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.

Third 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.

2
 The Word of God
Processional: We Know that Christ is raised & dies no more Hymnal 296

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.

3
Canticle 20, Glory to God: Gloria in excelsis S 280

4
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread:
Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives
and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: Acts 2:14a,36-41

All sit.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea
and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. Let
all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and
Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the
apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized
every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and
for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many
other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from
this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were
added that day about three thousand souls.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

The Psalm of the day:

Remain seated

Psalm 116:1-3,10-17
Dilexi, quoniam

1 I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of

my supplication, *
because he has inclined his ear to me whenever
5
 I called upon him.

2 The cords of death entangled me;
the grip of the grave took hold of me; *
I came to grief and sorrow.

3 Then I called upon the Name of the Lord: *
“O Lord, I pray you, save my life.”

10 How shall I repay the Lord*
for all the good things he has done for me?

11 I will lift up the cup of salvation *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.

12 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord*
in the presence of all his people.

13 Precious in the sight of the Lord*
is the death of his servants.

14 O Lord, I am your servant; *
I am your servant and the child of your handmaid;
you have freed me from my bonds.

15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and call upon the Name of the Lord.

16 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord*
in the presence of all his people,

17 In the courts of the Lord’s house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Hallelujah!

Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:17-23

A Reading from the First letter of Peter.

If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct
yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed
from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as
silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or
spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the
last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from
the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love
one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable
seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.

Reader: The Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.
6
Sequence Hymn: There is one Lord Taize

Holy Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

All stand.

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

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from
Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with
them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this
conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still,
looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor
to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And
he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a
man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how
our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified
him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is
now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company
amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his
body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that
he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the
women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow
of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ
should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the
Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going
farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the
day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he
took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened,
and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did
7
not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the
Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found
the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen
indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and
how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Gospeller: The Gospel of the Lord

People: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Sermon: The Rev. Joseph B. Howard

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 St. George’s Church, Nashville.

8
 In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray for Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (The
Church of Hong Kong), the Diocese of Hong Kong Island in the Province of
Hong Kong, The Most Rev’d Paul Kwong, Bishop.

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.

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:

9
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,
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.
10
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.

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.
11
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.

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).

12
Communion music: Jesus, remember me Taize

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

13
The Recessional: Now thank we all our God Hymnal 397

Celebrant says the dismissal

People: Thanks be to God.

A Note on Today’s Readings

The Third Sunday of Easter—Year A

Welcome to St. Francis Church. Each year on this Sunday, the Gospel reading reflects on one aspect of the Lord’s
resurrection. Today’s reading is an account of the risen Christ sharing food with his friends. Today we hear about his
breaking bread with two disciples who encountered him on their way to Emmaus. Jesus expounded the scriptures to
them and at table took bread, said the blessing and broke the bread. It was at that moment that they recognized him.

14
The first reading continues Peter’s sermon on the first Pentecost day, which we began reading last Sunday. The
result of the sermon was a large crowd turning to Jesus as Messiah and being baptized. The church’s way of living
and sharing its life is then briefly described.

Today’s reading from 1 Peter continues the letter’s theme: baptism and its results in our lives. We are all new people
in the risen Lord and now live in him.

Each Sunday is the resurrection day. For that reason, the church has always made the Eucharist the center of its
Sunday worship. As the disciples on the road to Emmaus discovered, Jesus really did rise, and meets us here in the
sharing of God’s Word and in the breaking of the bread. As he did on that evening, we take bread, say the blessing,
break the bread, and meet the risen Christ.

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: First public worship service of Church of the Good Samaritan, Franklin @ 3:00 pm

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.

15
 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: Roy Edwards
Acolyte/Crucifer: none Prayer Station: Opal Guntel
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: Supper at Emmaus, by Diego Velazquez (1599-1660)

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

16