National Aboriginal Day of Prayer
21 June 2015
The Gathering of the Community
Entrance Hymn
‘Many and Great, O God, Are Your Works’ Common Praise #407
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
And also with you.
We are one in Christ;
we are a new creation.
What was cast down is being raised up;
what has grown old is being made new.
In Christ we have been reconciled to God
and we have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation.
We entreat one another and the whole world:
Be reconciled with God and with all our sisters and brothers.
Canticle
‘Laudate Dominum’ Common Praise #313 (sung three times)
Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Creator God,
from you every family in heaven and earth takes its name.
You have rooted and grounded us in your covenant love,
and empowered us by your Spirit to speak the truth in love
and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.
Mercifully grant that your people,
journeying together in partnership,
may be strengthened and guided
to help one another to grow into the full stature of Christ,
who is our light and our life. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word of God
The First Reading
A reading from the prophet Isaiah (40.25-31).
To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
The Psalm of the Day
Psalm 19 with the refrain from Songs for the Holy One
Refrain (sung twice): The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows the handiwork of the Lord.
2 One day tells its tale to another, *
and one night imparts knowledge to another.
3 Although they have no words or language, *
and their voices are not heard,
4 their sound has gone out into all lands, *
and their message to the ends of the world.
Refrain: The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.
5 In the deep has God set a pavilion for the sun; *
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of the chamber of the heavens;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure
and gives wisdom to the innocent.
8 The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the Lord is clear
and gives light to the eyes.
Refrain: The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
the judgements of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, *
more than much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, *
than honey in the comb.
11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can tell how often they offend? *
Cleanse me from my secret faults.
13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; *
let them not get dominion over me;
then shall I be whole and sound, *
and innocent of a great offense.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in your sight; *
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
Refrain: The heavens are telling the Holy One’s glory.
The Second Reading
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Philippians (4.4-9).
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn before the Gospel
‘Alleluia’ Common Praise #712 (Refrain, v. 3, Refrain)
The Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (1.1-18).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sermon
An Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God,
the Source of all life and love,
from whom every family
in heaven and earth is named.
We believe in God,
the eternal Word of redemption,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with steadfast love.
We believe in God,
the Spirit of wisdom and truth,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God:
Source of all being,
eternal Word and Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Prayers of the Community
Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions
With all our brothers and sisters and with people of goodwill in this Diocese and in our country, let us offer our intercessions, thanksgivings and petitions, saying, ‘Creator God, have mercy.’ Creator God, have mercy.
We accept and confess before God and one another our church’s failures in the residential schools. We failed indigenous people. We failed you. Creator God, have mercy.
We give thanks for the voices that have spoken of pain and hurt experienced in the schools and of the scars which endure to this day. We honour the sacredness of the stories and hold in highest honour those who have told them. We pray for all people who are still living with the effects of the schools. Creator God, have mercy.
We give thanks for the people and communities who have worked at healing and are continuing to do so. We pray for the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and for all who planned the national event in Vancouver this past week. Creator God, have mercy.
You have given us land and knowledge for our self-sufficiency. You have given us bodies and strength to work hard. We will pass these on to our children. Creator of all, we thank you.
You teach us about honesty and being fair. You tell us to have respect for ourselves and for others. You teach us about our responsibilities to our community and the value of working together. You show us how to make life better for other people. We will pass these on to our children. Creator of all, we thank you.
You have given us children to love and through this love we live long after we are gone. Our children are our present not just our future. When we love them, they love others. This is the way it is supposed to be. We will pass these on to our children. Creator of all, we thank you.
You help us to grow old and in our journey you provide us with knowledge and wisdom for living. Our elders are our way to the past to learn those things we must carry on. We will pass these on to our children. Creator of all, we thank you.
You put us upon this great land and put things here that we need to survive. You show us how to care for the land and treat land, animals, trees, waters, plants and weather with respect. We will pass these on to our children. Creator of all, we thank you.
You made us a part of a larger family and we must remember where we come from and how we came to be where we are. We will pass these on to our children. Creator of all, we thank you.
To you, loving Creator, be honour, praise and thanksgiving, now and for ever. Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbour.
Creator,
look at our brokenness.
We know that in all creation
only the human family has strayed from the sacred way.
We know that we are the ones who are divided
and we are the ones who must come back together
to walk the sacred way.
Creator, Sacred One,
teach us love, compassion and honour
so that we may heal the earth and each other. Amen.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by the Holy Spirit,
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Exchange of the Peace
May the peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Communion
Offertory Hymn
‘You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord’ Common Praise #531
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray.
Creator,
you bless us with many good gifts
returned to you from your creation.
Feed us with the Bread of Life,
your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth;
you are the source of light and life for all your creation,
you made us in your own image,
and call us to new life in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Therefore we praise you,
joining our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.
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.
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, he 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.
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.
The Breaking of the Bread
Creator of all,
you gave us golden fields of wheat,
whose many grains we have gathered
and made into this one bread.
So may your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth
into your reign of justice and peace.
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Communion
Hymn after Communion
‘Of Eternal Love Begotten’ Common Praise #132 vv. 1, 2, 5, 6
The Sending Forth of the Community
The Prayer after Communion
Great Creator,
you have fed us with bread from heaven.
Continue to renew us in your truth,
to give light to our minds,
strength to our bodies
and seal us with your Holy Spirit.
We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.
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
‘The Spacious Firmament on High’ Common Praise #426
The Dismissal
Go in peace as ambassadors of God’s reconciling love.
Thanks be to God.
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