The Gathering Of The Community
Hymn: Blue #537 In The Cross of Christ I Glory
Leader: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
All: And also with you.
Collect for Purity
All: 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
Leader: Kyrie eleison
All: Lord, have mercy
Leader: Christe eleison
All: Christ, have mercy
Leader: Kyrie eleison
All: Lord, have mercy
Collect of the Day
Almighty God, whose Son fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are but did not sin, give us grace to discipline ourselves in submission to your Spirit, that as you know our weakness, so we may know your power to save; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16
Listen here
Second Reading: Romans 4:13-25
Hymn: Blue 431 Take Up Your Cross the Saviour Said
The Gospel
Listen here
Hymn: Blue #179 Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
With confidence and trust let us pray to the Father. For the one holy catholic and apostolic Church …let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
For those preparing for baptism and confirmation … and for their teachers and sponsors, let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
For peace in the world …that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow among nations and peoples, let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer… for refugees, prisoners, and all in danger; that they may be relieved and protected, let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
For those whom we have injured or offended, let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
For grace to amend our lives and to further the reign of God, let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
In communion with all those who have walked in the way of holiness …let us pray to the Father. Lord of compassion, in your mercy hear us.
God our Father, in your love and goodness you have taught us to come close to you in penitence with prayer, fasting and generosity; accept our Lenten discipline, and when we fall by our weakness, raise us up by your unfailing mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone, and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us commend the world and all its families, for whom Christ came, to whom Christ showed the way, to the mercy and protection of God. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn: Blue #386 When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never thirst…54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. (John 6)
All: 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.
All: 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
Leader:
Hymn: Blue #347 The God Of Abraham Praise
Leader: Go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
Announcements
Vestry Sunday: TODAY at 12:15 (noon)
Please join the meeting to pass our budget and approve our officers for the coming year.
A Lenten Discipline: 40 Days – 40 Nights – 40 Miles
This has been a year for walking! It is one thing we can do even in this COVID winter. This Lent, an invitation to walk and pray and give. In a year when all of us have given ‘up’ many things, we invite you to give ‘to’ — because giving is one of the ways in which we love and follow our Lord.
1. Walk — as Jesus walked with us. Each of us in our own places but together in love of Christ. Walk a daily mile, inside or outside, through the neighborhood or around your living room or up and down the stairs.
2. Pray with your walking, as Jesus taught us to pray. On Sundays we will provide a bible passage to read, with a key verse to accompany you throughout the week.
3. Give, as Jesus gave himself for us. Pledge a gift in Jesus’ name for each mile you walk, and if you like, ask others to pledge. Our giving has a goal: We would like to help our refugee family and friends the Berberians with education costs, for College degrees for the adults and — if we raise enough — a university education fund for their girls.
Many thanks to Aubrey who had the inspiration. She will be walking and praying and giving this Lent: join her! For more information contact Mother Catherine: cath.hamilton@utoronto.ca
Upcoming Services
We continue with Sunday worship online and in person at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday (for in-person please sign up here so that we can respect the 10-person limit).
St. Matthew’s Anglican Church, Riverdale,
135 First Avenue, Toronto ON, M4M 1W9
416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Catherine Sider-Hamilton – Priest-in-charge: 416-463-9720
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to Peter Oakes, Peoples’ Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
