Bulletin for Sunday May 4, 2025
The Third Sunday of Easter
Calvary Episcopal Church
Prelude
Processional Hymn
Peace Candle Prayer
Celebrant Dear friends, this week we have received the peace candle that will be used at our Community Peace Vigil on October 19, 2025. This candle will travel to various communities of faith, bringing with it the light of peace. Let us now join and pray for peace and unity in our world… We pray for your creation, our home, and all creatures living on this earth, that we may be reminded to love it and care for it. We pray that we may be filled with your remembrance, happy with your gratitude, and reassured by your generosity.
People: We pray for the leaders of all communities great and small, that they may be guided by your teachings of peace. May they lead with care, provide space for hope, and work to bring communities together.
Celebrant: We pray for those who are marginalized, that they may be welcomed into the greater circle of community without unreasonable expectations placed upon them.
People: We pray for those who already live within the circle of community, that they may generously and lovingly extend the boundaries of their community to include others.
Celebrant: We pray for nothing less than an end to violence in our world. May hatred and bitterness be replaced with the ability to listen and work together with respect and dignity.
People: Strengthen and enable us gathered here to be instrumental in fostering peace in our world. May hope emerge from our lives, moving outward in all directions.
Celebrant: Everlasting peace is from You and it returns to You, O God our Sustainer! Grant us the life of true peace and usher us into the abode of peace.
People: May the light from this candle be a never-ending symbol that you desire peace, that you bless those who love others without judgment, that you are the One who makes peace. Amen.
The Word of God
The Liturgy begins on page 355 in the Book of Common Prayer
Celebrant Alleluia. Christ is risen. The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Collect for Purity BCP, page 355
Gloria S-278
The Collect of the Day BCP, page 224
The First Lesson Acts 9:1-20
Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" He asked, "Who are you, Lord?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do." The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias." He answered, "Here I am, Lord." The Lord said to him, "Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight." But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name." So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 30
1 I will exalt you, O Lord,
because you have lifted me up *
and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried out to you, *
and you restored me to health.
3 You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead; *
you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4 Sing to the Lord, you servants of his; *
give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
his favor for a lifetime.
6 Weeping may spend the night, *
but joy comes in the morning.
7 While I felt secure, I said,
"I shall never be disturbed. *
You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains."
8 Then you hid your face, *
and I was filled with fear.
9 I cried to you, O Lord; *
I pleaded with the Lord, saying,
10 "What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the Pit? *
will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
11 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me; *
O Lord, be my helper."
12 You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.
13 Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks for ever.
The Second Lesson Revelation 5:11-14
I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel John 21:1-19
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Glory to you, Lord Christ
Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me."
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon The Rev. Kyle Cuperwich
The Nicene Creed BCP, page 358
The Prayers of the People The Response: Hear our Prayer.
This week, please pray for:
Allen, Alexandra, Anne, Anne, Bill, Brigitte, Bruce & Debbie, Chris, The Diehl Family, Ed, Elizabeth, Emilie, Ethan, Jessica, Joe, John, Judy, Karen, Leslie, Linda, Lorraine, Marilyn, Marina, The Martin Family, Mary Jane, Mirelle, Myque, Nate & Family, The Olmsted Family, Rich, Rona, Tom, anyone in an area of war, strife, or civil unrest, especially Ukraine and the Holy Land, and our neighbors of Calvary Episcopal Church.
In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church of Ireland
In the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: The Ven. Dcn. Carol Ann Pepe; Members and Ministry of Episcopal Community Services New Jersey
We also pray for those who are celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week: Judy Schoenherr, Chris Kinnamon, Fred & Tiffany Galano, Loretta Nagel & Betsy Driver, Bill & Maggy Cummins
Confession of Sin and Absolution BCP, page 360
The Peace The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
Welcome and Announcements
The Holy Communion
Offertory Hymn
The Prayer of Consecration BCP, page 372, Rite II, Prayer D
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 him thanks and praise.
Sanctus S-130
Eucharistic Prayer BCP, p. 373
…we praise you and we bless you. We Praise you, we bless you, we give thanks to you, and we pray to you, Lord our God.
Lord’s Prayer BCP, page 364
The Breaking of the Bread BCP, page 364
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
Angus Dei S 164
All baptized Christians are invited to receive Holy Communion at the Lord’s Table.
Those who are not baptized are invited to come to the Altar to receive a blessing.
Gluten free hosts are available, ask the priest before receiving.
Communion Hymn
Post communion Prayer BCP, page 366 (said in unison)
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 members 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
Dismissal Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Postlude