The Holy Eucharist St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI Sept. 12, 2021 A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos (family) of God

 
The Holy Eucharist
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
Sept. 12, 2021
A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos (family) of God
 
The 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.
We gather in the image of the Creator
who is a community of love.
We gather in the name of the Redeemer
who reconciles all of creation.
We gather in the presence of the Life Giver
who inspires new life and renews it.

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.
 
Hymn 403: Let All things Now Living
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Almighty God, you call your Church to witness that in Christ we are reconciled to you. Help us so to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may turn to you; 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:
Psalm 19
¹      The heavens declare the glory of God, *
        and the firmament shows his handiwork.
²              One day tells its tale to another, *
                and one night imparts knowledge to another.
³      Although they have no words or language, *
        and their voices are not heard,
⁴              Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
                and their message to the ends of the world.
⁵      In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
        it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
        it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
⁶              It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
                and runs about to the end of it again; *
                nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
 
The Holy Gospel: Mark 8:27-38
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.
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things." He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
An Affirmation of Faith (Colossians 3.10-16)
We affirm our faith in a compassionate God,
We clothe ourselves with the new self,
according to the image of God our creator.
We clothe ourselves without distinction
of race, Creed or colour,
we are one humanity;
Christ is all and in all!
We clothe ourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 
We clothe ourselves with forgiveness;
just as the Lord has forgiven us, so we also will forgiven.
We clothe ourselves with love,
which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
We clothe ourselves with the peace of Christ in our hearts.
We clothe ourselves with gratitude for all wisdom and praise. Amen.
 
The Prayers of the People
Let us ask the God of creation to send a blessing upon us. Upon the rich earth send a blessing, O Lord. Let the earth be fruitful and its resources be hallowed. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon human labour send a blessing, O Lord. Prosper the work of our hands; may all find dignity and just reward in their work; free the exploited and oppressed. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon our political systems, O Lord: help us elect trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and thus serve you faithfully in our generation to the honour of your holy name. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon our desire for justice. O Lord: help all who are struggling with the pain of the residential school system find the truth and reconciliation that will bring healing – help us heal the injustice of discrimination wherever it is found in our society. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon the produce of the earth send a blessing, O Lord. Guide us into a sustainable future, and give us the will to share the fruits of the world. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon the seas and waters send a blessing, O Lord. Teach us to cherish the water of the earth, and to conserve the seas, lakes and rivers. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon aid agencies send a blessing, O Lord. Where the earth is parched and the well has run dry; where war brings want, and children go hungry; where the poor cry out for bread and for justice, give hands to care and heal, and compel us to be generous. We ask in faith:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon the sick and the suffering, O Lord, remembering those know who are ill at home or in the hospital:
-
And others we may name out loud, or in our hearts…
-
…that they will find strength and healing in the ministry of others, God of love:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon those who mourn, O Lord: give courage and faith, that they may trust in your love for all that you have made. And so we pray for those who have died, and we remember especially today:
-
…that they may be welcomed to share in the joy of your presence forever. God of love:
                we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
We ask you to hear us, good Lord, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins,
confident in God’s forgiveness.
 
Let us pray.
As we remember who we are, what we are, and what we have done, as we turn away from the forgetfulness and self-centredness of the past, may God the loving Creator welcome us, forgive us, set us free from the past and strengthen us to live a new life, to cooperate in a new creation.
 
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.
 
Announcements
 
Hymn 309: Praise the Lord With the Sound of Trumpet (verses 1, 2, 1)
 
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Holy God,
accept all we offer you this day.
May we who are reconciled at this table
bring wholeness to our broken world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer 2
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 of the Virgin Mary and shared our human nature. He lived and died as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father 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 up his life on the cross, 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.
 
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, Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, 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.
Silence
 
The Breaking of the Bread
Creator of all,
you gave us golden fields of wheat,
whose many grains we have gathered
and made into this one bread.
So may your Church be gathered
from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.
 
The Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
 
Communion
 
Hymn-during-communion
479: O Christ the Master Carpenter
We Remember You (P121)
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
God of peace,
in this eucharist we have been reconciled
to you and to our neighbours.
May we who have been nourished by holy things
always have the courage to forgive.
We ask this 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
God the Father, who created the world, give you grace to be wise stewards of creation.
God the Son, who redeemed the world, inspire you to go out as labourers into the harvest.
God the Holy Spirit, whose breath fills the whole creation, help you to bear fruits of love, joy and peace.
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
Hymn 431: Take Up Your Cross, the Saviour Said
 
The Scattering
Tend the earth, care for God’s good creation,
and bring forth the fruits of righteousness.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.