Easter-5 (Yr A) May 7, 2023

OPENING HYMN “Father, we praise thee, now the night is over” Hymnal #1

1 Father, we praise thee, now the night is over,

active and watchful, stand we all before thee;

singing we offer prayer and meditation:

thus we adore thee.

2 Monarch of all things, fit us for thy mansions;

banish our weakness, health and wholeness sending;

bring us to heaven, where thy saints united

joy without ending.

3 All-holy Father, Son, and equal Spirit,

Trinity blessèd, send us thy salvation;

thine is the glory, gleaming and resounding

through all creation.

Celebrant 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.

HYMN OF PRAISE “Canticle 13” Hymn #S236

1. Glory to you, Lord God of our Fathers;

you are worthy of praise; glory to you.

2. Glory to you for the radiance of your holy Name;

we will praise you and highly exalt you forever.

3. Glory to you in the splendor of your temple;

on the throne of your majesty, Glory to you.

4. Glory to you seated before the Cheribim;

we will praise you and highly exalt you forever.

5. Glory to you beholding the depths;

in the high vault of heaven.

6. Glory to you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit;

we will highly exalt you, Glory to you.

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you

Celebrant Let us pray

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.

Please be seated for the lessons.

First Lesson Acts 7:55-60 A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

The Word of the Lord Response: Thanks be to God.

Psalm Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 Read responsively by whole verse.

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame; *
deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Incline your ear to me; *
make haste to deliver me.

3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe,
for you are my crag and my stronghold; *
for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4 Take me out of the net that they

have secretly set for me, *
for you are my tower of strength.

5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, *
for you have redeemed me,
O Lord, O God of truth.

15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me.

Epistle 1 Peter 2:2-10 A Reading from the First Letter of Peter

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner”, and

“A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The Word of the Lord Response: Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL “Praise the Lord through every nation” Hymn #484

1 Praise the Lord through every nation;

his holy arm hath wrought salvation;

exalt him on his Father’s throne.

Praise your King, ye Christian legions,

who now prepares in heavenly regions

unfailing mansions for his own:

with voice and minstrelsy

extol his majesty:

Alleluia!

His praise shall sound all nature round,

and hymns on every tongue abound.

2 Jesus, Lord, our Captain glorious,

o’er sin, and death, and hell victorious,

wisdom and might to thee belong:

we confess, proclaim, adore thee;

we bow the knee, we fall before thee;

thy love henceforth shall be our song.

The cross meanwhile we bear,

the crown erelong to wear:

Alleluia!

Thy reign extend world without end;

let praise from all to thee ascend.

Gospel John 10:1-10

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

People: Glory to you Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Christ

SERMON The Rev. Cricket Park

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 Virginn

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

The celebration continues with the Prayers of the People. Please keep silence between the petitions until you are invited to add your own intentions.

I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world; for Wayne, Ken, Nedi, and Wendell, our bishops; for this gathering; and for all ministers and people.

Pray for the Church.

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations; and for the well-being of all people.

Pray for justice and peace.

I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed and those in

prison.

Pray for those in any need or trouble.

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper knowledge of God.

Pray that they may find and be found by God.

I ask your prayers for the departed.

Pray for those who have died.

I ask your prayers and thanksgivings for (please add your own petitions)

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

Celebrant: Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

THE PEACE

Celebrant: The Peace of the Lord be always with you.

Response: And also with you.

Please greet one another with a sign of peace.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERTORY / Presentation of Gifts

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise God all creatures here below;

Praise God above ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia.

THE HOLY COMMUNION

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.

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:

Celebrant and People

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

SANCTUS HYMN S 128

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 people stand or kneel. Then the Celebrant continues

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 sons and daughters; 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.

As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

THE FRACTION The Breaking of the Bread Anthem Be known to us, Lord Jesus Hymn #875

Be known to us Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread

The bread which we break alleluia is the communion of the body of Christ

Be known to us Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread

One body are we alleluia for though many we share one bread

Be known to us Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread

(The disciples knew the Lord Jesus in the breaking of the bread.)

INVITATION TO COMMUNION:

Celebrant The Gifts of God for the People of God.

COMMUNION HYMN “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy” Hymnal #470

1 There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

like the wideness of the sea;

there’s a kindness in his justice,

which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,

and more graces for the good;

there is mercy with the Savior;

there is healing in his blood.

2 There is no place where earth’s sorrows

are more felt than up in heaven;

there is no place where earth’s failings

have such kindly judgment given.

There is plentiful redemption

in the blood that has been shed;

there is joy for all the members

in the sorrows of the Head.

3 For the love of God is broader

than the measure of the mind;

and the heart of the Eternal

is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more faithful,

we should take him at his word;

and our life would be thanksgiving

for the goodness of the Lord.

POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Celebrant Let us pray.

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual

Food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus

Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living mem-

bers of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love

and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord . To him, to you, and to

the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

THE BLESSING

RECESSIONAL HYMN “Christ is made the sure foundation” Hymn #518

1 Christ is made the sure foundation,

Christ the head and cornerstone,

chosen of the Lord, and precious,

binding all the Church in one;

holy Zion’s help for ever,

and her confidence alone.

2 All that dedicated city,

dearly loved of God on high,

in exultant jubilation

pours perpetual melody;

God the One in Three adoring

in glad hymns eternally.

3 To this temple, where we call thee,

come, O Lord of Hosts, today;

with thy wonted loving-kindness

hear thy servants as they pray,

and thy fullest benediction

shed within its walls alway.

4 Here vouchsafe to all thy servants

what they ask of thee to gain;

what they gain from thee, for ever

with the blessèd to retain,

and hereafter in thy glory

evermore with thee to reign.

DISMISSAL

The congregation is dismissed.

People Thanks be to God.

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Adult Formation: What Episcopalians Need to Know about the Bible

The Gospel of Mark was our topic this morning. Next week: Paul’s letters to the Galatians and Philippians. Learn about how the Bible came to be, why it’s holy, and why we take it seriously. We’ll be reading several full books of scripture and discussing them. Bring your own study Bible (one you can write in and highlight if you wish).

Baptism Anyone?

There are five days designated in the Book of Common Prayer as especially appropriate for baptisms. One of those days—Pentecost—is coming up on May 28th. If you have members of your family who wish to be baptized, please let Rev. Cricket know. The next opportunity will be in November on All Saints’ Sunday.

Today is Care House Sunday!

Outreach keeps going and going. There are several donation baskets in the pew on the right when you are entering the sanctuary. These are for food and paper goods for the St. Paul’s Food Pantry; Lion’s Club eyeglasses, cell phones and pill bottles; and snacks and huggables for Care House. The baskets can be filled each week. Please don’t forget our neighbors in need.

Celebrating our Sunday School Volunteers

May 21st is “Sundae School Recognition” at St. Mark’s. Therefore, we need someone who is not a Sunday School teacher to coordinate our ice cream social Sunday. Please let Jackie Hoskinson or Rev. Cricket know if you are able to do this. We want to show our teachers our biggest and best appreciation for their work with our young people.

Pentecost is May 28th!

It is also Memorial Day weekend. For the morning, please ignore the ‘white and blue’ and just wear red to church. We will remember those armed services members who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The Holy Spirit, however, will not be ignored. Will there be flames above our heads? Come and see!

Ministers for May 7, 2023

Acolytes: Stephanie and Gary Welch

Lay Readers: Kendall Rubino and Judy Rudd

Chalice Bearers: Elizabeth Wagner-Weber and Carol Williamson

Tech Table: TJ Walch

Ushers: Dave Reuter and Tony Rubino

Counters: Mary-Anna Welch and Dave Reuter

Open/Close: Dave Reuter and Katherine Wagner

Coffee Hour: Joy Brown and Sandy Burkhart

Flowers and Sanctuary Candle given in celebration of the wedding anniversary of Ann and Howard Phillips and in thanksgiving for friends and family

Ministers for May 14, 2023

Acolytes: Jackie Hoskinson and Will Day

Lay Readers: Don Nancarrow and Jim Rudd

Chalice Bearers: TJ Walch and Gary Welch

Tech/Facebook Live: TJ Walch and Gary Welch

Ushers: Carol Williamson and Jim Rudd

Counters: Janet Reuter and Gary Welch

Open/Close: Rudd/Rubino

Coffee Hour: ???

Flowers are given in memory of Ruby Webster by her family.

St. Mark’s This Week:

May 8: SAA at 6:30am; AA at 7:30pm

May 9:: TOPS at 10:00am; NA at 7:30pm; softball at

May 10:: SAA at 7:30pm

May 13: Hidden Gems at Noon; AA at 7:30pm

May 14: Sixth Sunday of Easter

Adult Forum at 9:15am; Holy Eucharist at 10:30am

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Our Mission Statement:

“We gather for worship, education and mutual support;

welcome all people; and serve the community in God’s name”.

A prayer for St. Mark’s in a time of transition

O Lord, Father of life and change, of new and old: You gifted us with abilities to speak and listen, to hear and decide, to choose and know. We thank you for teaching us how to used these abilities, though we must at times remember to combine them with patience. Remind us to speak with kindness, to listen to understand, to hear all voices, to decide on what is just and true, to choose the path of peace, and to know we are not alone. Be with us in this time of transition, that it is as effective as it is unsettling, as comforting as it is confusing. And never leave our side on the journey ahead, as we strive for an unknown destination. In the name of your Son Jesus, who walks alongside us, we pray. Amen.

(written by Elizabeth Wagner-Weber)

The Rev. Cricket Park, Interim Priest-in-Charge

st_marks@ameritech.net

Libby Nicholson – Senior Warden; Kendall Rubino – Junior Warden,

wardens@stmarksdayton.org

Donna Larsen, Music Director/Organist,

musicdirector@stmarksdayton.org

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

456 Woodman Drive

Dayton, OH 45431

Email: st_marks@ameritech.net

Office Phone: 937-256-1082