To support prayer at home, we will distribute this order of service. Many thanks to the Rev. Stephen Muncie and the parish of St. Mary and St. Jude for sharing this resource with us.
Worship at Home: Sixth Sunday of Easter
The Greeting
Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; * therefore let us keep the feast, Not with old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, * but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia. Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; * death no longer has dominion over him.
The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; * but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia. Christ has been raised from the dead, * the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by a man came death, * by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.
The Lessons
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 16:9-15 During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them. We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.
The Response
Psalm 67 Deus misereatur
1 May God be merciful to us and bless us, * show us the light of his countenance and come to us. 2 Let your ways be known upon earth, * your saving health among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; * let all the peoples praise you. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, * for you judge the peoples with equity and guide all the nations upon earth. 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; * let all the peoples praise you. 6 The earth has brought forth her increase; * may God, our own God, give us his blessing. 7 May God give us his blessing, * and may all the ends of the earth stand in awe of him.
A Reading from the New Testament
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 In the spirit the angel carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day-- and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
A Reading from the Gospel
John 14:23-29 Jesus said to Judas (not Iscariot), "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, `I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe."
The Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth; I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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 everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers Prayers are offered for the whole world; for those we love; for the sick and the suffering; for those working to respond to the pandemic, especially all health care workers, physicians, nurses, emergency responders and support staff, and for scientists, researchers, and leaders of governments; for the poor, the homeless, and the uninsured; for the dying and the dead; for those who mourn; and for our communities, friends, and neighbors, and for other prayer concerns.
The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Collect of 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.
Prayers of the People
Friends in Christ, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us now pray for the well-being of all people, saying, Hear us, Risen Christ.
For the Church; for people of other faiths; and for all who seek the truth: that together we may bear witness to the depths of God's love for all people; in your mercy… Hear us, Risen Christ.
For Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Thomas, our bishop; and for the parishes of Mount Desert Island: that by word and deed we may show forth God's goodness; in your mercy…. Hear us, Risen Christ.
For an end to war, violence, and terrorism, especially for an end to the war in Ukraine: that the world may follow the path of the Prince of Peace; in your mercy… Hear us, Risen Christ.
For those we find it hardest to love; and for those the Church has injured or offended: that God will lead us to reconciliation and forgiveness; in your mercy…. Hear us, Risen Christ.
For deliverance from pride, greed, slander, and false speech: that our hearts may be pure, our words just, and our faith sincere; in your mercy…. Hear us, Risen Christ.
For the leaders of the nations; for Joe, our President; for Janet, our Governor, and for members of Congress and the Supreme Court: that they may serve the common good; in your mercy… Hear us, Risen Christ.
For the poor, the hungry, and the homeless; for the addicted, the abused, and the disabled: that God will strengthen our commitment to care for them; in your mercy… Hear us, Risen Christ.
For refugees and displaced persons, particularly those fleeing Ukraine: that God will guide them to safety and protect those who are working to deliver them from danger; in your mercy…. Hear us, Risen Christ.
For all who are graduating this spring: that they will use their gifts and skills to build a better world and find meaning and satisfaction in their future; in your mercy... Hear us, Risen Christ.
For this fragile earth: that God will move our hearts to a greater awareness of the fragility of nature and deepen our commitment to preserve the environment; in your mercy... Hear us, Risen Christ.
For an end to the pandemic: that God will curtail the spread of variants, bring healing to all who are ill, and give strength and courage to all medical personnel; in your mercy…. Hear us, Risen Christ.
For the sick and the suffering; and for those we have been asked to remember: Skye Brickley, Katrina Carter, R.V. Fulk, and Robert Mitchell; and for those on our Parish Prayer List. I now invite you to offer the names of those you know who need our prayers….. (silence)….; in your mercy… Hear us, Risen Christ.
At Church of Our Father we pray for those in our prayer list.
At St. Andrew & St. John we pray for Pam Hattem, Mary Ann Mahoney, Liz, Elizabeth Ward, Bunny Watts, Anne Wetzel, Paul Haertel, Chuck Bradshaw, Ted Bromage, Jean Storace, Spencer Ervin, Geoff Schuller, Doris McCorison, Gail Leland, Michael Shook, Joyce and Jim Risser, Loretta Schmidt, Theresa Mitchell, Fred & Dollis Sprague, Sara Winchenbach, Richard Ramsdell, Dorothy & Jim Clunan, Bill & Barbara Loveland.
At St. Saviour's Parish we pray for Bill Scott, Gregory Berube, Connie Brush, Yolanda Ferrari, Cheryl Kolodziej, Julie Grindle, Geoff Schuller, Eleanor Raynes, Howard Brush, John Stewart, Ruth Westphal, Gretchen Westphal, Lucy Triplett, Gail Leland, Christopher Lebida, Christopher Walls, Linda Carman, Mary Smith, John Fibiger, Ray McDonald, Emily O'Connor, Sarah Cleaves, Nicholas, Janet Flood, Rachel, Mimi, Charlie, Sarah B., Dickie, Alex, Penny Ayer, Arletta Sullivan, and Anne Cleaves.
For all who have died, especially Nonna Verna Harrison; and for all who mourn; in your mercy… Hear us, Risen Christ.
In thanksgiving for our daily blessings; and in thanksgiving for the presence of our visitors and guests today; in your mercy…. Hear us, Risen Christ.
Concluding Collects
Gracious God, through a vision you sent forth Paul to preach the gospel and called the women to the place of prayer on the Sabbath. Grant that we may be like Paul and be found like Lydia, our hearts responsive to your word and open to go where you lead us. Amen.
Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty, and restore all things in glory through the victory of Jesus Christ. We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war and greed, the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace, to the glory of your name. Amen.
For Those We Love Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
Let us bless the Lord. Alleluia. Alleluia. Thanks be to God. Alleluia. Alleluia. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13:14
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The MDI Episcopal Partnership
St. Andrew's and St. John's PO Box 767 Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 GPS Location: 315 Main Street, Southwest Harbor, Maine
St. Saviour's Parish office is staffed Tuesday from 10 am to 1 pm. At other times please call or email the office, and we will respond to your message soon.
The sanctuary and parish hall of all churches are accessible.
For pastoral emergencies, please contact the Rev. Holly Hoffmann directly at 207-244-8144.
