the fourth sunday of easter

AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

APRIL 26, 2026

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Hymn:    At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing    #174

The Opening Acclamation                                                                

  Presider:      Alleluia, Christ is risen.

  People:       The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.

Collect for Purity                                                      BCP p. 355         

The Collect of the Day

O God, whose Son Jesus is the Good Shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

The First Reading                                                    Acts 2:42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.  Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles.  All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people.  And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.          

            Reader:  The Word of the Lord.               People:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 23 (Congregation reads responsively.)

          1  The Lord is my shepherd; 

                   I shall not be in want.

          2  He makes me lie down in green pastures 

                   and leads me beside still waters.

          3  He revives my soul 

                   and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.

4  Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

               I shall fear no evil; 

                   for you are with me;

                   your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

          5  You spread a table before me

                   in the presence of those who trouble me; 

                   you have anointed my head with oil,

                   and my cup is running over.

            6   Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me 

                     all the days of my life, 

                     and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

The Second Reading:                                           1 Peter 2:19-25

It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly.  If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that?  But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval.  For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.  “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”  When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly.  He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.  For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

     Reader:      The Word of the Lord.           People:     Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn       Awake My Soul and Sing               #181

The Holy Gospel                                                    John 10:1-10

Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.  The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”  Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.  So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.  I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Reader:  The Gospel of the Lord. People:  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Nicene Creed                                    BCP p. 358          

The Prayers of the People

With shouts of Alleluia at Christ’s victory over death, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.

Good Shepherd, clothe your church with mercy and compassion through Jesus Christ. Search out all who are lost and bring them to eternal life. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Good Shepherd, help us be charitable and generous in all that we do. Inspire us to feed those who hunger and thirst from the abundance that you have given us. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Good Shepherd, we pray for those who work for peace. We await the day when every nation, tribe, and people will stand in unity before your heavenly throne. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Good Shepherd, you are with us throughout the dark valleys of our lives. We pray for the sick, especially Becky, Cathy, Chuck, Derek, Erin, Gary, Gloria, Helena, Holly, Jeanne, Judy, Ken, Louise, Lyndon, Miriam, Ray, Robert, Zach, and others? (pause). May the water of life may grant them refreshment and healing. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Good Shepherd, guide the universal church to acknowledge one another’s differences, and use the gifts that each one brings for the common good. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Good Shepherd, we give you thanks for all those who have died in the faith, whose lives are a witness to the coming of your kingdom. Hear us, O God;

your mercy is great.

Merciful God, we commend to you all for whom we pray, for the sake of your crucified and risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Confession of Sin

Most merciful God,

we confess that have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer      

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive the Sacrament

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people

at every altar of your Church

where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated:

I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving.

I remember your death, Lord Christ,

I proclaim your resurrection,

and I await your coming in glory.

and since I cannot receive you today

in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood,

I ask you to come into my heart.

Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus,

and let me never be separated from you.

May I live in you, and you in me,

in this life, and in the life to come.  Amen.

Closing Hymn The King of Love My Shepherd Is    #645

The Blessing

May God the Father, by whose power Christ was raised from the dead

strengthen us to walk with him in his risen life;

and may the blessing of God Almighty: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

be with us, and remain with us always.  Amen.

The Dismissal

Presider:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.  Alleluia, Alleluia.

People:        Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.