Episode 35

May 21, 2023 The Seventh Sunday of Easter

Entrance Hymn #450 All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name

Sequence Hymn #483 The Head That Once Was Crowned With Thorns

Offertory Anthem Behold the Lamb of God (Benham)

Communion Anthem O Salutaris Hostia (Beethoven)

Post-Communion Hymn #494 O Salutaris Hostia (Beethoven)

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.

FIRST READING Acts 1:6-14

When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same

way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

PSALM Psalm 68: 1-10, 33-36 Exsurgat Deus 1 Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered; *

let those who hate him flee before him.

2 Let them vanish like smoke when the wind drives it away; *

as the wax melts at the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3 But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; * let them also be merry and joyful.

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his Name;

exalt him who rides upon the heavens; * YAHWEH is his Name, rejoice before him!

5 Father of orphans, defender of widows, * God in his holy habitation!

6 God gives the solitary a home and brings forth prisoners into freedom; * but the rebels shall live in dry places.

7 O God, when you went forth before your people, * when you marched through the wilderness,

8 The earth shook, and the skies poured down rain, at the presence of God, the God of Sinai, *

at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9 You sent a gracious rain, O God, upon your inheritance; * you refreshed the land when it was weary.

10 Your people found their home in it; *

in your goodness, O God, you have made provision for the poor.

33 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; * sing praises to the Lord.

34 He rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; * he sends forth his voice, his mighty voice.

35 Ascribe power to God; *

his majesty is over Israel; his strength is in the skies.

36 How wonderful is God in his holy places! *

the God of Israel giving strength and power to his people! Blessed be God!

SECOND READING 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL John 17:1-11

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

“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.”

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In this week’s parish cycle of prayer, we pray for:

Paul & Donna Brown, Jerry & Peggy Brunetto, and Steve & Barbara Bucci.

The flowers on the altar are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of Betty Vincent by Debbie, David, & Andrew Crocker.

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About the Podcast

Show artwork for St. Peter's by-the-Sea
St. Peter's by-the-Sea
An Episcopal Church located in Narragansett, Rhode Island

About your host

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Craig Swan

The Reverend Craig Swan is a life-long Episcopalian. Having experienced a call to ordained ministry during his freshman year in college, Fr. Swan pursued a multi-field major in Sociology and Psychology with a concentration in Religion during his years at St. Lawrence University.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Fr. Swan matriculated to Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University where he received his Master’s in Divinity. After Divinity School, Fr. Swan pursued his interest in youth ministry by working with at-risk youth, first in New Haven, CT through the Dixwell Community House and then with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families.

It was when he grew frustrated with the fact that he could not share his greatest joy - the love of God for each of us - with the children he was called to care for, that he began the formal journey to ordination. Ordained in 2000, Fr. Swan continued his devotion to youth ministry and children’s protection in the Diocese of Massachusetts where he served as the Assistant Rector and Director of Youth Ministries at the Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill and as a Massachusetts Diocesan Safe Church Trainer.

In 2003, Fr. Swan was called to be the Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, in Camillus, New York. For 12 years he faithfully served this parish, leading them out of $200,000 in debt while he and his wife, Maureen, guided their two daughters – Chelsea and Kayleigh - through adolescence and cheered for them throughout their 8 years as members of the West Genesee Wild Cat Marching Band. While working in Camillus, Fr. Swan developed skills in mutual ministry review, parish consultation, creative worship and spiritual direction.

Called to St. Peter’s by-the-Sea in 2015, Fr. Swan has continued his work in Safe Church and now utilizes his protective services background as a Title IV (clergy misconduct) Intake Officer for the Diocese of Rhode Island. Within the parish he enjoys working collaboratively with musicians and lay leaders towards the development of creative and meaningful worship. He also has found a new passion: teaching the faith through courses on the sacraments and Bible Study.

When Fr. Swan is not at St. Peter’s, he can be found most mornings either working out or swimming at the South County YMCA. A native Southern New Englander, Fr. Swan roots for all teams New England: the Patriots, the Red Sox, and UConn Basketball.