The Gathering of the Community
The Greeting
℣. Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord.
℟. Thanks be to God
The Blessing of the Candles
Dear people of God, forty days ago we celebrated the joyful feast of the incarnation of Jesus. Today we recall the day on which he was presented in the temple, fulfilling the law of Moses. Led by the Spirit, Simeon and Anna came to the temple, recognized the child as the Christ, and proclaimed him with joy. United by the same Spirit, we now enter the house of God, where we shall recognize Christ in the breaking of bread.
℣. Let us pray.
O eternal God, who has created all things; on this day you fulfilled the petitions of the just Simeon: we humbly ask you to bless and sanctify these candles for our use. Graciously hear our prayers and be merciful to us, whom you have redeemed by your Son, who is the light of the world, and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
℣. Let us pray.
O God, you have made this day holy by the presentation of your Son in the Temple, and by the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mercifully grant that we, who delight in her humble readiness to be the birth-giver of the Only-begotten, may rejoice for ever in our adoption as his sisters and brothers; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Processional Hymn
#374 “Alleluia! Sing to Jesus”
Collect of the Day
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, for you have sent us your salvation. Inspire us by your Holy Spirit to recognize him who is the glory of Israel and the light for all nations, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
Psalm 84
Epistle
Gradual Hymn
#441 “Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower”
Gospel
Sermon
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
Let us pray to the Father through Christ our light and life.
Father, your Christ is acclaimed as the glory of Israel: look in mercy on your Church, sharing his light.
℣. Lord, have mercy.
℟. Lord, have mercy.
Father, your Christ in the Temple brings judgement on the world: look in mercy on the nations who long for his justice.
℣. Lord, have mercy.
℟. Lord, have mercy.
Father, your Christ, who was rich, for our sake became poor: look in mercy on all who are in need and those who suffer with him.
℣. Lord, have mercy.
℟. Lord, have mercy.
Father, your Christ is the one in whom faithful servants find their peace: look in mercy on the whole Church, which glories in your salvation.
℣. Lord, have mercy.
℟. Lord, have mercy.
Father, your Christ is the one destined for rejection: look in mercy on us as we turn towards his passion.
℣. Lord, have mercy.
℟. Lord, have mercy.
Almighty Father, you kept faith with Simeon and Anna, and showed them the infant King. Give us grace to trust your promises, and patience to wait for their fulfilment; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Act of Penitence
Dear friends in Christ, God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy; he welcomes sinners and invites them to his table. 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 us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Peace
℣. The peace of the Lord be always with you.
℟. And also with you.
Offertory Hymn
#88 “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
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
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.
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
486 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling”
℣. Go forth in the name of Christ.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Prayer Cycle
Lilla, Leah and Alison Wright
Announcements
St. Matthew’s Annual Vestry meeting will be held on February 16 following the morning service.
Join us at St. Matthew’s on March 1 as the Trinity Bach Project will performs its “Bach and Passages” programme.
St. Matthew’s annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper will take place on March 4. More details to come soon.
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
