Blessed Are They Who Come in the Name of the Lord (RCL Lent 2C, 21 February 2016)

Dear Friends,

This past week sped out of my hands, so I was unable to post a written text upon which my sermon for Sunday, 21 February 2016, would be based.  

I was, however, pondering how the last sentence in the gospel for the day, Luke 13.31-35, could be expressed to empower our ministry as Christ's body in the world today.

So, if you want to hear my thoughts on this verse, just click on the link below.

Click here to listen to 'Blessed Are They Who Come in the Name of the Lord' as preached at the 10.00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday the 21st.

Blessings to one and to all.

Richard+

An Ordo for the Third Sunday in Lent (28 February 2016)

The Third Sunday in Lent

28 February 2016

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Greeting and Litany

The Presider greets the Community from the door to the Nave.

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins,

whose mercy endures for ever. [i]

The Community then sings the following hymn.

‘Before I Take the Body of My Lord’  Common Praise #610

The Presider then says the following,

May the God of love and power

forgive you and free you from your sins,

heal and strengthen you by the Spirit,

and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen. [ii]

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Eternal God,

give us insight to discern your will for us,

to give up what harms us,

and to seek the perfection we are promised;

through Jesus Christ our Saviour.  Amen. [iii]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from Isaiah (55.1-9).

                  ^55.1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk  without money and without price.  ² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.  ³ Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.  I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.  ⁴ See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.  ⁵ See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

            ⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; ⁷ let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.  ⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.  ⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 63.1-8 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  To you we lift our hearts in prayer and praise.

¹ O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *

            my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,

            as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.

² Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *

            that I might behold your power and your glory.

Refrain:  To you we lift our hearts in prayer and praise.

³ For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *

            my lips shall give you praise.

⁴ So will I bless you as long as I live *

            and lift up my hands in your name.

⁵ My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *

            and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,

⁶ when I remember you upon my bed, *

            and meditate on you in the night watches.

Refrain:  To you we lift our hearts in prayer and praise.

⁷ For you have been my helper, *

            and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

⁸ My soul clings to you; *

            your mighty hand holds me fast.

Refrain:  To you we lift our hearts in prayer and praise.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (10.1-13).

            ^10.1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink.  For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.  ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

            ⁶ Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did^{.  7} Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.”  ⁸ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.  ⁹ We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents.  ¹⁰ And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  ¹¹ These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.  ¹² So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall.  ¹³ No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church’  Common Praise #174

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (13.1-9).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^13.1 At that very time there were some present who told [Jesus] about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.  ² [Jesus] asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?  ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.  ⁴ Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them — do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?  ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

            ⁶ Then [Jesus] told this parable:  “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.  ⁷ So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none.  Cut it down!  Why should it be wasting the soil?’  8 [The gardener] replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.  ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

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:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen. [iv]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘From All the Wind’s Wide Quarters’  Common Praise #43

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,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [v]

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.

Hosanna in the highest. [vi]

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. [vii]

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

‘How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place’  Common Praise #498

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. [viii]

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

‘Come Down, O Love Divine’  Common Praise #645

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

Sending Music

---

[i] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 216 alt.

[ii] Common Worship (2000), 135.

[iii] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  The First Sunday in Lent through the Fifth Sunday in Lent’, 2.

[iv] Common Worship (2000), 148 alt.

[v] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  The First Sunday in Lent through the Fifth Sunday in Lent’, 4.

[vi] ‘Sanctus’ by George Black in The Book of Alternative Services Altar Book.

[vii] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 918.

[viii] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  The First Sunday in Lent through the Fifth Sunday in Lent’, 4.

An Ordo for Lent 2 (21 February 2016)

The Second Sunday in Lent

21 February 2016

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Greeting and Litany

The Presider greets the Community from the door to the Nave.

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins,

whose mercy endures for ever. [i]

The Community then sings the following hymn.

‘Before I Take the Body of My Lord’  Common Praise #610

The Presider then says the following,

May the God of love and power

forgive you and free you from your sins,

heal and strengthen you by the Spirit,

and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen. [ii]

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Brooding Spirit,

beneath your wings there is creation and life:

accompany us on the difficult path

with the disappeared, the broken and the fearful,

so that we find the way to the city of our peace

where w are all accepted as your beloved;

through the cross of Jesus Christ, our only Lord.  Amen. [iii]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from Genesis (15.1-12, 17-18).

            ^15.1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”  ² But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”  ³ And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.”  ⁴ But the word of the Lord came to [Abram], “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.”  ⁵ [The Lord] brought [Abram] outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.”  Then [The Lord] said to [Abram], “So shall your descendants be.”  ⁶ And [Abram] believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

            ⁷ Then [the Lord] said to [Abram], “I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess.”  ⁸ But [Abram] said, “O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?”  ⁹ [The Lord] said to [Abram], “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”  ¹⁰ [Abram] brought [the Lord] all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.  ¹¹ And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

            ¹² As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

            ¹⁷ When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces.  ¹⁸ On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 27 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  The Holy One is our light and saving help.

¹  The Lord is my light and my salvation; *

            whom then shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; *

            of whom then shall I be afraid?

²  When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, *

            it was they, my foes and my adversaries,

            who stumbled and fell.

³  Though an army should encamp against me, * 

            yet my heart shall not be afraid;

and though war should rise up against me, *

            yet will I put my trust in God.

⁴  One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; *

            that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

beholding the fair beauty of the Lord *

            and seeking God in the temple.

⁵  For in the day of trouble, O God,

you shall keep me safe in your shelter; *

            you shall hide me in the secrecy of your dwelling

            and set me high upon a rock.

⁶  Even now you lift up my head *

            above my enemies round about me.

Refrain:  The Holy One is our light and saving help.

Therefore I will offer in your dwelling

an oblation with sounds of great gladness; *

            I will sing and make music to the Lord.

⁷  Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; *

            have mercy on me and answer me.

⁸  You speak in my heart and say , “Seek my face.” *

            Your face, Lord, will I seek.

⁹  Hide not your face from me, *

            nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

You have been my helper; cast me not away; *

            do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

¹⁰  Though my father and my mother forsake me, *

            the Lord will sustain me.

Refrain:  The Holy One is our light and saving help.

¹¹  Show me your way, O Lord; *

            lead me on a level path, because of my enemies.

¹²  Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, *

            for false witnesses have risen up against me,

            and also those who speak malice.

¹³  What if I had not believed

that I should see the goodness of the Lord *

            in the land of the living!

¹⁴  O tarry and await the pleasure of the Lord;

be strong, and God shall comfort your heart; *

            wait patiently for the Lord.

Refrain:  The Holy One is our light and saving help.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians (3.17-4.1).

            ^3.17 Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.  ¹⁸ For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears.  ¹⁹ Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things.  ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.  ²¹ He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.

            ^4.1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘Wait for the Lord, Whose Day Is Near’  Common Praise #94 (sung thrice)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (13.31-35).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^13.31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus], “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”  ³² [Jesus] said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.  ³³ Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’  ³⁴ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!  How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!  ³⁵ See, your house is left to you.  And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

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:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Amen. [iv]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Thanksgivings and Petitions

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘My Life Flows On in Endless Song’  Common Praise #401

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,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [v]

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.

Hosanna in the highest. [vi]

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. [vii]

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

‘Strengthen for Service, Lord’  Common Praise #87

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. [viii]

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

‘We Sing to You, O God’  Common Praise #523 (sung to #365)

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

Sending Music

---

[i] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 216 alt.

[ii] Common Worship (2000), 135.

[iii] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  The First Sunday in Lent through the Fifth Sunday in Lent’, 1.

[iv] Common Worship (2000), 148 alt.

[v] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  The First Sunday in Lent through the Fifth Sunday in Lent’, 4.

[vi] ‘Sanctus’ by George Black in The Book of Alternative Services Altar Book.

[vii] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 918.

[viii] The Liturgy Task Force, ‘Trial Use Collects and Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion for Year C:  The First Sunday in Lent through the Fifth Sunday in Lent’, 4.