The Gathering of the Community
Processional Hymn
“We Will Feast in the House of Zion”
The Greeting
℣. Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise His Holy name.
℟. Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
℣. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
℟. He redeems me from death
and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
Psalm 36
Epistle
Gradual Hymn
“Come, Let Us Worship and Bow Down”
Gospel
Sermon
Offertory Hymn
“Yet Not I, But through Christ in Me”
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
We thank God for bringing us together to review our work in God’s vineyard and ask his guidance in the week ahead.
℟. Lord, hear our prayers.
Bless our King and guide him in his many services for all the members of the Commonwealth of Nations.
℟. Lord, hear our prayers.
We seek God’s mercy and protection on those suffering for following Jesus, in word and deed, particularly remembering Christians who are persecuted because of their faith in the very lands where our Saviour walked.
℟. Lord, hear our prayers.
In this quiet moment Lord, we give you thanks for those who have gone before: may they rest secure in your promise.
℟. Lord, hear our prayers.
We lift our voices in our personal petitions for those we love and causes we champion.
℟. Lord, hear our prayers.
And now, as Jesus taught us, we pray,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Act of Penitence
Merciful God, you have called us to be your people, but we have not loved one another as we ought. Selfish ambition has gripped us, and we have failed to look out for others’ interests above our own. Conceit and pride have gripped us, and we have failed to associate with and care for those who are different from ourselves. Forgive us for these offenses against you and subdue within us everything that is contrary to your will. By the power of your Holy Spirit, transform us both individually and as a community. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Merciful and loving God, grant to each one of us forgiveness and peace; that we may start this day afresh, secure in the knowledge of your never-failing love for us. Give us the strength to serve you this week, renewed in body, mind and spirit. We give you thanks through the name of Jesus Christ, our only Redeemer. Amen.
The Holy Eucharist
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
℣. The Lord be with you.
℟. And also with you.
Jesus said:
Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.
— St. John 6:54–58
Dear Jesus, I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to possess you within my soul. And since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. I unite myself to you, together with all your faithful people gathered around every altar of your Church, and I embrace you with all the affections of my soul. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
Concluding Prayer
God of love, in this eucharist we have heard your truth and shared in your life. May we always walk in your way, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Recessional Hymn
“His Mercy Is More”
℣. Go forth in the name of Christ.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Prayer Cycle
Ron Williams
Announcements
The flower arrangements on the altar are dedicated to the glory of God and in loving memory of our grandparents, John Gidlow and Annie Cheetham, who were married at St. Matthew’s on January 22nd, 1914 by their grandsons, Lieutenant Colonel Dana Gilbow and Mark Curfoot-Mollington.
A Prayer for this Interim Time
Our gracious God and Father,
We give you thanks for the countless ways that you have blessed St Matthew’s: for the people who have contributed to its life and well being over its many years, for the neighbourhood in which you have planted it, for the ministry that you have entrusted to us, and for the leaders who have laboured so long amongst us.
Grant us, we pray, the Spirit of wisdom and discernment in this time: listening ears, steady minds, and courageous hearts as we seek to follow you into our next stage of life together. Help us to set unnecessary fears aside, to see your hand at work throughout this time of change, and to attend to your voice as you lead us in new ways. In particular, we pray for the gift of a new leader who will serve this church as it serves you in this place, and at this time. We ask all this in the name of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
And finally we pray together from Ephesians 3: that, according to the riches of God’s glory, he may grant that we may be strengthened in our inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, as we are being rooted and grounded in love. We pray that we may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. Amen. (Eph 3:16–19)
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
www.stmatthewsriverdale.org
hello@stmatthewsriverdale.org
fb.com/StMatthewsAnglicanChurchRiverdale
@StMatsRiverdale
The Rev Dr Peter M.B. Robinson
Priest-in-Charge (Interim)
416-463-9720
Please direct all enquiries to:
William Middleton, People’s Warden
Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
