The Gathering of the Community
Processional Hymn
#278 “Jerusalem the Golden”
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 people are knit together in one holy Church, the mystical Body of your Son, grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you; through your Son 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
Psalm 24
Epistle
Gradual Hymn
#320 “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”
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
United in the company of all the faithful and looking for the coming of the kingdom, let us offer our prayers to God, the source of all life and holiness.
Merciful Lord, strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit, that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Bless Andrew our bishop and all ministers of your Church, that by faithful proclamation of your word we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets into a holy temple in the Lord.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit, that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ from glory to glory.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Give to the world and its peoples the peace that comes from above, that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the service of the poor and needy; all who minister to the sick and dying; and all who bring light to those in darkness.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin or disfigured by pain, that, raised from death to life in Christ, their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Remember in your mercy all those gone before us who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity; preserve in your faith your servants on earth, guide us to your kingdom and grant us your peace at all times.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
Hasten the day when many will come from east and west, from north and south, and sit at table in your kingdom.
℣. Lord, in your mercy;
℟. Hear our prayer.
We give you thanks for the whole company of your saints in glory, with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises; by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever.
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
#525 “The Church’s One Foundation”
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
#276 “For All the Saints”
℣. Go forth in the name of Christ.
℟. Thanks be to God.
Prayer Cycle
Joshua, Eva, Noa and Judah Loewen-Samuels
Announcements
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