An Ordo for the First Sunday in Lent 2016

The First Sunday in Lent

14 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.

God of the wilderness,

your Spirit leads us to face the truth,

unprotected and exposed:

in our times of trial

help us to resist the worship of empty power,

so that we may find our true food

in Jesus Christ, the broken bread.  Amen. [iii]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from Deuteronomy (26.1-11)

            ^26.1 When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, ² you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name.  ³ You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, “Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.”  ⁴ When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, ⁵ you shall make this response before the Lord your God:  “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous.  ⁶ When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labour on us, ⁷ we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression.  ⁸ The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; ⁹ and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.  ¹⁰ So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.”  You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God.  ¹¹ Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 91.1-2, 9-16 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  Holy One, you are our refuge.  Help us always to trust you.

¹ Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, *

            abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

² They shall say to the Lord, “You are our refuge and our stronghold, *

            our God in whom we put our trust.”

Refrain:  Holy One, you are our refuge.  Help us always to trust you.

⁹ Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *

            and the Most High your habitation,

¹⁰ there shall no evil happen to you, *

            neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

¹¹ For the angels of God shall have charge over you, *

            to keep you in all your ways.

¹² They shall bear you in their hands, *

            lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Refrain:  Holy One, you are our refuge.  Help us always to trust you.

¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *

            you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.

¹⁴ “Because they are bound to me in love, *

            therefore will I deliver them;

I will protect them, *

            because they know my name.

¹⁵ They shall call upon me, *

            and I will answer them;

I am with them in trouble; *

            I will rescue them and bring them to honour.

¹⁶ With long life will I satisfy them, *

            and show them my salvation.”

Refrain:  Holy One, you are our refuge.  Help us always to trust you.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (10.8b-13).

            ^10.8b “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹ because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  ¹⁰ For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.  ¹¹ The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.”  ¹² For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.  ¹³ For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘By the Holy Spirit Sent’  Common Praise #176 (sung to #569)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (4.1-13).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^4.1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.  He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.  ³ The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.”  ⁴ Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone. ’”

            ⁵ Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.  ⁶ And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.  ⁷ If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

            ⁸ Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God,and serve only him.’”

            ⁹ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰ for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ ¹¹ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

            ¹² Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ¹³ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

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

‘We Plough the Fields and Scatter’  Common Praise #258

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

‘We Hold the Death of the Lord’  Common Praise #68

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]

Closing Hymn

‘For the Fruit of All Creation’  Common Praise #259

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

Sending Music

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[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.