Bullentin: Sunday, May 1, 2022
April 29, 2022, 7:07 AM

St. John’s Episcopal Church

Helena, Arkansas

 

 

Third Sunday of Easter

 

May 1, 2022

 

THE HOLY EUCHARIST RITE TWO

 

ENTRANCE RITE, Eucharistic Prayer A

 

The Word of God

“BCP” indicates pages in the red Book of Common Prayer”

 “S” numbers refer to the front of the blue Hymnal.

 

ENTRANCE HYMN                                          Alleluia, Alleluia! Hearts and voices heavenward raise      (H 191)

                          

Opening Acclamation                              (BCP 355)

The people standing, the Celebrant says

Celebrant

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

People

The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

 

The Celebrant may say

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 IN EXCELSIS                                      (S-280)

The following is sung, all standing

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his 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.

 

 

Celebrant

The Lord be with you.

People

And also with you.

Celebrant

Let us pray.

 

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

THE LESSONS

 

First Reading                                            Acts 9:1-6 [7-20]

The people sit.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

1Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” [7The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. 8Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
10Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” 11The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; 14and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; 16I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, 19and after taking some food, he regained his strength.  For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, 20and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”]

 

Reader

The Word of the Lord.

People

Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm                                                          Psalm 30

Remain seated and read responsively by whole verse.

1I will exalt you, O Lord,
 because you have lifted me up *
  and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *
  and you restored me to health.

3You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *
  you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *
  give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.

5For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
  his favor for a lifetime.
6Weeping may spend the night, *
  but joy comes in the morning.

7While I felt secure, I said,
 “I shall never be disturbed. *
  You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains.”
8Then you hid your face, *
  and I was filled with fear.

9I cried to you, O Lord; *
  I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
10“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
  will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?

11Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *
  O Lord, be my helper.”
12You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
  you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.

13Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

 

 

Second Reading                                     Revelation 5:11-14

The people sit.

A Reading from the Revelation of John.

11I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb  be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

 

Reader

The Word of the Lord.

People

Thanks be to God.

 

Sequence Hymn                                       That Easter Day when joy was bright        (H 193)

All stand

 

Gospel                                                        John 21:1-19

All stand.

Priest

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

People

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

 

1Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. 2Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
9When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”

        Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

 

Priest

The Gospel of the Lord.

People

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

 

 

The Sermon                                                      Rev. Teresa Cantrell

 

The Creed                                                           (BCP 358)

All stand.

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 IV                  (BCP 388)

People may stand or kneel.

Let us pray for the Church and for the world.

Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good. We pray especially for peace and safety for the people of Ukraine.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, remembering, Grace Food Pantry, the Angels of Grace, and the Anchor Mission ministry and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

We commend to your mercy all who have died, especially Harry & Gertrude Jones and Albert & Barbara Pugh, and Dr. Bo Marley, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with, St. Phillip and St. James, and with all your saints in your eternal kingdom.

Silence

Lord, in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

 

LEM continues 

All Pray

O God, who has blessed and sustained this parish through the years; we ask that you continue to lead us, stretch us, and direct us, in our search for a new rector.  Raise for us, we pray, a priest and pastor who will boldly proclaim your Gospel, faithfully administer your Sacraments, and serve your people with love and compassion, that we may continue to grow in the likeness of Christ and be a beacon of love and hope to our community and the world.  To the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

 

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

Lord, hear the prayers of thy people, and what we have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our lord.  Amen.

 

Confession of Sin                                      (BCP 360)

The Celebrant says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name. Amen.

 

The Priest stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

 

The Peace

All stand.

Celebrant

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People

And also with you.

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Birthday and anniversary blessings.

 

The Holy Communion

 

Offertory Sentence

The Celebrant says

Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2

 

Offertory music

 

DOXOLOGY

 

The Great Thanksgiving                      (BCP 361)

 

The People remain standing.

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.

 

 

Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

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 for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

 

Sanctus                                                       Holy, holy, holy   (S-125)   

Celebrant and People Sing.

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.

 

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION                          (BCP 362)

The People stand or kneel.

The Celebrant continues

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 and People

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

 

The Celebrant continues

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 for ever. AMEN.

 

The Lord’s Prayer                                      (BCP 364)

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

People and Celebrant

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,

forever and ever. Amen.

 

The Breaking of the Bread

 

Fraction                                                       (S 154)

All sing.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

 

The Celebrant says

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

 

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.

The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants. The wine is received three ways: the Common cup, Intinction( dipping the wafer carefully into the wine) and Spiritually by crossing arms over one’s chest until the chalice has passed by.

 

Communion music

 

Post-Communion Prayer                              (BCP 365)

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

Celebrant and People

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.

 

Blessing

May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing. And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen

 

Post-Communion Hymn                          Crown him with many crowns       (H 494)

 

Dismissal

 

Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

People

Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

A Note on Today’s Readings

 

The Third Sunday of Easter—Year C

 

Welcome to our parish as we begin the third week of the church’s celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The theme of this Sunday’s liturgy is Jesus’ revelation of his risen life in the Holy Eucharist: the breaking of bread and sharing of the cup. This year we hear John’s account of the meeting that took place between the disciples and the Lord on the shore of the sea of Tiberias.  It culminated, as did so many of the resurrection appearances, in the Lord sharing food with his disciples and in that way making himself known to them.

 

The reading from Acts is the account of Paul’s conversion from his stance an enemy of Christ and a persecutor of the church to its greatest missionary and preacher.

 

The second reading from the Revelation of John envisions the final conversion of the entire human race and of the whole creation. It seems likely that the image of the heavenly worship in this book was inspired by the author’s own experience of the church’s Eucharistic worship.

 

From the very beginning of the Church’s life, the Holy Eucharist has been a major means of conversion to faith in Christ. The conversion which the Spirit has begun in us in Baptism is nurtured and deepened in Holy Communion. The risen Lord, made known to us in the breaking of the bread, continues his work of redemption in the lives of people in every time and place.

 

 

Welcome to St. John’s.  We are so glad you are here to worship with us today.

 

Please keep the following in your prayers:  Debra Richardson, Kathy Sullivan, Courtney Turner, Kathleen Gibson, Cole Jefferies, Carol Spencer, Bonnie & Charles Rowland, Jo Liddy, Janet Juengel, Jim Howe, Cliff Clark, Sylvia Ross, Linda Dowling, Susan Taylor, Bill Duke, and the family of Dr. Bo Marley.

 

St. John’s continues to support the Angels of Grace and the Anchor Mission ministries. 

Grace Food Pantry: plastic bags go in the labeled container in the narthex.

Thank you for your donations.  They are all greatly appreciated and needed.

 

Contact info:

Email:  rector@saintjohnshelena.org                  

St. John’s Church Office:

Phone:  870-338-8115   

Email:   office@saintjohnshelena.org 

Mailing address:  P.O. Box 770, Helena, AR 72342

Street address: 625 Pecan St., Helena, Arkansas

 

 

The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Rt. Reverend Larry R. Benfield, Bishop of Arkansas

Rev. Teresa Cantrell

 

 

The Vestry of St. John’s Church, Helena

Allison Biederman, Senior Warden (2022)

Ed Pat Wright, Junior Warden (2023)

Brooke Tappan, Clerk (2023), Tap Jennings (2023)

 Mark Rogers (2022), Susan Carter (2022)

West Hornor (2024), Ned Pillow (2024)

Walter Morris, Treasurer

 

Pianist –Dagmar Bergan

Organist – Dr. Gabriel Statom

 

Lay Eucharist Minister – Ann Lee

Acolyte – Mary Pillow

Altar Guild – Julie Pittman

Ushers – Mike Fielder & Macon Kirkman

Facebook Live – Angie Fielder

 

 

The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God

and in memory of Harry & Gertrude Jones and Albert & Barbara Pugh.

Given by Neville & Maureen Jones