April 26, 2026

April 26, 2026 Easter 4

Prelude: Shelter Me O God

Acknowledgement

Welcome

Opening Hymn: 405 Alleluia #1

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give praise to his name.

Jesus is Lord of all the earth;

He is the king of creation.  

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give praise to his name.

Spread the good news o’er all the earth:

Jesus has died and is risen.  

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give praise to his name.

We have been crucified with Christ:

now we shall live forever.  

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give praise to his name.

Come, let us praise the living God,

joyfully sing to our Saviour.  

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give thanks to the risen Lord.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Give praise to his name.

Gathering together (from the Rhythm of Life by David Adam)

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

He has triumphed over death

Alleluia!

He has triumphed over the grave

Alleluia!

He has risen

Alleluia!

Christ is alive

Alleluia!

Together we Pray

Loving shepherd you know and care for each of us. When we feel loss, alone and in darkness you walk with us and remind us that you are always beside us. When we long for your love remind us that you are always present. When we struggle in fear, filled with doubt and uncertainty remind us that you light our path and that your goodness and mercy are ever present. Amen                 

Gloria: Jubilate Deo        by Fred Dunn

Jubilate everybody

serve the Lord in all your ways

and come before His presence singing

Enter now his courts with praise

For the Lord our God is gracious

and His mercy’s everlasting.

Jubilatejubilatejubilatedeo

Jubilate everybody

serve the Lord in all your ways

and come before His presence singing

Enter now his courts with praise

The Collect

O God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do your will, and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Proclamation of the Word

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:42-47)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. 

Living word of God​live in our lives today

Psalm 23 by StuartTownend

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

He makes me lie in pastures green.

He leads me by the still, still waters,

His goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in You alone,

And I will trust in You alone,

For Your endless mercy follows me,

Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,

And He anoints my head with oil,

And my cup, it overflows with joy,

I feast on His pure delights.

And though I walk the darkest path,

I will not fear the evil one,

For You are with me, and Your rod and staff

Are the comfort I need to know.

A Reading from the first letter of Peter (2:19-25)

For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of yoursouls.

Living word of God​live in our lives today

GradualHymn: There’s A Quiet Understanding – Songs for A Gospel People 66

There’s a quiet understanding

when we’re gathered in the Spirit,

it’s a promise Jesus gives us

when we gather in his name.

There’s a love we feel in Jesus,

there’a a manna that he feeds us,

it’s a promise Jesus gives us

when we gather in his name.

And we know when we’re together,

sharing love and understanding,

that our brothers and our sisters

feel the oneness Jesus brings.

Thank you, Jesus, thank you Jesus,

for the way you love and feed us,

for the many ways you lead us;

thank you, gracious Lord.

Thank you, gracious Lord.

The Lord be with you​And also with you

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (10:1-10)

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

The Gospel of Christ                                  Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ 

Homily​

An Affirmation of Faith .    (from A Wee Worship Book)

We believe, O God of all gods,

that you are the eternal maker of life:

we believe, O God of all gods

that you are the eternal maker of love.

We believe, O Lord and God of all people,

that you are the creator

of the high heavens,

that you are the creator

of the skies above,

that you are the creator

of the oceans below.

We believe, O lord and God of all people,

that you are the one who created our souls

and set their course,

that you are the one who created our bodies

from dust and from ashes,

that you gave to our bodies their breath

and to our souls their possession.

God, bless to us our bodies,

God, bless to us our souls,

God, bless to us our lives,

God, bless to us our belief.

Intercessions and Thanksgivings

Loving Shepherd, we hear your word and let it speak to us, let it wash over us and let it renew us so that we know your presence and mercy are always with us. We prepare ourselves for this time of prayer, focusing on You with our every breath.   We breathe you in,and we cry out, O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd we pray for our world and all of its needs,

for the environment and its much-needed rest, 

for the wars that continue when peace is desperately needed,

 for the healing of the many who are sick,  

                                                (please take the time to offer your petitions)

O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd, we pray for our country, Canada and our provinces and territories;

for the leaders as they try their best to make good and right decisions, 

help us to remember that they too struggle in the uncertainly of our times, 

that they are imperfect people trying to do their best,

                                                (please take the time to offer your petitions)

O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd, we pray for our community,

for those who are experiencing unexpected unemployment and income loss and who struggle and live with increased anxiety as a result

for those essential workers, who tend to the needs of the larger community despite fear about their own safety andwell-beingand who deal with anxiety, depression and trauma as a result of the work they do

                                               (please take the time to offer your petitions)

O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd, we uphold all those who are sick

for those undergoing medical treatments for health issues of any kind

                                                              (please take the time to offer your petitions)

O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd, we pray for all those who have died remind us that we are never alone and 

your legions of angels gather around those who are dying, receiving them into your loving mercy

 let those who have died rest in peace and rise in glory

                                        (please take the time to offer your petitions)

O Lord, our Shepherding God, come close to us now. Come near us in our time of need.

Loving Shepherd, you are breath and life, we breathe you in and feel Your calm presence flowing in and through us this and every day. Amen.

The Celebration of the Eucharist

Offertory Hymn: CP 500 The Servant Song

Sister, let me be your servant,

Let me be as Christ to you;

Pray that I may have the grace to

Let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,

fellow travellers on the road;

we are here to help each other

walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you

in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;

when you laugh I'll laugh with you.

I will share your joy and sorrow

till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven

we shall find such harmony,

born of all we've known together

of Christ's love and agony.

Brother, let me be your servant,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace to

let you be my servant too.

Prayer for the offering

God of love, you abide with us; you provide for all our needs and guide us in your ways.  Out of gratitudefor your care, we bring our gifts before you.  Use them for your work of caring, that all may feast at the table of abundance, walk without fear, and drink deeply from the cup of compassion. Amen.

~ written by Mary Petrina Boyd,

and posted on Ministry Matters.

Eucharistic prayer (Anglican Eucharistic Liturgies p. 61)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Worship and praise belong to you, God,

in every place and at all times.

You made us, all the people of the world and everything that is.

You give us the daylight.

Your Word lights up our minds.

Jesus was born among us to be light in our darkness.

Your spirit lives in us

so that we can look at the world with your eyes.

One day we will be with you in heaven,

but already we laugh with the saints and the angels

and sing their joyful song.

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord

God of power and might

Heaven and Earth of your gloryare full

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosannain the Highest.

Blessed is one that comes in the name of the Lord

Blessed is one that come in the name of the Lord

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord

God of power and might

Heaven and Earth of your gloryare full

Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosannain the Highest.

God, you never forget us or turn away from us,

even when we fail you.

You sent your son Jesus who gave his life for us.

He healed those who were sick, cared for those who were poor,

and cried with those who were sad.

He forgave sinners and taught us to forgive.

For all your love we give you thanks

in the way that Jesus showed us.

On the night before he died

while he was having supper with his friends,

he took bread and offered you thanks.

He broke the bread and gave it to them saying

‘Take, eat. This is my body: it is broken for you.’

After supper he took the cup, he offered you thanks, and gave it to the saying:

‘Drink this all of you.  This is my blood of the new covenant;

It is poured out for you, and for all, that sins may be forgiven.

Do this in remembrance of me.’

So as we do what he told us, we open our hearts to him;

we remember how he died

and rose again

to live now in us.

Together with him we offer God these gifts:

in them we give you ourselves.

Send your Holy Spirit on us and on this bread and this wine,

that they may be the Body and Blood of Christ,

and that sharing your life,

we may travel in your company to our journey’s end.

With all your people we give you thanks and praise

through the Son and in the Spirit now and forever.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Breaking of the Bread

Lord, we died with you on the cross.  

Now we are raised to new life.

We were buried in your tomb.

Now we share in your resurrection.  

Live in us, that we may live in you.

These are the Gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Music: I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Prayer after Communion

God of steadfast love, watch over the Church redeemed by the blood of your Son. May we who share in these holy mysteries come safely to your eternal kingdom, where there is one flock and one shepherd. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen.

The Doxology

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Blessing

Announcements

Hymn: They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love

We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord,

We are one in the Spirit, We are one in the Lord,

And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,

We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand,

And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

We will work with each other, We will work side by side,

We will work with each other, We will work side by side,

And we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

All praise to the Creator, From whom all things come,

And all praise to Christ Jesus, God’s only Son,

And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one.

And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,

Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.

The Dismissal

Let us bless the Lord

Thanks be to God. Alleluia    

Postlude