St. Francis Church Biblically minded. Mission Driven.

The Right Reverend John C. Bauerschmidt--Bishop of Tennessee

The Reverend Joseph B. Howard--Vicar

Order of Worship

The vision of St. Francis Church is to be a community dedicated

to the transformation of lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
for the Kingdom of God.

Fourth Sunday of Easter

A note for visitors: We’re thankful that you could join us for worship today, and
we pray God blesses you in your time here. The service is printed in your bulletin and
insert. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to ask someone around you!

St. Francis Church wants to encourage families to worship together. The practice of
dividing families for worship is a modern invention and is often detrimental to the goal
of worshipping as a body. In order to be a community where all ages feel welcome,
we provide coloring materials for children to use during worship and seek to be a
community that understands the specific gifts and challenges that children bring. We
encourage you, should you feel comfortable doing so, to sit toward the front with your
children, as little-ones are often more attentive if they can see what is happening.

That being said, we understand that there may be times when it is best to take
advantage of child care, which we have available in the room immediately through the
Kitchen off of the entryway. All parents are provided with vibrating beepers to inform
them should anything come up requiring their attention.

In Preparation for worship: We invite you to take a few moments before the service
begins to be still, and rest from the business of your lives. Take time to breathe deeply,
and reflect upon the past week. When you’re ready, you might say the following prayer
or one like it in preparation for worship.

O Almighty God, who pours out on all who desire it the spirit of grace and
of supplication: Deliver us, when we draw near to you, from coldness of
heart and wanderings of mind, that with steadfast thoughts and kindled
affections we may worship you in spirit and in truth; though Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

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 The Word of God
Processional: Good Christians all rejoice and sing Hymnal 205

Opening Acclamation:
All Standing

Celebrant: Alleluia. Christ is risen.

People: The Lord is risen indeed. Alleluia.

Collect for Purity:

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are
hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we
may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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Canticle 20, Glory to God: Gloria in excelsis S 280

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Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

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.

First Reading: Acts 2:42-47

All sit.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

Those who were baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to
the breaking of bread and the prayers. And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders
and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had
all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to
all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in
their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having
favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were
being saved.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm of the day:

Remain seated

Psalm 23
Dominus regit me

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.
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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.

Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:19-25

A Reading from the First letter of Peter.

One is approved if, mindful of God, he endures pain while suffering unjustly. For what
credit is it, if when you do wrong and are beaten for it you take it patiently? But if when
you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this
you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that
you should follow in his steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on his lips. When
he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he
trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we
might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you
were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your
souls.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

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Sequence Hymn: There is one Lord Taizé

Holy Gospel: John 10:1-10

All stand.

Gospeller: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but
climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is
the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he
goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will
not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This
figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. So
Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who
came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door;
if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and 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.”

Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Sermon: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

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The 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 he is worshiped and glorified.
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.

The Prayers of the People

Leader: Let us pray

In our Diocese we pray for Church of the Good Shepherd, Brentwood.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for The Church of the Province of the
Indian Ocean The Most Rev’d Gerald James (Ian) Ernest Archbishop of the
Province of the Indian Ocean & Bishop of Mauritius.

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 Sacra-
ments.

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: We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
People: May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

Silence

Celebrant: Almighty God, to whom our needs are known before we ask, help us to ask
only what accords with your will; and those good things which we dare
not, or in our blindness cannot ask, grant us for the sake of your Son Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Confession

Celebrant: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of
grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14, 16

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence.

Minister and People:

Most merciful God,

we confess that we 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,
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and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Celebrant: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our
Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the
Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

All stand

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And also with you.

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements

The Holy Communion

Offertory music selected by the musician
All stand for the Doxology: Hymnal 380 (last verse)

Celebrant: All things come of thee O Lord.

People: And of thine own have we given thee.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

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People: We lift them to the Lord.

Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you,
Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus
Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has
taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to
life again he has won for us everlasting life.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the
company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

The Sanctus: S-130

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

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Please stand or kneel at this time, as best helps you to pray.

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we
had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of
us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a
perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and
said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of
me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them,
and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed
for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the
remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

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Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son,
the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may
faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and
at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ. By him, and with him, and in him, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever.
AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed by 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.

The Breaking of the Bread

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia

The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for
you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

ON RECEIVING COMMUNION: All baptized Christians are welcome to receive

communion. If you do not wish to receive, you are invited to come for a prayer of
blessing—simply cross your arms over your chest to let the servers know that you will
not be receiving. Prayers before receiving can be found on pages 337 (the Prayer of
Humble Access) and 834 in the Book of Common Prayer (the red books available under
your chairs).

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Communion music: Jesus, remember me Taizé

Post-Communion Prayer
After Communion, the Celebrant says:
Let us Pray

The minister and people together, pray:

Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us
with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing

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The Recessional: O for a thousand tongues to sing Hymnal 493

Celebrant says the dismissal

People: Thanks be to God.

A Note on Today’s Readings

The Fourth Sunday of Easter—Year A

Welcome to St. Francis Church. This Sunday is traditionally called Good Shepherd
Sunday. The gospel reading each year is a portion of Jesus’ discourse on his relationship
to us in the image of a shepherd. Shepherds in his day were so close to their flock that the
sheep were each known to the shepherd and they knew and responded to his voice. So we
each in baptism have been named by our Lord and have become part of his life.

Today’s reading from Acts describes the life of the infant church. Central to its life was the
apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of the bread, and the prayers. This small
but growing community saw itself as a family sharing everything in common.

Even their most characteristic act of worship, the Eucharist, was, like Jewish Sabbath and
Passover worship, something that took place in homes.

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The reading from 1 Peter continues this early sermon on the life of the baptized. Suffering
and trials are still part of the new Christian’s life. By bearing them patiently our lives are
conformed more closely with the dying and rising of Jesus. He is our Shepherd and will
never lose any of us.

We gather in the Eucharist as a household, a flock, not a group of individuals who simply
happen to be in the same place at the same time. We are made into this fellowship by
the living presence of Christ in our lives, giving us a unity that transcends all individual
differences.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman.
Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.

Announcements
Welcome to our guests!
We’re very happy that you chose to worship with us this morning. Please join us after the
service for snacks and conversation, to take some time to get to know us and for us to get
to know you. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Upcoming events & service opportunities:

April 13 (Today): First public worship service of Church of the Good

Samaritan, Franklin @ 3:00 pm. A group of us will be meeting at St. Francis
at 2:00 to car-pool down to the service.

April 19:
Evangelism, Episcopal Style: The Very Rev’d Kevin Martin, Dean of the Cathedral of
St. Matthew in the Diocese of Dallas will present on the topic of evangelism in a series of
workshops at St. George’s Church, Nashville from 8:30 until 2:00. Fr. Jody would like to
encourage as many people as possible from St. Francis to attend. We are a Church plant,
and this is what we’re all about! See our brochure rack for a registration sheet, or just ask
Fr. Jody for more info.

April 22:
N.T. Wright: The Right Rev’s N.T. (Tom) Wright, the Bishop of Durham in the Church
of England, and one of the world’s foremost scholars of the New Testament and defenders
of the physical resurection of Christ, will speak on his new book: Surprised by Hope:
Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church at West End United
Methodist from 7:30-9:30. Visit http://www.westendumc.org for more info.

Volunteer opportunities at St. Francis: If you are interested in any of the following
ministries, please let Fr. Jody know after the service or via email: frjody@stfrancis-tn.net .

Reader/Lector (Read the lessons and lead prayers), Newsletter & website team (basically contributing
to both of these, helping to organize them, not doing it all. The more the merrier), Sexton team (Several
members already volunteer their time and energy to help keep St. Francis’ clean and tidy.)
If you have an announcement that you would like in the bulletin, please email it to Fr. Jody by Wednesday the week before so it can be
included.

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 Bishop of Tennessee
The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt

Vicar
The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

Mission Council
Ralph Eddy
Linda Palmer
Thom Chittom
Shelley Sircy
clerk: Nanci Frey

Accompanist
Thomas Duffy

Schedule of Ministry:
Preacher & Celebrant: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard Reader: David Gaines
Acolyte/Crucifer: none Prayer Station: Tonya Edwards
Oblationers: The Chittom Family Chalicist: Shelley Sircy
To check the schedule online, visit:
http://stfrancis-tn.net and go to congregational resources-->schedule

To get in touch with Fr. Jody for any reason, you can reach him at the Church, 851-0790, his cell, 440-6492 or via
email at frjody@stfrancis-tn.net.
_______________________________________________________________________________

St. Francis Church

Biblically minded. Mission driven.
812 Meadowlark Ln
PO Box 697
Goodlettsville, TN 37072
Phone: 851-0790
http://stfrancis-tn.net

Cover Image: Christ the Good Shepherd, Ravenna Italy

CCLI License No. 2334637
Oneliscence.net No. A-714717

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