Prelude
Come Down, O Love Divine | Ralph Vaughan Williams
Opening Meditation
The God Of Abraham Praise
The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of everlasting days, and God of love;
To him uplift your voice, at whose supreme command
From earth we rise, and seek the joys at his right hand.
He by himself hath sworn: I on his oath depend;
I shall, on eagle wings upborne, to heaven ascend:
I shall behold his face, I shall his power adore,
And sing the wonders of his grace for evermore.
Opening Acclamation
Alleluia. Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Gloria
Glory be to God on high,
and on earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee,
we glorify thee,
we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy;
thou only art the Lord;
thou only, O Christ,
with the Holy Ghost,
art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
LITURGY OF THE WORD
The Collect
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.
The Lesson
Acts 8:26-40
An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the gospel to all the towns till he came to Caesarea.
Psalm 23
24 My praise is of him in the great assembly; *
I will perform my vows in the presence of those who worship him.
25 The poor shall eat and be satisfied,
and those who seek the Lord shall praise him: *
“May your heart live for ever!”
26 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, *
and all the families of the nations shall bow before him.
27 For kingship belongs to the Lord; *
he rules over the nations.
28 To him alone all who sleep in the earth bow down in worship; *
all who go down to the dust fall before him.
29 My soul shall live for him;
my descendants shall serve him; *
they shall be known as the Lord’s for ever.
30 They shall come and make known to a people yet unborn *
the saving deeds that he has done.
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.
The Epistle
1 John 4:7-21
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No man has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his own Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. In this is love perfected with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.
Sequence Hymn
Come Down O Love Devine
Come down, O love divine, seek thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear,
And kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, till earthly passions
Turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
The Gospel
John 15:1-8
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.”
The Sermon
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
and of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father;
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered and was buried;
and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures,
and ascended into heaven,
and sitteth on the right hand of the Father;
and he shall come again, with glory,
to judge both the quick and the dead;
whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost the Lord, and Giver of Life,
who proceedeth from the Father and the Son;
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped
and glorified;
who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church;
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins;
and I look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People (Form VI)
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For Bartholomew of Constantinople, Francis of Rome, Justin of Canterbury; Michael the Presiding Bishop; Susan of San Diego; and the clergy of St. Michael’s by-the-Sea; in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, for The Episcopal/Anglican Province of Alexandria; in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, for the clergy and people of St. Andrew’s, La Mesa, and for the children and teachers of St. Andrew’s Parish Day School. Pray for all bishops and other ministers.
For all who serve God in His Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially Adrienne, Agnes, Al, Amy, Anna, Aram, Aviva, Asa, Barb, Barbara, Ben and the PRO Mentors Prison Ministry, Beth, Bill, Bob, Bobby, Brad, Brian, Bruce, Carol, Carolina, Caryn, Casey, Chelsea, Christine, Chuck, Clara, Creation Care ministry, Dan, Denise, Dennis, Diana, Donne, Ed, Elaine, Eric, Erica and Chris, Flurora, all those killed in Sydney Australia at Westfield, Gail, George, Georgia, Gerri, Harriet, Jake, Jan, Jeff, Jennifer, Jenny, Jhase, Jill, Jim, John, John Mark, Joseph, Joy, Jung, Karenssa, Katie, Kristen, Libby, Lisa, Lori, Luke, Lulu and Lewis, Lynn and Joanne, Lynne, Lynnie, Marcel and Sadie, Mark, Marvin and Pamela, Max, Melinda, Michael, Michell, Naomi, National, Alliance on Mental Illness, Pam, Pete, Rich, RJ, Rogar and Taylor, Ron, Rusty and Cathy, Ryan, Samantha, Sara, Shari, Sophie, Spiritual Trekkers, Steve, Sue, Susan, Taylor, Tom, Ushers ministry, Veria, Vickey, Vida Joven de México, Walt, Yoon Hee, and Ziggy; and for these loved ones deployed through the armed forces: Alex, Alvin, Bryan, David, Jacklyn, Jake, Jarrett, Jennifer, John, Joshua, Logan, Phillip, Ryan, Stephanie, and Trent.
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life.
We exalt you, O God our King;
And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Confession of Sin
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
In your compassion forgive us our sins,
known and unknown, things done and left undone;
and so uphold us by your Spirit
that we may live and serve you in newness of life,
to the honor and glory of your Name;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Almighty and merciful Lord grant us absolution and remission of all our sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Offertory
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.
Offertory Anthem
God So Loved The World | John Stainer
God so loved the world, God so love the world,
That He gave His only begotten Son, that whoso believeth, believeth in Him
Should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world
God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world;
But that the world through Him might be saved.
Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Spiritual Communion
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of thy Holy Ghost. Amen.
Lord, I cannot seek Thee
On Thine altar throne,
Yet I may receive Thee,
Weary and alone.
When, before Thine altar,
Crowds adoring kneel,
There in very essence,
Thou didst come to heal.
Far from Priest and altar,
Christ, to Thee I cry,
Come to me in spirit,
Let me feel Thee nigh.
In my silent worship,
Let me share the feast,
Be Thy love the altar,
By Thyself the Priest. Amen.
O most blessed Saviour, in union with the faithful at every altar of Thy Church where Thy blessed Body and Blood are being offered to the Father, I desire to offer Thee praise and thanksgiving, I present to Thee my soul and body with the earnest wish that I may always be united to Thee. And since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally into my heart, I unite myself to Thee and embrace Thee with all the affections of my soul. Amen.
Come, Lord Jesus, and dwell in my heart.
Communion Hymn
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
When I survey the wondrous cross where the young Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the cross of Christ, my God:
All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, be my sanctification.
Body of Christ, be my salvation;
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water from the side of Christ, wash, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesu, listen to me;
Within Thy wounds I fain would hide;
Ne’er to be parted from Thy side;
Guard me when the foe assails me;
Guide me when my feet shall fail me;
Bid me come to Thee above,
With Thy Saints to sing Thy love,
For ever and ever. Amen.
Closing Hymn
Rejoice, O Land, In God Thy Might
Rejoice, O land, in God thy might; His will obey, him serve aright;
For thee the saints up lift their voice: fear not, O land: in God rejoice.
Glad shalt thou be, with blessing crowned; with joy and peace thou shalt abound;
Yea, love with thee shall make his home until thou wee God’s kingdom come.
Dismissal
Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia, Alleluia.
Postlude
Now Blessed Be Thou, Christ Jesu | Samuel Scheidt
