Gathering

Thanksgiving for Baptism

P:         Alleluia!  Christ is risen.

C:         Christ is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!

Refreshed by the resurrection life we share in Christ, let us give thanks for the gift of baptism. 

Water is poured into the baptismal font.

We thank you, risen Christ, for these waters where you make us new, leading us from death to life, from tears to joy.

We bless you, risen Christ, that your Spirt comes to us in the grace-filled waters of rebirth, like rains to our thirsting earth, like streams that revive our souls, like cups of cool water shared with strangers.

Breathe your peace on your church when we hide in fear.  Clothe us with your mercy and forgiveness.  Send us companions on our journey as we share your life.

Make us one.  Cleanse our hearts.  Shower us with life.

To you be given all praise, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God, now and forever.  Amen.

Greeting    

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

Word

Psalm 23 – “Have No Fear”

A Reading from 1^st John, the 3^rd chapter.

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. ¹⁷How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

¹⁸ Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. ¹⁹And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him ²⁰whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. ²¹Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; ²²and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

²³ And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. ²⁴All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Word of God.  Word of Life.    Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation (sung together)                                          page 142

Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia!  Alleluia!

Gospel

The holy gospel according to John, the 10^th chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹²The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. ¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. ¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon     

Hymn of the Day                   Shepherd Me, O God                      # 780

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day, he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen

Prayers

Peace

Meal

Offertory                                “Here Is Bread”                                  # 483

Here is bread, here is wine, Christ is with us, always with us.

Break the bread, taste the wine, Christ is with us here.

In this bread there is healing, in this cup is life forever.

In this moment, by the Spirit, Christ is with us here.

Offertory Prayer

The Great Thanksgiving

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.

Eucharistic Prayer

Holy, living, and loving God, we praise you for creating the heavens and the earth.

We bless you for bringing Noah and his family through the waters of the flood, for freeing your people Israel from the bonds of slavery, and for sending Jesus to be our Redeemer.

We thank you for Jesus who, living among us, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and with a love stronger than death, gave his life for others.

Bread may be lifted up.

On the night in which he was betrayed, Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat. This is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

Wine may be lifted up.

After supper he took a cup of wine, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  Do this for the remembrance of me.”

Remembering, therefore, his life, death, and resurrection, we await your promised life for all this thirsty world.

Breathe your Spirit on us and on the bread and wine before us.  Carry us in your arms from death to life, that we may live as your chosen ones, clothed in the righteousness of Christ,

through whom are all glory and honour, now and forever.  Amen

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, forever and ever.  Amen

Distribution

If you are in a group, you may serve one another.  If you are alone, you may serve yourself.  All use these or similar words:

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ, shed for you.

Blessing

Post-Communion Prayer

Sending

Announcements may be made.

Benediction

Sending Hymn                       Children of the Heavenly Father             # 781

Dismissal

A:         You are the body of Christ raised up for the world.

Go in peace.  Share the good news.  Alleluia!

Thanks be to God.  Alleluia!