Holy Trinity
Amblecote
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Year A
Kyrie Confession
Like Mary at the empty tomb,
we fail to grasp the wonder of your presence.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Like the disciples behind locked doors,
we are afraid to be seen as your followers.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Like Thomas in the upper room,
we are slow to believe.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Collect
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ
is the resurrection and the life:
raise us, who trust in him,
from the death of sin
to the life of righteousness,
that we may seek those things which are above,
where he reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Additional Collect
Risen Christ,
faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:
teach us to hear your voice
and to follow your command,
that all your people
may be gathered into one flock,
to the glory of God the Father.
First Reading
Acts 2.42-
Many were baptized and were added to the community. 42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. 44All who believed were together and had all things in common; 45they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, 47praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Psalm 23
R The Lord is my shepherd,
there is nothing I shall want.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; therefore can I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.
3 He shall refresh my soul
and guide me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. R
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; *
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. R
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 shall be full. R
6 Surely goodness and loving mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. R
Second Reading
1 Peter 2.19-
Brothers and sisters: 19It is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. 20If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, where is the credit in that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.
22‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’
23When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia. I am the first and the last, says the Lord, and the living one;
I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. Alleluia.
Gospel
John 10.1-
Jesus said to the Pharisees: 1‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ 6Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7So again Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.’
Proper Preface
But chiefly are we bound to praise you
because you raised him gloriously from the dead.
For he is the true paschal lamb who was offered 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 restored to us everlasting life.
Merciful Father,
you gave your Son Jesus Christ to be the good shepherd,
and in his love for us to lay down his life and rise again:
keep us always under his protection,
and give us grace to follow in his steps;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
through the blood of the eternal covenant,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well-
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgement (where not already indicated above):
Invitation to Confession (Easter Day until Eve of Ascension) © 1988 Continuum (Mowbray) (Adapted)
Some material included in this service is copyright: © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ, USA
Post Communion (4th of Easter) © 1995 General Synod of the Church of Ireland
Some material included in this service is copyright: © The Archbishops' Council 2000
Kyrie Confession (Easter and Resurrection) © The Archbishops' Council 2002
April 26th, 2026
