The Gathering of the Community
Hymn: Blue #162 Sing of God Made Manifest
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
Collect of the Day
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit, keep your children, born of water and the Spirit, faithful to their calling; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. AMEN.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
Second Reading: Acts 8:14-17
The Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Sermon
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
On this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when Christ was revealed as the Beloved Son, we turn to God our Father in trust and in joy.
For the Church, for all bishops, clergy and people, that all who have been baptized, inspired by the Holy Spirit, may give united witness to the Lord … Father, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all those who do not yet know Jesus as the beloved Son of God, that they may open their hearts and come to believe in the Good News … Father, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the leaders of our country, that their service to their people be generous and unselfish, and for the baptized, that in serving our country we remain faithful to our calling and strive to shine as Christ’s light in our world … Father, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all candidates for Holy Baptism, that they may grow into the knowledge and love of Christ … Father, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the sick, the lonely, the housebound and the vulnerable, and for those living on the streets, that, in the midst of their suffering, they will experience the loving arms of Christ … Father, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For healing for those with Covid-19, the protection of those who are most at risk, and for everyone affected by the continuing pandemic, remembering especially, in this surge, health care workers … Father, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Open the heavens, Almighty Father, and pour out your Spirit upon your people gathered here in prayer. Renew in us the grace of our Baptism so that we may reflect ever more faithfully the image of your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who is Lord for ever and ever. 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 ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God our Father. Amen.
The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn: Blue #152: Let Folly Praise That Fancy Loves
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty… Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; 38 for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day …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:
Gracious God, lover of all,
by this sacrament
you make us one family in Christ your Son,
one in the sharing of his body and blood,
one in the communion of his Spirit.
Help us to grow in love for one another
and come to the full maturity of the Body of Christ.
We ask this in his name.
Hymn: Blue #645 Come Down O Love Divine
Leader: Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Alleluia!
All: Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
We pray for: David and Leslie Demson; Deirdre Demson; Aubrey Duffy and Peter McMillan, Alexander.
Announcements
Sunday Worship
As COVID numbers increase, our bishops have asked us to return to online worship from January 10-31. For this period churches are closed to congregational worship. Your clergy will continue to celebrate and record the Eucharist on behalf of the whole congregation at St. Matthew’s.
Thank you from the Berberians!
The family was delighted to receive the Christmas Basket from St. Matthew’s and to know that you are all thinking of them. They say “Thanks for all gifts, and thanks to God for everybody from St. Matthew’s Church, who supports us.”
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 Bill Middleton, Peoples’ Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
