World Day of Social Justice
The Holy Eucharist
The Gathering of the Community
In the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord be with you
and
also with you.
The Spirit of God
hovered over the water
and
brought life to all creation.
Come, Holy Spirit
and
renew the face of the earth.
Almighty
God,
to whom all hearts are
open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the
thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your holy Spirit, that we may
perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hymn 631:
The Kingdom of God is Justice and Joy
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose Son fasted forty days in
the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin, give us grace to
discipline ourselves in submission to your Spirit, that as you know our
weakness, so we may know your power to save; 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
A Reading From The Book of
Genesis
God said to Noah and to his sons
with him, "As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your
descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the
birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as
came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall
all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a
flood to destroy the earth." God said, "This is the sign of the
covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with
you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall
be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over
the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that
is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters
shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the
clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and
every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." God said to
Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me
and all flesh that is on the earth." 9:8-17
Hear what the Spirit
is saying to the Church
Thanks be to
God.
Psalm 25:1-9
Refrain: The paths of the Lord are
love and faithfulness.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my
soul; my God, I put my trust in you; let me not be humiliated, nor let my
enemies triumph over me. Let none who look to you be put to shame; let the
treacherous be disappointed in their schemes. R Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. Lead me
in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I
trusted all the day long. R Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting. Remember not the sins of my youth and my
transgressions; remember me according to your love and for the sake of your
goodness, O Lord. R Gracious and upright is the Lord; therefore he
teaches sinners in his way. He guides the humble in doing right and teaches his
way to the lowly. All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those
who keep his covenant and his testimonies. R
A Reading From The First Letter of
Peter
Christ also suffered for sins
once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God.
He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also
he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times
did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building
of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you -not as a removal of dirt
from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand
of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him. 3:18-22
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to
God.
Hymn 434: The Love of Jesus Calls Us
The Holy Gospel
The Lord be with you.
And also with
you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Glory to you,
Lord Jesus Christ.
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was
baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water,
he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And
a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well
pleased." And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He
was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild
beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came
to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is
fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the
good news." 1:9-15
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you,
Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon: Mary Boyd
Affirmation
of Faith
We say together in faith
Holy,
holy, holy
is
the Lord God almighty,
who
was, and is, and is to come.
We believe in God the Father,
who created all things:
for
by his will they were created
and
have their being.
We believe in God the Son,
who was slain:
for
with his blood,
he
purchased us for God,
from
every tribe and language,
from
every people and nation.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit:
the
Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’
Even
so come, Lord Jesus! Amen.
The Prayer of the Community
The Prayers of the People – Episcopal Litany for Social Justice (edited)
Brothers and Sisters: God commands us through Jesus Christ
to love one another. In baptism, we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all
persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves and to strive for justice and peace,
and respect the dignity of every human being.” Let us now honor those vows and
pray for the needs of others throughout our country and the world.
We pray for continued blessings on all peacemakers, on
leaders who value peace, and on everyone who promotes nonviolent solutions to
conflict. We pray for a speedy end to all violence and warfare around the
world. God of peace and gentleness,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the strength of heart and mind to look beyond
ourselves and address the needs of our brothers and sisters throughout the
world; for the rural and urban poor; for the rebuilding of our communities; and
for an end to the cycles of violence that threaten our future. God of
generosity and compassion,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all nations, that they may live in unity,
peace, and concord; and that all people may know justice and enjoy the perfect
freedom that only God can give. God of liberty and freedom,
Hear our prayer.
We pray that the Holy Spirit may embrace the most
vulnerable members of our society; we pray also for an end to the growing
disparity between the rich and poor; and for the grace and courage to strive
for economic justice. God of all gifts and blessings,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for an end to prejudice throughout our country and
the world; that we will respect all people as precious children of God; and
that all forms of discrimination will be forever banished from our hearts, our
society, and our laws. God of fellowship and equality,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for a reverence of creation; that we will have the
tools and the will to conserve it; that we will use its bountiful resources in
the service of others; and that we will become better stewards of all that has
been entrusted to us. God of nature and the universe,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all immigrants, refugees, and pilgrims from
around the world, that they may be welcomed in our midst and be treated with fairness,
dignity, and respect. God of outcasts and wanderers,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the sick, the aged and the infirm; for those
with physical or mental disabilities; that all may have access to care; and
that God’s loving embrace may be felt by all who suffer. God of comfort and
healing,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all prisoners and captives; that a spirit of
forgiveness may replace vengeance and retribution; and that we, with all the
destitute, lonely, and oppressed, may be restored to the fullness of God’s
grace. God of absolution and mercy,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all children and families, and particularly for
the orphaned, neglected, abused, and those who live in fear of violence or
disease; that they may be relieved and protected. God of children and families,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for the reconciliation of all people, and for the
Church throughout the world, that it may be an instrument of your healing love.
God of outreach and restoration,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for all who have died as a result of violence, war,
disease or famine, especially those who died because of human blindness,
neglect, or hardness of heart. God of eternal life and resurrecting love,
Hear our prayer.
Almighty God, you have promised to hear what we ask in the
name of your Son. Watch over us in the days ahead, guide us in all knowledge
and truth and make your ways known among all people. Accept and fulfill our
petitions, we pray, as you know and love us in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Human sin disfigures the whole
creation, which groans with eager longing for God’s redemption. We confess our
sin in penitence and faith.
We confess to you our lack of care for
the world you have given us. Lord have mercy.
Lord
have mercy.
We confess to you our selfishness in
not sharing the earth’s bounty fairly. Christ have mercy.
Christ
have mercy.
We confess to you our failure to
protect resources for others. Lord have mercy.
Lord
have mercy.
The president declares God’s
forgiveness.
Almighty God have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you
from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in
eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with
you.
Hymn 397:
Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God our refuge and our strength, receive all we
offer you this day, and through the death and resurrection of your Son
transform us to his likeness. We ask this in his name. Amen.
Prayer E (from Common
Worship, the Church of England)
The Lord is here.
His Spirit is
with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to
the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to
give thanks and praise.
Father, you made the world and love your creation. You gave
your Son Jesus Christ to be our Saviour. His dying and rising have set us free
from sin and death. And so we gladly thank you, with saints and angels praising
you, and saying:
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.
We praise and bless you, loving Father, through Jesus
Christ, our Lord; and as we obey his command, send your Holy Spirit, that
broken bread and wine outpoured may be for us the body and blood of your dear
Son.
On the night before he died he had supper with his friends
and, taking bread, he praised you. He broke the bread, gave it to them and
said: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance
of me.
When supper was ended he took the cup of wine. Again he
praised you, gave it to them and said: Drink this, all of you; this is my blood
of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of
sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.
So, Father, we remember all that Jesus did, in him we plead
with confidence his sacrifice made once for all upon the cross. Bringing before
you the bread of life and cup of salvation, we proclaim his death and
resurrection until he comes in glory. Great is the mystery of faith:
Christ has died:
Christ is risen:
Christ will come
again.
Lord of all life, help us to work together for that day
when your kingdom comes and justice and mercy will be seen in all the earth.
Look with favour on your people, gather us in your loving arms and bring us with
all the saints to feast at your table in heaven.
Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, O loving Father, 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.
The Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
Though
we are many,
we
are one body,
because
we all share in one bread.
The gifts of God,
for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God
Hymns-during-communion
- 572:
Let there Be Light (V 1-3, 6)
- 575:
Let Streams of Living Justice
- Make
Me a Servant (P177)
Here at St. Paul’s Church, we extend
the hospitality of the Lord’s Table to all. You are welcome to receive
communion with us this evening.
The Sending Forth of the Community
Hymn
179: Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery (v 1, 6b)
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Faithful God, in this holy bread you increase
our faith and hope and love. Lead us in the path of Christ who is your Word of
life. We ask this in his name. Amen.
The doxology
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.
The
Blessing
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of
the universe, creator of light and giver of life, to you be glory and praise
for ever. In Jesus your light has shone out; and you have given your Holy
Spirit as a mighty stream of life-giving water to refresh and renew the face of
the earth. Let your light shine in us that we may be beacons of justice and
bearers of hope.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
Blessed
be God for ever.
Hymn 484:
In Christ There Is No East or West
The
Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Go in the light and peace of Christ.
Thanks
be to God.
