The Holy Eucharist Second Sunday in Lent St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI March 16, 2025

 
The Holy Eucharist
Second Sunday in Lent
St. Paul’s Parish, Charlottetown, PEI
March 16, 2025
 
Preludes: Invocation Alexandre Guilmant; What Shall I, a Sinner, Do? Johann Pachelbel; Jesus, I Will Ponder Now J.G. Walther
 
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.
 
What Does the Lord Require of You (Voice United 701)
 
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.
 
438 To Abraham and Sarah
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross, give us faith to perceive his glory, that being strengthened by his grace we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
A Reading From The Book Of Genesis
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the Lord came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness. Then he said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess." But he said, "O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" He said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon." He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away. As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him. When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates."
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God.
 
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid? When evildoers came upon me to eat up my flesh, it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who stumbled and fell.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army should encamp against me, yet my heart shall not be afraid; And though war should rise up against me, yet will I put my trust in him.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; To behold the fair beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock. Even now he lifts up my head above my enemies round about me.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; have mercy on me and answer me. You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." Your face, Lord, will I seek.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Hide not your face from me, nor turn away your servant in displeasure. You have been my helper; cast me not away; do not forsake me, O God of my salvation. Though my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will sustain me.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Show me your way, O Lord; lead me on a level path, because of my enemies. Deliver me not into the hand of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, and also those who speak malice.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
What if I had not believed that I should see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! O tarry and await the Lord's pleasure; be strong, and he shall comfort your heart; wait patiently for the Lord.
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
 
SNC 116 One Thing I Ask
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 13:31-35
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.
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
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 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. 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 164 When the Spirit
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of wisdom, may the light of the eternal Word, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, guide us to your glory. We ask this in his name. 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
94 Wait for the Lord (repeat)
PB 89 The House of the Lord (repeat)
 
The Scattering
PB 89 The House of the Lord
 
The Prayer after Communion
Let us pray.
Creator of heaven and earth, we thank you for these holy mysteries, which bring us now a share in the life to come, through Jesus Christ our 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.
 
577 God of Grace and God of Glory
 
Dismissal (Ephesians 4:32)
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.
Thanks be to God.