Monday, February 27, 2017

An Ordo for the First Sunday in Lent 2017

The First Sunday of Lent
5 March 2017

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

The Lenten Gathering Rite

Blessed are you, Lord God, our maker and redeemer:
this is your world and we are your people;
come among us and save us.

The Presider leads the Community in the Litany.

When we wilfully 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.

May almighty God have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver us from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Heavenly Father,
your Son battled with the powers of darkness
and grew closer to you in the desert:
help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer,
so that we may witness to your saving love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from Genesis (2.15-17; 3.1-7)

            2.15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.  16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”

            3.1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?”  2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’”  4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.  7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 32 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One.

Refrain (sung twice):  Holy One, show us the way we must go.

1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
            and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
            and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
            because of my groaning all day long.
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
            my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
            and did not conceal my guilt.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
            Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.

Refrain:  Holy One, show us the way we must go.

6 Therefore all the faithful *
            will make their prayers to you in time of trouble;
when the great waters overflow, *
            they shall not reach them.
7 You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *
            you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *
            I will guide you with my eye.

Refrain:  Holy One, show us the way we must go.

9 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *
            who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
            or else they will not stay near you.”
10 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
            but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
            shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

Refrain:  Holy One, show us the way we must go.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (5.12-19).

            5.12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned — 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law.  14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.

            15 But the free gift is not like the trespass.  For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.  16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.  17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

           18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all.  19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Prepare the Way of the Lord’  Common Praise #107 (with repeat)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (4.1-11).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            4.1 [Jesus] was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.  3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

            4 But [Jesus] answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

            5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

            7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

            8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

            10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

            11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn after the Gospel

‘Prepare the Way of the Lord’  Common Praise #107 (with repeat)

The Homily

The Affirmation of Faith

As a people created by water and the Holy Spirit,
let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.  Amen. [ii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘O Glorious Day’  Common Praise #253 (sung to #497)

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

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,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [iii]

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. 
Hosanna in the highest. [iv]

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,
now and for ever.  Amen. [v]

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

The Hymn after Communion

‘Amazing Grace’  Common Worship #352

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

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. [vi]

The Presider then says the following Prayer over the People.

Grant, Almighty God,
that your people may recognize their weakness
and put their whole trust in your strength,
so that they may rejoice for ever
in the protection of your loving providence;
through Christ our Lord.  Amen. [vii]

Closing Hymn

‘O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing’  Common Praise #306 (sung to #230)

Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.




[i] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ 2016, 12.

[ii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 105.

[iii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ 2016, 158.

[iv] Common Praise #726.

[v] Voices United #959.

[vi] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion’ 2016, 161.

[vii] The Book of Occasional Services (2003), 24.