Silence, Unclean Frenzied Spirit! (RCL Epiphany 4B, 1 February 2015)

RCL Epiphany 4B
1 February 2015

Saint Faith's Anglican Church
Vancouver BC

Focus text:  Mark 1.21-28

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday the 1st.

Our daughter, Anna, spent this past fall semester at the University of Amsterdam studying international criminal and constitutional law.  While she was in the Netherlands, she participated in a field trip to the International Court of Justice for the Former Yugoslavia.  There she spent the day attending various meetings and sessions, including a session of the trial of Radovan Karadzic, a Serbian leader accused of ordering various atrocities during the Bosnian conflict.

She sent me a text message that day.  'I've just spent the day staring at evil,' she wrote.  When she and I spoke later, she told me that Karadzic had picked her out in the courtroom and stared at her for a very long time.  'How did you react?', I asked.  'I stared back,' she said.  I cannot help but think that my daughter, soon to be articling with the Crown Attorney's office in Toronto, has already begun to develop her personality as a prosecuting attorney.

Have you ever been face to face with evil?  I know that I have.  What I remember most is that the face of evil I met was banal, unemotional and quite intelligent.  As a student of German language and literature, the study of the Holocaust was an expected part of our studies.  We studied the war crime trials held in Nuremburg and the faces of the accused remain in my memory.  Men who would kiss their wives and children good-bye in the morning, spend their day at the office arranging for the transportation of thousands of people to death camps and then return home to have a quiet family dinner, to read the children a story before bedtime and then to listen to music or to read a book before going to bed themselves.  Then, the next day, they did this routine all over again.

Even the evil that we see happening in the Middle East today wears the same face.  Men in masks calmly kill their captives or drive women and children out of their homes to face hunger, sickness and possible death.  Whether in the Third Reich or Iraq or Syria, evil is dispassionate and methodical.  And evil is personal and intentional; there are human beings who have chosen to thwart God's purposes because what God wants for us:  genuine freedom, human dignity and equality, generosity and compassion, the stewardship of creation, threaten those who cannot see outside the box of racism, nationalism, religious extremism, any other -ism which seeks to destroy the creatures of God.

On the other hand, the victims of evil rarely have such banal faces.  Tears fall from their eyes and their mouths are opened in silent screams of despair.  Some leave silence behind, shouting and screaming at their oppressors and at those who stand helpless in witness to their tragedy.  Such scenes fill the screens of our televisions and computers, causing many to wonder where is God and even if there is a God.

In today's gospel Jesus comes face to face with a victim of evil.  Notice where Jesus is.  He's not in a war zone or a prison or some other place where it is easy for us to imagine evil dwelling; Jesus is in the synagogue, a place of study and prayer.  Nor is Jesus alone; he is surrounded by witnesses who are waiting to see what he will do.

What they witness is no dramatic ritual on Jesus' part.  He simply silences the evil spirit who has gained control of the man.  Whether the words Jesus speaks are accompanied  with a gesture or merely by staring the spirit down, we are not told.  What we do know is that the spirit flees, not without some drama, but departs nevertheless.

Those who witness the event become aware that God's sovereignty has just been revealed to them.  They speak of this by describing Jesus as one who teaches with authority.  He has no need of fancy gestures, no need to shout, no need to demand attention.  Jesus meets the evil head on with compassion for the victim and trust in God's ultimate purposes for us and for all of creation.

Evil cannot outlast compassion.  Evil cannot endure the willingness of men and women to go quietly and confidently about the task of sharing with God in the work of restoring right relationships between people and aiding all of God's beloved become more fully alive.  Evil will claim casualties, whether the actual deaths of those who like Jesus are not afraid to look evil in the face and calmly resist or the sacrifices that we make as we work towards the reign of justice and peace God intends for all of us.

So, in this 'mean' time, a time between the resurrection of Christ and the coming in its fullness of God's kingdom, a time where evil seems so present and so powerful, we who follow the way of Christ confront evil calmly and resolutely.  Every time we restore the dignity of a sister or brother by ensuring that he or she is housed and fed, we stare evil in the face and silence it, if even for a moment.  Every time we support the work of our church or other humanitarian agencies in care for refugees and prisoners of conscience, we stare evil in the face and silence it, if even for a moment.  Every time we confront religious prejudices that blame whole communities of faith for the sins of extremists, we stare evil in the face and silence it, if even for a moment.  Evil's faces are many, but the faces of God are even greater.

It's time to put our 'game' faces on, for the game we are playing is for life of God's world.  Amen.

An Order for the Eucharist on the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (1 February 2015)

The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

1 February 2015

The Gathering of the Community

Processional Hymn

‘I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath’  Common Praise #346

Introductory Responses

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

the fountain of living water,

the rock who gave us birth,

our light and our salvation.  Amen. [i]

Seasonal Hymn of Praise

‘Blessed Be the God of Israel’  Common Praise #11 (sung to #508)

Collect

Let us pray.

God of liberation,

who comes not to destroy but to set us free,

bring wholeness to all that is broken

and speak truth to us in our confusion;

through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A reading from Deuteronomy (18.15-20).

            ¹⁵ The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet.  ¹⁶ This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said:  “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.”  ¹⁷ Then the Lord replied to me:  “They are right in what they have said.  ¹⁸ I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command.  ¹⁹ Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable.  ²⁰ But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak — that prophet shall die.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 111 with the refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  With all our hearts we praise you, O Holy One.

¹ Alleluia!  I will give thanks to you, O God,

with my whole heart, *

            in the assembly of the upright,

            in the congregation.

² Great are your deeds, O God; *

            they are studied by all who delight in them.

Refrain:  With all our hearts we praise you, O Holy One.

³ Your work is full of majesty and splendour, *

            and your righteousness endures for ever.

⁴ You make your marvellous works to be remembered; *

            you are gracious and full of compassion.

⁵ You give food to those who fear you; *

            you are ever mindful of your covenant.

Refrain:  With all our hearts we praise you, O Holy One.

⁶ You have shown your people the power of your works *

            in giving them the lands of the nations.

⁷ The works of your hands are faithfulness and justice; *

            all your commandments are sure.

⁸ They stand fast for ever and ever, *

            because they are done in truth and equity.

Refrain:  With all our hearts we praise you, O Holy One.

⁹ You sent redemption to your people;

you commanded your covenant for ever; *

            holy and awesome is your name.

¹⁰ The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; *

            those who act accordingly have a good understanding;

            God’s praise endures for ever.

Refrain:  With all our hearts we praise you, O Holy One.

Second Reading

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (8.1-13).

            ¹ Now concerning food sacrificed to idols:  we know that “all of us possess knowledge.”  Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.  ² Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; ³ but anyone who loves God is known by him.

            4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.”  ⁵ Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — ⁶ yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

            ⁷ It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge.  Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.  ⁸ “Food will not bring us close to God.”  We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.  ⁹ But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  ¹⁰ For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols?  ¹¹ So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed.  ¹² But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.  ¹³ Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn

‘Silence!  Frenzied, Unclean Spirit’  Songs for a Gospel People #74 (sung to CP #44)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (1.21-28).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ²¹ [Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, [Jesus] entered the synagogue and taught.  ²² They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  ²³ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, ²⁴ and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”  ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”  ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.  ²⁷ They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this?  A new teaching — with authority!  He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”  ²⁸ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith in God.

Blessed be the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in Christ  with every spiritual blessing

that comes from heaven.

God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless

and destined us to be beloved adopted children.

God revealed the divine hidden design to us:

to bring all things together in Christ,

the things in heaven along with the things on earth. [iii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Dear God, Compassionate and Kind’  Common Praise #455

Prayer over the Gifts

God of all creation,

all you have made is good,

and your love endures forever.

You bring forth bread from the earth

and fruit from the vine.

Nourish us with these gifts,

so that we might be for the world

signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ,

our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [iv]

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.

Blessed are you, gracious God,

creator of heaven and earth;

by water and the Holy Spirit

you have made us a holy people

in Jesus Christ our Lord;

you renew that mystery in bread and wine and nourish us

to show forth your glory in all the world.

Therefore with angels and archangels,

and will all the holy people

who have served you in every age,

we raise our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name. [v]

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. [vi]

Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God.

The universe declares your praise:

beyond the stars, beneath the sea;

within each cell; with every breath.

We praise you, O God.

Generations bless your faithfulness:

through the water; by night and day; across the wilderness;

out of exile; into the future.

We bless you, O God.

We give you thanks for your dear Son:

at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer;

beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now.

We thank you, O God.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,

and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, eh took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering his love for us on the way,

at the table, and to the end,

we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

We pray for the gift of your Spirit:

in our gathering; within this meal;

among your people; throughout the world.

Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God,

through Christ Jesus, by your Spirit,

in your church, without end.  Amen.  [vii]

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. [viii]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,

and that life is the light of the world

God here among us,

light in the midst of us,

bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service’  Common Praise #585

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

We give you thanks, almighty God,

that you have refreshed us

through the healing power of this gift of life.

In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift,

in faith toward you

and in fervent love toward one another;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [ix]

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’  Common Praise #384 vv. 1, 2, 3, 6

Dismissal

The Deacon will send the people forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

---

[i] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 97.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Epiphany 2 to Transfiguration’ (2015), 2.

[iii] Ephesians 1.3, 4a, 5a, 9a, 10b (Common English Bible) alt.

[iv] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Epiphany 2 to Transfiguration’ (2015), 1.

[v] Third Preface of the Lord’s Day, The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 218.

[vi] Common Praise #732.

[vii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006).

[viii] Common Praise #744.

[ix] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Epiphany 2 to Transfiguration’ (2015), 1.

What's in a Word? (RCL Epiphany 3B 25 January 2015)

RCL Epiphany 3B
25 January 2015

Saint Faith's Anglican Church
Vancouver BC

Focus texts:  Jonah 3.1-5, 10; Mark 1.14-20

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday the 25th.

When I was doing my undergraduate degree at the University of Denver, my advisor and frequent professor was Dr Friedhelm Rickert.  Dr Rickert was a tall, taciturn and, I must admit, dry wit who had come to the United States on a doctoral fellowship to the University of Minnesota before taking up a teaching position at the University of Denver.

During his studies in Minnesota his mother, who had never travelled outside of Europe, came for a visit.  Her journey was a difficult one for someone who had never crossed the Atlantic and who, due to flight schedules, had to transfer planes twice.  Given that she did not speak English, you will quickly recognize how difficult and intimidating a journey it must have been.

When Dr Rickert picked up his mother, he could tell that she was very upset.  At first he thought it was simply the stress of the journey, but as they drove to his home, he realized that it was more than jet lag.  He finally asked her what was bothering her.  'Friedhelm,' she said, 'I cannot understand how you can live and study in such a dangerous country.'  When he probed a little deeper, afraid that perhaps she had been threatened or something else untoward had happened, she said, 'Everywhere airport had gift shops.  Gift shop here.  Gift shop there.  Everywhere gift shops.  How can you trust any restaurant?'

It took a moment or two for Dr Rickert to realize what had upset his mother about something as innocuous as a gift shop in an airport.  Then it dawned on him.  In German the word 'gift' means 'poison'.  His mother, unable to speak English but recognizing some words because of their similarity to German words, had thought that Americans could buy poison easily.

What Mrs Rickert had experienced is what modern language teachers call 'false cognates', words that look very much like words in another language but have very different meanings.  I remember one of my mother's first embarrassing encounters with the German language during our overseas assignment.  She went to a bathroom thinking it was the women's room only to realize it was, in fact, the men's room.  She saw 'Herren' and thought it meant the room for 'Hers' and that 'Damen' meant the room for 'the men'.  She was fortunate enough to have a very kind German gentleman redirect her.

Words matter and we have to be very careful when we use them.  We need to be sure that we are attending to all the possible meanings they can have for those who hear them and those who read them.  In today's readings from Jonah and from Mark there are words that need careful attention.
Let's take Jonah first.  If you remember the story, Jonah is a reluctant prophet who has been sent to Nineveh to proclaim God's judgement on the city.  The Ninevites are old foes of Israel, so Jonah is not reluctant to preach doom and gloom to them, but he has a sneaking suspicion that God may do something unexpected.  And Jonah is right.

He proclaims to the Ninevites that in forty days the city will be 'overthrown'.  To his consternation, the Ninevites repent and Jonah is confronted with the fact that the message he was sent to proclaim can be understood in a different way:  in forty days Nineveh will turn itself around.  God seems to have a willingness to understand the word Jonah is ordered to preach in more than one way.  If Nineveh doesn't turn itself around, God will overthrow them.  If they do, then the disaster will be averted.  Lo and behold, they turn around, Jonah is miffed and the city is saved.

After John the Baptist is imprisoned, Mark tells us that Jesus bursts onto the Galilean scene.  On the one hand, Jesus is sharing the same message as John:  The time has come to look at the world in a new way.  This is what is meant by 'repent'; not just feel sorry for any past misdoings and failures, but turn around and see the world as God sees it.  One way of understanding the word Jesus uses, metanoia, is to say, 'Look beyond the limits of your present point of view and seek what God has waiting for us just beyond the horizon.'

But Jesus goes one step further than John.  Jesus dares to proclaim that the kingdom of God is 'upon us'; despite our sins, God has drawn near to us.  The possibility of a new way of living in relationship with one another and in relationship with God is within our grasp if we have faith, that is to say, if we have confidence in God's love for us as revealed to us in the life and teaching of Jesus of Nazareth.
This is good news, not only to those who first heard it centuries ago, but to those who hear it and act upon it today.  In Jesus God does not seek to overthrow us but to invite us to turn ourselves around.  In Jesus God does not promise us 'pie in the sky' but shows us a way to live with integrity, with compassion and with hope.  In Jesus God chooses to walk with us so that we can discover how we are dependent upon each other and how all our particular gifts and our distinctive experiences weave together to create a rich tapestry that glorifies God and builds up our common humanity.

Sometimes the message of the Christian gospel is heard as a message of condemnation.  It is the hard-nosed message that Jonah thought he was delivering to a people whom he really did not like and whom he hoped would ignore God's call.  To be true there are Christians who do preach just such a message.  But there is another possibility, the possibility that God loves us and offers us in the life and teaching of Jesus a way forward towards wholeness and joy.

I know people who need to hear this word of hope.  I have no doubt that you know such people as well.  They are very familiar with the voices that speak the message of Jonah, but what they need to hear are the voices that speak the message of Jesus.  They need to know that the word they hear actually can be heard differently, heard as an invitation to discover the nearness of God.  May God give us the grace and courage to speak this word so that God's reign of justice and peace finds a home in one more heart.  Amen.

An Order for the Eucharist on the Second Sunday after Epiphany (25 January 2015)

The Third Sunday after Epiphany

25 January 2015

The Gathering of the Community

Processional Hymn

‘Jesus Calls Us!  O’er the Tumult’  Common Praise #432

Introductory Responses

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

the fountain of living water,

the rock who gave us birth,

our light and our salvation.  Amen. [i]

Seasonal Hymn of Praise

‘Blessed Be the God of Israel’  Common Praise #11 (sung to #508)

Collect

Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ,

with those you called by the lakeside,

may we follow you, proclaiming the reign of God,

and sharing your mission to bring good news to all;

for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [ii]

The Proclamation of the Word

First Reading

A reading from the prophet Jonah (3.1-10).

            ¹ The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ² “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.”  ³ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.  Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across.  ⁴ Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk.  And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”  ⁵ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

            ⁶ When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  ⁷ Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh:  “By the decree of the king and his nobles:  No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything.  They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water.  ⁸ Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God.  All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands.  ⁹ Who knows?  God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.”

 ¹⁰ When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 62.6-14 with the refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  We pour out our hearts to you, O Holy One.

⁶ For God alone my soul in silence waits; *

            truly, there is my hope.

⁷ God alone is my rock and my salvation, *

            my stronghold, so that I shall not be shaken.

⁸ In God is my safety and my honour; *

            God is my strong rock and my refuge.

⁹ Put your trust in God always, O people; *

            Pour out your hearts before the Holy One, our refuge.

Refrain:  We pour out our hearts to you, O Holy One.

¹⁰ Those of high degree are but a fleeting breath; *

            even those of low estate cannot be trusted.

¹¹ On the scales they are lighter than a breath, *

            all of them together.

¹² Put no trust in extortion;

in robbery take no empty pride; *

            though wealth increase, set not your heart upon it.

¹³ God has spoken once, twice have I heard it, *

            that power belongs to God.

¹⁴ Steadfast love is yours, O God, *

            for you repay everyone according to their deeds.

Refrain:  We pour out our hearts to you, O Holy One.

Second Reading

A reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians (7.29-31).

            ²⁹ I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, ³⁰ and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, ³¹ and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it.  For the present form of this world is passing away.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Gradual Hymn

‘Mon âme se repose en paix’  Common Praise #563 (sung in English three times)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (1.14-20).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

            ¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”  ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  ¹⁹ As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.  ²⁰ Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith in God.

Blessed be the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in Christ  with every spiritual blessing

that comes from heaven.

God chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless

and destined us to be beloved adopted children.

God revealed the divine hidden design to us:

to bring all things together in Christ,

the things in heaven along with the things on earth. [iii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of Christ be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Living Lord of Love’s Dominion’  Common Praise #453

Prayer over the Gifts

God of all creation,

all you have made is good,

and your love endures forever.

You bring forth bread from the earth

and fruit from the vine.

Nourish us with these gifts,

so that we might be for the world

signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ,

our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [iv]

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.

Blessed are you, gracious God,

creator of heaven and earth;

by water and the Holy Spirit

you have made us a holy people

in Jesus Christ our Lord;

you renew that mystery in bread and wine and nourish us

to show forth your glory in all the world.

Therefore with angels and archangels,

and will all the holy people

who have served you in every age,

we raise our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name. [v]

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. [vi]

Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God.

The universe declares your praise:

beyond the stars, beneath the sea;

within each cell; with every breath.

We praise you, O God.

Generations bless your faithfulness:

through the water; by night and day; across the wilderness;

out of exile; into the future.

We bless you, O God.

We give you thanks for your dear Son:

at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer;

beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now.

We thank you, O God.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,

and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, eh took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering his love for us on the way,

at the table, and to the end,

we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died.  Christ is risen.  Christ will come again.

We pray for the gift of your Spirit:

in our gathering; within this meal;

among your people; throughout the world.

Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God,

through Christ Jesus, by your Spirit,

in your church, without end.  Amen.  [vii]

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. [viii]

The Breaking of the Bread

We break the bread of life,

and that life is the light of the world

God here among us,

light in the midst of us,

bring us to light and life.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion

Communion Hymn

‘We Are Called’  Evangelical Lutheran Worship #720 (insert)

The Sending Forth of the Community

Prayer after Communion

We give you thanks, almighty God,

that you have refreshed us

through the healing power of this gift of life.

In your mercy, strengthen us through this gift,

in faith toward you

and in fervent love toward one another;

for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [ix]

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Sing of Andrew, John’s Disciple’ Common Praise #273

Dismissal

The Deacon will send the people forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

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[i] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 97.

[ii] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Epiphany 2 to Transfiguration’ (2015), 1.

[iii] Ephesians 1.3, 4a, 5a, 9a, 10b (Common English Bible) alt.

[iv] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Epiphany 2 to Transfiguration’ (2015), 1.

[v] Third Preface of the Lord’s Day, The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 218.

[vi] Common Praise #732.

[vii] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006).

[viii] Common Praise #744.

[ix] Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Propers:  Epiphany 2 to Transfiguration’ (2015), 1.