THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
April 28, 2024
THE FATHER IS MY HOPE; THE SON IS MY REFUGE;
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY PROTECTION.
ALL HOLY TRINITY, GLORY TO THEE!
LIVE AUDIO STREAMING during today’s service is available on the Order of Service page. Recorded audio will be added following worship.
GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY: PREVIEW OF THE READINGS.
In our Gospel lesson today Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the person and work of the Holy Spirit, whose ‘ coming’ we will celebrate at Pentecost. It is the Holy Spirit working in and beyond the Church who takes the truth of Jesus Christ and applies it to our hearts, and overturns the false judgements of the world. In the face of the moral, spiritual, and theological confusion of our times, what is a Christian to do? Our Epistle lesson directs in the paths of thanksgiving for all God’s good gifts to us, being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, and with meekness receive the implanted Word, Jesus Christ, who is able to save our souls.
THE LESSON: James 1:17-21
Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
THE HOLY GOSPEL: John 16:5-15
But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned. ‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
PARISH LIFE NOTES and REMINDERS
VESTRY MEETING will take place today after the service in the Lower Hall.
BRING A RAKE AND JOIN THE GROUNDS CLEAN UP next Saturday, May 4 from 9.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.
BRING A SALAD TO SHARE for the lunch and Vestry update following the “Rogation Sunday”Family Service next Sunday, May 5. “May God the Son, who fed the five thousand and turned water into wine, feed us with his life and transform us in His love.”
MEN’S BBQ will take place this Friday, May 3 at 6:00 p.m. at 238 Leopold Crescent. We will be making plans for S.M.A.R.T. (St. Mary’s Anglican Roto-tilling) outreach to the community gardens.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: ST. Mary’s is hosting a service of choral Holy Communion for Feast of the Ascension, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. followed by wine and cheese reception in our newly refurbished lower hall. All Regina Anglicans are being invited. Guest Preacher: Archdeacon Catherine Harper.
WEEKDAY SERVICES of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer are cancelled this week in lieu of the Ethiopian Easter celebrations happening in the nave and sanctuary.