Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February 1, 2026, 10:00 am
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.
428 God Who Gives to
Life its Goodness
The Collect of the
Day
Let us pray,
Living God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your glory; 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 Lord
First Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord." "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 15
Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? who may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.
The just shall dwell on your holy mountain.
There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil to his friend; he does not heap contempt upon his neighbour. In his sight the wicked is rejected, but he honours those who fear the Lord.
The just shall dwell on your holy mountain.
He has sworn to do no wrong and does not take back his word. He does not give his money in hope of gain, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be overthrown.
The just shall dwell on your holy mountain.
439 Blest Are the
Poor in Heart
The
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Prayers of the People
Gracious and heavenly God, we are reminded today that your blessings do not follow the logic of this world. Hear us in our prayers as we seek your blessing, saying, hear our prayer.
The world believes
that the rich are blessed, but Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,”
and so we pray for a world of justice and fairness, in which all have enough,
and no one will be without food and water, shelter and clothing, education and
job opportunities, healthcare and security as they age. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Although we know that death and grief are inevitable, Jesus says that those who mourn are blessed because they will find comfort. Help us, O God, to know the truth of this mystery; and bring healing and wholeness to those who are sick; and comfort those of us who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for those who have died in your peace, and we remember especially:
… be with those who mourn that they may be strengthened in the midst of their grief. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Hear our prayers for 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.
While people covet power and fame, Jesus blesses the meek. Instruct us, O God, in the ways of humility; help us to stand with the oppressed, marginalized, the refugee and immigrant; help us see your presence in the faces of those the world forgets. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Give us the same hunger and thirst for righteousness; fill our hearts with love, that doing your will in this world will fill us with joy. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful,” and “the pure in heart,” may our lives overflowing with mercy; and our hearts be pure, that our Parish vision to be a transforming community of love and justice may be made real. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
In a society divided by race, gender, class, ideology, sexual orientation, and in so many other ways, remind us that we are created in your image, each of us a beautiful reflection of you, each of us your beloved child. Help us end our conflicts and wars, help us to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Today, at the beginning of Black History month, we are reminded that you are the God and creator of all peoples, whose Son reached across ethnic boundaries to end ignorance and bigotry. And when we face persecution, hatred, lies and indifference about who we are, bless us with a sense of that heavenly realm where there is joy and gladness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
God our deliverer, you walk with the meek and the poor, the compassionate and those who mourn, and you call us to walk humbly with you. When we are foolish, be our wisdom; when we are weak, be our strength; that, as we learn to do justice and to love mercy, your rule may come as blessing. 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
309 Praise the
Lord with the Sound of Trumpet
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of steadfast love, may our offering this day, by the power of your Holy Spirit, renew us for your service. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
The Great
Thanksgiving - Eucharistic Prayer 3
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.
Blessed are you,
gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; you are the source of light and life
for all your creation, you made us in your own image, and call us to new life
in Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Therefore we praise
you, joining our voices 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.
Breaking of the Bread
“I am the bread of life,” says the Lord.
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;
whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are they who trust in 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
PB 222 Communion Song
PB 121 We Remember You
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 121 We Remember You
Prayer After
Communion
Let us pray,
Source of all goodness, in this eucharist we are nourished by the bread of heaven and invigorated with new wine. May these gifts renew our lives, that we may show your glory to all the world, 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
O Lord our God, let your light shine in us and through us,
that we may become beacons of truth and compassion,
enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
602 Lift High the
Cross
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February 1, 2026, 10:00 am
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.
Let us pray,
Living God, in Christ you make all things new. Transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
First Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Hear what the Lord says: Rise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with his people, and he will contend with Israel. "O my people, what have I done to you? In what have I wearied you? Answer me! For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and redeemed you from the house of slavery; and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised, what Balaam son of Beor answered him, and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal, that you may know the saving acts of the Lord." "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? who may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.
The just shall dwell on your holy mountain.
There is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil to his friend; he does not heap contempt upon his neighbour. In his sight the wicked is rejected, but he honours those who fear the Lord.
The just shall dwell on your holy mountain.
He has sworn to do no wrong and does not take back his word. He does not give his money in hope of gain, nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be overthrown.
The just shall dwell on your holy mountain.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gracious and heavenly God, we are reminded today that your blessings do not follow the logic of this world. Hear us in our prayers as we seek your blessing, saying, hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer.
Although we know that death and grief are inevitable, Jesus says that those who mourn are blessed because they will find comfort. Help us, O God, to know the truth of this mystery; and bring healing and wholeness to those who are sick; and comfort those of us who mourn. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
We pray for those who have died in your peace, and we remember especially:
… be with those who mourn that they may be strengthened in the midst of their grief. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Hear our prayers for 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.
While people covet power and fame, Jesus blesses the meek. Instruct us, O God, in the ways of humility; help us to stand with the oppressed, marginalized, the refugee and immigrant; help us see your presence in the faces of those the world forgets. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Jesus says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Give us the same hunger and thirst for righteousness; fill our hearts with love, that doing your will in this world will fill us with joy. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Jesus says, “Blessed are the merciful,” and “the pure in heart,” may our lives overflowing with mercy; and our hearts be pure, that our Parish vision to be a transforming community of love and justice may be made real. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
In a society divided by race, gender, class, ideology, sexual orientation, and in so many other ways, remind us that we are created in your image, each of us a beautiful reflection of you, each of us your beloved child. Help us end our conflicts and wars, help us to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
Today, at the beginning of Black History month, we are reminded that you are the God and creator of all peoples, whose Son reached across ethnic boundaries to end ignorance and bigotry. And when we face persecution, hatred, lies and indifference about who we are, bless us with a sense of that heavenly realm where there is joy and gladness. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
God our deliverer, you walk with the meek and the poor, the compassionate and those who mourn, and you call us to walk humbly with you. When we are foolish, be our wisdom; when we are weak, be our strength; that, as we learn to do justice and to love mercy, your rule may come as blessing. Amen.
Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.
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.
Let us pray,
God of steadfast love, may our offering this day, by the power of your Holy Spirit, renew us for your service. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
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.
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.
Breaking of the Bread
“I am the bread of life,” says the Lord.
“Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;
whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are they who trust in him!
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 222 Communion Song
PB 121 We Remember You
PB 121 We Remember You
Let us pray,
Source of all goodness, in this eucharist we are nourished by the bread of heaven and invigorated with new wine. May these gifts renew our lives, that we may show your glory to all the world, in the name of Jesus Christ the 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.
O Lord our God, let your light shine in us and through us,
that we may become beacons of truth and compassion,
enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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