The Gathering of the Community
Processional Hymn
#347 “The God of Abraham Praise”
The Greeting
℣. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
℟. And also with you.
Collect for Purity
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
Almighty God, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross, give us faith to perceive his glory, that being strengthened by his grace we may be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Collect for Lent
Almighty and everlasting God, you despise nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading
Psalm 27
Epistle
Gradual Hymn
“O Great God”
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
We pray to the Lord for courage to give up other things and to give ourselves to him this Lent.
Give your Church the courage to give up her preoccupation with herself and to give more time to your mission in the world. May the blood and water flowing from the side of Jesus bring forgiveness to your people and help us to face the cost of proclaiming salvation.
℣. Lord, meet us in the silence,
℟. Give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give your world the courage to give up war, bitterness and hatred, and to seek peace. May the shoulders of the risen Jesus, once scourged by soldiers, bear the burden of political and military conflict in our world.
℣. Lord, meet us in the silence,
℟. Give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give us the courage to give up our selfishness as we live for others, and to give time, care and comfort to the sick. May the wounded hands of Jesus bring his healing touch, and the light of his presence fill their rooms.
℣. Lord, meet us in the silence,
℟. Give us strength and hear our prayer.
Give us the courage to give up our fear of death and to rejoice with those who have died in faith. May the feet of the risen Lord Jesus, once nailed to the cross, walk alongside the dying and bereaved in their agony, and walk with us and all your Church through death to the gate of glory.
℣. Lord, meet us in the silence,
℟. Give us strength and hear our prayer.
Here and in eternity. 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
#537 “In the Cross of Christ I Glory”
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
#170 “The Glory of These Forty Days”
℣. Go forth in the name of Christ.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Prayer Cycle
Victor, Saleem and Jonathan Bhana
Announcements
Rev. Benjamin Wall, the rector of Christ the King Anglican Church, is inviting everyone to St. Matt’s rectory for a come-and-go “Soup & Stations” on March 21 and April 11 from 7:00–10:00pm. The Stations of the Cross will be set up outside (weather permitting) along with candles to carry. Vegetarian soup will be on the stove inside, although more soup and/or bread would also be welcome for any who are joining. The rectory will stay open throughout for access to the washroom. For more information, please contact benjamin <dot> wall <at> ctktoronto <dot> com.
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
