The Holy Eucharist – Season of Creation
15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 21, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s Parish
Prelude: Adagio in D
Minor William Walond; Praise Be to You, Jesus Christ J.S. Bach; Berceuse Louise
Vierne
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.
619 Fairest Lord Jesus
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth, and ourselves in your image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; 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
Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all - this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
455 Dear God, Compassionate and Kind
The Gospel:
Luke 16:1-13
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
An Affirmation of Faith
(Colossians 3.10-16)
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.
The Prayers of the People
(Honoring God in Creation)
For the well-being of the earth; for its
resources of water, air, light, and soil, that they may be tended for the good
of all creatures, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the waters of the earth; for their careful
use and conservation, that we may have the will and the ability to keep them
clean and pure, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the mineral and energy resources of the
planet, that we may learn sustainable consumption and sound care of the
environment from which they come, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the animals of the earth, wild and
domestic, large and small, that they may know the harmony of relationship that
sustains all life, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the creatures of the earth who do us harm
and those whose place in your creation we do not understand or welcome, that we
may see them as your beloved creatures, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For all who shape public policies affecting
the planet and its creatures, that they may consider wisely the well-being of
all who come after us, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For all those engaged in conservation, in
agriculture and ranching, in aquaculture and fishing, in mining and industry,
and in forestry and timber-harvesting, that the health, fruitfulness, and
beauty of the natural world may be sustained alongside human activity, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the creatures and the human beings of your
world who are ill, or in danger, pain, or special need; for those we know who
are ill at home or hospital, especially:
-
And those we name out loud or in our hearts:
-
… and for all who suffer from the unjust, violent, or wasteful use of the earth’s resources or their devastation by war, that all may one day live in communities of justice and peace, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the gifts of science and technology and
for those who practice these skills, that they may be wise, visionary, and
compassionate in their work, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
For the creatures and the people of the earth
whose lives and deaths have contributed to the fruitful abundance of this
planet, giving thanks especially for:
we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Grant us, Creator, not to be anxious about
human status, but to serve all Creation; and even now, while we live amidst
distractions, to hold fast to the simple life; through Jesus Christ the Wisdom
of Creation, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for
ever. Amen.
Confession and Absolution
Let us confess our sins against God and all Creation.
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
Peace with yourself.
Peace with Creation.
Peace with one another.
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
416 All Things Bright and Beautiful
The Celebration of the Eucharist
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of power, the glory of your works fills us with wonder and awe. Accept our offering this day, and help us to live in peace and harmony with all your creation, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving – Eucharistic
Prayer 4
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
PB 91 Let There Be Love (repeated)
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 91 Let There Be Love
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Ruler of the universe, all creation yearns for its fulfilment in your Son. May we who have shared in holy things grow into maturity in him. This we ask in the name of the same 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
May God who established the dance of creation,
who marveled at the lilies of the field,
who transforms chaos to order,
lead us to transform our lives and the Church
to listen to the voice of all creatures
that reflect God’s glory in creation.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
577 God of Grace and God of Glory
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve God’s Creation.
Thanks be to God the Creator.
15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 21, 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.
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.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth, and ourselves in your image. Teach us to discern your hand in all your works and to serve you with reverence and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all - this was attested at the right time. For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
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 Luke.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.' Then the manager said to himself, 'What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.' So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he asked the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' He answered, 'A hundred jugs of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.' Then he asked another, 'And how much do you owe?' He replied, 'A hundred containers of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill and make it eighty.' And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
-
And those we name out loud or in our hearts:
-
… and for all who suffer from the unjust, violent, or wasteful use of the earth’s resources or their devastation by war, that all may one day live in communities of justice and peace, we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
we pray:
Merciful God, keep your planet and people in peace.
Let us confess our sins against God and all Creation.
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.
Peace with yourself.
Peace with Creation.
Peace with one another.
The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.
The Prayer over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of power, the glory of your works fills us with wonder and awe. Accept our offering this day, and help us to live in peace and harmony with all your creation, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
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.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Glory to you for ever and ever. Amen.
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 91 Let There Be Love (repeated)
PB 91 Let There Be Love
Let us pray,
Ruler of the universe, all creation yearns for its fulfilment in your Son. May we who have shared in holy things grow into maturity in him. This we ask in the name of the same Jesus Christ our 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 who established the dance of creation,
who marveled at the lilies of the field,
who transforms chaos to order,
lead us to transform our lives and the Church
to listen to the voice of all creatures
that reflect God’s glory in creation.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve God’s Creation.
Thanks be to God the Creator.
