Fourth Sunday of Easter - 3 May 2020
Click here if you want to download the service sheet, or just follow from this page.
The Good Shepherd, the cross and the tomb.
It’s Good Shepherd Sunday! We reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, and on what it means to be a member of the flock. Today would have been an All Age Mass, and we are delighted to have our children participating, and to provide two talks – for adults and children.
To join in our service today, it would be helpful if you had a Bible and a candle. If you have neither, don’t worry, just press on. If there is more than one of you, you can share out leading, and the readings; but it is perfectly possible to participate just on your own.
Welcome
Light the candle to begin, and pray that you will be open to hearing the voice of the Good Shepherd this morning. Please click on the link, and join in with the responses.
Priest + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen
Priest The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Priest Alleluia! Christ is risen.
All He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Confessing our sins
We have not always lived our lives as we might have done. We have done wrong and hurt others. Let’s seek God’s forgiveness. We pray together:
Priest: Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
Priest: Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers,
Christ, have mercy.
All: Christ, have mercy.
Priest: Like Thomas in the upper room
we are slow to believe.
Lord, have mercy.
All: Lord, have mercy.
The priest gives the absolution, and we respond. Amen.
Praising God’s glory
We sing to praise God’s glory. Please join in with the responses
Cantor: Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Father.
All: Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Father.
Cantor: To him be glory forever.
All: To him beglory forever.
Cantor: Alleluia, Amen.
All: Alleluia, Amen. Alleluia, Amen. Alleluia, Amen.
Verse 2 Glory to God, glory to God, Son of the Father.
Verse 3 Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Spirit.
The priest prays the Collect – the prayer for the day
Readings
Ben reads the first reading from Acts 2.42-end
If you can, please stand to read the Gospel out loud from your Bible.
Gospel of the Day: John 1-.1-10
Homily and Talk
Today there are two talks on offer from Mthr Helen.
Homily
Children's Talk - Featuring Lotti the Vicarage cat…
Creed
Let’s remind ourselves of the beliefs of the Christian faith
All
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Prayers
Henrietta and Tilly will lead the intercessions. Please click on the link to join in.
The Peace
If there is more than one of you taking part, then do share the peace. If you are on your own you might like to think of people you would be sharing the peace with if you were in church, and pray, ‘Peace be with Diane; ‘‘Peace be with Will’; Peace be with Pat’, or whoever it is!
The Eucharistic Prayer
We now come to the heart of the mass. As the altar is set up, please join in singing the offertory hymn, and then saying the responses.
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
in pastures green; he leadeth me,
the quiet waters by.
My soul he doth restore again,
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through death’s dark vale,
yet will I fear no ill:
for thou art with me, and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.
My table thou hast furnished
in presence of my foes;
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
shall surely follow me:
and in God’s house for evermore
my dwelling place shall be.
Priest The Lord be with you
All And also with you.
Priest Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Priest Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give thanks and praise.
The Acclamation:
Priest Great is the mystery of faith
All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
The Sanctus and Benedictus (Sanctus means ‘holy’, Benedictus means ‘blessed’):
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.
The Agnus Dei (which means ‘Lamb of God’)
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.
This is a prayer for you to say at the point at which you would be receiving the bread and wine. You are making a spiritual communion in place of a sacramental communion, as that is not possible at this time.
In union, O Lord with the faithful at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. I present to you my soul and body with the earnest wish that I may always be united to you. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I ask you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, and embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Let nothing ever separate you from me. May I live and die in your love. Amen.
Music
As we reflect on our spiritual communion, let’s listen to Martin, Abigail and Gabriella playing Paul Wailly’s Six Pieces (No. 3 Idylle).
The Blessing and Regina Coeli
Please click on this link for the end of the service. If you would like to sing along with the Regina Coeli, please do! Regina coeli means ‘Queen of Heaven’ and is sung in Eastertide. In it we rejoice with Mary in the resurrection of her son Jesus.
All: Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Allelulia!
He whom thou wast meet to bear. Alleluia!
As he promised hath arisen. Alleluia!
Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!
Pr: Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, Alleluia!
All: For the Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia!
The priest prays the collect.
Today, Jonathan’s closing voluntary is Schumann’s Träumerei from Kinderszenen.