The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Holy Baptism & Eucharist, February 12, 2023, 10:00 am

 
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
Holy Baptism & Eucharist
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February 12, 2023, 10:00 am
 
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.
 
There is one body and one Spirit,
There is one hope in God’s call to us;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all.
 
384 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (verses 1-4, 6)
 
The Collect of the Day for Black History Month
Let us pray,
Compassionate God, who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities, create in us new hearts and enlarged visions, to see the image of God in every person irrespective of background, race and ethnicity. May we be generous in our love of others as we work towards ending misunderstanding, racism and injustice; creating communities of human flourishing, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word –
Gospel: Luke 10.25–37
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.
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon:
 
Anthem: Let Your Light Shine
 
Presentation and Examination of the Candidates
The celebrant says,
The candidate for Holy Baptism will now be presented.
 
The Candidates are presented by their parents as follows:
I present Sacha Lewis-Parent and Evie Kate Lewis-Parent to receive the sacrament of baptism.
 
The celebrant asks each candidate when presented,
N. do you desire to be baptized?
I do
 
Then the celebrant asks the following questions of the candidates.
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
I renounce them.
 
Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
I renounce them.
 
Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
I renounce them.
 
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Saviour?
I do.
 
Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
I do.
 
Do you promise to obey him as your Lord?
I do.
 
After all have been presented, the celebrant addresses the congregation, saying,
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
We will.
 
Prayers for the Candidates
Let us now pray for these persons who are to receive the sacrament of new birth.
Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Open their hearts to your grace and truth.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Send them into the world in witness to your love.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.
Lord, hear our prayer.
 
Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Celebration of Baptism
Thanksgiving over the Water
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
 
We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over water the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through water you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In water your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.
 
We thank you, Father, for the water of baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit. Therefore in joyful obedience to your Son, we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
 
Now sanctify this water by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who are here cleansed from sin and born again, may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
 
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The celebrant then says these or similar words.
Let us join with those who are committing themselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.
 
The Baptismal Covenant
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God,
The Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
 
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
 
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in God the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
 
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?
I will, with God’s help.
 
The Baptism
The celebrant, or an assisting priest or deacon, pours water upon, the candidates, saying,
N, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
I sign you with the cross,
and mark you as Christ’s own for ever.
 
The celebrant, prays over the newly baptized, saying,
Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon these your servants the forgiveness of sin, and have raised them to the new life of grace. Sustain them, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit. Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.
 
The Giving of the Light
Each of the newly baptized receives a lighted candle,
Receive the light of Christ,
to show that you have passed from darkness to light.
 
When all of the newly baptized have received candles, the people say,
Let your light so shine before others
that they may see your good works
and glorify your Father in heaven.
 
Let us welcome the newly baptized.
We receive you into the household of God.
Confess the faith of Christ crucified,
proclaim his resurrection,
and share with us in his eternal priesthood.
 
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
 
Announcements
 
We Are One in the Spirit (They Will Know We Are Christians)
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Eternal God, you are the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers, receive all we offer you this day; turn our sickness into health and our sorrow into joy. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
The Prayers of the Community
Gracious God, be with us this day as we bring our prayers to you. We pray for all in our world, of whatever race, who suffer the horrors of modern slavery. Your Son came to bring good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed. We pray for all working to combat modern slavery and to end human trafficking: for governments and agencies, for Church and other faith leaders, for businesses, charities and individuals.
 
We are committed to this Vision and to our Mission: to be a Christ-Centered Community living out our Baptismal Covenant with Joy and Thanksgiving. We pray for Sacha Lewis-Parent and Evie Kate Lewis-Parent who are brought into the household of God through the sacrament of Baptism this morning.
 
We hold before you those we know who are ill, either at home or in the hospital, especially…
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…and for others, we may name out loud or in our hearts…
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We pray for those who have died, remembering especially
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… that they may live forever in your presence. And be a comfort to all who mourn.
 
We pray for the people of Turkey and Syria as they continue to deal with the devastation of the earthquakes. O God most holy, in Jesus Christ you have laid a foundation upon which to build our lives and we look to him for wisdom and strength. We pray this in his name and for his sake. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer 2
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.
 
We give you thanks and praise, almighty God, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer. He is your living Word, through whom you have created all things.
 
By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh of the Virgin Mary and shared our human nature. He lived and died as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
 
In fulfilment of your will he stretched out his hands in suffering, to bring release to those who place their hope in you; and so he won for you a holy people.
 
He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows, and to give up his life on the cross, that he might shatter the chains of evil and death, and banish the darkness of sin and despair. By his resurrection he brings us into the light of your presence.
 
Now with all creation we raise our voices 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.
 
Holy and gracious God, accept our praise, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread and gave you thanks, saying, “Take, and eat: this is my body which is broken for you.” In the same way he took the cup, saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you. When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”
 
Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we offer you this bread and this cup, giving thanks that you have made us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you.
 
We ask you to send your Holy Spirit upon the offering of your holy Church. Gather into one all who share in these sacred mysteries, filling them with the Holy Spirit and confirming their faith in the truth, that together we may praise you and give you glory through your Servant, Jesus Christ.
 
All glory and honour are yours, Father and Son, with the Holy Spirit in the holy Church, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
 
The Breaking of the Bread
“I am the bread of life,” says the Lord.
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;
whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are they who trust in him!
 
The Communion
The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.
Hymns-during-communion
610 Before I take the Body of My Lord
450 You Call Us, Lord, to Be
504 Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
56 I Am the Bread, the Bread of Life
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
God of tender care, in this eucharist we celebrate your love for us and for all people. May we show your love in our lives and know its fulfilment in your presence. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the 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
The peace of God which passes all understanding
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
601 God, Whose Giving, Knows No Ending
 
The Scattering
Go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.