An Ordo for the Commemoration of Saint Faith (16 October 2016)

On the 16th of October we commemorate our patron saint, Faith of Aquitaine, and begin our Fall Financial Campaign.

Saint Faith’s Day Celebration

16 October 2016

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

The Opening Hymn

‘Blessed Feasts of Blessed Martyrs’  Common Praise #284

The Greeting

Bless the Lord all you works of the Lord:

praise and exalt the Holy One for ever.

Bless the Lord you angels of the Lord:

praise and exalt the Holy One for ever.

O people of God bless the Lord:

praise and exalt the Holy One for ever.

Bless the holy and undivided Trinity, one God:

praise and exalt the Holy One for ever. [i]

The Kyrie

God, be gracious to us and bless us,

and make your face shine upon us:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

May your ways be known on the earth,

your saving power among the nations:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Make known your salvation,

and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy. [ii]

The Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Almighty God,

who gave your servant Faith courage

to confess Jesus Christ

and to die for this faith,

may we always be ready

to give a reason for the hope that is in us,

and to suffer gladly for his sake;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit,

one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading

A reading from the Wisdom of Sirach (51.1-12).

            ^51.1 I give you thanks, O Lord and King, and praise you, O God my Saviour.  I give thanks to your name, ² for you have been my protector and helper and have delivered me from destruction and from the trap laid by a slanderous tongue, from lips that fabricate lies.  In the face of my adversaries you have been my helper ³ and delivered me, in the greatness of your mercy and of your name, from grinding teeth about to devour me, from the hand of those seeking my life, from the many troubles I endured, ⁴ from choking fire on every side, and from the midst of fire that I had not kindled, ⁵ from the deep belly of Hades, from an unclean tongue and lying words — ⁶ the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king.  My soul drew near to death, and my life was on the brink of Hades below.  ⁷ They surrounded me on every side, and there was no one to help me; I looked for human assistance, and there was none.

            ⁸ Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your kindness from of old, for you rescue those who wait for you and save them from the hand of their enemies.  ⁹ And I sent up my prayer from the earth, and begged for rescue from death.  ¹⁰ I cried out, “Lord, you are my Father; do not forsake me in the days of trouble, when there is no help against the proud.  ¹¹ I will praise your name continually, and will sing hymns of thanksgiving.”  My prayer was heard, ¹² for you saved me from destruction and rescued me in time of trouble.  For this reason I thank you and praise you, and I bless the name of the Lord.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm

Psalm 124 from ‘A Liturgical Psalter’ [iii] with refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (sung twice):  Our help is in the name of the Holy One.

¹ If the Lord had not been on our side, *

            let Israel now say;

² if the Lord had not been on our side, *

            when enemies rose up against us;

³ then would they have swallowed us up alive *

            in their fierce anger toward us;

⁴ then would the waters have overwhelmed us *

            and the torrent gone over us;

Refrain:  Our help is in the name of the Holy One.

⁵ then would the raging waters *

            have gone right over us.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord *

            who has not given us over to be a prey for their teeth.

⁷ We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowler; *

            the snare is broken, and we have escaped.

⁸ Our help is in the name of the Lord, *

            the maker of heaven and earth.

Refrain:  Our help is in the name of the Holy One.

The Second Reading

A reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (8.31b-39).

^8.31b If God is for us, who is against us?  ³² He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?  ³³ Who will bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  ³⁴ Who is to condemn?  It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.  ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

            ³⁶ As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

            ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Thanks be to God.

The Hymn before the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise #710 (sung twice)

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (12.24-26).

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

^12.24 [Jesus said to his disciples,] “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  ²⁵ Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also.  Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.”

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Hymn after the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise #710 (sung twice)

The Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith

Let us affirm our faith.

We praise you, O God,

we acclaim you as Lord;

all creation worships you.

To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,

sing in endless praise.

Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you:

Father, of majesty unbounded,

your true and only Son, worthy of all praise,

the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

Day by day we bless you.

We praise your name for ever.

In you is our hope:

let us never be put to shame.  Amen. [iv]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘What A Friend We Have in Jesus’  Common Praise #532

Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

God of faithfulness,

your servant Faith praise you in her death.

Receive all we offer you this day,

and give us the strength of will

to proclaim your righteousness and love.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the 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.

We give you thanks and praise, almighty God,

through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. 

He is your living Word,

through whom you have created all things.

By the power of the Holy Spirit

he took flesh from the Virgin Mary

and shared our human nature. 

He lived and died as one of us,

to reconcile us to you,

the God and Creator of all.

In fulfilment of your will

he stretched out his hands in suffering,

to bring release to those who place their hope in you;

and so he won for you a holy people.

He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows,

and to give us his life on the cross,

so that he might shatter the chains of evil and death,

and banish the darkness of sin and despair. 

By his resurrection

he brings us into the light of your presence.

Now with all creation we raise 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. [v]

Holy and gracious God,

accept our praise,

through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;

who on the night he was handed over

to suffering and death,

took bread and gave you thanks,

saying, “Take, and eat: 

this is my body which is broken for you.” 

In the same way he took the cup,

saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you. 

When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,

we offer you this bread and this cup,

giving thanks that you have made us worthy

to stand in your presence and serve you.

We ask you to send your Holy Spirit

upon the offering of your holy Church. 

Gather into one

all who share in these sacred mysteries,

filling them with the Holy Spirit

and confirming their faith in the truth,

that together we may praise you

and give you glory

through your Servant, Jesus Christ.

All glory and honour are yours,

Source of all being and eternal Word,

with the Holy Spirit

in the holy Church,

now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

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

You gave your people angels’ food

and sent them bread from heaven,

so that your children might learn, O God,

that it is your word which sustains all who trust in you. [viii]

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

Thanks be to God.

The Communion of the Community

The Hymn after Communion

‘God, You Have Caused to Be Written’  Common Praise #476

The Sending Forth of the Community

Stewardship Moment

Prayer after Communion

All your works praise you, O Lord.

And your faithful servants bless you.

Gracious God,

we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son

Jesus Christ.

May we, who share his body,

live his risen life;

we, who drink is cup,

bring life to others;

we, whom the Spirit lights,

give light to the world.

Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,

so that we and all your children shall be free,

and the whole earth live to praise your name;

through Christ our Lord.  Amen. [ix]

The Closing Hymn

‘Yours Be the Glory, Risen, Conquering Son’  Common Praise #210

The Dismissal

The Deacon sends the Community forth with an appropriate Dismissal.

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[i] Adapted by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett from the Benedicite as translated in Common Worship (2000), 778-779.

[ii] Common Worship (2000), 134 alt.

[iii] http://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/GS2016-Liturgical-Psalter-2016-05-04.pdf.

[iv] Adapted from the English Language Liturgical Consultation’s translation of the Te Deum laudamus by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

[v] Common Praise #732.

[vi] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 196-197 alt.

[vii] Common Praise #744

[viii] Canticle 12, ‘The Bread of Heaven’, as found in The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 81-82 and adapted for use as a fraction anthem by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett.

[ix] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 214-215.

Bearing Witness by Speaking the Truth in Love

Feast of Saint Faith

5 October 2014

Saint Faith’s Anglican Church

Vancouver BC

         More than seventeen hundred years ago a young woman was executed by the Roman imperial government in what is now southern France.  The stories associated with her death differ in some details, but one aspect of her story remains constant:  Faith was executed because she had chosen to live her life following the way of Jesus of Nazareth.  This way of life challenged the Roman imperial government because the Christian way claimed that there was a greater loyalty than loyalty to the state.  Even though in the letter to the Romans Paul exhorts Christians to pray for the state and for its leaders, our prayers for the state and for its leaders are always to be tempered by our vision of another world, a world in which all God’s children shall be free, free from oppression and violence, free from hunger and homelessness, free from any form of discrimination and prejudice, free to become who we truly are as God’s beloved.

         This vision of the world is not always welcomed by others.  Our vision is not welcome for several reasons.  One reason is that we believe in authority rather than power.  Authority relies upon mutual respect and accountability between the parties.  Those who wish to exercise authority know that conversation and dialogue are the primary means to achieve the common good.  Authority knows that it must offer a vision or hope.  Power, however, can be exercised without conversation and dialogue.  Power does not have to offer hope or a vision; power need only have the means to coerce by force, whether that force is psychological, emotional or physical.  Power’s greatest tool is fear.

         Faith ‘threatened’ her persecutors with a vision of a new world that offered hope to all who are made in the image of God.  This vision was so persuasive that the only way to combat it was with the brute force of the imperial regime:  confiscation of goods, imprisonment, exile and, in some cases, cruel tortures and death.  These punishments were meant to overcome the vision with fear, the natural fear that human beings have of death in all its forms.  What Faith did was to speak the truth in love to the Roman government, but its representatives could only see the threat to their own understanding of a world in which might makes right and in which those who have had the right to take from those who have not.

         By choosing Faith as the patron saint of this parish, our predecessors, whether knowingly or unknowingly, have bequeathed to us the same vocation as hers.

         My friends, all we need to do is to read the newspapers or listen to the radio or watch television to realize that our times are not so different from those of Saint Faith.  Throughout the world there are powers who are happy to use all the tools of coercion they possess to suppress the vision and the hope that genuine religious faith in all its diversity offers to humanity.  Every day new witnesses to genuine religious faith, people whom we call ‘martyrs’ from the Greek word for ‘witness’, are persecuted in many and various ways.  While we generally use the word ‘martyr’ for those who are killed for their faith, let me be faithful to the New Testament understanding by saying that all who share the vision of a new world and the hope that it will come to be are ‘martyrs’, witnesses to this vision and to this hope to our sisters and brothers.

         Being a witness to this new world always comes with a cost.  For some of us this cost is counted by the resources we devote to the life of our religious communities, whether by our volunteer hours, by our financial gifts and by the use of our skills and knowledge to further the mission of God.  For others of us the cost is counted by the resistance to our vision of a new world we experience from friends or neighbours, co-workers and employers, even by elected municipal, provincial and federal governments.  For those of us in North America the cost is rarely counted by actual persecution, forced migration, imprisonment and death expect by those of our neighbours who choose to leave the security of our continent to provide or facilitate direct assistance to those in need elsewhere.

         What guides Christian witness is a vision shaped by the scriptures and the example of Christians throughout the centuries.  What sustains Christian witness is a hope fueled by our experience, from time to time, of the reality of that vision in the lives of women and men.  What Christian witness must be is the persistent and confident speaking of the truth in love, even to those who are held in thrall by the forces of fear and death.

         The truth, as Archbishop Desmond Tutu prays, is this:  ‘Goodness is stronger than evil; light is stronger than darkness; life is stronger than death; victr’y is ours, victr’y is ours, through God who loves us.  Victr’y is ours, victr’y is ours, through God who loves us.’ [1]  We who follow the Christian way know that this truth is shown to us in the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.  But we believe it to be a truth held in trust by people of many faiths and of none.  We speak this truth not to condemn any of our sisters and brothers nor to place ourselves above others; we speak this truth in love, a love which is described in Paul’s words to us last week in his letter to the Philippians:  “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2.3-4)  It is a truth for which we are prepared to bear witness --- even if it costs us.

         But there is something else about bearing witness.  Bearing witness to the truth that we know in the good news of God in Christ is an act of freedom and of joy.  Bearing witness to the good news frees us from bearing witness to the illusions and delusions of self-centredness and fear.  God is working out the divine purposes in us, through us and with us.  Every day, if we have eyes to see it, the signs of the coming world for which we hope are visible:  the hungry are fed, the naked clothed and the prisoners freed whether their hunger, their nakedness or their imprisonment be physical, spiritual or emotional.

         Bearing witness to the good news fills us with the joy that comes when we know that we are doing what we are called to do and to be.  It is a moment of calm centredness when we know that we are not only in God’s presence but that we are God’s presence in our homes, our neighbourhoods, our workplaces, our world.  I remember, as a boy, singing the American hymnal’s version of Luther’s great hymn, ‘A Mighty Fortress Is Our God’. [2]  I have never forgotten the last verse:  “That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth:  The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth:  Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill:  God’s truth abideth still, his kingdom is for ever.’  To my young mind and heart this affirmation was and has remained a constant reminder of our destination --- the kingdom of God --- and the reassurance that the joy of knowing where we are bound cannot be taken from us by anyone or anything.

         May God grant us the grace to bear witness by speaking the truth in love, in freedom and in joy.  Amen.

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[1] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), Hymn #721.

[2] The Hymnal 1940, Hymn #551.