The Third Sunday in Lent

Join us as we celebrate the Holy Eucharist on the Third Sunday in Lent. The service will be live via Zoom and live streamed to YouTube. It will be available to watch on demand on the event page and YouTube at the end of the service.

Christ Episcopal Church Online
The Third Sunday in Lent
March 7th, 2021

Prelude  “Variations on hymntune Southwell” Alfred Fedak 

Opening Hymn  “The spacious firmament on high” Hymnal 409  v. 1 & 2

1 The spacious firmament on high, with all the blue ethereal sky,

and spangled heavens, a shining frame, their great original proclaim.

The unwearied sun from day to day does his Creator’s power display;

and publishes to every land the work of an almighty hand.

2 Soon as the evening shades prevail, the moon takes up the wondrous tale,

and nightly to the listening earth repeats the story of her birth:

whilst all the stars that round her burn, and all the planets in their turn,

confirm the tidings, as they roll and spread the truth from pole to pole.

Opening Sentences

Celebrant: Bless the Lord who forgiveth all our sins.

People: His mercy endureth for ever.

Decalogue   

Cantors: B. Snyder & S. MacLennan

God spake these words, and said:

I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of

Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none

other gods but me.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the

likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth

beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow

down to them, nor worship them.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt do no murder.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not steal.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not covet.

Lord have mercy upon us,
and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

Celebrant:

Hear what our Lord Jesus saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with

all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great

commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt

love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments

hang all the Law and the Prophets. 

Confession

Deacon: 

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

All: 

Almighty and most merciful father,

we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep,

we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts,

we have offended against thy holy laws,

we have left undone those things which we ought to have done,

and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us,

spare thou those who confess their faults,

restore thou those who are penitent,

according to thy promises declared unto mankind

in Christ Jesus our Lord;

and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,

that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,

to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen.

Absolution

The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and

remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of

life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

Kyrie

Lord have mercy upon us.

Christ have mercy upon us.

Lord have mercy upon us.

Collect of the Day

Celebrant: The Lord be with You.

People: And with thy Spirit

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Exodus 20:1-17                                                                    Reader: P. Dutra

Then God spoke all these words: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name. Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *

and the firmament shows his handiwork.

2 One day tells its tale to another, *

and one night imparts knowledge to another.

3 Although they have no words or language, *

and their voices are not heard,

4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *

and their message to the ends of the world.

5 In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *

it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;

it rejoices like a champion to run its course.

6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens

and runs about to the end of it again; *

nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect

and revives the soul; *

the testimony of the Lord is sure

and gives wisdom to the innocent.

8 The statutes of the Lord are just

and rejoice the heart; *

the commandment of the Lord is clear

and gives light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the Lord is clean

and endures for ever; *

the judgments of the Lord are true

and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,

more than much fine gold, *

sweeter far than honey,

than honey in the comb.

11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *

and in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can tell how often he offends? *

cleanse me from my secret faults.

13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;

let them not get dominion over me; *

then shall I be whole and sound,

and innocent of a great offense.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my

heart be acceptable in your sight, *

O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25                                                      Reader: P. Dutra 

The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Sequence Hymn    “Help us, O Lord, to learn”    Hymnal 628  v. 1, 2, 3

1 Help us, O Lord, to learn the truths your word imparts;

to study, that your laws may be inscribed upon our hearts.

2 Help us, O Lord, to live the faith which we proclaim,

that all our thoughts and words and deeds may glorify your Name.

3 Help us, O Lord, to teach the beauty of your ways,

that yearning souls may find the Christ and live a life of praise.

The Gospel: John 2:13-22                                                        The Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert

Deacon: The Holy Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ according to Mark.

People: Glory be to thee O Lord.

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise be to thee, O Christ.

Homily                                                                                         Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert

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 worshiped 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.

Prayers of the People

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church and the world.

Almighty and everliving God, who in thy holy Word hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: Receive these our prayers which we offer unto thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and grant that all those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all bishops and other ministers especially Justin, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Michael, Presiding Bishop, DeDe our Bishop, Elizabeth, our Rector, Jim, our Priest, Kay, our Deacon, and all who are baptized in Christ, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and especially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy Word, truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

We beseech thee also so to rule the hearts of those who bear the authority of government in this and every land especially  Joe, our President, Andrew, our Governor, Jason, our County Executive, Rich, our Mayor and all our elected officials, that they may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world. Open, O Lord, the eyes of all people to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works, that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, they may honor thee with their substance, and be faithful stewards of thy bounty.

And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succor Connor, Connie, Gabriella, George, Joan, Joell, Millie, Rose and all those who in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.

And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear, beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service; and to grant us grace so to follow the good examples of all thy saints, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.

Grant these our prayers, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake,

our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

The Offertory   “Be Thou my Vision”   Arr. Richard Shephard 

                                                         Duet: B. Snyder & S. MacLennan 

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart; 

naught be all else to me, save that thou art.

Thou my best thought by day or by night,

waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;

thou and thou only, first in my heart,

great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,

may I reach heavens joys, O bright heaven’s Sun!

Heart of my own heart, whatever be fall,

still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

The Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People: And with thy Spirit.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 Communion Prayer 

In union, O Lord, with the faithful at every altar of your Church where the Holy Eucharist is and has been celebrated, we desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving. We present to you our souls and bodies with the earnest wish that we may always be united to you, and since we cannot now receive you sacramentally in the Bread and the Wine, we ask you to come spiritually into our hearts. We unite ourselves with you, and embrace you with all the love of our souls. Let nothing ever separate you from us. May we live in you, and may you live in us, both in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

The Blessing

Closing Hymn   “Christ is made the sure foundation”    Hymnal 518  v. 1 & 2

1 Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone,

chosen of the Lord, and precious, binding all the Church in one;

holy Zion’s help forever, and her confidence alone.

2 All that dedicated city, dearly loved of God on high,

in exultant jubilation pours perpetual melody;

God the One in Three adoring in glad hymns eternally.

Dismissal