Rise Again! Bearing Fruit That Will Last (Canada Day, 1 July 2018)

Here is the text on which my sermon will be based as I preach my first sermon as Vicar of Holy Trinity Cathedral (New Westminster) tomorrow.

Rise Again!

Bearing Fruit That Will Last

Canada Day

1 July 2018

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 eucharist

on Sunday the 1st of July.

John 15.12-17

            ^15.12[Jesus said to his disciples,] “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  ¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you.  ¹⁵I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.  ¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you.  And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.  ¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you maylove one another.”

            On the 23^rdof June 1987 my family and I entered Canada at the Peace Arch crossing to begin our new adventure at Vancouver School of Theology. We thought that we would be here for three years and then return to the United States.  But three years became six, one child became three, my wife began preparation for the priesthood and was ordained, and then we chose to become Canadian citizens in 1995.

            When I began teaching at Vancouver School of Theology, one of the new students, Paul Borthistle, decided that his family would become our guides to Canadian context.  One of the first things he did was to share with us some cassette tapes of a Canadian folk singer by the name of Stan Rogers.  I’m sure that many of you have heard his songs and may even recognize his rich baritone voice.

            I remember listening to ‘Barrett’s Privateers’ and realizing that my ancestors, some of whom were American mariners who raided British shipping during the Revolutionary War, were the villains.  But the song that has always resonated with me is his ballad, ‘The Mary Ellen Carter’.  It’s a song about a love affair between a crew and their ship, a ship wrecked because of the drunkenness of its captain and first mate, a ship abandoned by its owners once the insurance money is paid, a ship worth saving because of the times it saved its crew.  And so the narrator and his friends begin a salvage operation whose success we do not hear, only the hope and the promise of new life.

            It’s the refrain that sticks in my mind and has never faded from my memory. It’s a refrain that a ship-wrecked Canadian sailor, adrift in the Atlantic, told the CBC he kept singing even as he was being winched into the rescue helicopter:

Rise again, rise again!

Though your heart it be broken and life about to end

No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend

Then like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!

            In 1859 the Parish of Holy Trinity was established here in what was then a frontier settlement on the Fraser River.  The people built a church in 1860 that then was burnt to the ground in the fire of 1865. Rise again, rise again!  A second church, this time with stone walls, rose from the ashes in 1867, stone quarried from Salt Spring Island.  It became the cathedral of the newly-formed Diocese of New Westminster and witnessed the growth of the Lower Mainland as the railroad inched its way across Canada.  But then the disastrous fire of 1898 destroyed much of the centre of New Westminster, leaving only the stone walls of the Cathedral.  Rise again, rise again!  This church, the one in which we gather today, was built within the walls of the second church, and by 1902 our tower looked out over the city this parish was called to serve.

            This cathedral community of Jesus’ disciples have followed in the path of those first disciples to whom Jesus speaks in today’s gospel.  As they gathered for what would be their last meal with their beloved teacher, his disciples must have known that the possibility of trouble was lurking out in the darkness of the city.  No doubt some of them were hoping that this would be the last night of the old order and that the morning would bring the messianic age that they and many others hoped to see --- Rome banished from their land --- true faithfulness to the covenant made with the Hebrew people at Mount Sinai restored --- self-serving religious hierarchy put in its place --- justice, mercy and humility replacing oppression, hardship and arrogance.  But no one among them could have known what was to happen and how their lives would be changed forever.

                  Jesus tells them, ^“You did not choose me but I chose you.  And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.” [1]  And what fruit they bore!  There is no place on this planet where the faith of the followers of Jesus has not travelled.  There are very few languages and cultures who have not heard the good news of God in Jesus of Nazareth proclaimed.  Sometimes we have failed in spectacular ways to be true disciples of Jesus, but we have, time and time again, repented and returned to the way of Jesus by recommitting ourselves to doing justice, to loving mercy, to walking humbly with our God. Rise again, rise again!

            And now you and I have come to this time in the life of this community.  We are placing before our neighbours a vision of a renewed cathedral landscape where people who live in the heart of this city can gather, whether Christian or not, where people can find a home, whether wealthy or not-so-wealthy, where we can continue to be the physical presence of Jesus, whether in worship or in service.  This is fruitful soil and we have on many occasions faced challenges in order to bear the fruit of the gospel.  

            As I begin a new ministry among you as the Vicar of this venerable congregation, I cannot help but believe that we have a future here.  Our neighbours need us as a place of help, hope and home.  We are a visible symbol of God’s commitment to the fullness of life and dignity of every human being and to the promise of world in which all God’s children will be free.  It’s who we have been; it’s who we are; it’s who we will be.

Rise again, rise again!

Though your heart it be broken and life about to end

No matter what you’ve lost, be it a home, a love, a friend

Then like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again!

---

[1]John 15.16

A Letter for Willow (The Birth of John the Baptist, 24 June 2018)

As has been my custom over the years, I have written a letter to Willow who was to be baptized on Sunday, 24 June 2018.  Unfortunately her brother came down with chicken pox and we had to re-schedule her baptism for another day.

Even though I could have prepared something else for my last Sunday at Saint Faith's, I could not help but hear the voice of my mentor, Louis Weil, who taught me that baptism is the heart of Christian life.  What better way to say 'farewell' than to write to a young child some thoughts about what it means to be a follower of Jesus?

Click here to listen to the Letter as I introduced it and read it 

at the 10.00 Eucharist on Sunday the 24th of June.

24 June 2018

Dear Willow,

            Today was supposed to be the day of your baptism, but when your brother, Dominic, came down with chicken pox, we had to make other plans.  These things happen and, even though it’s disappointing for me that I won’t be able to baptize you today, my last Sunday at Saint Faith’s, I still want to write this letter to you.  I know that you will be baptized soon and I hope, in a few years time, that your mother and father will read these words to you, so that you know something of what it means to be baptized into the Christian family.

            But let me start with a story.  A long time ago a man name Zechariah and a woman named Elizabeth really wanted to have a child.  But even though they had been together a long time and even though they had prayed every day for a child, they never had one.

            After many years Zechariah was praying one day and an angel appeared and told him that God had heard their prayers and Elizabeth would soon become pregnant with a son.  And you know what?  It happened. Nine months later Elizabeth gave birth to a son, whom they named John.           

            Zechariah and Elizabeth loved John and raised him to love God.  They knew that he was a special person to whom God had given a special job.  The job that God had given John was to be a prophet.  Sometimes we call a person a ‘prophet’ because we think that they can tell us what’s going to happen in the future.  But John was a different kind of prophet.  It was John’s job to prepare people for the coming of his cousin, Jesus.

            Now we believe that God sent Jesus to teach us how to grow up in the way that God wants us to be, to show us how to treat other people with kindness and respect, to live his life as an example for us to follow.  So, to make things a little easier for Jesus, God asked John, who was just a little older than Jesus, to go around the towns and villages sharing the good news that Jesus was coming.  And this is what John did until Jesus began his own work of teaching and of showing people how to live in God’s love.

            Willow, when you are baptized, God makes you a prophet just like John.  You will discover that there are many people in the world who do not know how to grow up, who do not treat other people with kindness and respect, who do not have any good examples to follow.  All Christians, whether we are grown up or growing up, share in Jesus’ work of teaching and of showing how to live in God’s love.  When we do this, we are acting as prophets, people who show others what God is doing in their world, in their communities and in their lives.

            Being a prophet is not easy.  Some people in the world do not believe in God or do not believe that God cares about the world.  They may not really want to hear what you or any follower of Jesus has to say.  They may actually say some unkind things about you and to you.  But God still loves them and God wants us to love them as well.

            Some people in the world do believe in God, but some things have happened in their lives that have made them afraid of God or disappointed in God.  They won’t say anything unkind about you or to you, but they will have a hard time hearing what you have to say about how you have experienced God’s love.  It will be your job, as well as my job and the job of every Christian, to share with them what we know:  God’s love in the beauty of the world, God’s love in the way people care for each other, God’s love in the way we forgive each other when things go wrong, God’s love in the way we learn new and wonderful things about the world in which we live.

            When John was born, his father Zechariah was so happy that he gave thanks to God and then said to his little boy, “You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare [the] way.  You will tell his people how to be saved through the forgiveness of their sins.  Because of our God’s deep compassion, the dawn from heaven will break upon us, to give light to those who are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us on the path of peace.” (Luke 1.76-79)  Willow, you are as much a prophet as John was.  You are someone who will show people how forgiving makes us stronger and better people.  You will bring God’s light into the shadows that make it difficult for people to experience God’s love.

            I wish that I could be at Saint Faith’s when you are baptized.  I would love to see the happiness you already have given to your parents and grandparents and the joy that everyone at Saint Faith’s will have on your special day.  But even though I won’t be here, I do know this.  You will grow up into the person God’s wants you to become. You will treat other people with kindness and respect.  You will live as an example of God’s love.

            When you do this, you will be a prophet who makes it possible for other people to know that God does exist, that God does care for this world, that God remains faithful to us even when we are afraid or disappointed.  And you will find that you are not alone.  There are many other people in the world who prepare the way for Jesus to come into our lives.  I hope that you will find a place like Saint Faith’s where you can grow and learn how to be a good prophet.  Let me tell you, we need a lot of prophets these days who can work with God to make this world better.

            John’s story ended many years ago.  My story at Saint Faith’s ends today.  But your story, Willow, has just begun.

Your friend,

Richard +

(The Rev’d Dr) Richard Geoffrey Leggett

Rector of the Parish of St. Faith’s

Vancouver BC

An Ordo for the Birth of John the Baptist (24 June 2018)

The Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist is one of the few feasts that takes precedence of a Sunday in the liturgical calendar of the Anglican Church of Canada.

On this occasion the Parish of St Faith's will welcome into the Christian community Willow Rose McIntyre through the sacrament of baptism.

The Birth of John the Baptist

24 June 2018

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

Opening Hymn

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

Greeting

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

who has come to us to set us free,

who has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,

born from the house of David.

There is one body and one Spirit,

there is one hope in God’s call to us.

One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

One God and Father of all.

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

God our strength and our hope,

grant us the courage of John the Baptist,

constantly to speak the truth,

boldly to rebuke evil,

and patiently to suffer for the truth’s sake;

in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [1]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading:  Isaiah 40.1-11

A reading from the prophet Isaiah.

            ^40.1Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.  ²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

            ³A voice cries out:  “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  ⁵Then the glory of the Lordshall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lordhas spoken.”

            ⁶A voice says, “Cry out!”  And I said, “What shall I cry?”  All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. ⁷The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of theLordblows upon it; surely the people are grass.  ⁸The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.  ⁹Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”  ¹⁰See, the Lord Godcomes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.  ¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm:  Psalm 85.7-13 from A New Metrical Psalter (sung toCommon Praise #96)

Show us, O Lord, your steadfast love,

and let your saving grace be near;

to those who turn their hearts to you,

Lord, you speak peace and I will hear.

To everyone who worships you

your saving help is very near;

your purpose is that in our land

your radiant glory may appear.

Mercy and truth at last have met,

justice and peace are reconciled;

truth has arisen from the earth,

justice looked down from heaven and smiled.

Lord, you will grant prosperity,

our land will yield its full increase;

justice shall go before you, Lord,

the pathway for your feet is peace.

The Second Reading: Acts 13.14b-26

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

^13.14b[On] the sabbath day [Paul and Barnabas] went into the synagogue and sat down.  ¹⁵After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.”  ¹⁶So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak:

            “You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen.  ¹⁷The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it.  ¹⁸For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.  ¹⁹After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance ²⁰for about four hundred fifty years.  After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel.  ²¹Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years^.  22When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’  ²³Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Saviour, Jesus, as he promised; ²⁴before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.  ²⁵And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am?  I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.’

            ²⁶“My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise#715 (sung twice)

The Gospel:  Luke 1.57-80

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^1.57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.  ⁵⁸Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

            ⁵⁹On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.  ⁶⁰But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.”  ⁶¹They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.”  ⁶²Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him.  ⁶³He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.”  And all of them were amazed.  ⁶⁴Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God.  ⁶⁵Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.  ⁶⁶All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?”  For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

            ⁶⁷Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:  ⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them.  ⁶⁹He has raised up a mighty saviour for us in the house of his servant David,

⁷⁰as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.  ⁷²Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.  ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.  ⁷⁸By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

            ⁸⁰The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. 

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn after the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise#715 (sung twice)

The Sermon

Presentation and Examination of the Candidates

Presider

The candidate for Holy Baptism will now be presented.

Parents and sponsors

I present Willow Rose McIntyre to receive the sacrament of baptism.

Presider

Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is nurtured in the faith and life of the Christian community?

Parents and sponsors

I will with God’s help.

Presider

Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?

Parents and sponsors

I will, with God’s help.

Presider

Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?

Parents and sponsors

I renounce them.

Presider

Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?

Parents and sponsors

I renounce them.

Presider

Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?

Parents and sponsors

I renounce them.

Presider

Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Saviour?

Parents and sponsors

I do.

Presider

Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?

Parents and sponsors

I do.

Presider

Do you promise to obey him as your Lord?

Parents and sponsors

I do.

Presider

Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person in her life in Christ?

Congregation

We will.

Prayers for the Candidate

The appointed Person leads the prayers.

Let us now pray for this person who is to receive the sacrament of new birth.

Deliver her, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Open her heart to your grace and truth.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Fill her with your holy and life-giving Spirit.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Teach her to love others in the power of the Spirit.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Send her into the world in witness to your love.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Bring her to the fullness of your peace and glory.

Lord, hear our prayer.

Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever.  Amen.

Thanksgiving over the Water

Presider

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, O God, maker and ruler of all things.

Your voice thundered over the waters at creation.

You water the mountains and send springs into the valleys

to refresh and satisfy all living things.

Through the waters of the flood you carried those in the ark to safety.

Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery to freedom.

In the wilderness your nourished them with water from the rock,

and you brought them across the river Jordan to the promised land.

By the baptism of his death and resurrection,

your Son Jesus has carried us to safety and freedom.

The floods shall not overwhelm us,

and the deep shall not swallow us up,

for Christ has brought us over to the land of promise.

He sends us to make disciples,

baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Pour out your Holy Spirit;

wash away sin in this cleansing water;

clothe the baptized with Christ;

and claim your daughters and sons,

no longer slave and free, no longer male and female,

but one with all the baptized in Christ Jesus,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen. [2]

 

The Baptismal Covenant

Presider

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

Presider

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

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 gain;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Presider

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

Deacon

Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

I will, with God’s help.

Deacon

Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

I will, with God’s help.

Deacon

Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?

I will, with God’s help.

Deacon

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?

I will, with God’s help.

Deacon

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

I will, with God’s help.

Deacon

Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?

I will, with God’s help.

The Baptism

Presider

Willow, I baptize you + in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Willow, + you sealed with Holy Spirit in baptism

and marked as Christ’s own for ever.

Heavenly Father, 

we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit

you have bestowed on this your servant

the forgiveness of sin,

and have raised her to the new life of grace.

Sustain her, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit.

Give her an inquiring and discerning heart,

the courage to will and to persevere,

a spirit to know and to love you,

and the gift of joy and wonder

in all your works.  Amen.

The Giving of the Light

Deacon

Receive the light of Christ,

to show that you have passed from darkness to light.

Let your light so shine before others

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father in heaven.

Presider

Let us welcome the newly baptized.

We receive you into the household of God.

Confess the faith of Christ crucified,

proclaim his resurrection,

and share with us in his eternal priesthood.

The Exchange of the Peace

Presider

May the peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Comfort, Comfort Ye My People’  Common Praise#100

The Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

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.[3]

The Great Thanksgiving

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 indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,

through our Saviour Jesus Christ;

who on this day overcame death and the grave,

and by his glorious resurrection 

opened to us the way of everlasting life.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn: [4]

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. [5]

You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God.

You are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.

You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,

so that everyone who believes in him

may not perish but have eternal life.

We give you thanks for his coming into the world

to fulfill for us your holy will

and to accomplish all things for our salvation.

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.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup,

we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

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

Remembering, therefore, his life-giving passion and death,

his glorious resurrection and ascension,

and the promise of his coming again,

we give thanks to you, holy and gracious God.

Accept our praise and thanksgiving

and with your Word and Holy Spirit

bless us, your servants, and these your gifts of bread and wine,

so that we and all who share this bread and this cup

may be filled with heavenly blessing and grace,

receive the forgiveness of sin,

be formed to live as your holy people

and be given our inheritance with all your saints.

To you, Author of creation, with the Word of redemption

and the Spirit of wisdom, be all honour and glory in your holy church,

now and forever.  Amen. [6]

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.[7]

The Breaking of the Bread

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.

Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.

Grant us peace.[8]

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion of the Community

The Hymn after Communion

‘One Bread, One Body, One Lord of All’  Common Praise#73

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

God of abundance,

with this bread of life and cup of salvation

you have united us with Christ,

making us one with all your people.

Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit,

so that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world

and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ.  Amen.[9]

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

‘There’s a Voice in the Wilderness’  Common Praise#106

The Dismissal

Go forth as heralds of the coming kingdom of God.

Thanks be to God.

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[1]Liturgy Task Force(2016), 85.

[2]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 70.

[3]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 107 alt.

[4]Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Leaders Desk Edition (2006), 180.

[5]Federizon Mass for Saint Faith (2018).

[6]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 108-109 alt.

[7]Federizon Mass for Saint Faith (2018).

[8]Federizon Mass for Saint Faith (2018).

[9]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 114 alt.