Worship

Sunday, May 5, 2024 — Sixth Sunday of Easter

Procession Hymn Hymn. AA-to be announced
Opening Prayer From “Black Liturgies” by Cole Arthur Riley
Celebrant: Breathe. In a position of rest, place the palm of your hand to your chest. If it feels safe to do so, close your eyes. Feel where you may be carrying tension in your body. Release what you can. Silently name and hold the first phrase as you inhale. Silently name and hold the second phrase as you exhale. Breathe deeply and slowly to start and adjust to what feels possible and right in your body. Amen.
INHALE: God is alive.
EXHALE: And God’s breath is freedom.
INHALE: Liberation is coming.
EXHALE: I will honor mine.
Collect Lectionary Insert
Hebrew Scriptures Acts (9:36-42)
Canticle Psalm (36:5-10)
New Testament Romans (8:11-17)
Gospel Hymn Hymn. AA-to be announced
Gospel John (6:35-40)
Sermon Rev. Natalie Tanner
Nicene Creed BCP pg. 358
Calvary’s Mission Statement (composed by Yvonne Lee)
We, the members of Calvary Episcopal Church, believe in taking the journey of God’s love and service to those who know Christ, and those who seek Christ.
Prayers of the People Lectionary Insert
Peace
The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God.
Offertory Hymn. AA-to be announced
If would like to make your offering electronically, you can do so at: www.calvarydc.net/donate
Doxology Praise God AA650
The Eucharist Our eucharist prayer was composed by the Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up our hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
Celebrant: Because you sent your beloved Son to redeem us from sin and death, and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life; that when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing. Blessed are you, O God, who sets the table of creation and invites us to feast with you in a cosmic celebration of love and desire. As we again await, Immanuel, God with us, we thank you for Jesus, whose life, prayer, and ministry opened our eyes to the glory of life and fueled our hunger for your long anticipated reign of justice, mercy, and peace. You call all people to follow your paths of justice and peace, beating their swords into plow shares and their spears into pruning hooks. In the light of your holy Word we look for the day when nations shall not lift up sword against nations, or learn war any more. Therefore, with the entire company of heaven, and with your people on earth who live in this hope, we praise you and join in the never-ending hymn:
People: 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.
Celebrant: We thank you for Christ’s passionate solidarity with the suffering of all the earth; for as he bore in his own body the wounds of creation, he embraced us in our brokenness and gathered us into his wholeness so that we might know ourselves beloved and serve with him as priests forever in an all-embracing Eucharist. Blessed is our brother Jesus, bone of our bone, and flesh of our flesh; who, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, blessed it and said:
People: This is my body which is given for you. Do this to remember me.
Celebrant: In the same way, Jesus took the cup after supper and said:
People: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this whenever you drink it, to remember me.
Celebrant: So, as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
People: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
Celebrant: Here in this place, we celebrate the life that death could not hold, the life that Jesus has shared among his community through the centuries, and shares with us now. Made one with him, and thus, with each other, we lay before you these gifts of bread and wine, tokens of our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for here we offer and present to you ourselves, our bodies, minds and spirits, to be a holy and continuous sacrifice to you.
People: Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Come, Holy Spirit Come.
Celebrant: Come and brood over these bodily things, this bread and this wine. May they be for us the body and blood of Christ; healing, renewing, and making us whole.
People: Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Come, Holy Spirit Come.
Celebrant: Come and embrace us with your life-giving power that as bread and wine are made one with us, we may become one with you; bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh.
People: Come, Holy Spirit, Come. Come, Holy Spirit Come.
Celebrant: Come and make your gathered people the real presence of Christ for the world, living our prayer and praying our life until heaven and earth are reconciled, and all are free as Christ is free.
People: Glory be to you, O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit; one God and Mother of all creation; as in the beginning, so now, and forever. Amen!
Lord’s Prayer BCP pg. 364 (sung)
Celebrant: Lamb of God
People: You take away the sins of the world.
Celebrant: Lamb of God
People: You take away the sins of the world
Celebrant: Lamb of God
People: Grant us your peace
Celebrant: These are the gifts of God for you, God’s people. This is the Lord’s table. Come, when you are fearful, to be made new in love. Come when you are doubtful, to be made strong in faith. Come, when you are regretful, and be made whole. Come, everyone; there is room for all!
The Lord’s Prayer BCP pg. 364 (Congregation sings)
Communion Hymn Hymn. AA-to be announced
Post Communion Prayer BCP pg. 365
Benediction from the “Black Liturgies”
Celebrant: May the God who made all things and holds together all things remind you of your making. May you rest in the immanence of your own worth, knowing you have nothing to prove and everything to love. Constant as the moon, which is tethered to us by unseen forces, which is suspended above us in the dark and the light, let our dignity remain, be it visible or invisible to those below. And may we remember the same dignity that holds us, so too holds together every person and piece of the cosmos at once and evermore. Go, in honor, to claim all that you are worthy of. May it be so. Amen.
Announcements
Final Hymn Hymn. AA-to be announced

We are blessed to have Susan Walls lead our music service today.

LECTIONARY INSERT
Sunday, May 5, 2024 – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Our scriptural translations today are from. “A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church, Year B,” by Dr. Wil Gafney

Collect Today’s collect was composed by Ms. Phyllis HarrisOh O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (9:36-42)
Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha—which translated into Greek is Dorcas; she was abundant in good works and benevolent giving. And it happened at that time she became ill and died and they washed her and laid her in a room upstairs. Now Lydda was near Joppa so the disciples who heard that Peter was there, sent two people to him urging, “Without delay, come to us.” Then Peter got up and went with them; when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. And standing beside him were all the widows, weeping and displaying the tunics and other clothing that Dorcas made while she was with them. Then Peter put all of them outside, and got on his knees and prayed, and he turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and raised her up and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. Now this became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Messiah.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

Psalm 36:5-10
HOLY ONE, throughout the very heavens is your faithful love,
your faithfulness beyond the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the eternal mountains,
your judgments are like the mighty deep;
you save humankind and animalkind alike, FAITHFUL ONE.
How precious is your faithful love,
God! All the woman-born
take shelter in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
Extend your faithful love to those who know you,
and your justice to the upright of heart!
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans (8:11-17)

Now if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life, including your mortal bodies, through the Spirit of the one who dwells in you all. So then, sisters and brothers or friends and kin, we are debtors, not to the flesh, according to the flesh to live that way. For if according to the flesh you live, you shall soon die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you all shall live. Now as many as are led by the Spirit of God are daughters and sons of God. For you all did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall again into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption through which we cry, “Abba! Father!” It is that same Spirit who bears witness with our spirit that we are daughters and sons of God. And if daughters and sons, then heirs, heirs of God and heirs with Christ, if it is true that we suffer with Christ so that we may also be glorified with Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John
(6:35-40)
Glory to you Lord Christ.
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The person who comes to me will never be hungry and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty. Rather I said to you all that you have seen me and yet you all do not believe. Everything that the Crea- tor gives me will come to me and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away. That is why I have come down from the heavens, for this reason, not to do my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that out of all that God has given me I should lose nothing, rather, raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Abba, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Christ

Prayers of the People
In the name of Christ Jesus, let us pray for the needs of the world, saying: Hear us, O God,
Your mercy is great.
Holy One, as the risen Christ opened the minds of the disciples to understand the Scripture, open your people today to the heal- ing wisdom, and faith given in your Word: Hear us, O God . . .
Your mercy is great.
Prince of Peace, as Christ Jesus showed his wounded hands and feet to the terrified apostles, reveal to your church and to people of prayer in every faith, the wounds of our neighbors, the fears of individuals and families, and the avenues toward healing; Hear us, O God . . .
Your mercy is great.
Author of life, we beg for peace among nations, peace through- out our communities, peace within families. Guide leaders and voters, legislatures and parliaments, judges and juries. Teach di- plomacy and let our ways be guided so that all may have plenty; Hear us, O God . . .
Your mercy is great.
Peace of our lives, let your warmth burn in places shrouded in violence. Reveal the pains that are hidden in secret. Unveil the needs of our hearts so that we may know the power of vulnerability. Your son was raised to life even from the grave. Show us again that life comes from death: Hear us, O God . . .
Your mercy is great.
Healer of every ill, we pray for all who are in need, for refugees of war and violence, for those whose bones are weary, for those who show us the power of community to give hope to the frightened, and for all who have asked for our prayers; Hear us, O God . . .
Your mercy is great.
You command us to bring to you our deepest desires, O God, and we pray now for those persons or concerns that lie on our hearts, spoken aloud or in silence . .
We invite you to offer you prayers and thanksgivings.
Hear us, O God . . .
Your mercy is great.
Trusting in your abundant mercy, O God, we commend into your care all for whom we pray, and our own lives, through Je- sus Christ, our Savior. Amen.