The Holy Eucharist Fourth Sunday after Pentecost June 16, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m. St. Paul’s Parish

 
The Holy Eucharist
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
June 16, 2024 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
Prelude: Allemande, Sarabande, Prelude in C, J.S. Bach; Sarabande, Prelude in C; J.S. Bach
 
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.
 
Almighty God,
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.
 
101 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
 
The Collect of the Day (FWM Proposed Prayers alt.)
Let us pray.
God of the unexpected, you take what is old and make it new, and what is dead and bring it to life; you take our false expectations and transform them into your truth. Help us to accept the challenge of your call, so that, trusting in your promise, we journey by faith in Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
Reading: 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13
A Reading from The First Book of Samuel
Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. The Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the Lord's anointed is now before the Lord." But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the Lord chosen this one." Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The Lord has not chosen any of these." Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
Anthem: A Prayer of Saint Patrick (Richard DeLong)
 
The Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Mark.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
259 For the Fruit of All Creation
 
Affirmation of Faith: Hear, O Israel
Let us affirm our faith with these words,
Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first and the great commandment.
The second is like it: Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these
 
The Prayers of the People
We thank you for the splendour of creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love. We pray for the unity of the church, that our life together may reflect the love you have shown us. God of love:
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the mission of the church, that we may be a people who show your transforming love and justice in all that we do. We ask your grace for Sandra our bishop, and for all who minister in word and in action, that we may bear faithful witness to your good news. God of love:
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, that they may strive for justice and peace, for the gift of peace, that you will turn hearts from violence and help us to see one another as your beloved children, and give us the will to end our waring madness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side. We seek your peace and justice in our world, our country, and our community, that those in need may never be forgotten. On this Father’s Day – we give thanks for the teaching, direction and support given by fathers and all men who parent. God of love:
Hear our prayer.
We thank you for the beauty and wonder of creation; for the ability think and to love; for health, strength, and skill; and for leisure to rest and play. We ask your blessing on our homes, our friends and family, and on those who live alone, that we may know your constant presence. God of love:
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison; for those in any need or trouble. We name before you all those we know who are ill, at home or in the hospital, especially…
-
… and others we may name out loud or in our hearts,
-
knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can ask or imagine. God of love:
Hear our prayer.
For all those who have died in your peace, and whose faith is known to you alone, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom. (We remember especially…
- )
Grant a peaceful end and eternal rest to all who are dying, and your comfort to those who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for those in danger and need; for refugees and aid agencies; for all those throughout the world for whom the daily life we take for granted is filled with violence, struggle, and anxiety, that their burdens will ease, and they may be freed. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Eternal God, you create us by your power and redeem us by your love. Guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that we may give ourselves today in love and service to one another and to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
 
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name. Amen.
 
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.
 
This is the Day
 
Announcements
 
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of reconciliation and forgiveness, the saving work of Christ has made our peace with you. May that work grow toward its perfection in all we offer you this day. We ask this in his name. Amen.
 
The Great Thanksgiving - Eucharistic Prayer 4
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.
 
It is right to give you thanks and praise, O Lord, our God, sustainer of the universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
 
At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home; by your will they were created and have their being.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
 
From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill; you made us the stewards of creation.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
 
But we turn against you, and betray your trust; and we turn against one another. Again and again you call us to return. Through the prophets and sages you reveal your righteous law. In the fullness of time you sent your Son, born of a woman, to be our Saviour. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. By his death he opened to us the way of freedom and peace.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
 
Therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:
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.
 
Blessed are you, Lord our God, for sending us Jesus, the Christ, who on the night he was handed over to suffering and death, took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, gave it to his friends, and said, “Take this, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
In the same way, after supper, he took the cup of wine; he gave you thanks, 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.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.
 
Gracious God, we recall the death of your Son Jesus Christ, we proclaim his resurrection and ascension, and we look with expectation for his coming as Lord of all the nations. We who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring you these gifts. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this offering of your Church, that we who eat and drink at this holy table may share the divine life of Christ our Lord.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
 
Pour out your Spirit upon the whole earth and make it your new creation. Gather your Church together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, where peace and justice are revealed, that we, with all your people, of every language, race, and nation, may share the banquet you have promised;
 
through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, all honour and glory are yours, creator of all.
Glory to you for ever and 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.
 
The Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread
to share in the body of Christ.
We, being many, are one body,
for we all share in the one bread.
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
73 One Bread, One Body
PB 243 In Moments Like These (repeated).
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 243 In Moments Like These (repeated).
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Holy and blessed God, as you give us the body and blood of your Son, guide us with your Holy Spirit, that we may honour you not only with our lips but also in our lives. 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.
 
The Blessing
As you go into the world, into every place, live the Word of God,
seek God’s presence in each time and space.
And as you go, may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
598 Go to the World
 
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.