Third Sunday after Epiphany St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI January 26, 2025

 
Third Sunday after Epiphany
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
January 26, 2025, 10:00 am
 
Preludes: Diapason Movement William Walond; Praise Be to You, O God J.S. Bach; Chorale Prelude on ’St. Peter” C. Hilton Stewart
 
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.
 
The Blessing of New Hanging
Thanksgiving, and honor, and glory, be unto you, Almighty God: from ancient times you have put it into the hearts of your people, to make offering for your service, and have been pleased at all times to receive them; mercifully accept these gifts which we devoutly offer and set apart to your glory. Grant that these gifts, may be found worthy, through your blessing, to magnify your name, to benefit your Church, and to administer grace and joy to those who rightfully use these items, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you, and the Holy Spirit, be all praise and dominion, forever and ever. Amen.
 
Almighty God we remember before you, the loved ones in whose memory these gifts are given. We trust that you have received them fully into your joyful service, that they have with you and all your servants, the eternal victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
In the faith of Jesus Christ, we dedicate:
a Frontal,
a Superfrontal,
a Bookmark,
Burse and Veil,
a Chasuble,
and two stoles:
to the glory of God, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 
383 Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun
 
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call; 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 12:12-31a
A Reading From The First Letter Of Paul To The Corinthians
Just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God
 
The Holy Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
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.
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
 
SNC 19 Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory
 
Sermon
 
Prayers of the People
O God of steadfast love, encouraging us to live lives worthy of you: Accept our prayers on behalf of your creation, and gather all people into your presence, as we pray: hear our prayer.
 
You have called your church into a ministry of service: Inspire our generosity of word and deed, that we may join in your work of reconciliation on behalf of the whole earth, inviting everyone to come and see your love and forgiveness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
You humble the exalted and exalt the humble: Be with the leaders of the nations and all in authority that they may work for an end to war and find a path of everlasting peace. May there be a spirit of compassion, with the hope that everyone will come and see your call to justice and peace. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
You lift the burden of those who suffer – help us work for truth and reconciliation with Indigenous people: Hear your children when we cry out to you in trouble, and deliver us from distress, that we will come and see in you a place of comfort and belonging. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
You have led us to this place in our lives: As the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus, so may she be upon us, that we too will bring good news to the poor; release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, freedom for the oppressed and may this be the year of the Lord's favour. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
You bless the servant-leadership of this congregation: Grant us strength to be a people of love and justice, a people of hospitality and peace, a people of joy and generosity: that we may also come and see your glory with grateful hearts. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
You hear the hearts of all who are burdened: Accept our prayers on behalf of those for whom we pray, people we know who are ill at home or in hospital, especially,
-
And others we may name out loud or in our hearts;
-
God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We thank you for the abundance of creation; hear our prayers of gratitude, especially for indications of harmony with World Religion Day and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
You bring into your eternal land of promise those who have died; we remember especially:
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And help those who mourn to come and see your presence in their lives, helping to be strengthened in the midst of their grief. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Perfect Light of revelation, shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of truth and compassion, enlightening all creation with acts of justice and mercy. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus 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
 
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory
 
The Celebration of the Holy Eucharist
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
Loving God, before the world began you called us. Make holy all we offer you this day, and strengthen us in that calling. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
 
Eucharistic Prayer 4
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 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.
 
Breaking of the Bread
We break the bread of life,
and that life is the light of the world.
God here among us,
light in the midst of us,
bring us to light and life.
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
73 One Bread, One Body
SNC 229 Here Is Bread
 
The Sending Forth of the Community
SNC 229 Here Is Bread (verse 1)
 
Prayer after Communion
Let us pray,
Gracious God, our hands have taken holy things; our lives have been nourished by the body of your Son. May we who have eaten at this holy table be strengthened for service in your world. 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
May the God of infinite goodness
scatter the darkness of sin
and brighten your hearts with holiness;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
 
484 In Christ There Is No East or West
The Scattering (Mark 4:20)
Go forth into the world,
rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.