“As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

The readings, responses and hymn lyrics are all found in this bulletin.Please join us in singing & praying from your home!

Welcome The Rev. Candace Sandfort, Rector

The Word of God

Presider Alleluia! Christ is risen!People The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Collect for Purity

Please join us at homeGloria in excelsis, S 280 St. John’s Virtual ChoirGlo-ry to God in the high - est, and peace to God’s peo-ple on earth. Lord God, heaven-ly King, al – migh-ty God and Fa - ther,we wor-ship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glo - ry.Lord Je-sus Christ, on-ly Son of the Fa - ther, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take a-way the sin of the world; have mer - cy on us; you are seat-ed at the right hand of the Fa-ther; re-ceive our prayer. For you alone are the Ho - ly One, you a-lone are the Lord,you a-lone are the Most High, Je - sus Christ, with the Ho - ly Spi - rit, in the glo - ry of God the Father. A – men.

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St. John’s Episcopal ChurchThe Liturgy of the WordSeventh Sunday of Eastertide 16 May 2021 10

a.m.

The Collect of the DayThe Presider says to the people

The Lord be with you.People And also with you. Presider Let us pray.O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles Alison StockleyIn those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, "Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus-- for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us-- one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection." So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles. (1:15-17, 21-26)

Lector The Word of the Lord.People Thanks be to God.

All sayPsalm 1 Beatus vir qui non abiit Alison Stockley

Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, *nor lingered in the way of sinners,nor sat in the seats of the scornful!

Their delight is in the law of the LORD, *and they meditate on his law day and night.

They are like trees planted by streams of water,bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither; *everything they do shall prosper.

It is not so with the wicked; *they are like chaff which the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, *nor the sinner in the council of the righteous.

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For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, *but the way of the wicked is doomed.

A Reading from the First Letter of John Deirdre Comey

If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son. Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (5:9-13)

Lector The Word of the Lord.People Thanks be to God.

Please join in singing at home in celebration of next Sunday’s return to in-person worship!Sequence Anthem: “Here Comes the Sun” John Sandfort

The Gospel: John 17:6-19People’s response before the Gospel Glory to you, Lord Christ.Jesus prayed for his disciples, “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

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People’s response after the Gospel Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Sermon The Reverend Candace Sandfort

Please join us at homeThe Nicene Creed

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son s/he is worshiped and glorified.S/He has spoken through the Prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen

Please join us at home

The Prayers of the People Deirdre ComeyLeader Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;People That we all may be one.Leader Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you;People That your Name may be glorified by all people.

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Leader We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons;People That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.Leader We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world;People That there may be justice and peace on the earth.Leader Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;People That our works may find favor in your sight.Leader Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;People That they may be delivered from their distress.Leader Give to the departed eternal rest.People Let light perpetual shine upon them.Leader In your mercy, LordPeople Save us and help us. Leader Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

People may add their own petitions silently or aloud from home.

Please remember to unmute yourself, and then mute yourself again when finished.

The Presider adds a concluding CollectO God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Presider then saysAnd now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

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.

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The Blessing & DismissalPresider Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia, alleluia!People Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia!

Today’s flowers are given to the glory of God by Felice Rubensteinin celebration of her son Dylan’s 26th birthday, and the joy and love he brings to

her life. And for all the other children in the community of St. John’s.

First In-person Service Next Sunday for Pentecost!Next Sunday, May 23rd, we will have our first in-person service since the pandemic began—and it will be in the Church! Our “Going Forward Committee” is working hard to assure that we meet all of the state and diocesan safety guidelines for a Covid-19 gathering. That being said, only you can decide if it feels safe enough for you to attend. If so, you will need to reserve a seat for the 10:00 service which is limited to 50 people. To make a reservation email Bev, Chair of our “Going Forward Committee” at bev9497@verizon.net, and she will email you back with a confirmation. If you decide to come at the last minute there may still be room for you so long as we do not exceed 50 reservations.We will of course continue broadcasting at 10:00 Sunday on Zoom and Facebook, but even watching on-line at home will be enhanced by seeing your fellow parishioners in the Church. See you in Church! And don’t forget to wear red for Pentecost!

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Outreach Committee: MacheoMacheo is a self-funded children’s home in Kenya, that was established for orphaned children in 2005. It has grown considerably and now supports vulnerable children and their families in the urban slums and rural communities around Thika. Macheo staff now provide transitional residential care for 54 abandoned and neglected children; they feed the malnourished; cook and distribute 10.000 school meals each day (this free food motivates children to attend school); offer health interventions and family counselling; and they empower poor families through small grants that permit businesses to be initiated.Our church Outreach Committee supports MacheoUS and we have sponsored 5 micro- businesses that enables parents to support their families. Macheo identified Damaris (25) with her two children, Dennis (10) and Maureen (5) as a worthwhile candidate for economic strengthening. With the support of St John’s, a goat was purchased for $50. Subsequently the goat birthed two kids, thereby not only providing milk, but when sold, will enhance their business and create a sustainable source of income. Simple projects build communities, transform families and nourish children. Consider joining us in this critical endeavor by sponsoring more families.You can also make a monetary donation to support this ministry (or any of

our Outreach ministries) on our website’s online VANCO giving page:

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about Macheo visit MacheoUS.org, contact Anne Thompson at thompanne@gmail.com

Stephen Ministry Corner

Could you use a Stephen Minister?Most hurting people do not seek help themselves, so we need your help identifying people who are in difficult places in their lives—or perhaps that’s you? With over 100 hours of training, Stephen Ministers offer one-on-one, Christ-centered, emotional and spiritual support one hour weekly for however long you like—perhaps a month, perhaps a year. The care-receiver you refer could be someone from St. John’s, a coworker, family, friend, or neighbor. It doesn’t matter, Stephen

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Ministers are ready to help. So if you, or someone you know is hurting because they‘ve lost a job, a loved one, their health, their joy; or are struggling from isolation due to the pandemic, or divorce, aging, moving, empty nest, or other difficult life transitions please contact Rev. Candace or Ellen Lentz to request care for you or someone you know, or just to learn more about Stephen Ministry: EllenLinLentz@gmail.com or 650-238-8760. All care is strictly confidential.Want to hear what it’s like to receive care? Listen to Care Receivers Tell Their StoriesHere is some of what you’ll hear from care-receivers:

“My Stephen Minister did not tell me what to do. She just showed up and was there to

walk side-by-side with me. “ “My Stephen Minister helped me to reconnect with God in my crisis.” “My Stephen Minister was Jesus to me. She refused to give up on me.” “I can totally trust my Stephen Minister. It is easy for me to talk to him. “

Please join us in our weekly “Prayer & Share Zoom” every Thursday @ 7p.m. .

All Are Welcome! Includes Compline at 8:00Guest host:Thursday, 5/20: Rev. Joyce McGirrThursday, 5/27: David Kelley

Please use the following link, (same link every week) for this meeting:Join Zoom Meeting (Same link, no password needed)https://us02web.zoom.us/j/823943733Meeting ID: 823 943 733

The following flower donation dates are available in July to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or to remember a loved one: July 11th

July 18th

July 25th

Use the QR code above under “Outreach” OR mail your $75 donation to St. John's OR leave it in the mail slot outside the Parish Hall OR pay via our website—just click the “Online Payment” tab on our

homepage

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Mark your calendars for this St. John's exclusive event:Wed, May 26, 2021

7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. FREE Legal advice on Estate Planning, Wills & Advanced Directives

etc.

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