The Fourth Sunday in Lent
15 March 2015
The Gathering of the Community
Gathering Music
Greeting and Litany
The Presider
greets the Community from the door to the Nave.
Blessed are you,
Lord God,
our maker and
redeemer:
this is your world and we are your people;
come among us and save us.
During the
procession to the Sanctuary, the biddings of the Litany are intoned and the
response is sung using Common Worship #707.
When we willfully
misuse your gifts of creation:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
When we see the
ill-treatment of others
and do not go to
their aid:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
When we condone
evil and dishonesty
and fail to strive
for justice:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
When we hear the
good news of Christ
but fail to share
it with others:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
When we do not
love you with all our hearts
nor our neighbours
as ourselves:
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy immortal one,
have mercy upon us.
The Presider then
says the following,
May the God of
love and power
forgive us and
free us from our sins,
heal and
strengthen us by the Spirit,
and raise us to
new life in Christ our Lord. Amen. [i]
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Steadfast God,
you reach out to us in mercy.
When we rebel against your holy call
and walk in disobedience,
soften our hearts with the warmth of your love,
so that we may know your Son
alive within us, redeeming us,
The Proclamation of the Word
The First Reading
A reading from Numbers
(21.4-9)
4 From Mount Hor they set
out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people
became impatient on the way. 5
The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out
of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For
there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit
the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and
said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord
and against you; pray to the Lord to
take away the serpents from us.” So
Moses prayed for the people. 8
And the Lord said to Moses, “Make
a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall
look at it and live.” 9 So
Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent
bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Hear what the
Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm
Psalm 107.1-3,
17-22 (NRSV) with refrain from Songs for the Holy One
Refrain (sung
twice): Let us praise the Holy One for faithful love.
1 Give thanks to the Lord
who is good, *
and whose mercy endures for ever.
2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that God redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3 The Lord gathered them out
of the lands; *
from
the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
Refrain: Let us
praise the Holy One for faithful love.
17 Some were fools and took
to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their
sins.
18 They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death’s door.
19 Then they cried to you, O
Lord, in their trouble, *
and you delivered them from their
distress.
20 You sent forth your word and healed them *
and saved them from the grave.
Refrain: Let us
praise the Holy One for faithful love.
21 Let them give thanks to
you, O Lord, for your mercy *
and the wonders you do for your
children.
22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of your acts with shouts of joy.
Refrain: Let us
praise the Holy One for faithful love.
The Second Reading
A reading from the
Letter to the Ephesians (2.1-10).
1 You were dead through
the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the
course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit
that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them
in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we
were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy,
out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were
dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you
have been saved — 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to
come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us
in Christ Jesus. 8 For by
grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is
the gift of God — 9 not the result of works, so that no one may
boast. 10 For we are what he
has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand to be our way of life.
Hear what the
Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.
The Hymn before the Gospel
‘Tell Out, My
Soul’ Common Praise #362
The Gospel
The Lord be with
you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of
our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (3.14-21).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
[Jesus said,] “14
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of
Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal
life.
16 “For God so loved the
world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not
perish but may have eternal life.
17 “Indeed, God did not
send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world
might be saved through him. 18
Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are
condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son
of God. 19 And this is the
judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness
rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the
light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true
come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been
done in God.”
The Gospel of
Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sermon
The Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our
faith in God.
We believe in God the Creator of all,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Word of redemption,
who lives in our hearts through faith
and fills us with love and compassion.
We believe in God the Spirit of wisdom,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God:
The Prayers of the Community
A Litany for the Mission of the Church
Let us pray to the
Source of all life, saying,
“Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.”
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Inspire our minds
and hearts with a vision of your reign of peace and justice.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Touch our eyes,
that we may see your glory in all creation.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Touch our ears,
that we may hear from every mouth
the hunger for
hope and stories of refreshment.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Touch our lips,
that we may tell in every tongue and dialect your wonderful works.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Touch our hearts,
that we may discern the mission to which you call us.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Touch our feet,
that we may take your good news into our neighbourhoods,
our communities
and all parts of the world.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Touch our hands,
that we may each accomplish the work you give us to do.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Strengthen and
encourage all who minister in your name
in lonely,
dangerous and unresponsive places.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Open the hearts
and hands of many to support the ministry of the church
in this and every
place.
Source of all
life, empower us with your Spirit.
Christ Jesus, you
go before and behind us,
you are our light
and our shield;
guide our path, be
our clear sight,
lift us up in your
gospel joy,
and bless the work
we do in your name and honour,
for you are our
beloved,
and our life made
new. Amen.
Commissioning of the Trustees, Wardens and
Church Committee
At the end of the
Intercessions, thanksgivings and petitions, the newly-elected Trustees, Wardens
and Members of the Church Committee come forward. The Presider says the following.
Sisters and
brothers in Christ, we are all baptized by the one Spirit into one body
and given gifts
for a variety of ministries for the common good.
Let us now
recognize and affirm the ministry to which these persons have been called.
They shall work
among us as Trustees, Wardens and Members of the Church Committee to share in
the leadership of this Parish and to nurture the life, order and vitality of
our community so that God’s love may grow here and in all the places where we
live, work and serve.
The Presider
addresses the newly-elected as follows.
Will you, as long
as you are engaged in the office to which you have been elected,
perform it with
care, to the honour of God and the benefit of the church?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you be
regular and constant in worship?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you continue
in the breaking of the bread and the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you study those
things that may make you a more able minister of Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
May the Lord
enable you and uphold you in this ministry.
May we find joy together in the service of Christ.
The Presider
addresses the whole congregation.
Will you uphold
these persons in the ministries to which they have been elected?
We will, with God’s help.
Let us pray.
O eternal God,
the foundation of all wisdom
and the source of all courage:
enlighten with your grace
the Trustees, Wardens and Church Committee of this
Parish,
and so rule their minds and guide their counsels
that in all things they may seek your glory
and promote the mission of your Church.
We ask this in the name of Christ
and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Exchange of the Peace
The peace of
Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
The Holy Communion
The Offertory Hymn
‘There’s A
Wideness in God’s Mercy’ Common Praise #606
The Prayer over the Gifts
God our provider,
you have not fed us with bread alone,
but with words of grace and life.
Bless us and these your gifts,
which we receive from your bounty,
The Thanksgiving at the Table
The Lord be with
you.
And also with you.
Lift up your
hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks
to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is right to
give you thanks and praise, O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe, you are
worthy of glory and praise. Glory to you for ever and ever.
At your command
all things came to be: the vast expanse
of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this
fragile earth, our island home; by your will they were created and have their
being. Glory to you for ever and ever.
From the primal
elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason,
and skill; you made us the stewards of creation. Glory
to you for ever and ever.
But we turn
against you, and betray your trust; and we turn against one another. Again and again you call us to return. Through the prophets and sages you reveal
your righteous law. In the fullness of
time you sent your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour. He was wounded for our transgressions, and
bruised for our iniquities. By his death
he opened to us the way of freedom and peace.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Therefore we
praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and
martyrs, and with those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to
proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn.
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.
Blessed are you,
Lord our God, for sending us Jesus, the Christ, who on the night he was handed
over to suffering and death, took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread,
gave it to his friends, and said, “Take this, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
In the same way,
after supper, he took the cup of wine; he gave you thanks, and said, “Drink
this, all of you: this is my blood of
the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness
of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this
for the remembrance of me.” Glory to you for ever and ever.
Gracious God, we
recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ, we proclaim his resurrection and
ascension, and we look with expectation for his coming as Lord of all the
nations. We who have been redeemed by
him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring you these
gifts. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and
upon this offering of your Church, so that we who eat and drink at this holy table
may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Pour out your
Spirit upon the whole earth and make it your new creation. Gather your Church together from the ends of
the earth into your kingdom, where peace and justice are revealed, so that we,
with all your people, of every language, race, and nation, may share the
banquet you have promised; through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all
honour and glory are yours, creator of all.
Glory to you for ever and
ever. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught
us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
The Breaking of the Bread
We break this
bread,
communion in Christ’s body once broken.
Let your Church be
the wheat
which bears its
fruit in dying.
If we have died with him,
we shall live with him;
if we hold firm,
we shall reign with him.
The gifts of God
for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
The Communion of the Community
Communion Hymn
‘We Hail Thee,
Now, O Jesus’ Common Praise #80
The Sending Forth of the Community
The Prayer after Communion
Compassionate God,
you have fed us with the bread of heaven.
Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage;
may our fasting be hunger for justice;
our alms, a making of peace;
and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts;
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen. [vii]
Closing Hymn
‘I Bind unto
Myself Today’ Common Praise #436 vv. 1, 4, 5, 6
The Dismissal
The Deacon sends
the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.
Sending Music
[i] The
Litany was crafted from the Confession for ‘City, World and Society’ and the
Absolution from Common Worship (2000), 127, 135 alt. The Trisagion is Common Praise #707.
[ii] The
Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:
Ash Wednesday to Palm/Passion Sunday 2015’, 3.
[iii] Common
Worship (2000), 148 alt.
[iv]
The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:
Ash Wednesday to Palm/Passion Sunday 2015’, 4.
[v]
‘Sanctus’ by George Black in The Book of Alternative Services Altar Book.
[vi] The
Book of Alternative Services (1985), 918.
[vii]
The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:
Ash Wednesday to Palm/Passion Sunday 2015’, 4.
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