3/29/25

Fourth Sunday in Lent – Mothering Sunday St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI March 30, 2025

 
The Holy Eucharist
Fourth Sunday in Lent – Mothering Sunday
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
March 30, 2025
 
Preludes: Siciliano John Alcock; Abide, O Dearest Jesus Flor Peeters; Voluntary in G Major William Walond
 
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.
 
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
His mercy endures for ever.
 
 
A Penitential Order
Psalm 103.8
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
 
Confession and Absolution
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
O my God, in you I trust.
You are the God of my salvation;
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
In you I hope all the day long.
O my God, in you I trust.
Remember, Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;
O my God, in you I trust.
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against God. Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask God’s mercy by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
 
Silence is kept.
 
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.
 
442 Great God, Your Love Has Called Us Here
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world, evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
A Reading From The Second Letter Of Paul To The Corinthians
From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
Psalm 32
Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile!
You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long. For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord." Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them. You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
"I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you."
You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
Great are the tribulations of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
 
SNC 122 Before the Throne of God
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
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.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." So he told them this parable: "There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe - the best one - and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate. Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him! 'Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Sermon
 
Prayers of the People – Lent
With confidence and trust let us pray to the Lord, saying, “hear our prayer.”
 
For the one holy catholic and apostolic Church throughout the world, for all the clergy and people, that by self-examination we acknowledge the need for greater courage to give more of our selves to your will in the world, as it is in heaven. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness we may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, and that in repentance we may come to know the need for us to be a people of love and justice. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For this diocese on Mothering Sunday, for the renewal of the Church in faith, love and service; for Sandra our bishop our bishop and for the life of the Cathedral Churches of All Saints, Halifax and St. Peters, Charlottetown and for this parish. We give thanks for the gift of your word, the grace of the sacraments and the fellowship of your people. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For peace in the world, that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow among nations and peoples, that through fasting and self-sacrifice we can achieve an end to violence and war. We pray especially for peace in Gaza and in Ukraine. And keep this nation under your care: help us elect trustworthy
leaders, who will contribute to wise decisions for the welfare of all. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer; for refugees, prisoners, and all in danger; that they may be relieved and protected, that by the giving of our treasure our church and associated aid agencies will be empowered with the resources needed to make a difference. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For those who are ill at home or in hospital: especially those known to us…
-
And others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-
… that in our prayer we trust that you will deliver them and keep them in your love. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For all those who have died in the peace of Christ, and for those whose faith is known to you alone, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially,
-
… and be a comfort to those who mourn. God of love.
hear our prayer.
For the just and proper use of your creation; that by reading and meditating on your word we will strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth. God of love.
hear our prayer.
God our Father, in your love and goodness you have taught us to come close to you in penitence with prayer, fasting and generosity; accept our Lenten discipline, and when we fall by our weakness, raise us up by your unfailing mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
The Peace
Introduction (cf John 14.27)
Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.’
The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.
 
Announcements
 
SNC 116 One Thing I Ask (Repeat whole hymn)
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of mercy and compassion, your Word calls us home to faith and love. Accept all we offer you this day, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
Supplementary Eucharistic Prayer 3 (S3)
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 indeed right to thank you and praise you, holy and gracious God, creator of all things, ruler of heaven and earth, sustainer of life, for you are the source of all goodness, rich in mercy and abounding in love; you are faithful to your people in every generation, and your word endures for ever.
 
Therefore with angels and archangels, with the fellowship of saints and the company of heaven, we glorify your holy name, evermore praising you and singing,
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 praise you, merciful Father, not as we ought, but as we are able, because in your tender love you gave the world your only Son, in order that the world might be saved through him. He made you known by taking the form of a servant, healing the sick, liberating the oppressed, reaching out to the lost.
 
Betrayed, reviled, and nailed to the cross, he confronted the power of sin and disarmed it for ever. In his offering of himself, he became the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. Redeemed by Christ, we have been adopted as your children; by your pardon you have made us worthy to praise you.
 
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take and eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
 
After supper he took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, 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.”
 
In obedience to him and with grateful hearts we approach your holy table, remembering our Saviour’s sacrifice, and rejoicing in his victory. Confident in his sovereign purpose, we declare our faith.
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.
 
Send your Holy Spirit on us that as we receive this bread and this cup we may partake of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and feed on him in our hearts by faith with thanksgiving.
 
May we be renewed in his risen life, filled with love, and strengthened in our will to serve others; and make of our lives, we pray, a pure and holy sacrifice, acceptable to you, knitting us together as one in your Son Jesus Christ, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, 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.
 
Breaking of the Bread
We break this bread,
Communion in Christ’s body once broken.
Let your Church be the wheat
which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with him,
we shall live with him;
if we hold firm,
we shall reign with him.
 
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
SNC 32 When at This Table
PB 33 No Other Love (repeat these 2 verses, as needed) 
 
The Scattering
PB 33 No Other Love
 
The Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Giver of life, you enlighten all who come into the world. Fill our hearts with the splendour of your grace, that we may perfectly love you and worthily praise your holy name, through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
A Doxology
Faithful God,
in this communion
you increase our faith and hope and love.
Lead us in the path of Christ
who is your Word of life. Amen.
 
Blessing (Lent)
May the God of mercy transform you by his grace,
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
352 Amazing Grace
 
Dismissal (Ephesians 4:32)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.
Thanks be to God.

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