The Gathering of the Community
Hymn: Blue #70 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts
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
Leader: Almighty God,
All: 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
Leader: Almighty God, you call your Church to witness
that in Christ we are reconciled to you. Help us so to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may turn to you; 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: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
Gradual Hymn: Blue #82 Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises
The Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
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
In peace, let us pray to Jesus our Lord, who ever lives to make intercession for us.
Saviour of the world, be present in all places of suffering, violence and pain, and bring hope even in the darkest night. Inspire us to continue your work of reconciliation today. Lord in your mercy … hear our prayer
Lord of the Church, empower by your Spirit all Christian people, [especially NN], and the work of your Church in every land. Give us grace to proclaim the gospel joyfully in word and deed. Lord in your mercy … hear our prayer
Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, guide and enable all who lead and serve this community and those on whom we depend for our daily needs. Grant that we may seek the peace and welfare of this place. Lord in your mercy … hear our prayer
Great Physician, stretch out your hand to bring comfort, wholeness and peace to [N and] all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. We pray especially today for all those who lost loved ones on September 11 2001. We pray also for the Royal Family as they mourn the death of their mother, grandmother, and Queen. Grant them comfort, and fill us all with compassion, that we may be channels of your healing love. Lord in your mercy …. hear our prayer
Conqueror of death, remember for good those whom we love but see no longer. Help us to live this day in the sure and certain hope of your eternal victory. Today we commend to your eternal arms the soul of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Receive her, your faithful servant, into your heavenly realm, and crown her with the diadem of glory. Lord in your mercy …. hear our prayer
Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray to the mercy and protection of God. Amen
The Peace
Leader: Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace (Eph. 2:13, 14).
The peace of the Lord be always with you
All: And also with you.
Offertory Hymn: Blue #520 The King of Love my Shepherd is
The Holy Eucharist
A Prayer for Spiritual Communion
Leader: The Lord be with you.
All: And also with you.
Leader: 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.” (John 6:54-58)
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: God of peace, in this eucharist we have been reconciled to you and to our neighbours. May we who have been nourished by holy things always have the courage to forgive. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. AMEN.
Hymn: Blue #508 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
Leader: Let us go in peace, to love and serve the Lord.
All: Thanks be to God.
We pray for: Audrey Chan, Vivien and Isabel and Jennifer; Cleveland Chester
Announcements
Feast of St. Matthew
Next Sunday, September 18, we will celebrate our patronal feast day – and we will also celebrate our new Music Director, Samuel Tam. Bring friends and family to the service and join us for cake afterwards, and to meet Sam.
Our Prayer for the Queen
With our fellow Canadians and the world, we mourn the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and give thanks for her faithful Christian witness and leadership. We give thanks, too, for her son, King Charles III, and pray for him as he becomes our King. On Thursday, we tolled our church bells for Queen Elizabeth, and we pray, with the whole church:
Gracious God, we commend to you the soul of your faithful servant Elizabeth, our Queen.
Receive her into your heavenly realm, and crown her with the diadem of glory,
as she lays down her earthly burden of duty and is released to take up the joy of eternal praise.
We give you thanks for the witness of her long life of service, sustained by a sure and certain hope.
We pray that the comfort of your Holy Spirit will be with the Royal Family and all who mourn,
until such time as we are reunited in the general resurrection of all the faithful departed
in the communion of saints and in life everlasting.
This we pray through the mercy of our Risen Saviour, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
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 Trent Pettit – Associate Priest
The Rev Dr Ephraim Radner – Honorary Assistant
Please direct all enquiries to William Middleton, People’s Warden or Audrey Chan, Rector’s Warden
