Fifth
Sunday after Epiphany
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February 8, 2026, 10:00 am
Preludes: Toccata in E Minor Johann Pachelbel; Gavotte Matthew Camidge; Rondo Henry Purcell
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.
645 Come Down, O Love
Divine
Summary
of the Law
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
The Collect of the Day
Let us pray,
Merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; 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: Isaiah 58:1-9a
Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practised righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgements, they delight to draw near to God. "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 112:1-9
Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the Lord and have great delight in his commandments! Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in their house, and their righteousness will last for ever.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion. It is good for them to be generous in lending and to manage their affairs with justice.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
For they will never be shaken; the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of any evil rumours; their heart is right; they put their trust in the Lord.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
Their heart is established and will not shrink, until they see their desire upon their enemies. They have given freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands fast for ever; they will hold up their head with honour.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
SNC 2 Longing for Light
The
Gospel: Matthew 5:13-20
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
Anthem:
Let the Praise Go ‘Round. William Boyce, arr. Hal Hopson
Prayers
of the People
We trust in your love, O God, which is like a spring of water, that never fails, receive our prayers as may be best for us and this world, as we say: hear our prayer.
For
the Church, that in our vocation and ministry we may truly, devoutly and
courageously serve you and we pray especially for Shane our Primate, and Sandra
our bishop. Help us to choose an acceptable fast: to loosen the bonds of
injustice, to let the oppressed go free, to share bread with the hungry, to
house the homeless; to clothe the naked, and to see ourselves as kin to one
another. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For this Parish of St. Paul’s, let our light shine before others, that they may see your good works of love and justice in all that we do, and give you glory. Deepen our trust in you, restoring our saltiness, sparking your light within us. Help us keep your commandments to love you with our whole being and to love our neighbours as ourselves. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For Heart month, for those who strive for life-saving medical breakthroughs, advocate for better health, and bring together skilled people to improve diagnosis, care and support. God of love,
For those whose lives are bound together in mutual love, for those who are lonely, for our families and friends and those who live in celibacy: be their joy and their strength, give them satisfaction in all that they do. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For world leaders, that they may be inspired to make new efforts to seek peace, and eliminate strife, famine, disease, poverty, and oppression, from all corners of the earth. We pray for peace in all places of war and violence. Enable us to see the reality of racism and bigotry, and free us to challenge and uproot it from ourselves, our society and our world. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who are ill, at home or in hospital, and those in need of our prayers, remembering especially,
-
… and others we may name aloud or in our hearts.
-
that they may know the peace and hope of abundant life in Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who have died, remembering especially,
that they may be raised with Christ; and we pray for all who mourn, that they may be strengthened in their faith. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
O God of light, your searching Spirit reveals and lights up your presence in creation. Shine your radiant holiness into our lives, that we may offer our hands and hearts to your work: to heal and shelter, to feed and clothe, to break every yoke and silence misguided voices. In Christs’ name we pray. 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 & the Birthday Song
502 You Are Salt for the
Earth
Prayer Over the Gifts
Let us pray,
God of compassion and forgiveness, receive our offering this day, and make us one with him who is our peace, Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
The
Great Thanksgiving – Eucharistic Prayer 1
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 that we should praise you, gracious God, for you created all
things. You formed us in your own image: as your children you created
us. When we turned away from you in sin, you did not cease to care for us, but
opened a path of salvation for all people. You made a covenant with Israel, and
through your servants Abraham and Sarah gave the promise of a blessing to all
nations. Through Moses you led your people from bondage into freedom; through
the prophets you renewed your promise of salvation.
Therefore,
with them, and with all your saints who have served you in every age, we give
thanks and raise 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.
Holy
God, source of life and goodness, all creation rightly gives you praise. In the
fullness of time, you sent your Son Jesus Christ, to share our human nature, to
live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He healed the sick and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners; he opened the
eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and
to those in need. In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.
On
the night he freely gave himself to death, 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.”
Gracious
God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him
to life you give us life for evermore.
Therefore
we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Recalling
his death, proclaiming his resurrection, and looking for his coming again in
glory, we offer you, Father, this bread and this cup. Send your Holy Spirit
upon us and upon these gifts, that all who eat and drink at this table may be
one body and one holy people, a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Through
Christ, with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory
is 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 99 Great Is the Lord
PB 91 Let There Be Love
The Sending Forth of the Community
PB 91 Let There Be Love
Prayer After Communion
Let us pray,
Eternal God, in you we find peace beyond all telling. May we who share in this heavenly banquet be instruments of your peace on earth, 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 God grant that, as we proclaim the Gospel of love,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
And may the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
575 Let Streams of Living Justice
The Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
St. Paul’s Church, Charlottetown, PEI
February 8, 2026, 10:00 am
Preludes: Toccata in E Minor Johann Pachelbel; Gavotte Matthew Camidge; Rondo Henry Purcell
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.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: The first commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Let us pray,
Merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; 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: Isaiah 58:1-9a
Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practised righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgements, they delight to draw near to God. "Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?" Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.
For the Word of God in scripture, among us and with us.
Thanks be to God.
Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the Lord and have great delight in his commandments! Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in their house, and their righteousness will last for ever.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright; the righteous are merciful and full of compassion. It is good for them to be generous in lending and to manage their affairs with justice.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
For they will never be shaken; the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance. They will not be afraid of any evil rumours; their heart is right; they put their trust in the Lord.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
Their heart is established and will not shrink, until they see their desire upon their enemies. They have given freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands fast for ever; they will hold up their head with honour.
Happy are they who have given to the poor.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
We trust in your love, O God, which is like a spring of water, that never fails, receive our prayers as may be best for us and this world, as we say: hear our prayer.
Hear our prayer.
For this Parish of St. Paul’s, let our light shine before others, that they may see your good works of love and justice in all that we do, and give you glory. Deepen our trust in you, restoring our saltiness, sparking your light within us. Help us keep your commandments to love you with our whole being and to love our neighbours as ourselves. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For Heart month, for those who strive for life-saving medical breakthroughs, advocate for better health, and bring together skilled people to improve diagnosis, care and support. God of love,
For those whose lives are bound together in mutual love, for those who are lonely, for our families and friends and those who live in celibacy: be their joy and their strength, give them satisfaction in all that they do. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For world leaders, that they may be inspired to make new efforts to seek peace, and eliminate strife, famine, disease, poverty, and oppression, from all corners of the earth. We pray for peace in all places of war and violence. Enable us to see the reality of racism and bigotry, and free us to challenge and uproot it from ourselves, our society and our world. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who are ill, at home or in hospital, and those in need of our prayers, remembering especially,
-
… and others we may name aloud or in our hearts.
-
that they may know the peace and hope of abundant life in Christ. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
For those who have died, remembering especially,
that they may be raised with Christ; and we pray for all who mourn, that they may be strengthened in their faith. God of love,
Hear our prayer.
O God of light, your searching Spirit reveals and lights up your presence in creation. Shine your radiant holiness into our lives, that we may offer our hands and hearts to your work: to heal and shelter, to feed and clothe, to break every yoke and silence misguided voices. In Christs’ name we pray. 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 compassion and forgiveness, receive our offering this day, and make us one with him who is our peace, Jesus Christ our Saviour. 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.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
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 99 Great Is the Lord
PB 91 Let There Be Love
PB 91 Let There Be Love
Let us pray,
Eternal God, in you we find peace beyond all telling. May we who share in this heavenly banquet be instruments of your peace on earth, 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.
May God grant that, as we proclaim the Gospel of love,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
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.
