The Harvest Thanksgiving October 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.

 
The Harvest Thanksgiving
October 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
 
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 Saviour
who blesses and hallows all of creation.
We gather in the presence of the Great Spirit
who inspires new life and renews it.
 
262 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
 
The Collect
Let us pray,
Creator of the fruitful earth, you made us stewards of all things. Give us grateful hearts for all your goodness, and steadfast wills to use your bounty well, that the whole human family, today and in generations to come, may with us give thanks for the riches of your creation. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Philippians 4:4-9
A Reading from The Letter of Paul to The Philippians
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
The Gospel: John 6:25-35
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.
When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal." Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'" Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
Prayers of the Community
With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that… gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon us. Upon the rich earth send a blessing, let the earth be fruitful and its resources be hallowed. Upon human labour send a blessing, that everyone will have dignity and just reward in their work; free the exploited and oppressed. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon us as we gather in prayer today. Bless us in our calling to serve you in all that we do. We ask your blessing on Jonathan MacDonald and Amanda Neill who were joined in holy matrimony yesterday at St. Paul’s. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon our political systems: with dangerous political rhetoric we pray for peace in Ukraine and for all war-torn places in the world. We pray for justice and peace; that all who struggle with the pain of the residential school system will find the truth and reconciliation that brings healing. Help us heal the injustice of discrimination. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon the produce of the earth. In our gratitude guide us into a sustainable future and give us the will to share the fruits of the world. Teach us to cherish the waters of the seas, lakes and rivers; to cherish the mountains, hills, valleys and island; to cherish the air and how these things work together to sustain life. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon all those who work to restore our utilities. We give thanks for first responders and health care providers. Bless aid agencies such as the PWRDF, working towards a truly just, healthy and peaceful world. Compel us to be generous. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon the sick and the suffering, remembering those we 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. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
We ask you, O Lord, to send a blessing upon those who mourn: give then courage and faith, that they may trust in your love and mercy. And so, we pray for those who have died, especially:
-         
…that they may be welcomed to share in the joy of your presence forever. With thanksgiving we pray, knowing that…
Gratitude wants to give.
 
God of compassion, we rejoice in the unity that is at the heart of your creation; look upon our land and heal it. Here we are in prayer for all who are suffering, grant that your light may shine in their darkness, and that we may bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil your law of love. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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
 
263: Praise to God, Immortal Praise
 
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray
Source of all life, the heaven and earth are yours, yet you have given us dominion over all things. Receive the symbols of our labour and love which we offer you this day, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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.
 
Here follows those people and things that members of St. Paul’s are thankful for.
 
With a deep sense of gratitude, we are thankful for, well, as one person summed it up so wonderfully, “I would not know where to start. Everyday is thankful.”
 
We are thankful for everyone in our lives: for friends and family, community, and the church: for parents, grandparents, children, siblings, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: for extended family, adopted family, Canadian family and Island family: and especially for all the love that surrounds us in all these relationships. We are thankful that our children are able to be themselves and live their best lives. For people being so helpful during power outages and the pandemic and anytime of sorrow. We are thankful for electricity.
 
We are thankful for this St. Paul’s Parish Family: for being a good and welcoming community: for the ways we support one another and hold one another up in prayer: for the clergy of the parish: for friendly faces: for singing: for laughter: for kindness: for love. We are thankful for friends who have not given up on us, for repeated invitations to come to St. Paul’s, and finally making it. We are thankful for our action towards achieving truth and reconciliation for Indigenous people. We are thankful for the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund working towards a truly just, healthy and peaceful world.
 
We are thankful for shelter, food, safety, fresh air, recreation, life, peace, faith, nature, sports, employment, study and education: We area thankful for returning to PEI with no regrets: For this country of Canada: to be living in a safe part of the world: For the compassion in our community and the freedom to hope and to dream. We are thankful that we are alive, right here, right now. We are thankful for meeting new people, and explore new things. We are thankful for being blessed in loving to do the things we do for work and to be able to help the people we care for: We are thankful for paramedics who help without judging: and for medical team who are so diligent and helpful: For surviving illness: and for long, almost perfect, health.
 
We are thankful for faith and the hope it instills in us: for the church; for that fact that God is in our lives and that God loves us: we are thankful for so many, many things.
 
Therefore we raise our voices with all who have served you in every age, 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.
 
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
 
Hymns-during-communion
70: Jesus, the Joy of Loving Hearts
261: God, Whose Farm Is All Creation
259: For the Fruit of All Creation
52 O God, Unseen Yet Ever Near
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
God of our hope, in this eucharist we find the source of all your blessings. Nourished in these holy mysteries may we, with our lives, give you continual thanks and praise. This we ask 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.
 
258: We Plough the Fields and Scatter
 
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.