The Propers for The Fifth Sunday of Easter
Matins / Divine Service Setting One – Page 219 / 151
Opening Hymn: 465 Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds
Introit
Psalm 145:1-2, 8, 10, 21; antiphon John 16:16
A little while, and you will see me no longer;
and again a little while, and you will see me.
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
A little while, and you will see me no longer;
and again a little while, and you will see me.
Collect
O God, You make the minds of Your faithful people to be of one will. Grant that we may love what
You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world
our hearts may be fixed wither true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
First Reading – Acts 8:26-40
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes
down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. [27] And he rose and went. And there was
an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge
of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship [28] and was returning, seated in his
chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. [29] And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and
join this chariot.” [30] So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked,
“Do you understand what you are reading?” [31] And he said, “How can I, unless someone
guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] Now the passage of the
Scripture that he was reading was this:
“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
[33] In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”
[34] And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about
himself or about someone else?” [35] Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this
Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. [36] And as they were going along the road
they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from
being baptized?” [37]
[38] And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and
the eunuch, and he baptized him. [39] And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the
Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. [40]
But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the
towns until he came to Caesarea.
Gradual
Adapted from Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6
Christ has risen from the dead.
(God the Father) has crowned Him with glory and honour,
He has given Him dominion over the works of His hands;
He has put all things under his feet
Epistle Reading – 1 John 4:1-11
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for
many false prophets have gone out into the world. [2] By this you know the Spirit of God: every
spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, [3] and every spirit that
does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was
coming and now is in the world already. [4] Little children, you are from God and have overcome
them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. [5] They are from the world;
therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. [6] We are from God. Whoever
knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit
of truth and the spirit of error.
[7] Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of
God and knows God. [8] Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. [9]
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world,
so that we might live through him. [10] In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he
loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. [11] Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another.
The Holy Gospel – John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch of mine that does not
bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more
fruit. [3] Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in me,
and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you,
unless you abide in me. [5] I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in
him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not
abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown
into the fire, and burned. [7] If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you
wish, and it will be done for you. [8] By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so
prove to be my disciples.
Hymn of the Day: 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast
Distribution Hymns: 611 Chief of Sinner Though I Be
620 Jesus Comes Today With Healing
Hymn: 480 He’s Risen, He’s Risen