Prelude
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song Eternal Lord of Love 174 CP
Eternal Lord of love, behold your church walking once more the pilgrim way of Lent, led by your cloud by day, by night your fire, moved by your love and toward your presence bent; far off yet here- the goal of all desire.
So daily dying to the way of self, so daily living to your way of love, we walk the road, Lord Jesus, that you trod, knowing ourselves baptized into your death; so we are dead and live with you in God.
If dead in you, so in you we arise, you the firstborn of all the faithful dead; and as through stony ground the green shoots break, glorious in springtime dress of leaf and flower, so in Creator’s glory shall we wake.
The Gathering (Flames of the Spirit)
Lent calls us to journey along the edge, to anticipate that final trip to Jerusalem
Lent calls us to the cutting edge, when the wheat falls to the ground and new life comes forth; the cutting of a new covenant.
Lent calls us not lonely to give up something, but also to take upon ourselves as community the intention of true participation in the mystery of God-with-us.
Lent calls us to corporate penitence, accountability and preparation.
Lent calls us to concentrate upon our baptismal vocation to be a sign of the New Earth.
Lent calls us to face the darkness without holding a flashlight.
We are assured that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, and for that we give thanks. Amen
Collect of the Day together
Father of mercy, alone we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves. When we are discouraged by our weakness, strengthen us to follow Christ, our pattern and our hope; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Candle Extinguishing for the third Sunday of Lent
Meditation: There is so much during the day that clamors for our attention. Friends, family, work, classes, household tasks. And the noise! We are bombarded with sound, from the clock that awakens us to the telephone, the radio, the television, the conversation that we have or overhear. Where is the time and place to listen for the still, small voice of God? Sometimes it seems that God would have to speak in a whirlwind to be heard above the clamor! Listen now. There is a place of quiet rest, and it is the place where God dwells within you. Close your eyes. Be aware of the place. In Lent we journey to the parts of ourselves known only to God, beneath the clamor. Let the story of Jesus reach us there. Let it teach us wisdom in our secret hearts.
(Silent time.)
As we extinguish this light, we acknowledge the darkness and pain of violence in the world and to the Earth.
(A candle is extinguished.)
Together we pray:
Draw us together in your love, O God. May our restless hearts not resist you, but continue to search until they find their rest in you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery (VS 1, 6D)
Tree of life and awesome mystery, In your death we are reborn, Though you die in all of history, still you rise with every morn, Still you rise with every morn.
Living Water of salvation,
be the fountain of each soul;
springing up in new creation,
flow in us and make us whole,
flow in us and make us whole.
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the prophet, Isaiah 55:1-9
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory.
For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; my lips shall give you praise.
So will I bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your name.
My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches.
For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
My soul clings to you; your mighty hand holds me fast.
A Reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians 10:1-13
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.’ We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn Let us with a Gladsome mind 398 CP
Let us with a gladsome mind, praise the Lord forever kind: for his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
Who with all-commanding might filled the new-made world with light: for his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
Who the golden-tressed sun caused all day its course to run: for his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
All things living God doth feed, with full hand supplies their need: for his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
Let us then with gladsome mind, praise the Lord, forever kind: for his mercies aye endure, ever faithful, ever sure.
The Lord be with you And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke (13:1-9)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’
Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’
The Gospel of Christ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
Affirmation of faith We believe in light beyond our seeing, Flowing forth from the flame of life in God Who goes on creating in us down through the ages. We believe in healing beyond our knowing, From the Christ whose robe stands close To the reach of our hand and the pain of our struggle Beyond the end of time We believe in the energy of God's spirit, Stirring in our being with a rhythm of courage and passion, Moving our feet to risk Christ's way again As those who are always called to be The humble, human witnesses to the faithfulness of God. Amen
(from The Glory of Blood Sweat & Tears by Dorothy McRae-McMahon, p. 74)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
In trust let us pray to the one coming into our hearts to awaken holiness in our midst... Let us offer thanksgiving for all the blessings of this life...
(Silence)
Let us pray for the world, especially where there is conflict, poverty, hunger.
(Silence)
Let us pray for those who suffer in mind or body, for prisoners, for those in despair, for those who mourn and for those who wait. (Silence) Let us pray for the transformation of systems and bureaucracies, of gender relations, of race relations, of class divisions, of age and ability stereotypes. (Silence) Let us pray for ourselves, opening ourselves to healing and risk, to the power to let go and the courage to take on.
(Silence)
And let us pray together, God our Mother, Living Water, River of Mercy, Source of Life. In whom we live and move and have our being. Who quenches our thirst, refreshes our weariness, Bathes and washes and cleanses our wounds. Be for always a fountain of life and for all the world, a river of hope Springing up in the midst of the deserts of despair. Honour and blessing, glory and praise to you forever. Amen
(Miriam Therese Winter, 1987)
The Peace
The Peace of the Lord be always with you
And Also with you
The Celebration of the Eucharist
Offertory Hymn Come Down O Love Divine 645 CP
Come down, O Love divine, seek thou this soul of mine, and visit it with thine own ardor glowing; O Comforter, draw near, within my heart appear, and kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.
O let it freely burn, till earthly passions turn to dust and ashes in its heat consuming; and let thy glorious light shine ever on my sight, and clothe me round, the while my path illuming.
Let holy charity
Mine outward vesture be,
and lowliness become mine inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart,
which takes the humbler part,
and o’er its own short comings weeps with loathing.
And so the yearning strong, with which the soul will long, shall far out-pass the power of human telling; for none can guess its grace, till they become the place wherein the Holy Spirit finds a dwelling.
The Prayer over the Gifts
Gracious God, we know your power to triumph over weakness. May we who ask forgiveness be ready to forgive one another, in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen
Eucharistic Prayer 5
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.
We give you thanks and praise, almighty God,
for the gift of a world full of wonder,
and for our life which comes from you.
By your power you sustain the universe.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
You created us to love you with all our heart,
and to love each other as ourselves,
but we rebel against you by the evil that we do.
In Jesus, your Son,
you bring healing to our world
and gather us into one great family.
Therefore, with all who serve you
on earth and in heaven,
we praise your wonderful name, as we sing,
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest. Blessed is one that comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is one that come in the name of the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of power and might Heaven and Earth of your glory are full Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest
We give you thanks and praise, loving Father,
because in sending Jesus, your Son, to us
you showed us how much you love us.
He cares for the poor and the hungry.
He suffers with the sick and the rejected.
Betrayed and forsaken, he did not strike back
but overcame hatred with love.
On the cross
he defeated the power of sin and death.
By raising him from the dead
you show us the power of your love
to bring new life to all your people.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
On the night before he gave up his life for us,
Jesus, at supper with his friends,
took bread, gave thanks to you,
broke it, and gave it to them,
saying, “Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which is given for you.”
After supper, Jesus took the cup of wine,
said the blessing, gave it to his friends,
and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and eternal covenant,
which is shed for you and for many,
so that sins may be forgiven.
Do this in memory of me.”
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Gracious God,
with this bread and wine
we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus,
and we offer ourselves to you in him.
Send your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts,
that we may know the presence of Jesus
in the breaking of bread,
and share in the life
of the family of your children.
Glory to you for ever and ever.
Father, you call us to be your servants;
fill us with the courage and love of Jesus,
that all the world may gather in joy
at the table of your kingdom.
We sing your praise, almighty Father,
through Jesus, our Lord,
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
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 and 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 forever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread Lent and Holy Week
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 Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn During Communion
Come Unto Me All Who are Weary
Ubi Caritas
Prayer after Communion together
God of mercy and forgiveness, may we who share this sacrament live together in unity and peace, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
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
Announcements
Closing Hymn My soul is Thirsting for You MV 109
Refrain My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, thirsting for you, my God. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord, thirsting for you, my God, thirsting for you, my God.
O God, you are my God, and I will always praise you. In the shadow of your wings I cling to you and you hold me high.
Refrain
Through the day you walk with me; all the night your love surrounds me. To the glory of your name I lift my hands, I sing your praise.
Refrain
I will never be afraid, for I will not be abandoned. Even when the road grows long and weary your love will rescue me.
Refrain
The Dismissal
The God we worship is never confined to this holy place. So go and travel with the God who is found in ordinary and surprising places. Those who dodge growing pains will never arrive at their full spiritual height. As you prepare to leave this special place, pray that you may have the courage to stretch once more towards the goals set by Jesus of Nazareth. There is no shame in failing. But there is in not trying. (Bruce Prewer 2006).
Postlude I will see you (Sarah Kroger)