Christ Church of Bethany and Woodbridge: March 2021

Christ Episcopal Church of Bethany and Woodbridge

The Fifth Sunday in Lent

The Office of Morning Prayer

Prelude: What Wondrous Love is This? David N. Johnson

Officiant: Jesus said, "If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

Mark 8:34

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Officiant and People together,

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 neighbors 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.

The Officiant alone says

Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.

Officiant: Lord, open our lips.

People: And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.

Venite

Come, let us sing to the Lord; *

let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *

and raise a loud shout to him with psalms.

For the Lord is a great God, *

and a great King above all gods.

In his hand are the caverns of the earth, *

and the heights of the hills are his also.

The sea is his, for he made it, *

and his hands have molded the dry land.

Come, let us bow down, and bend the knee, *

and kneel before the Lord our Maker.

For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. *

Oh, that today you would hearken to his voice!

The congregation may be seated

Psalm 51:1-13 Miserere mei, Deus

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; *

in your great compassion blot out my offenses.

2 Wash me through and through from my wickedness *

and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions, *

and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against you only have I sinned *

and done what is evil in your sight.

5 And so you are justified when you speak *

and upright in your judgment.

6 Indeed, I have been wicked from my birth, *

a sinner from my mother's womb.

7 For behold, you look for truth deep within me, *

and will make me understand wisdom secretly.

8 Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; *

wash me, and I shall be clean indeed.

9 Make me hear of joy and gladness, *

that the body you have broken may rejoice.

10 Hide your face from my sins *

and blot out all my iniquities.

11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, *

and renew a right spirit within me.

12 Cast me not away from your presence *

and take not your holy Spirit from me.

13 Give me the joy of your saving help again *

and sustain me with your bountiful Spirit.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Jeremiah 31:31-34

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

The Song of Mary Magnificat

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed: *

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him *

in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, *

he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *

and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, *

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

The promise he made to our fathers, *

to Abraham and his children for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews 5:5-10

Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,

“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”;

as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

according to the order of Melchizedek.”

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

The Song of Simeon Nunc Dimittis

Lord, you now have set your servant free *

to go in peace as you have promised;

For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior, *

whom you have prepared for all the world to see:

A Light to enlighten the nations, *

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Gospel of John 12:20-33

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

The Sermon

Interlude: What Wondrous Love is This? Charles Callahan

The Apostles’ Creed

Officiant and People together, all standing

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 Peace

Officiant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.

Officiant Let us pray.

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,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

The Collect for Lent V:

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Collect for Sundays:

O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessor:

In the name of God, who led Jesus into and out of the wilderness, and who leads us through the tests, temptations, and changes of life, let us pray for the holy catholic church throughout the world.

Lord, have mercy.

For our bishops, for priests and deacons and all who minister in Christ, and for all the holy people of God.

Lord, have mercy.

For all the peoples of the earth who share God’s covenant of peace.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who are oppressed, afflicted, or in need.

Lord, have mercy.

For the dying and the dead.

Lord, have mercy.

For our families, friends, and companions, and for all those we love.

Lord, have mercy.

Remembering the blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God through Christ.

To you, O Lord our God.

O God of all, whom the entirety of heaven adores: Let those who serve among the discarded people in the unruly portions of the world know your grace-filled providence until all tongues may proclaim your holy Gospel in peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Open petitions and thanksgivings may be offered, either silently or aloud.

Officiant:

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, who saved us from the flood and brought us through the wilderness. Hear our prayers for all peoples. Receive sons and daughters into your family, wash them in the waters of new life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks

for all your goodness and loving kindness

to us and to all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your immeasurable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,

that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives,

by giving up our selves to your service,

and by walking before you

in holiness and righteousness all our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The congregation is invited to gather in front of the church to sing the retiring processional hymn

Hymn 439

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

to lay aside his crown for my soul!

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing,

to God and to the Lamb I will sing.

To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,

while millions join the theme, I will sing!

And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on,

and when from death I'm free, I'll sing on.

And when from death I'm free I'll sing and joyful be,

and through eternity I'll sing on, I'll sing on,

and through eternity I'll sing on!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.

Officiant: Mr. Robert Skolozdra, Order of St. Ambrose

Organist and Music Director: Mr. John Williams

Preacher: Mr. Thomas Sansone, Order of St. Ambrose

Lector:

Epistler:

Altar Guild:

Video Ministry:

Counters:

The altar decoration is provided by

Petitions and Thanksgivings:

Jayne Johnson, Michael Luther, Al Sciarretti, Les Molnar, Madeline Slicer, Mary & Ed Karoll, Gerry Shaw, Doris Beswick, Sandy, Pearl Brown, Cate Horton, Regina Milano, Lisa Caivano, Frank Roberts, Gail

Birthdays:

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

Grace Church, Hartford;

St. Martin’s, Hartford;

St. Monica’s, Hartford

Christ Church of Bethany and Woodbridge

Monday, March 29, 2021

The Way of the Cross

Sunday, March 28, 2021

Palm Sunday Lections and Sermon

Announcements for Palm Sunday

Friday, March 26, 2021

Lo, the Resurrection Cometh

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Participants for Palm Sunday

Prayers, Petitions, and Thanksgivings for Palm Sunday

Thursday, March 18, 2021

The Order of Service for Lent V

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