Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Season of Creation)
September 25, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
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.
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.
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.
First Reading: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. At that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and the prophet Jeremiah was confined in the court of the guard that was in the palace of the king of Judah, where King Zedekiah of Judah had confined him. Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, "Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours." Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, "Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself." Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord. And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions, and the open copy; and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard. In their presence I charged Baruch, saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, 'Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house - for I have five brothers - that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, 'No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
We profess our faith together, saying…
We believe in God, who creates all things,
who embraces all things, who celebrates all things,
who is present in every part of the fabric of creation.
We believe in God as the source of all life,
who baptizes this planet with living water.
the malnourished one, the climate refugee,
who loves and cares for this world and who suffers with it.
And we believe in Jesus Christ, the seed of life,
who came to reconcile and renew this world and everything in it.
who moves with God and who moves among and with us today.
We believe in everlasting life in God.
And we believe in the hope that one day
God will put an end to death and all destructive forces.
(Gurukul Theological college, India / adapted by Keld B. Hansen 2009)
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: in the light of increased political rhetoric and dangerous threats we pray for peace in Ukraine and for all war-torn places in the world. 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 all health care providers, O Lord: we give thanks for their hard work, and we are blessed by their diligence now and throughout the pandemic. 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 who are ill at home or in the hospital:
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And others we may name out loud, or in our hearts…
- [pause]
…that they will find strength and healing in the ministry of others. We ask in faith:
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:
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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.
We ask you to hear us, good Lord, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
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.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
601 God Whose giving Knows No Ending
429 For The Beauty Of The Earth
408: Wind Upon the Water
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.
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.
May God who established the dance of creation, who marveled at the lilies of the field, who transforms chaos to order, lead us to transform our lives and the Church to listen to the voice of all creatures, that reflect God’s glory in creation, and may that glory, of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
