Sunday, March 5, 2017

An Ordo for the Second Sunday in Lent (12 March 2017)

The Second Sunday In Lent
12 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.

God of mercy,
you are full of tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive:
grant us grace to renounce all evil and to cling to Christ,
so that in every way we may prove to be your loving children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from Genesis (12.1-4a)

            12.1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 

            2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

            4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

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

The Psalm

Psalm 121 with refrain from Songs for the Holy One.

Refrain (sung twice):  Our help comes from the Holy One.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *
            from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, *
            the maker of heaven and earth.
3 The Lord will not let your foot be moved *
            and the One who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, the One who keeps watch over Israel *
            shall neither slumber nor sleep.

Refrain:  Our help comes from the Holy One.

5 The Lord, the Lord, watches over you; *
            the Lord is your shade at your side,
6 so that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
            nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil *
            and shall keep you safe.
8 The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, *
            from this time forth for evermore.

Refrain:  Our help comes from the Holy One.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (4.1-5, 13-17).

            4.1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?  2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about — but not before God.  3 What does Scripture say?  “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

            4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.  5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

            13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.  14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath.  And where there is no law there is no transgression.

            16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring — not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham.  He is the father of us all.  17 As it is written:  “I have made you a father of many nations.”  He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed — the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

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 John (3.1-17).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            3.1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.  2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.  For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

            3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

            4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked.  “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

            5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’  8 The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

            9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.

            10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?  11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.  12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things?  13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.  14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

            16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through 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

‘To Abraham and Sarah’  Common Praise #468

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

God of wisdom,
may the light of the eternal Word,
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
guide us to your glory.
We ask this in his name.  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

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

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.

Keep this your family, Lord, with your never-failing mercy,
[so that] relying solely on the help of your heavenly grace,
they may be upheld by your divine protection;
through Christ our Lord.  Amen. [vii]

Closing Hymn

‘Fight the Good Fight with All Thy Might’  Common Praise #503 (sung to #155)

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, 13.

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

[iii] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 289.

[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.

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