The Fifth Sunday of Easter

April 28th, 2024

Holy Eucharist 

11:00 A.M.

BISHOP: Stephen Lane

RECTOR: Ruth Ferguson

MUSIC DIRECTOR and ORGANIST: Stephen Kennedy

We seek to serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.
We strive for justice and peace among all people,
respecting the dignity of every human being.

Welcome

We seek to mirror the love of God and the hospitality of Jesus in our worship and our service to others. We are a community welcoming all races, ethnicities, faiths, genders, orientations, and abilities. Our worship is open to all, and every person is invited to receive communion.

Our church nursery and children’s activities for church will begin on September 10, 2023. However, children and babies – noisy and quiet! – are always welcome in the pews.

Are you new to Christ Church and our liturgy?

Hymns are in the blue book in the pew in front of you. Hymn #1 starts about 200 pages in, not on page 1.

Let’s Get Connected!

If you’re interested in joining us on a regular basis or would like more information (or both!) fill out a card on the back of the pew in front of you. You can drop it in the collection plate or give it to an usher. Or you can drop us a note at our Contact page on our Newsmagazine THE SONG songforchristchurch.org/contact

Holy Eucharist, said – Sunday, 8:00 am
Holy Eucharist, sung (with music) - Sunday 11:00 am

VOLUNTARY   Sonata No. 1   (Adagio)              Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)   

INTROIT Cantate Domino

HYMN 349 Holy Spirit, Lord of love 

At the ringing of the bell, all who are able, stand.

THE WORD OF GOD

ACCLAMATION

Presider: Alleluia. Christ is risen

People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Celebrant: 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.

SONG OF PRAISE:

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

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 LESSONS

The people sit.

After each Reading, the Reader says: The Word of

the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

THE FIRST LESSON

Acts 8:26-40

An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go toward 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. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And 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?” Then 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. But 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.

GRADUAL

PSALM 22:24-29 Deus, Deus meus                                                                                          Chanted by cantors

24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; * I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him. 

25  The poor shall eat and be satisfied, and those who seek the LORD shall praise him: * "May your heart live for ever!" 

26   All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, * and all the families of the nations shall bow before him. 

27  For kingship belongs to the LORD; * he rules over the nations. 

28  To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; * all who go down to the dust fall before him. 

29  My soul shall live for him; my descendants shall serve him; * they shall be known as the LORD'S for ever. 

1 John 4:7-21

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 Savior 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 judgment, 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 commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

ALLELULIA VERSE In die resurrectiónis

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

 People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

GOSPEL 

John 15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “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. 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.”

Gospeler: The Gospel of the Lord

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

SERMON The Very Rev’d Ruth Ferguson

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.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader: With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."

For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop, Steve Lane, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the city of Rochester, for every city and
community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel on land, on water, or in the air, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the widowed and orphans, for those who are lonely, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the people of Christ Church, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, for those who suffer in war and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Defend us, deliver us, and in your compassion protect us, O Lord, by thy grace.
Lord, have mercy.

Presider: Heavenly Father, you have promised to hear what we ask in the Name of your Son: Accept and fulfill our petitions, we pray, not as we ask in our ignorance, nor as we deserve in our sinfulness, but as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Presider: 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.

Presider: 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

Presider: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

People greet one another in the name of the Lord.

PARISH NOTICES

+ An opportunity to make an offering+

THE HOLY COMMUNION

If you are sensitive to wheat products, please tell an usher so that you may receive a gluten-free host.

HYMN 448  O Love, how deep, how broad, how high

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

SURSUM CORDA Plainsong

All who are able, stand.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. For our sins he was lifted high upon the cross, that he might draw the whole world to himself; and, by his suffering and death, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who put their trust in him.

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             

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)      

Sung by choir          

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.

Then the Celebrant continues

The people may stand or kneel as they are able.

The people may stand or kneel as they are able.

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, 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, according to his command, O Father,

Celebrant and People:

We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;

The Celebrant continues:

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.

We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him,
being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. 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

THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD

A period of silence is kept.

FRACTION ANTHEM  

AGNUS DEI        

Celebrant: The gifts of God for the People of God

You are invited to the altar to receive communion, or a blessing from the Priest. 

ANTHEM Verleih uns Frieden 

Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847) 

Translation: Graciously grant us peace,

Lord God, in our time;

There is surely no other

Who could fight thus for us

Than you alone, God our Lord.

HYMN 657 Love divine, all loves excelling

Presider: Let us pray.

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 Presider blesses the congregation.

May the almighty and merciful God strengthen you to be the risen Christ's hands and heart in this world, and may God's blessing be upon you, and remain with you, always.   Amen.

Presider:  Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. 

People: Thanks be to God.

DEO GRATIAS Mass VIII (De Angelis)Mode 5

CONCLUDING VOLUNTARY

Fugue in E-flat Major (“St. Anne”), BWV 552/2        Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

________________________________________________________________________________

Clergy

The Rev’d Ruth Ferguson, rector

rector@christchurchrochester.org

Vestry- Jeremy Cooney, John D’Amanda, John Fields, Norma Hopcraft, Kristy Liddell, Nancy Norwood, Shirley Ricker, Craig Smith, Deb VanderBilt

Wardens- Valerie Jutsum     Jim Kurmis

and David Jutsum- Clerk of the Vestry

_______________________________________________________________________

Organists 

Stephen Kennedy, director of music and organist

Andrew Johnson, assistant organist

Dominic Fiacco, VanDelinder Fellow

Jimmy Jeffery, VanDelinder fellow

David Higgs and William Porter, associate organists

Choral Scholars

Anna Bjerken

Arianna Potluri

Karen Goldfeder

Caleb Meyerhoff

Michael Cullinan

Thatcher Lyman

________________________________________________________________

CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK

TODAY: April 28th, 2024 

NO Children’s Choir rehearsal today

1:00 - 3:00 Let’s Build Together

MONDAY April 29th:

10:00 am Zoom Morning Prayer

https://songforchristchurch.org/monday-morning-prayer

TUESDAY, April 30th:

9:30-10:30 am, Zoom Book study

12:10 pm Tuesday Pipes

THURSDAY, May 2nd:

12:00 Noon Holy Eucharist

5:00 pm Zoom Evening Prayer

https://songforchristchurch.org/thursday-evening-prayer

SAVE THE DATE!

Saturday, May 4 at 7:30pm JOAN OF ARC

Carl Theodor Dryer’s masterpiece of silent cinema, presented with live musical accompaniment designed by Stephen Kennedy, performed by Edoardo Bellotti, William Porter, Stephen Kennedy, and the Christ Church Schola Cantorum. Introductory remarks by Timothy Scheie. 

Donations at the door to Christ Church building maintenance and Friends of Music Fund . 

 Free with U of R  ID.

Presented by the University of Rochester Sound & Media Interdisciplinary Cluster, Christ Church, and the Departments of Organ & Historical Keyboards and Humanities at the Eastman School of Music.

Please consider donating to MEAL& MORE

-paper towels

-brown paper lunch bags

-boxed pasta

-canned tomatoes and vegetables

-vanilla or chocolate cake mixes

Items can be dropped off to the CC kitchen on Sundays.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY

LET’S BUILD TOGETHER

Christ Church has a building club for LEGO® fans of all ages! The group gathers weekly in the sacristy between 1:00 and 3:00. Dave Jutsum will supply the LEGO® bricks and pieces.

 LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this club.

MUSIC ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Christ Church Children’s Choir wants your kids! 20-minute rehearsals follow the 11:00 am Eucharist on Sundays. Please feel free to contact Stephen Kennedy and/or Andrew Johnson if you have a child interested in participating or if you have any questions about our program.

• Please consider lending a helping hand with Compline set-up immediately following today’s Eucharist.

CHURCH SCHOOL

Available every Sunday for the 11:00 service. Children of any age are welcome! Teachers are on site from 10:45 a.m., and will bring your children down to the sanctuary after the Prayers of the People so that they can join in for communion. Church School focuses on arts & crafts related to the themes of the week’s readings. You can visit the room on the 2nd floor—if you are unfamiliar with the building, please ask an usher, who will be glad to show you the room. Note: Christ Church follows Safe Church practices—at least 2 teachers are always in the room with the children.

DONATIONS AND PLEDGE ENVELOPES

You can make an online donation or pledge by simply going to the Christ Church website: christchurchrochester.org There is no service charge when you click the DONATE button.

Please pick up your envelopes in the Narthex

For more information about upcoming events at Church, scan this QR code below.  

As many struggle to find hope amid violence in Israel and Palestine, we remember the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and its efforts to support the dignity of all people, particularly by providing medical care in Ahli Hospital. The American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem offers more information about how to support these efforts in the current crisis at afedj.org

Remember to “like” and “subscribe” to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbkbAzGxOtsMI1dhb_3dGvg/videos

visit the website, http://www.christchurchrochester.org and

The Song, https://songforchristchurch.org often, for any updates and to access free recordings.

LITURGICAL CALENDARS 2024

Please let the office know if you are interested in receiving a calendar.

Email: office@christchurchrochester.org 

Phone: 585-454-3878

FORWARD DAY BY DAY PUBLICATION 

Please let the office know if you are interested in receiving a copy.

Email: office@christchurchrochester.org 

Phone: 585-454-3878

DIRECTORY INFORMATION

Christ Church would like to make sure our parishioner records are up to date! Please remember to update the office with your contact information if you have recently changed address or phone number.
Email: office@christchurchrochester.org 

Phone: 585-454-3878