It’s a very special day today: the Fourth Sunday of Easter, in which we remember our God’s loving care for us as our Good Shepherd; Earth Day Sunday, in which we celebrate the awesome gift of creation; and a Triple C Service, our Christ-centred Creative Celebration that takes place on the fourth Sunday of the month!
Our Good Shepherd Sunday theme is featured in our passages from Holy Scripture (Psalm 23 and John 10), Sermon by Deacon Bob, Call to Worship, Collect, Prayer over the Gifts, Prayer after Communion, Blessing, and Dismissal. It’s also featured in our Children’s Time Song, Offertory (played on the organ from All Saint’ Church in Oystermouth, Swansea, Wales), and Closing Hymn led by our Virtual Choir.
Our Earth Day theme is featured in our Affirmation of Faith from India; Responsive Litany from the USA, England, and Ireland, led by Murray; Eucharistic Prayer from the National Church; and our Opening and Gradual Hymns, led by our Virtual Choir.
The Triple C nature of our Service is shown by our having parts of the Service from 5 continents! In addition to what was mentioned above, the Prayer in Response to COVID-19 is from the General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches; the Blessing from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa; and the Dismissal from Australia. We’re using an alternative Collect of the Day, authorized for use by General Synod; and our Readings from the New Testament (the first of which is read by Keith on video) are both from the J. B. Phillips’ Translation.
Our Service is a Holy Eucharist, in which we have the opportunity to partake of Communion not just spiritually, but also physically, using Reserved Sacrament from the previous Sunday’s Service. This Reserved Sacrament is available for pick up just inside the main doors on Saturdays from 2 to 2:45, and other times by appointment. The wafers are in individual paper cups, and placed in a sealed baggie, to ensure their safety.
When our Liturgy ends, the service begins: we go in peace to love and serve the Lord, living out our Easter “Alleluia” by sharing the joyous Good News of Easter in all we say and do.
Today’s Service of Holy Eucharist will be livestreamed on our main Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/stpaulscalgary) at 9:30 am. Following the service, the video will be posted on our YouTube Channel, and a link to the service will be added here. To watch this service in full screen mode, please click on the “Watch on YouTube” button in the lower left-hand corner of the video. Please download the Order of Service if you would like to follow along.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and/or stream the music in this service obtained from:
(a) ONE LICENSE with license # A-713985, and/or
(b) CCLI with Streaming License # 20351479.
All rights reserved.