Hybrid Worship 4th Sunday of Easter 26 April 2026

Christ Church Gabriola

A Collaborative Anglican – United Church

Open to All

 

Hybrid Worship

4^th Sunday of Easter

26 April 2026

Rev. Deborah van der Goes

Music: Frances Armstrong

 

We acknowledge that these lands upon which we worship are the

traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw

First Nation. Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words for Worship

Words of response are in bold & italics

 

Prelude

 

Gathering Words of Welcome

We gather here, in this holy place, a place set aside,

on this Day of Resurrection, to quiet ourselves,

We gather here to listen.  Whether here or at home

We turn our attention to our Great Shepherd

Guardian of our souls.

 

Lighting of Candle                           Vanderbilt University, Episcopal Prayer Collection

Creator of the universe, you made the world in beauty,
and restore all things in glory through the victory of Jesus Christ.

This candle is lit for prayer,

that wherever your image is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war, and greed,
the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear

in justice, love, and peace,

to the glory of your name.

Amen.

 

Acknowledgement of the Land

We prayerfully acknowledge with thanksgiving that we gather on the unceded territories of the Snuneymuxw people. Gracious God, help us to seek a new relationship with the first peoples here, one based in honour and respect. Amen

 

The Collects                                     Vanderbilt University, Episcopal Prayer Collection

Holy Shepherd, you know your sheep by name
and lead us to safety through the valleys of death.
Guide us by your voice,
that we may walk in certainty and security
to the joyous feast prepared in your house,
where we celebrate with you forever. Amen.

 

Almighty God,

            to you all hearts are open, all desires known,

            and from you no secrets are hidden.

            Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

            by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

            that we may wholly love you,

            through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Opening Hymn: Dear Shepherd of Your People                     CP #521

 

Affirmation of Faith

Hear, O people of God,

The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.

This is the first and greatest commandment.

The second is like it:

Love your neighbor as yourself.

There is no greater commandment than these.

 

Peace of Christ

May the peace of Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Let us share the peace of Christ with one another

 

(You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on zoom, please unmute and share with one another)

.

Prayer Before the Reading of Scripture                         ACC & UCC Sources

O God, your Word is a lamp to our feet, and a light to our path.

Give us grace to receive your truth in faith and love.

 

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47 (NRSVUE)                                 Reader: Don Butt

The believers' common life

 

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 through 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.

 

Psalm 23: The Lord’s My Shepherd (sung)                              VU #747

 

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25 (NRSVUE)                       Reader: Don Butt

For it is a commendable thing if, being aware of God, a person endures 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 good and suffer for it, this is a commendable thing before God. 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, having died to 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.

 

Gospel Reading                                              Reader: Deborah van der Goes

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

 

God be with you. 

            And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to John

            Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

John: 10:1-10 (NRSVUE)

Christ the shepherd

 

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."

 

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to John

Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

 

Sermon: Christ, the Shepherd of your soul

 

Hymn of Response: Halle, Halle                                                 VU #958

 

Life & Work of the Church

 

 

Prayers of the People                                                        Paddy Waymark

We follow your Light,

            Hear our Prayers.

 

Lords Prayer (sung)                                                                      VU #959

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

 

Offering (offering now to be collected)                                                      

 

Offering Prayer                                                                             CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

 

Holy Communion

 

Invitation                                                                                                    

Here is the table of the Lord.

We joyfully gather at the Lord’s table, open to all.

 

The Great Thanksgiving                                               Lutheran Book of Worship

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 our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and all places, give thanks and praise to you, Almighty and Merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ.  With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and hosts in heaven, we praise your holy name and join in their unending hymn.

 

Sanctus and Benedictus                                                           CP #735

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might X2,

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

 

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus Christ took bread,

and gave thanks; and broke it,

and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat, this is my body given for you. 

Do this to remember me.

 

And again, after supper, he took the cup,

gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 

Do this to remember me.

 

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

            Christ has died and Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

 

With this bread and cup

We remember your Word

Dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth

In his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

            Come Lord Jesus.

 

Holy God, We long for your Spirit,

Come among us. Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.

Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.

            Come Holy Spirit.

 

All praise and glory are yours,

Holy one of Israel,

Word of God incarnate,

Power of the Most High,

One God, now and forever

            Amen

Breaking of the Bread

Loving God,

as we break bread and share the cup,

we give thanks for the bread and the wine,

fruits of your earth and of our labour.

We commit ourselves to your service

and that our lives may proclaim the mystery of faith.

 

Sharing of the Bread and Cup

We offer you, O God, this bread and this wine.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these gifts,

That all who eat and drink at this table

And all the tables of the world

may be one body, one holy people

 

(Bread and wine to be served)

 

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God,

May our participation in these sacramental gifts transform us that we may live lives of thanksgiving and be faithful to your will.

 

Closing Hymn: Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise vs 1,4,6       CP #247

 

Blessing For Here and at Home

God of all consolation, in your unending love and mercy

you turn the darkness of death into the dawn of new life.

May we who seek to listen to the Great Shepherd’s voice

trust in your power to restore all things through your Holy Spirit,

who gives life to all creation. Amen.

 

Postlude

 

 

______________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some thoughts related to “Christ the Shepherd of your soul”

 

A table grace:

For food in a world where many are in hunger;

For faith in a world where many walk in fear;

For friends in a world where many walk alone;

We give you thanks, O Lord. Amen.”

     Huron Hunger Fund, Anglican Church of Canada   

 

A responsive table grace:

Blessed be… the hands which prepared this food.

Blessed be… the ground in which it grew.

Blessed be… the Creator who created it.
Blessed be… all the families whose love nurtures this home.

Blessed be… all the guests from down the road…

    (over the mountains, across the seas…etc) ….who grace this table

Blessed be…. the Christ whom we love and follow.

Amen

   

My daughter and I wrote this when she was about 8 years old.

                               

To Identify With Jesus

One day Saint Therese of Jesus,
in a moment of closeness to Jesus,
introduced herself by saying:
"I am Therese of Jesus,"
and Jesus came back with these words,
"I am Jesus of Therese."
                                                                                                                         Gabriel Galache in Praying Body and Soul

A Christian is:

a mind through which Christ thinks,

a heart through which Christ loves,

a voice through which Christ speaks,

and a hand through which Christ helps.

                                                                                                                                                       St. Agustine

 

 

Front Cover Image: “Other Sheep” Peterson, Katheleen, Record No. 57612 Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbuilt University Collection