The Holy Eucharist
Holy Cross
September 14, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
Holy Cross is
traditionally observed on September 14 and is an opportunity to celebrate the
cross on which Jesus was crucified. Admittedly, an odd thing to “celebrate.” It
is therefore better understood as a celebration of the salvation that the cross
represents. The sacrifice that Jesus offers is one of love. The cross, a Roman
instrument of torture and death has been twisted by Christians into a powerful
symbol of salvation, and the love God bears for creation. Like, “They will beat
their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” (Isaiah
2) For by the holy cross, the world has been redeemed.
Prelude: Fantasia in G Minor Johann
Pachelbel; Pastorale Charles Wesley; Voluntary in A Minor
Anonymous (English 18th century)
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.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
We preach Christ crucified,
the power of God and the wisdom of God.
By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
537 In the Cross
of Christ I Glory
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself, may we who rejoice in the mystery of our redemption, have grace to take up our cross and follow him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
The Gospel:
John 3:13-17
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
PB 7 Lamb of
God
Sermon
The Prayers of the People:
In the cross our need meets God’s redemption in confidence and hope, we bring the prayers of our hearts for the transformation of the church and the world.
Fill with your Spirit Christ’s broken body,
the Church …
Give to Christian people everywhere a deep longing to take up the cross and to understand its mysterious glory. We thank you for sending the rain, for making the land fertile, for filling the streams with water, for providing the earth with crops, for nurturing the young plants, for tending animals, domestic and wild. With your Spirit inspire us to share your harvest with all the hungry world. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
Bless those who lead the Church’s worship …
In the preaching of the word and the celebration of the sacraments, draw your people close to you. We give thanks for Megan Macdonald and Victor Ansell who were joined in holy matrimony yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland. You reveal your goodness in the beauty and diversity of creation; in the circle dance of earth, air and water; in a universe rich in processes that support growth and community; and above all in the gift of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself to serve your world. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Give your grace to those who live your word in
the world …
Help us to witness to the faith we have received by our words and in our deeds, and daily conform us more and more to Christ, that we may glory in his cross. Where we lack love, open our hearts to the world; where we waste, give us discipline to conserve; where we neglect, awaken our minds and wills to insight and care. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
Look in your mercy upon the world you loved so
much that you sent your Son to suffer and to die …
Strengthen those who work to share the reconciliation won at such a cost upon the cross. You weave the planet and all its creatures together in kinship; your unifying love is revealed in the beauty and wonder of creation. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
Bring healing by the wounds of Christ to all
who are weighed down by pain and injustice …
For all those in need of our prayers, for those who are ill at home or in hospital, especially…
-
… and others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-
Help the lonely and the betrayed, the suffering and the dying, to find strength in the companionship of Jesus, and in his passion to know their salvation. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
Welcome into paradise all who have left this
world in your friendship … especially…
-
According to your promises, bring them with all your saints to share in the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
Accept our prayers, God of mercy, in union
with Jesus the Christ, who offered his life for our salvation upon the wood of
the cross and who now reigns with you in eternal glory forever and ever. Amen.
Confession and Absolution
God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Let us then show our love for him by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Romans 5.8
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 & Birthday Song
And Can It Be
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Merciful God, through the death of your beloved Son you transformed an instrument of shame into a sign of hope and glory. Receive all we offer you this day, and renew in us the mystery of his love; through the same Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving – Eucharistic
Prayer 3
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.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of
heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who for our salvation became obedient unto death. The tree of defeat became the
tree of victory: where life was lost, life has been restored.
Therefore with angels and archangels and all
the heavenly chorus, we cry out 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.
We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the
goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to
be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the
Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be
incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In
him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you.
In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness,
out of death into life.
On the night he was handed over to suffering
and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and
when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and
said, “Take, 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.”
Therefore, Father, according to his command,
we remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
and we offer our sacrifice of praise and
thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this
bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy
Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ
and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that
we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
In the fullness of time, reconcile all things
in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you
dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the
firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our
salvation;
by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, 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.
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
PB 43 Commune With Me
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 43 Commune With Me (verse 3)
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Almighty God, we give thanks that you have made us partakers of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who took our nature upon him and suffered death upon the cross for our redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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
Christ crucified draw you to himself,
to find in him a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope,
and the assurance of sins forgiven;
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
Go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Holy Cross
September 14, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
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.
by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you.
We preach Christ crucified,
the power of God and the wisdom of God.
By your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
God forbid that I should glory,
save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We adore you, O Christ, and we bless you;
by your holy cross, you have redeemed the world.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself, may we who rejoice in the mystery of our redemption, have grace to take up our cross and follow him, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In the cross our need meets God’s redemption in confidence and hope, we bring the prayers of our hearts for the transformation of the church and the world.
Give to Christian people everywhere a deep longing to take up the cross and to understand its mysterious glory. We thank you for sending the rain, for making the land fertile, for filling the streams with water, for providing the earth with crops, for nurturing the young plants, for tending animals, domestic and wild. With your Spirit inspire us to share your harvest with all the hungry world. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
In the preaching of the word and the celebration of the sacraments, draw your people close to you. We give thanks for Megan Macdonald and Victor Ansell who were joined in holy matrimony yesterday in Zurich, Switzerland. You reveal your goodness in the beauty and diversity of creation; in the circle dance of earth, air and water; in a universe rich in processes that support growth and community; and above all in the gift of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself to serve your world. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Help us to witness to the faith we have received by our words and in our deeds, and daily conform us more and more to Christ, that we may glory in his cross. Where we lack love, open our hearts to the world; where we waste, give us discipline to conserve; where we neglect, awaken our minds and wills to insight and care. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
Strengthen those who work to share the reconciliation won at such a cost upon the cross. You weave the planet and all its creatures together in kinship; your unifying love is revealed in the beauty and wonder of creation. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
For all those in need of our prayers, for those who are ill at home or in hospital, especially…
-
… and others we may name out loud or in our hearts…
-
Help the lonely and the betrayed, the suffering and the dying, to find strength in the companionship of Jesus, and in his passion to know their salvation. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
-
According to your promises, bring them with all your saints to share in the benefits of Christ’s death and resurrection. By the Saviour’s cross and passion,
Lord, save us and help us.
God shows his love for us in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Let us then show our love for him by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Romans 5.8
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.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Merciful God, through the death of your beloved Son you transformed an instrument of shame into a sign of hope and glory. Receive all we offer you this day, and renew in us the mystery of his love; through the same Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. Amen.
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.
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 remember his death,
we proclaim his resurrection,
we await his coming in glory;
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.
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 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.
PB 43 Commune With Me
PB 43 Commune With Me (verse 3)
Let us pray,
Almighty God, we give thanks that you have made us partakers of the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who took our nature upon him and suffered death upon the cross for our redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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.
Christ crucified draw you to himself,
to find in him a sure ground for faith,
a firm support for hope,
and the assurance of sins forgiven;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go forth in the name of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
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