The Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter: Good Shepherd Sunday, 3rd May 2020

The Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Easter

Good Shepherd Sunday, 3^rd May 2020

THE GATHERING

Hymn

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast."
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary and worn and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
"Behold, I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live."
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"I am this dark world's Light;

look unto me, your morn shall rise,

and all your days be bright."

I looked to Jesus and I found

in him my Star, my Sun;

and in that light of life I'll walk,

'til travelling days are done.

[NEH 376]

Introit

The celebrant prays the Introit

The merciful love of the Lord fills the earth; by the word of the Lord the heavens were made, alleluia.

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

All      Amen.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

All      He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

The celebrant welcomes the people and introduces the service

Prayer of Preparation

All   Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

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.

Prayer of Confession

The Celebrant introduces the Confession with words appropriate to the season.

All      Almighty God, our heavenly Father,

we have sinned against you

and against our neighbour

in thought and word and deed,

through negligence, through weakness,

through our own deliberate fault.

we are truly sorry

and repent of all our sins.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

who died for us,

forgive us all that is past

and grant that we may serve you in newness of life

to the glory of your name.

Amen.

The celebrant proclaims God’s forgiveness

The Gloria

All   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.

The Collect

Let us pray

Almighty ever-living God,

lead us to a share in the joys of heaven,

so that the humble flock may reach

where the brave Shepherd has gone before.

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.

The Celebrant prays the Collect set for the day

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.’

Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’ They were convinced by his arguments, and they accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their number.

[Acts 2:14,36-41]

This is the word of the Lord.

All       Thanks be to God.

Second reading

A reading from the First Letter of St Peter.

You have come back to the shepherd of your souls

The merit, in the sight of God, is in bearing punishment patiently when you are punished after doing your duty.

This, in fact, is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and left an example for you to follow the way he took. He had not done anything wrong, and there had been no perjury in his mouth. He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults; when he was tortured he made no threats but he put his trust in the righteous judge. He was bearing our faults in his own body on the cross, so that we might die to our faults and live for holiness; through his wounds you have been healed. You had gone astray like sheep but now you have come back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

[1 Peter 2:20-25]

This is the word of the Lord.

All       Thanks be to God.

Hymn

The King of love my shepherd is,

The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.

[NEH 457, A version of Psalm 23 set to music]

[NEH 115]

Gospel reading

The Celebrant announces the Gospel using the acclamation

proper to the season then introduces the Gospel with these words

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;

I know my own sheep and my own know me.

Alleluia!

The Lord be with you.

All       And also with you.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John.

All       Glory to you O Lord.

Jesus said: ‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’

Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.

   

So Jesus spoke to them again:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

I am the gate of the sheepfold.

All others who have come

are thieves and brigands;

but the sheep took no notice of them.

I am the gate.

Anyone who enters through me will be safe:

he will go freely in and out

and be sure of finding pasture.

The thief comes

only to steal and kill and destroy.

I have come

so that they may have life and have it to the full.’

[John 10:1-10]

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All       Thanks be to God.

Sermon

The Creed

All      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,

was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and 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,

who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,

who 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 Intercession

These responses is used

Lord, in your mercy

All      hear our prayer.

And at the end

Merciful Father,

All   accept these prayers

for the sake of your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Amen.

THE LITURGY OF THE SACRAMENT

The Peace

The celebrant introduces the Peace with words proper to the season and then says

The peace of the Lord be always with you

All      and also with you.

Hymn

Faithful Shepherd, feed me

Faithful Shepherd, feed me
in the pastures green;
faithful Shepherd, lead me
where thy steps are seen.

Hold me fast, and guide me
in the narrow way;
so, with thee beside me,
I shall never stray.

Daily bring me nearer
to the heav'nly shore;
may my faith grow clearer,
may I love thee more:

Hallow ev'ry pleasure,
ev'ry gift and pain;
be thyself my treasure,
though none else I gain.

Day by day prepare me
as thou seest best,
then let angels bear me
to thy promised rest.

[NEH 282]

Prayer over the gifts

Grant, we pray, O Lord,

that we may always find delight in these paschal mysteries,

so that the renewal constantly at work within us

may be the cause of our unending joy.

Through Christ our Lord.

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you

All      and also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

All      We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All      It is right to give thanks and praise.

The Celebrant praises God for his mighty acts and all respond

All      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.

The president recalls the Last Supper,

Praise to you, Lord Jesus:

All      Dying you destroyed our death,

rising you restored our life:

Lord Jesus, come in glory.

The Prayer continues and concludes with these words

[…] Through him, and with him, and in him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven,

we worship you, Father almighty,

in songs of everlasting praise:

All   Blessing and honour and glory and power

be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

All      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 trespassas we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Breaking of the bread

Every time we eat this bread

and drink this cup,

All      we proclaim the Lord’s death

until he comes.

The Agnus Dei

All      Jesus, Lamb of God,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, bearer of our sins,

have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world,

grant us peace.

Alleluia. Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

All      Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon

The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.

We make our spiritual communion

Communion Anthem

The Lord’s my shepherd

[Arr. Stuart Townsend]

Post Communion Prayers

Look upon your flock, kind Shepherd,

and be pleased to settle in eternal pastures

the sheep you have redeemed

by the Precious Blood of your Son.

Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

All   Father of all,

we give you thanks and praise,

that when we were still far off

you met us in your Son and brought us home.

Dying and living, he declared your love,

gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.

May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life;

we who drink his cup bring life to others;

we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise your name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

THE DISMISSAL

Notices

Regina Caeli

May is a month traditionally devoted to the Blessed Virgin, and in some churches the statue of the Blessed Virgin is crowned with flowers during the month of May. In others a statue is also processed around the Parish. In Walsingham, traditionally known as England’s Nazareth because of its association with the Blessed Virgin and because it contains a copy of the holy house where Jesus grew up, a special celebration is held each Whitsun bank holiday, with processions, Masses and special services.

To mark the beginning of this month dedicated to Mary we’re going to ask for her intercessions as we sing her praises in the words of the Regina Caeli, which is sung to the tune ‘Jesus Christ is risen to day’:

Joy to thee, O Queen of Heaven. Alleluia!

He whom Thou wast meet to bear. Alleluia!

As He promised hath arisen. Alleluia!

Pour for us to God thy prayer. Alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.

For the Lord is risen indeed, alleluia.

Let us pray:

O God,

who through the resurrection of Thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ

didst vouchsafe to give joy to the world:

grant, we beseech thee, that through His Mother, the Virgin Mary,

we may obtain the joys of everlasting life.

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!

All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
To crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light,
Who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God,
Who from His altar call;
Praise him whose way of pain ye trod

And crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call,

The God incarnate, Man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all,

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
The wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue
Before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song
And crown Him Lord of all.

[NEH 332]

Final blessing

The celebrant introduces the blessing with words proper to the season

and then says

[…] and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

All      Amen.

Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia.

All      Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which 

is included in this service, is copyright of the Archbishops' Council 2000

The New English Hymnal, material from which is included in this service, is copyright of 

The Canterbury Press, 2010