ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – MAY 2, 2021 Readings: Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-30; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8

Organ: I Am the Vine - Setting by Douglas Wagner, b. 1952

Alleluia. Christ is Risen. The Lord is Risen Indeed. Alleluia.

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.

Glory to God in the highest

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.

Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Give us grace to love one another and walk in the way of his commandments, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Acts This is the story of Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch. It shows how a significant foreign personage, who was apparently an inquirer into Judaism, learned about Jesus and was baptized.

As Philip left Samaria, an angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go towards 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. Philip asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The eunuch replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ So 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?’ 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. 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. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Part of Psalm 22 is a song of praise to the Lord, who rules over all and cares for the downtrodden. We read together:

Praise the LORD; You that fear him; stand in awe of him, O offspring of Israel; all you of Jacob’s line, give glory.

For he does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither does he hide his face from them; but when they cry to him he hears them. The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: “May your heart live for ever!”

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall bow before him. For kingship belongs to the LORD; he rules over the nations. To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; all who go down to the dust fall before him.

My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; they shall be known as the LORD’S for ever. They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn the saving deeds that he has done. A Reading from the First Letter of John This reading teaches that God’s love is made known to us through Jesus. No one has ever seen God, but to experience God’s love and to recognize Jesus as God’s Son is to know God.

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 Saviour 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 judgement, 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 command- ment we have from him is this: Those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia! O sing a new song to the Lord, for has worked wonders in the sight of the nations, he has shown his deliverance. Alleluia! Alleluia!

The Holy Gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ, according to John Glory to you, Lord Christ.

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 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.

2

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. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon -- The Rev. Michael L. Bradley, rector

The Nicene Creed, the Prayer Book, p. 358

Prayers of the People O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection, teaching them to love all people as neighbors. As his disciples in this age, we offer our prayers for the world in which we live, and for those with whom we share it. Our response, “Hear us, O Risen Christ”.

+ For the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who opens those graves that we ourselves have made; and who this day opens the gates of abundant life; for this we pray; R.

+ For the leaders of the nations, that they may guide the world to a greater fulfillment of its quest for freedom, justice, and a generous life; for this we pray; R.

+ For the innocent in troubled places and wherever strife, conflict and violence destroy peace; that the new birth of reconciliation and hope may release all who are suffering or imprisoned; for this we pray; R.

+ For these great Fifty Days of Easter, that all people may know the mystery of redemption and the triumph of new life; for this we pray; R.

+For all who are in need, want, sickness or trouble; for all whose names we carry in our hearts this day, and those for whom we ask special intercession: Richard Burns, Robert Ludlow, Allen Berchem, Don Burton, Ed Haug, Lynn Kerber, Phyllis Harper, Jean Thompson, Beverly Hatcher, Mary Cohen. We pray also for those you wish to name before God this morning. A pause is made while names are offered. For these and many others we pray. R.

+ In remembrance of all the faithful departed, those who have left us an inheritance of God’s blessings, and who rest in promise of the resurrection to eternal life that this day proclaims. We pray especially for Lois Jacobs, who was buried this past week in the Memorial Garden. For her and others we pray; R.

We pray also for the forgiveness of our sins. Silence is kept, then all pray together:

Have mercy upon us, most merciful God; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hear our prayers this day and forgive us our sins. Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, and by our words and deeds show forth the promise of the kingdom. Amen.

3

HOLY COMMUNION Anthem: I Am the Vine - Allen Pote, b. 1945

I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me and I will abide in you. When you will bear much fruit for without me you can do nothing, Abide in me and I will abide in you. I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me and I will abide in you. When you will bear much fruit for without me you can do nothing, Abide in me and I will abide in you. As the father has loved me, so I love you. Go then and love one another. Keep this commandment for no greater love have you, than to lay your life down for your friends. I am the vine and you are the branches, abide in me and I will abide in you. Love one another, as I have loved you. I am the vine and you are the branches, go then, and bear much fruit, go abide in my love.

Gracious God; You show us the way by the example of your divine life. May everything we do be directed by the knowledge of your truth. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen. The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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 forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of Power and Might Ronald Arnatt, 1930-2018; arr. M. Bradley, b. 1956

The celebrant continues with the Prayer of Consecration, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

The gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Music during Communion: Hymn 306, Come, Risen Lord, and Deign to Be Our Guest

After all have received, please stand.

God of love; We have heard your truth and shared in your life. May we always walk in your way, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

The mercy, grace and peace of God, Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, be upon you this day and for evermore. Amen. Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Organ: Jubilation - James Denton

+ + + Our Mission: We share the light of Christ by actively loving and serving our neighbors in the world. 20475 Sunningdale Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 313-884-4820 [email protected] www.stmichaelsgpw.org

4