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Prelude: Let It Be
Acknowledgement
Welcome
Gathering Song 177 A Spendthrift Lover
A spendthrift lover is the Lord
who never counts the cost
or asks if heaven can afford
to woo a world that's lost.
Our lover tosses coins of gold
across the midnight skies
and stokes the sun against the cold
to warm us when we rise.
Still more is spent in blood and tears
to win the human heart,
to overcome the violent fears
that drive the world apart.
Behold the bruised and thorn-crowned face
of one who bears our scars
and empties out the wealth of grace
that's hinted by the stars.
How shall we love this heart-strong God
who gives us everything,
whose ways to us are strange and odd:
what can we give or bring?
Acceptance of the matchless gift
is gift enough to give.
The very act will shake and shift
the way we love and live.
The Gathering (The Iona Community)
Creator of the cosmos, of eternity and time:
Be with us in this time.
Saviour of the world, healer of the nations:
Be with us in this place.
Breath of all that lives, of people near and far:
Stir within our lives.
Maker-Spirit-Son, God of here and now;
Be present in our worship
that we may find new ways to be present in your world.
Loving God, you have led us to this place, not to shield us from heartache and the pain of human life, but to heal us and inspire us, to gently redirect us, till we see the world as you do and love it with your love.
Amen
Collect of the Day: together (Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009), alt)
Extravagant God, lavishing your love on our poverty of heart:
inspire us to give with generosity, to love life so that we may find it again,
and thus the world will be filled with the fragrance of your love;
through Jesus Christ, who offers himself for us. Amen.
Candle Extinguishing for the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Meditation:
When we arrived this morning we entered into the normal bustle of a church on a Sunday morning: friends greeting each other, choir members getting their robes, children bringing their energy and enthusiasm. Now that we are sitting together in the pews, I invite you to close your eyes . . . and consider the word, “sanctuary.” A sanctuary is a place set aside for sacred things. It is a place of refuge and protection. This room is a sanctuary. The season of Lent is a kind of sanctuary, extended in time. And one of the things Lent teaches is that you, too, are a sanctuary. There is inside you a place for sacred things, a place where God abides.
(Silent time.)
As we extinguish this light, we acknowledge the darkness and pain of war and oppression in the world.
(A candle is extinguished.)
Let us pray:
Loving God, we open our hearts to you. We invite you into our inmost being, only to find you already there. Strengthen us in our quiet places and then lead us into the work of justice and peace. Amen.
Tree of Life (VS 1, 6F)
Tree of life and awesome mystery, In your death we are reborn, Though you die in all of history, still you rise with every morn, Still you rise with every morn.
God of all our fear and sorrow,
God who lives beyond our death,
hold us close through each tomorrow,
love as near as every breath,
love as near as every breath.
The Proclamation of the Word
A Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah (43:16-21)
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honour me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.
Listen for the Leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Psalm 126 – CP 583 When God restored Our Common Life
When God restored our common life, our hope, our liberty,
at first it seemed a passing dream, a waking fantasy.
A shock of joy swept over us, for we had wept so long;
the seeds we watered once with tears sprang up into a song.
We went forth weeping, sowing seeds in hard, unyielding soil;
with laughing hearts we carry home the fruit of all our toil.
We praise the One who gave the growth, with voices full and strong.
The seeds we watered once with tears sprang up into a song.
Great liberating God, we pray for all who are oppressed.
May those who long for what is right with justice now be blest.
We pray for those who mourn this day, and all who suffer wrong;
may seeds they water now with tears spring up into a song.
A Reading from the letter of Paul to the Philippians (3.2—14)
Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
Listen for the leading of the Spirit Thanks be to God
Gradual Hymn 361 Surely It Is God Who Saves Me
Surely it is God who saves me;
I shall trust and have no fear.
For the Lord defends and shields me
and his saving help is near.
So rejoice as you draw water
from salvation's healing spring;
in the day of your deliverance
thank the Lord, his mercies sing.
Make God's deeds known to the peoples:
tell out his exalted Name.
Praise the Lord, who has done great things;
all his works God's might proclaim.
Zion, lift your voice in singing;
for with you has come to dwell,
in your very midst the great and
Holy One of Israel.
The Lord be with you
And also with you
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. John (12.1–8)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’
The Gospel of Christ
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ
Homily
Affirmation of Faith (Iona Abbey Worship Book)
We believe in a bright and amazing God,
who has been to the depths of despair
on our behalf;
who has risen in splendor and majesty;
who decorates the universe
with sparkling water, clear white light,
twinkling stars and sharp colours,
over and over again.
We believe that Jesus is the light of the world;
that God believes in us, and trusts us,
even though we make the same mistakes
over and over again.
We commit ourselves
to Jesus,
to one another as brothers and sisters,
and to the Maker’s business in the world.
God said: Let there be light.
Amen
Prayers of the People
Please feel free to name places and names in the silences.
We are your people, God.
In this time and place, you have called us to pray for those in need.
We pray for the people whose names the world knows, whose stories are told daily in the news . .
Silence
God in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We pray for people in places of suffering,
whose names only you and their friends and families know, and whose lives you cherish . . .
Silence
God in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We pray for the people whose names and lives we know,
those who today are in pain or distress or trouble, those who are happy, those who are sad . . .
Silence
God in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We pray for ourselves, God.
You know each of us by name.
Make us into the people you want us to be, and when that hurts, reassure us how much you love us.
God, we bring you ourselves and our prayers in Jesus’ name.
Amen
Confession and Absolution
Let us in silence confess our faults and admit our frailty.
Silence
Before God, with the people of God,
I confess to my brokenness:
to the ways I wound my life,
the lives of others,
and the life of the world.
May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.
Amen.
Before God, with the people of God,
we confess to our brokenness:
to the ways we wound our lives,
the lives of others,
and the life of the world.
May God forgive you, Christ renew you, and the Spirit enable you to grow in love.
Amen.
The Peace .
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
The Celebration of the Eucharist
Offertory Hymn 408 Wind Upon the Waters **
Wind upon the waters, voice upon the deep; rouse your sons and daughters, wake us from our sleep. Breathing life into all flesh, breathing love into all hearts, Living wind upon the waters of my soul. Showers from the heaven, water from the earth; Gift so wholly given, source of every birth. Joy of every living thing, making all creation sing, Shower down upon the dry earth of my soul. Rock and hill and garden, wood and desert sand; Prairie, field and meadow, shaped by Love's own hand. Love that fills the world around, springing up from barren ground, Grow your love within the garden of my soul. Blazing light of wonder, flame that pierces night; Burst the dark asunder, fill our souls with light. Lord of glory, fill the skies, make an end to hatred's cries, Send your blazing Sun of justice in our lives. Wind upon the waters, rains upon the sand, Grace your sons and daughters, newborn by your hand. Come, O Spirit and renew all the life that comes from you, Send your winds upon the waters of my soul.
The Prayer over the Gifts (together)
Giver of life, your Son has destroyed the power of death for all those who believe in him. Accept all we offer you this day and strengthen us in faith and hope; through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all the living. Amen.
Eucharistic Prayer B
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Eternal God, Source of all being, we give you thanks and praise for your faithful love. You call us into friendship with you and one another to be your holy people, a sign of your presence in the world.
When those we trust betray us, unfailingly you remain with us. When we injure others, you confront us in your love and call us to the paths of righteousness. You stand with the weak, and those, broken and alone, whom you have always welcomed home, making the first last, and the last first. Therefore we raise our voices with angels and archangels, forever praising you and singing:
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and Earth of your glory are full
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest.
Blessed is one that comes in the name of the Lord
Blessed is one that come in the name of the Lord
Holy, Holy, Holy Lord
God of power and might
Heaven and Earth of your glory are full
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest
Blessed are you, 0 Holy One: when Hagar was driven into the wilderness you followed her and gave her hope. When Joseph was sold into bondage, you turned malice to your people’s good. When you called Israel out of slavery, you brought them through the wilderness into the promised land. When your people were taken into exile you wept with them by the river of Babylon and carried them home.
Restore us, 0 God, let your face shine!
At the right time you sent your Anointed One to stand with the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed. Jesus touched lepers, and the sick, and healed them. He accepted water from a woman of Samaria and offered her the water of new life. Christ knew the desolation of the cross and opened the way for all humanity into the redemption of your reconciling love.
On the night he was betrayed, Jesus, at supper with his friends, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, gave it to them, and said, “Take and eat: this is my body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”
Loving and Holy One, recalling Christ’s death and resurrection, we offer you these gifts, longing for the bread of tomorrow and the wine of the age to come. Therefore we proclaim our hope:
Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life. Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts that through them you may sustain us in our hunger for your peace. We hold before you all whose lives are marked by suffering, our sisters and brothers. When we are broken and cast aside, embrace us in your love.
Restore us, 0 God, let your face shine!
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, 0 Source of all life, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lord`s Prayer
As our Saviour taught us, let us pray
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our sins.
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory are yours.
Now and forever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread Lent and Holy Week
We break this bread,
Communion in Christ’s body once broken.
Let your Church be the wheat which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with him, we shall live with him; if we hold firm, we shall reign with him.
The Communion
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn During Communion Bethany
Prayer after Communion
All your works praise you, O Lord.
And your faithful servants bless you.
Gracious God we thank you for feeding us
with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.
May we, who share his body, live his risen life;
we, who drink his cup, bring life to others;
we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so that we and all your children shall be free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing
Announcements
Closing Hymn Judas and Mary
Said Judas to Mary, "Now what will you do
with your ointment so rich and rare?"
"I'll pour it all over the feet of the
Lord, and I'll wipe it away with my hair,"
she said, "I'll wipe it away with my hair."
"Oh Mary, O Mary, O think of the poor. This
ointment, it could have been sold; and think
of the blankets and think of the bread you
could buy with the silver and gold,"
he said, " You could buy with silver and gold."
"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I'll think of the poor;
tomorrow," she said, "not today;
for dearer than all of the poor in the world
is my love who is going away,"
she said, " My love who is going away."
Said Jesus to Mary, "Your love is so deep
today, you may do as you will. Tomorrow,
you say, I am going away, but my body
I leave with you still."
he said, " My body I leave with you still."
"The poor of the world are my body," he said,
"to the end of the world they shall be.
The bread and the blanket you give to the poor
you'll know you have given to me.
he said," You'll know you have given to me."
The Dismissal
In work and worship
God is with us.
Gathered and scattered
God is with us.
Now and always
God is with us. Amen
Postlude: Chimes of Freedom
Σχόλια