The Gathering Of The Community
Prelude
Hymn: Blue #354 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
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
Leader: Most merciful God, by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, you created humanity anew. May the power of his victorious cross transform those who turn in faith to him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
The Proclamation of the Word
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
Psalm 51
Second Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10
Hymn: Blue #179 Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery
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
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.
The Peace
Leader: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
All: And also with you.
Hymn: Blue #177 A Spendthrift Lover Is the Lord
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: Merciful God, you have called us to your table and fed us with the bread of life. Draw us and all people to your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Hymn: Blue #444 Your Hand, O God, Has Guided
Leader: Go forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
We pray for: William and Pushpa Shiri; Donald and Cathy Sturrock; Ron Williams
Announcements
Holy Week Services
Palm Sunday, Mar 28, 10:30 a.m. Sign up here
Maundy Thursday, April 1, 7:00 p.m. Sign up here
Good Friday, April 2, 10:30 a.m. Sign up here
Easter Vigil, April 3, 9:00 p.m. Lighting of the New Fire and Candlelight Vigil. Sign up here
Easter Sunday, April 4, 10:30 a.m. Sign up here
Easter Lilies
St. Matthew’s has a Lily and Charity Fund and each Easter, the church is decorated with Easter Lilies given in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving. We would like to donate some of the funds to Mustard Seed and Sanctuary to help people in need. If you would like to contribute to the Lily and Charity Fund, please e-transfer your donation to stmatthewsang@outlook.com or place your donation in the envelope enclosed in your bulletin. The envelope can be left in the collection plate at the front of the church. The last day for donations is Palm Sunday, March 28th.
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.
A Psalm for Walking
Psalm 37:24-29, 32-33.
Key Verse: Our steps are directed by the Lord.
#1 Our steps are directed by the Lord; he strengthens those in whose way he delights.
#2 If they stumble, they shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds them by the hand
#3 I have been young and now am old, but never have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their children begging bread. The righteous are always generous in their lending, and their children shall be a blessing.
#4 Turn from evil and do good, and dwell in the land forever.
#5 For the Lord loves justice; he does not forsake his faithful ones.
#6 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, and their tongue speaks what is right.
#7 The law of their God is in their heart, and their footsteps shall not falter.
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
