The Holy Eucharist St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI Sept. 26, 2021

 
The Holy Eucharist
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
Sept. 26, 2021
A Home for All? Renewing the Oikos (family) of God
National Day for Truth & Reconciliation
 
The Gathering of the Community
(welcome) KWE’
KWE’
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 398: Let Us With a Gladsome Mind
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Grant, O merciful God, that your Church, being gathered by your Holy Spirit into one, may show forth your power among all peoples, to the glory of your name; 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 Holy Gospel: Mark 9:38-50
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.
John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
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 forgive.
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 each member of this Parish, O Lord. May each of us use our unique gifts and opportunities to share your love through words and deeds of healing, hospitality, and welcome. 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 the produce of the earth send a blessing, O Lord. Guide us into a sustainable future, and give us the will to share the bounty of the harvest. 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 First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada send a blessing, O Lord. Help us encourage partnerships based on recognition, respect and support for the rights and wellbeing of the Indigenous peoples. Enable the truth to be revealed so that genuine and lasting reconciliation may be achieved. We ask in faith:
               we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon all who choose to enter the into marriage, O Lord. Bless Rebecca and Jonas who were joined together in holy matrimony on Friday, here at St. Paul’s Church. May they so live together that the strength of their love may enrich our common life and become a sign of your faithfulness. We ask in faith:
               we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Upon the sick and the suffering, O Lord, remembering those who are ill at home or in the hospital:
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And others we may name out loud, or in our hearts…
-
…that they will find strength and healing in the ministry of others, We ask in faith:
               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. We pray for those who have died:
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…that they may be welcomed to share in the joy of your presence forever. We ask in faith:
               we ask you to hear us, good Lord.
 
Guide us, O Creator, as we continue in the work of healing, justice, and right relations for the generations it will take to address the harm of the residential schools system, and guide this country on a new and life-giving path. 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 502: You Are Salt
 
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Eternal God,
in Jesus Christ we behold your glory.
Receive the offering of your people gathered before you,
and open our hearts and mouths
to praise your great salvation,
the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer 5
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, for the gift of a world full of wonder, and for our life which comes from you. By your power you sustain the universe.
 
You created us to love you with all our heart, and to love each other as ourselves, but we rebel against you by the evil that we do. In Jesus, your Son, you bring healing to our world and gather us into one great family.
 
Therefore, with all who serve you on earth and in heaven, we praise your wonderful name, as we say,
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 you thanks and praise, loving Father, because in sending Jesus, your Son, to us you showed us how much you love us. He cares for the poor and the hungry. He suffers with the sick and the rejected. Betrayed and forsaken, he did not strike back but overcame hatred with love. On the cross he defeated the power of sin and death. By raising him from the dead you show us the power of your love to bring new life to all your people.
 
On the night before he gave up his life for us, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you.”
 
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which is shed for you and for many, so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
 
Gracious God, with this bread and wine we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus, and we offer ourselves to you in him. Send your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts, that we may know the presence of Jesus in the breaking of bread, and share in the life of the family of your children.
 
Father, you call us to be your servants; fill us with the courage and love of Jesus, that all the world may gather in joy at the table of your kingdom.
 
We sing your praise, almighty Father, through Jesus, our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit, 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
610: Before I Take the Body of My Lord
56: I Am the Bread, the Bread of Life
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Father in heaven,
strengthen the unity of your Church,
so that we who have been fed with holy things
may fulfil your will in the world.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our 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 412: O God, Beyond All Face and Form
 
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.