The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul’s
Church, Charlottetown, PEI
Followed
by the Annual Meeting
February
23, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
Preludes: Prelude on Tallis’ Ordinal’, Chorale on ‘O King of Might and Splendour’, Voluntary
Christopher Tambling; Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness Johannes Brahms
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.
The
Collect for Purity
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.
SNC 163 We Sing a Love That Sets All People
Free
The
Collect of the Day
Let
us pray,
Almighty God, your Son revealed in signs and
miracles the wonder of your saving love. Renew your people with your heavenly
grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; 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
The Holy Gospel: Luke
6:27-38
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.
Jesus
said, "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If
anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who
takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs
from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to
others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what
credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do
good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners
do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is
that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love
your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will
be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the
ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not
judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be
condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to
you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put
into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back."
The
Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
SNC
57 O Threefold God of Tender Unity
An
Affirmation of Faith
(Colossians 3.10-16)
We
affirm our faith in a compassionate God,
We clothe ourselves with the new self,
according to the image of God our creator. We clothe ourselves without
distinction of race, Creed or colour, we are one humanity; but Christ is all
and in all! We clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness,
and patience.
We clothe ourselves with forgiveness; just as
the Lord has forgiven us, so we also will forgive. We clothe ourselves
with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. We clothe
ourselves with the peace of Christ in our hearts. We clothe ourselves with
gratitude for all wisdom and praise. Amen.
Prayers
of the People
With confidence and trust
let us pray to the God of all creation, saying: hear our prayer.
We pray for the Church universal, for the clergy of this parish, and that you will bless
us all with courage to give up our preoccupation with ourselves and to give
more of ourselves to your mission in the world. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for the vision and mission of this Parish, that in faithful witness we may
show your love and justice in all that we do. We ask you to give us the
nourishment we need to bear the fruit of repentance, so that we too may be a
people of forgiveness and mercy. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
On this Freedom Sunday we seek
your light on the grief caused by human trafficking, labour exploitation and
discrimination, and we pray for missing and murdered Indigenous women and
girls, and the hardships faced by 2SLGBTQI+ persons. Help us be a people of radical
inclusion; help us create equality and safety for visible minorities, women,
and for everyone. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for peace in the world, that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow
among nations and peoples. Give all people the courage to give up war,
bitterness, hatred, and to seek peace. We pray especially at this time for
peace in places of violence. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer. We give thanks
for development and aid agencies and pray for refugees, prisoners, and all in
danger; that they may be relieved and protected. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for the courage to give up quarrels, strife and jealousy in our families,
neighbourhoods and communities. We seek your blessing upon our parish
annual meeting, may it help us discern your will. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for those we know who are ill at home or in the
hospital, especially…
-
…and for others, we may name out loud
or in our hearts…
-
God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for those whom we have injured or offended, for grace to amend our lives and
to further your reign of love and mercy. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for those who have died in your peace, especially…
-
…and we pray for
comfort and peace to all those who mourn. God
of love,
Hear our
prayer.
God
of every land and nation, you have created all people, and you dwell among us
in Jesus Christ. Listen to the cries of those who pray to you, and grant that,
as we proclaim the greatness of your name, all people will know the power of
love at work in the world. We ask this through 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.
Announcements
Give Me Oil in My Lamp
The
Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer
Over the Gifts
Let
us pray,
Merciful God, accept all we offer you this
day. Lead us to love you with all our heart, and to love all people with your
perfect love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Eucharistic
Prayer 5
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, for the gift of a world full of
wonder, and for our life which comes from you. By your power you sustain the
universe.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
You
created us to love you with all our heart, and to love each other as ourselves,
but we rebel against you by the evil that we do. In Jesus, your Son, you bring
healing to our world and gather us into one great family.
Therefore,
with all who serve you on earth and in heaven, we praise your wonderful name,
as we sing,
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 you thanks and praise, loving Father, because in sending Jesus, your Son,
to us you showed us how much you love us. He cares for the poor and the hungry.
He suffers with the sick and the rejected. Betrayed and forsaken, he did not
strike back but overcame hatred with love. On the cross he defeated the power
of sin and death. By raising him from the dead you show us the power of your
love to bring new life to all your people.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
On
the night before he gave up his life for us, Jesus, at supper with his friends,
took bread, gave thanks to you, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “Take
this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which is given for you.”
After
supper, Jesus took the cup of wine, said the blessing, gave it to his friends,
and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of
the new and eternal covenant, which is shed for you and for many, so that sins
may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Gracious
God, with this bread and wine we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus,
and we offer ourselves to you in him. Send your Holy Spirit on us and on these
gifts, that we may know the presence of Jesus in the breaking of bread, and
share in the life of the family of your children.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Father,
you call us to be your servants; fill us with the courage and love of Jesus,
that all the world may gather in joy at the table of your kingdom.
We
sing your praise, almighty Father, through Jesus, our Lord, in the power of the
Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
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.
Breaking of the Bread
“I
am the bread which has come down from
heaven,”
says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
“I am the vine, you are the branches.”
May we dwell in him, as he lives in us.
The
gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God [sung]
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
SNC 160, Spirit,
Open My Heart
What
Does the Lord Require of You
(Voice United 701)
The Sending Forth of the Community
What Does
the Lord Require of You
Prayer
after Communion
Let
us pray,
Gracious God, in the eucharist we celebrate
your love for us and for all people. Grant that strengthened by these holy
gifts, we may show your love in our lives, and know its fulfilment in your
presence. We ask this 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
Almighty God,
may we become one living body,
your incarnate presence on the earth.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always.
Amen.
529 God, My Hope on You Is Founded
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Let
us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
St. Paul’s
Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February
16, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
Preludes: Air Jonathan Battishill; Cornet
Voluntary John Travers; Adagio Alessandro Marcello
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.
The
Collect for Purity
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.
381 Praise, My Soul
The
Collect of the Day
Let
us pray,
Almighty and everliving God, whose Son Jesus
Christ healed the sick and restored them to wholeness of life, look with
compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your power make whole all
peoples and nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The
Proclamation of the Word
First
Reading: 1
Corinthians 15:12-20
A
Reading From The First Letter Of Paul To The Corinthians
Now
if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there
is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then
Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our
proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even
found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised
Christ - whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For
if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not
been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those
also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped
in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been
raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.
Hear
what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
Psalm
1
Happy
are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the
way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful! Their delight is in the
law of the Lord, and they meditate on his law day and night.
Happy are they who trust in the Lord.
They
are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with
leaves that do not wither; everything they do shall prosper. It is not so with
the wicked; they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
Happy are they who trust in the Lord.
Therefore
the wicked shall not stand upright when judgement comes, nor the sinner in the
council of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the
way of the wicked is doomed.
Happy are they who trust in the Lord.
544 Can I See Another’s Woe
The Holy Gospel: Luke
6:17-26
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.
Jesus
came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his
disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the
coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their
diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all
in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed
all of them. Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you
who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry
now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you,
and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for
joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their
ancestors did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have
received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when
all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false
prophets."
The
Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Anthem: Psalm 86 Here My Voice, O Lord, When I Pray (Carl J. Nygard Jr.)
Prayers
of the People
We pray to God whose glory fills heaven and earth, we pray in the
name of Jesus Christ, the resurrected one, saying: hear our prayer.
We pray for the Church, remembering
especially our bishops, priest, deacons and all your people, that we may hear
your call to new possibilities for ministry and service. We pray for this
Parish, that we may share with others the joyful invitation to follow Christ.
God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray that we may have wisdom and
insight to know the voice of Jesus and to understand what is being asked of us.
We pray for peace, that you will turn the hearts of all people with power and
influence toward the road of peace and justice, so that we may let go of the
violence in our hearts. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for those in need of our
prayers: for the hungry and homeless everywhere, for agencies here on PEI that
offer help, and we pray for those we know who are sick and suffering in
hospitals or at home, especially:
-
…that they may know the peace and
grace of abundant life in Christ. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray for those who have died in
your peace, remembering especially:
-
… that they may rest in your peace, and
we pray for all who morn. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
We pray that we can rejoice in the
blessing associated with having just enough, as we weep for your creation and
the insults directed our way because of faith; so too we heed the warning of
the dangers of wealth, greed, carelessness and fleeting good publicity. May
everything we do be governed by compassion. God of love,
Hear our
prayer.
Holy God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and
continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring healing to all wounds, make
whole all that is broken, speak truth to all illusion, and shed light in every
darkness, that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. 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.
Announcements
This is the Day
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.
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 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.
Breaking of the Bread
“I
am the bread which has come down from
heaven,”
says the Lord.
Give us this bread for ever.
“I am the vine, you are the branches.”
May we dwell in him, as he lives in us.
The
gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Lamb of God [sung]
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
SNC 229 Here Is Bread
PB 118 Holy Ground
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 118 Holy Ground
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.
The
Blessing
God the Father, by whose glory Christ was
raised from the dead,
strengthen you to walk with him in his
risen life;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy
Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always.
Amen.
584 The Church of Christ in Every Age
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Go
in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
