3/7/18

March 11, 2018 - Lent 4


The Gathering of the Community
A Penitential Order
All stand.
The presiding celebrant greets the community.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you all.
            And also with you.

Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
            His mercy endures for ever.

Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you 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.

Confession and Absolution
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted. Let us confess our sins remembering before God the times when we have fallen from temptation into sin.

Silence is kept.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
The celebrant stands and says,
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.

Hymn 363: My Soul Proclaims Your Glory, Lord

The Collect of the Day
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world, evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Word
Numbers 21:4-9

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

Ephesians 2:1-10

Hymn 601: God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending

The Holy Gospel
John 3:14-21

Sermon

An Affirmation of Faith
Let us declare our faith
in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: this we have received, and this we believe. Amen.
cf 1 Corinthians 15.3-7

The Prayers of the Community
We pray to the Lord for courage to give up other things and to give ourselves to him this Lent.
Give your Church the courage to give up her preoccupation with herself and to give more time to your mission in the world.
[The Cycle of Prayer]
May the blood and water flowing from the side of Jesus bring forgiveness to your people and help us to face the cost of proclaiming salvation. Lord, meet us in the silence,
     give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give your world the courage to give up war, bitterness and hatred, and to seek peace.
[We pray for …]
May the shoulders of the risen Jesus, once scourged by soldiers, bear the burden of political and military conflict in our world. Lord, meet us in the silence,
     give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give us the courage to give up quarrels, strife and jealousy in our families, neighbourhoods and communities.
[We pray for …]
May the presence of the risen Jesus, his body once broken and now made whole, bring peace and direction as we live with one another. Lord, meet us in the silence,
     give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give us the courage to give up our selfishness as we live for others, and to give time, care and comfort to the sick.
[We pray for …]
May the wounded hands of Jesus bring his healing touch, and the light of his presence fill their rooms. Lord, meet us in the silence,
     give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give us the courage to give up our fear of death and to rejoice with those who have died in faith.
[Especially we hold … in our minds.]
May the feet of the risen Lord Jesus, once nailed to the cross, walk alongside the dying and bereaved in their agony, and walk with us and all your Church through death to the gate of glory. Lord, meet us in the silence,
     give us strength and hear our prayer,
     here and in eternity. Amen.

The Peace (at 10:00. The Offering at 8:00)
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist

Hymn: My Jesus Walked

The Prayer over the Gifts
God of mercy and compassion, your Word calls us home to faith and love. Accept all we offer you this day, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving
See the Book of Alternative Services at 10:00 a.m.,
and the Book of Common Prayer at 8:00 a.m.
The responses will be said.

The Lord’s Prayer (said at 10:00)

The Breaking of the Bread (Lent and Holy Week)
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.

Lamb of God
Hymns-during-communion at 10:00 a.m.
- 610: Before I Take the Body of My Lord (V 1, 4, 5)
- 423: How Great Thou Art
- Holy Ground (P118)

The Sending Forth of the Community
(The Lord’s Prayer at 8:00)

Hymn 179: Tree of Life (V 4, 6e)

The Prayer after Communion
Giver of life, you enlighten all who come into the world. Fill our hearts with the splendour of your grace, that we may perfectly love you and worthily praise your holy name, through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

A doxology (at 10:00)
Faithful God,
may we who share this banquet glory in the cross
of our Lord Jesus Christ, our salvation, life and hope,
who reigns as Lord now and for ever. Amen.

Blessing
May the God of mercy transform you by his grace, and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn 524: O Christ, the Sure Foundation

The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.