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.
