The Holy Eucharist
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 17, 2023 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
The Season of Creation 2023
"Let Justice and Peace Flow"
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let us pray,
Almighty God, you call your Church to witness that in Christ we are reconciled to you. Help us so to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may turn to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Canticle 1 The Song of Moses (Exodus 15.1–3, 6, 11, 13, 17–18)
the horse and the rider he has hurled into the sea.
The Lord has become my strength and refuge; *
the Lord himself has become my saviour.
He is my God and I will praise him; *
my father’s God and I will exalt him.
The Lord himself is a mighty warrior; *
the Lord, the Lord is his name.
Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power; *
your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods, *
holy, awesome, worker of wonders?
In steadfast love you led your people, *
you guided your redeemed with your great strength.
You brought them in safety to your holy place, *
and planted them firm on your own mountain.
You brought them into your own house. *
The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, 'Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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 may have courage to proclaim the Gospel of love and mercy
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 fire, floods, earthquakes and who worry about hurricanes.
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…
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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…
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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 schools, colleges and universities and for those who teach and those who learn
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord
We give you thanks, O God.
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.
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.
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)
With each other, with us all, and with all creation. Amen.
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.
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
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.
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.
Hymns-during-communion
PB 19 I Come By Faith (X2)
PB 19 I Come By Faith (1x)
Let us pray,
God of peace, in this eucharist we have been reconciled to you and to our neighbours. May we who have been nourished by holy things always have the courage to forgive. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the 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 the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the source of all goodness,
pour his blessing upon all things created,
and upon us his children,
that we may use his gifts to his glory
and the welfare of all peoples;
and the blessing of God almighty,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go in peace, and may the commitment we have made this day
be matched by our faithful living.
Thanks be to God.
