sending Out of God’s People
Minister Let us stand to pray.
Presider Most loving God,
People you send us into the world you love.
Give us grace to go thankfully and with courage
in the power of your Spirit.
The people sing the post communion hymn
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from his table take leave.
The supper is ended: may now be extended
the fruits of his service in all who believe.
The seed of his teaching, our hungry souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for all humankind.
His grace shall incite us, his love shall unite us
to work for his kingdom, his purpose to find.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever-living
the tasks of our everyday life we will face,
our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing as neighbours all those of each race.
One feast that has fed us, one light that has led us,
unite us as one in his life that we share.
Then may all the living, with praise and thanksgiving,
give honour to Christ and his name that we bear.
Omer Westendorf 1916- alt.
The notices are given
Fr Jeff Berger and Church Wardens offer a prayer for Fr Greg
Fr Andrew Covington gives a blessing to Fr Greg
Fr Greg gives a blessing to the people
Minister Alleluia! Alleluia!
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People In the name of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Readings & Commentary
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 7 2017
[Due to limitations of space only the gospel reading has been printed. The commentary is mainly on Psalm 23. ]
John 10.1–10 1 ‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7 So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’
Commentary and reflection on the readings.
God shepherds by providing all that we need, which is not the same as all we may want. The good shepherd does not abandon us in times of suffering and danger. God stands with those who enter and dwell in such places. Even there, especially there, God leads as a companion whose presence may still our fears. God’s steadfast love is trustworthy. Always.
Focus Scripture: Psalm 23 The beauty of this psalm is deepened by layers of symbolism about shepherds in Judaism. Shepherds were away from community and worship ritual for long periods, which led some to view shepherds with suspicion and some to consider them “unclean.” Central to this psalm is that shepherds had long been associated with kings and other public leaders. That symbolism is not always positive. The prophets had charged Israel’s “shepherds” for failing to care for the flock entrusted to them. What do these traditions add to your understanding of the meaning behind this psalmist’s affirmation of God as shepherd?
The voice and structure of the psalm fall into three main sections. Verse 1 opens with a first person (“my,” “I”) declaration of God as shepherd. Verses 2–3 shift to a series of third person (“he”) statements that describe the actions by which God shepherds. Verses 4–6 move into a personal address (“I,” “you”) of God that affirms the results of God’s shepherding. At the centre of the psalm, and the “hinge point” between affirmations and personal address, is this word: “you are with me.” God’s presence is at the core of this psalm, even as the name of God opens and closes its verses. We live and trust in the midst of God’s presence.
Two words merit special attention. “Want” in verse 1 has a meaning in Hebrew closer to “lack.” It is the same word used in Deuteronomy 2:7 and 15:7–8. There, God provides in the wilderness for what the people truly need. The psalm invites distinction between desires and needs for the sake of understanding what God promises to provide. The second word that draws our attention occurs in verse 8. Translated there as “mercy,” the Hebrew hesed is a covenant word that has to do with the tenacious loyalty or fidelity of one partner to another. Hesed moves beyond what is obligated for the relationship to whatever needs to be done to sustain it. It is often translated “steadfast love.”