The Gathering Of The Community
Leader: Light and peace, in Jesus Christ our Lord
People: Thanks be to God
Leader: Dear friends: Forty days ago we celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now we recall the day on which he was presented in the Temple, when he was offered to the Father and shown to his people. As a sign of his coming among us, his mother was purified, as we now come to him for cleansing. In their old age Simeon and Anna recognized him as their Lord, as we today sing of his glory. Today we celebrate both the joy of his coming and his searching judgement, looking back to the day of his birth and forward to the coming days of his passion.
Let us pray. God our Father, Source of all light, today you revealed to the aged Simeon your light which enlightens the nations. Fill our hearts with the light of faith, that we who bear these candles may walk in the path of goodness and come to the Light that shines forever, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: Blue #88 Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Let us pray. Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe: To you be glory and praise for ever! For you are our light and our salvation and we your children wait for your loving kindness in the midst of your temple. In your Christ, born of the Virgin Mary, there has sprung up a light for the righteous and joyful gladness for those who are true-hearted. As we, like Simeon and Anna, welcome him with joy, presented before us as light of all the world, may we be filled with his spirit and made a living temple to the praise and glory of your holy name. Amen
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Listen here
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
The Gospel
Listen here
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
In peace let us pray to the Lord
By the mystery of the Word made flesh. Good Lord, deliver us.
By the birth in time of the timeless Son of God. Good Lord, deliver us.
By the baptism of the Son of God in the river Jordan. Good Lord, deliver us.
For the kingdoms of this world, that they may become the Kingdom of our Lord and Christ. We pray to you, O Lord.
For your holy, catholic and apostolic Church, that it may be one. We pray to you, O Lord.
For the witness of your faithful people, that they may be lights in the world. We pray to you, O Lord.
For the poor, the persecuted, the sick and all who suffer; that they may be relieved and protected. We pray to you, O Lord.
For the aged, for refugees and all in danger, that they may be strengthened and defended. We pray to you, O Lord.
For those who walk in darkness and in the shadow of death, that they may come to your eternal light. We pray to you, O Lord.
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 ourselves, and all for whom we pray, 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 #441 Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower
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: Let us pray. Lord God, you are the source of everlasting light. Your son, our beloved Lord Jesus, was presented in the temple forty days after his birth. He was recognized by Simeon and Anna, and welcomed as the promised Messiah. May we like them behold the glory of the Lord Jesus. Grant that we may stand before you with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love. May we serve you all our days and make your name known as we worship you as our Lord. So may we come by your grace to eternal life. Amen.
Hymn: Blue #5 Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies
Leader: Let us go forth in the name of Christ. Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
We pray for: Miriam John; Juliet Kapikinyu; David King and Jennifer Bolender King
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
