9/22/23

The Holy Eucharist Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost September 24, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m. St. Paul’s Parish

 
The Holy Eucharist
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 24, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
The Season of Creation 2023
"Let Justice and Peace Flow"
 
The Gathering of the Community
The heavens declare the glory of God.
The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
The plants and trees show God’s presence.
Let us join with creation in praising God.
 
God of all creation,
who moves and inspires us through every time and season,
we bless you and praise you for the gift of life in your good, created world.
 
Grant us grace and humility to so order our lives
that we may honour you among all peoples and nations,
create wholesome and right companionship with our fellow living creatures,
and work for the healing of this world that you created.
 
Teach us to see and hear your power in the winds and waves, mountains and valleys
 so that we may glorify your goodness to us and live rightly in your creation.
We pray to you through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You and the Spirit,
Three in One, One in Three, now and forever. Amen.
 
384 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (V 1,2, 4, 6)
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth, and ourselves in your image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
Reading: Philippians 1:21-30
A Reading From The Letter Of Paul To The Philippians
For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well - since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples.
The Lord has always been mindful of his covenant.
Sing to him, sing praises to him, and speak of all his marvellous works. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Search for the Lord and his strength; continually seek his face.
The Lord has always been mindful of his covenant.
Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders and the judgements of his mouth, O offspring of Abraham his servant, O children of Jacob his chosen.
The Lord has always been mindful of his covenant.
He led out his people with silver and gold; in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled. Egypt was glad of their going, because they were afraid of them. He spread out a cloud for a covering and a fire to give light in the night season.
The Lord has always been mindful of his covenant.
They asked, and quails appeared, and he satisfied them with bread from heaven. He opened the rock, and water flowed, so the river ran in the dry places. For God remembered his holy word and Abraham his servant.
The Lord has always been mindful of his covenant.
So he led forth his people with gladness, his chosen with shouts of joy. He gave his people the lands of the nations, and they took the fruit of others' toil, That they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Hallelujah!
The Lord has always been mindful of his covenant.
 
259 For the Fruit of All Creation
 
The Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
River Processional Peace Like a River
 
An Act of Commitment for the Care of Creation
As the whole of creation looks with eager longing for the redemption of humankind, let us pledge ourselves anew to serve our Creator God, the One who is the maker of all things, the Saviour through whom all things are made, and the Holy Spirit, the giver of life, who renews the face of the earth.
 
Let us affirm our commitment to care actively for God’s creation.
Lord of life and giver of hope,
we pledge ourselves to care for creation,
to reduce our waste,
to live sustainably,
and to value the rich diversity of life.
May your wisdom guide us,
that life in all its forms may flourish,
and may be faithful in voicing creation’s praise.
May the commitment we have made this day
be matched by our faithful living. Amen.
 
Prayers of the People
Creator God, teach us to see you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for everything that you have made. Give us the grace to perceive that we are connected to everything that is. In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God.
God whom we love, we are here with open and humble hearts. In our imagination, allow us to see and hear and feel the beautiful expressions of the earth, that speak to each of us - mountains, rivers, prairie, oceans, islands, forest, meadows, trees, flowers.
… we pray for the church, that we will show your transforming love and justice in all that we do
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God.
God of love, show us our place in this world, as kin to all the non-human creatures with whom we share the earth. They came forth from your hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love, and not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
… we pray for peace and for those in authority, and for all those affected by addiction and those trying to help.
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God.
 
Saving God, we give thanks for all human beings on the earth, created from dust, yet crowned with glory, those we know and those who are strangers; those near to us and those far away; All of us beautiful, all of us flawed.
… we pray for those who are ill…
-
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God.
God of abundance, we give thanks for the sun, for water, for soil, for air, on which our lives depend moment by moment. In silence we are aware of our frailty, our complete dependence on our beloved Mother Earth who nurtures us and sustains our every breath.
… we pray for those who mourn and those who have died…
-
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God
Creator God, we enjoy the abundant fruits of the earth, yet, we acknowledge that we in the developed world, have often wasted the gifts of the earth, taking more than our share, leaving other people in other places in poverty and need. Renew our minds and transform us into servants of the earth, so that her richness and bounty will sustain, not only us, but generations to come after us.
… we pray for all who work in the healthcare professions – researchers, technicians, doctors, policy makers, nurses, care workers, janitors, emergency responders, everyone who is dedicated to our health and wellbeing.
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God.
 
Confession and Absolution
All creation invites us to join our voices in praise to God. Trusting in God’s mercy and grace, let us confess our sin to God and to one another.
 
Generous God,
you created us and placed us here to care for all of creation.
Forgive us for turning away from you
and for neglecting the earth.
Raise us up and make us again stewards of your creation
that we may see your presence in all that surrounds us;
through Christ we pray. Amen.
 
Hear and receive this good news to all who long to see and encounter Christ.
Today, salvation comes to you and the land beneath your feet. Know that we are forgiven and are free to live in peace with one another and with the earth. Amen.
 
Peace and Peacemaking
You shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (Isa 55:12)
 
The Peace of our God, in Jesus be with us all.
With each other, with us all, and with all creation. Amen.
 
Announcements
Do Lord
 
The Holy Eucharist
Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Bless these gifts and our lives, O God, that we may share both food and faith with all people and all creation. With our own hunger, feed the hungry; with our doubt, inspire our faith; and with our voice, we join other voices, demanding justice, here and everywhere, now and always.  Amen.
 
The Eucharistic Prayer for Season of Creation
May God be with you
And also with you
Lift up your hearts
We lift them up
Let us give thanks to God our Creator
It is right to give our thanks and praise
 
It is right in all times and in all places to thank and praise you Creator of all. We praise you here, on this green and red island, nestled in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where city and farm, wilderness and industry are side by side. We praise you at a time when the body of earth is broken again and again.
 
We give thanks for our place in the story of salvation. Our ancestors journeyed with you in creation and migration. They depended on the land, were displaced from the land and displaced others from their lands. They knew you in tents and cities, on mountains and by wells, in families and in dreams, and through wilderness prophets who spoke of cedars and listened to ravens.
 
Together with angels and ancestors, eagle and fox, lobster and sheep, oak trees and the Lady Slipper, we join our voices with all creation in this ancient honour song:
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 for Jesus, whose first bed was a feed trough. He was baptized in the Jordan, tested in the wilderness, he traveled in fishing boats and told parables of farmers and seeds, labour and wages, yeast and bread.
 
On the night before he died, Jesus took bread, food of the poor, the work of field and hearth, he gave thanks, broke it and gave it to his friends saying: Take and eat, this is my body, given for you, do this to remember me.
 
Again after supper he took the cup of wine, fruit of the land, gave thanks and gave it to his friends saying: This is my blood, which is shed for you. When you do this, do it in memory of me.
 
Remembering Jesus’ life, death and resurrection and awaiting his coming kingdom, we offer you this bread and this cup.
 
Creator, send your Spirit on these gifts so that we know Jesus in them and are gathered together with everyone who shares this sacred meal of justice and community.
 
Fill us with the courage and love of Jesus, that we may strive for justice and peace, respect the dignity of every human being, and safeguard the integrity of creation.
 
Bring us with all your saints to your commonwealth of sparrow and lily, child and beggar which is both now and yet to come.
 
All honour and glory are yours, Creator, Christ and Spirit, now and forever. 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.
 
The Breaking of the Bread
Today, Christ meets us at the table.
Today, salvation comes to everyone, everywhere.
These are the gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God
Lamb of God
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
               have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
               have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world
                              grant us your peace.
 
Communion
 
Hymns-during-communion
PB 243 In Moments Like These (3 x)
56 I Am the Bread, the Bread of Life
 
The Sending forth of the Community
PB 243 In Moments Like These (1x)
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Ruler of the universe, all creation yearns for its fulfilment in your Son. May we who have shared in holy things grow into maturity in him. This we ask in the name of the same 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 of miracles and of mercy,
all creation sings your praise.
Like the vineyard owner,
your grace is extravagant and unexpected.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
576 For the Healing of the Nations
 
Scattering
Go in peace,
and may the commitment we have made this day
be matched by our faithful living.
Thanks be to God.
 

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