Prayers – The Third Sunday after Epiphany
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI – Online
January 23, 2022, 10:00 a.m.
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.
O Lord, open our lips
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Your light springs up for the righteous
and all the peoples have seen your glory.
Blessed are you, Sovereign God, king of the nations,
to you be praise and glory for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
your name is proclaimed in all the world.
As the Sun of Righteousness dawns in our hearts
anoint our lips with the seal of your Spirit
that we may witness to your gospel
and sing your praise in all the earth.
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Blessed be God for ever.
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork. One day tells its tale to another, and one night imparts knowledge to another.
The words of the Lord are spirit and life.
Although they have no words or language, and their voices are not heard, Their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends of the world.
The words of the Lord are spirit and life.
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. 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 words of the Lord are spirit and life.
The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent. The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.
The words of the Lord are spirit and life.
The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
The words of the Lord are spirit and life.
By them also is your servant enlightened, and in keeping them there is great reward. Who can tell how often he offends? cleanse me from my secret faults.
The words of the Lord are spirit and life.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
The words of the Lord are spirit and life.
Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
We are called to lift our hearts in faith to the one who hears all prayers and holds close all those in need.
Let us pray for the good of the church and the concerns of those in need, saying: Hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer.
We pray for this parish of St. Paul’s: that we may be counted filled with your Holy Spirit; that we may listen for your voice; that we may recognize and celebrate that various gifts you bestow on each one of us; and that we will delight to do your will. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for greater unity among the followers of Jesus: that all Christians may work together to confront the misuse of power, the rise of greed, the threat of violence, and that we may work together to further your vision of a world of love, mercy and peace. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the healing and cooperation in government: that walls of division and brokenness may be replaced with trust, justice and harmony, and that together we may work for the good and wellbeing of all people. We pray for the people of Ukraine and for peace to be achieved. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for those with Covid-19, and all those who put their lives on the line to serve and save others, that you will give them strength, and keep them safe. We pray for everyone as we deal with the omicron variant in our midst and that together we will support one another through it all. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are ill at home or in the hospital and who are in need of our prayers, remembering especially…
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Hear our prayer.
We pray for those who have died in your peace, remembering especially…
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the Vision and Mission of this parish: that we may have compassion for the Earth and all its creatures: that we may have compassion for all people and find effective partners, people and methods of ending poverty in this world. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Holy God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring healing to all wounds, make whole all that is broken, speak truth to all illusion, and shed light in every darkness, that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. Amen.
Let us confess our sins
confident in God’s forgiveness.
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.
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 of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray,
Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; *
serve the Lord with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.
Know this: The Lord himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his name.
For the Lord is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.
Psalm Prayer
Let us pray,
God our Father, you have created us as your people, and you sustain us with your hand. Help us always to give you thanks, for you alone are worthy of thanksgiving and praise and honour, now and for ever. Amen.
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 love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself; the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service; the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
