The Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 3, 2026
11:00AM HOLY EUCHARIST
Prelude: Chorale, E Major Joseph Jongen (1873-1953)
Processional Hymn #484: Praise the Lord through every nation Wachet auf
The Opening Acclamation
Celebrant: Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!
People: The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The Collect for Purity
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.
Gloria Gerald Near HYMNAL #S-279
The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
The Word of God
Please be seated for the readings
The First Reading Acts 7:55-60
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
Psalm #31: 1-5, 15-16 (Anglican Chant, sung by the choir)
1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.
3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.
4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.
5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.
The Second Reading 1 Peter 2:2-10
Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:
“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner”,
and
“A stone that makes them stumble,
and a rock that makes them fall.”
They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Once you were not a people,
but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
but now you have received mercy.
Reader: The Word of the Lord People: Thanks be to God
Sequence Hymn #703: Lead us, O Father Song 22
(Verses 1&2 will be sung before the Gospel reading, and the third verse will be sung afterwards.)
The Holy Gospel John 14:1-14
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ
Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”
Celebrant: The Gospel of the Lord. People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Reverend Sarah Wood
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
Let us turn to God, our rock and our refuge, and pray for the world with all our heart and mind, saying: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the church, that we may each be the hands and heart and face of Christ to one another and the world…let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the leaders of the nations; may they seek the counsel and wisdom of God as they govern their people…let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the parish of Good Shepherd, that we, like Cleopas and his companion, experience the risen Christ in God’s Word and in the breaking of bread…let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all who grieve…may they know the hidden strength of Christ, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For an end to poverty…that we may recognize Jesus in the faces of the poor… let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the homeless and those without bread…for the sick…for long term caregivers…for the frightened or lonely…may they find refuge and strength in the one who walks with them…let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For Ester, Tyler, Teresa, Alec, Karrson, Doris, Jennie, Wilhelmina, Nino, Christina Suela, Eva, Christina Hing, Althea, Paul, Patrick, Michael; and also for the victims of war, violence, and natural disasters. For all whose lives are closely linked with ours…let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have died in the hope of the resurrection (silence)… We especially remember Mary Muslin for whom the vigil light is lit (silence)… We ask that you raise us with them to eternal life.…let us pray to the Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of [the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life to Christ our God. To you, O Lord our God.
(The celebrant adds a concluding collect.)
The Peace and Announcements
Offertory Verse Tone II
O praise our God ye People and make the voice of his praise to be
heard: who holdeth our soul in life and suffereth not our feet to slip.
Praise be God, who hath nit cast out my prayer: nor turned his
mercy from me, alleluia.
Presentation Hymn #463: He is the way Hall
The Great Thanksgiving
Celebrant The Lord be with you.
People And also with you.
Celebrant Lift up your hearts.
People We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People It is right to give him 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… 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:
Sanctus Near HYMNAL #S-131
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.
Eucharistic Prayer: The people stand or kneel.
Celebrant: Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant & People: Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.
Celebrant: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.
Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever. AMEN.
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 Breaking of the Bread
Celebrant: Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Fraction Anthem: Agnus dei Near HYMNAL #S-166
Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world: give us your peace.
Communion Verse Tone I
O sing unto the Lord, alleluia: sing unto the lord and praise his Name:
be telling of his salvation from day to day, alleluia, alleluia.
Anthem Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Since God so tender a regard to all my poor requests did give, my
best affections he shall have and best devotions whilst I live.
Assailed with grief and pain that seemed the sad forerunners of the
grave, to thee I make my request, O Lord: my life from threatening
danger save. Nor did i cry to God in vain, nor did his mercy come too
late, but when I still was at a loss, His kindness raised my low estate.
God and thyself my soul employ in quiet rest freed from thy fears who
saved thy life, upheld thy steps and dried up all thy falling tears. The
solemn payment of the vows I made to God shall be my care who
saved me from approaching death, and showed my life to him was
dear. By all engagements Lord, I'm thine, thy servant whom thou hast
set free, the very bonds which thou hast loosed shall tie me faster unto
thee.
Communion of the People: All are invited to receive communion. In the Episcopal Church, we use a common cup. Please note that the sacrament is considered complete in either kind: bread or wine. If you do not wish to receive both, you may choose to only receive one. If you wish to receive a blessing in lieu of the sacrament, please cross your arms in front of your chest.
The Post-Communion Prayer (stand or kneel)
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
and you have fed us with spiritual food
in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.
Send us now into the world in peace,
and grant us strength and courage
to love and serve you
with gladness and singleness of heart;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing and Dismissal
Recessional Hymn #432: O praise ye the Lord! Laudate Dominum
Postlude, Fanfare Craig Sellar Lang (1891-1971)