March 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
Lent 3
March 7, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
 
Gathering of 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 Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Confession and Absolution
Dear Friends in Christ, as we prepare for the Paschal Feast, continuing in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers, let us make ready our hearts
to renew the covenant of our baptism.
 
Let us bow before our Creator and Redeemer.
 
The presider continues,
Let us ask God to bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and to disclose to us the true purposes in our hearts. And most especially, let us remember the covenant of our baptism and test our hearts and conscience to know how faithfully... we have sought and served Christ in all persons, loving our neighbours as ourselves.
 
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.
 
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 391: Sing Ye Praise to the Father
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Father of mercy, alone we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves. When we are discouraged by our weakness, strengthen us to follow Christ, our pattern and our hope; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word:
The Gospel: John 2:13-22
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
Prayers of the People
With confidence and trust let us pray to the Lord, saying, hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the Church throughout the world, for the whole People of God, that each one may be a true and faithful servant of Christ. We pray for the mission of this Church, that in faithful witness we may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, proclaiming a Gospel of love and justice. Be with us in our Annual Meeting today. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for those drawing near to the light of faith, that they may be brought to the true knowledge of you; we pray for our families and friends, that you will give them joy and satisfaction in all that they do; we pray for the whole human family, that we may live together with justice and mercy. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for peace in the world, that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow among nations and peoples; we pray for our country, that we will help contribute to its true growth and well-being; we pray for good weather, and for abundant harvests of land and sea for all to share. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for those in positions of power and influence during this time of a pandemic, that what they do will benefit humanity; whether they are doing research, creating policies and protocols, planning distribution, making calls, administering vaccines or waiting in line – that you strengthen all who give their energy for the wellbeing of the whole community. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all in danger; that they may be relieved and protected; we pray for all whom we have injured or offended, and for grace to amend our lives and to further your reign, God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for those we know who are ill at home or in the hospital, especially:
-         
And for others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-         
that they may experience the healing and renewing touch of Jesus. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
We pray for those who have died in the peace of Christ, and for those whose faith is known to you alone, especially…
-         
And that all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, may enjoy a share in the victory of our Lord Jesus Christ and fulness of joy in the fellowship of all your saints. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
 
God of the covenant, you call us to be fruitful servants of creation, and to offer our lives as the foundation of your realm. In our prayers, we lay before you the desires of our hearts, that we may be transformed by their fulfillment. May the prayers we offer be a channel for new and abundant life for the whole earth. In the name of Christ, we pray. Amen.
 
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
 
Announcements
 
Hymn 418: Draw the Circle Wide
 
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Gracious God, we know your power to triumph over weakness. May we who ask forgiveness be ready to forgive one another, in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen.
 
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer 3
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.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth, because you bid your faithful people to cleanse their hearts and to prepare with joy for the paschal feast; that reborn through the waters of baptism and renewed in the eucharistic mystery, we may be more fervent in prayer and more generous in the works of love. Therefore we raise our voices to you in praise 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.
 
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
 
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he 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. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
 
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
 
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
 
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation;
 
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for 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,
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.
 
Lamb of God
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 your peace.
 
The gifts of God for the People of God.
               Thanks be to God.
 
Communion
 
Hymn 56: I Am the Bread
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray
God of mercy and forgiveness, may we who share this sacrament live together in unity and peace, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. 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.
 
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 389: O God of Font and Altar
The Scattering
Go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.