St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
All are welcome, no exceptions!
St. Paul’s Mission Statement:
We are called to gather around the sacred story and table of Christ where all are invited to be fed and everyone’s story matters.
St. Paul’s Vision Statement:
We pray that our hearts may be opened to seek the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be the church and the Christians that God is calling us to be.
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 15, 2015, 8:00 A.M.
Welcome to worship this morning!
Please turn off your cell phones.
During the service we stand, sit and kneel.
According to your needs and comfort, please sit at any point.
If you are worshipping here for the first time, please sign our guest book. You are invited to join us in the parish hall following the service for fellowship.
All page numbers refer to The Book of Common Prayer.
The Holy Eucharist Rite I
The Liturgy of the Word
A Penitential Order
Priest Bless the Lord who forgiveth all our sins.
People His mercy endureth for ever.
Please kneel or sit
The Decalogue
Priest 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.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest 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.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Honor thy father and thy mother.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Thou shalt do no murder.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Thou shalt not commit adultery.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Thou shalt not steal.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Priest Thou shalt not covet.
People Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Confession of Sin
Priest Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God
Silence
People Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against thee in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved thee with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in thy will, and walk in thy ways, to the glory of thy Name. Amen
Priest 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.
Please Stand
The Kyrie
Priest Lord, have mercy upon us.
People Christ, have mercy upon us.
Priest Lord, have mercy upon us.
The Collect of the Day Fourth Sunday in Lent
Priest The Lord be with you.
People And with thy spirit.
Priest Let us pray.
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which giveth life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The First Lesson Numbers 21:4-9
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food." Then the LORD sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live." So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
Psalm Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,* and his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim* that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3 He gathered them out of the lands;* from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
17 Some were fools and took to rebellious ways;* they were afflicted because of their sins.
18 They abhorred all manner of food* and drew near to death’s door.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,* and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them* and saved them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy* and the wonders he does for his children.
22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving* and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.
The Second Lesson Ephesians 2:1-10
You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
The Gospel John 3:14-21
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."
The Sermon The Reverend Amy Fallon
The Nicene Creed Pages 326-327
The Prayers of the People for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Intercessor Sisters and brothers, confident in God’s love and mercy, let us pray for the world and for our needs, saying, Merciful God, hear our prayer.
Holy God, you created us in Christ Jesus for good works. Help those who profess faith in Christ to do good in the world, following the way of life you have prepared for those who believe in him. For the church of Jesus Christ,
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor Your children walk by your light, doing what is true. Yet salvation is not earned by good works, but through trust in your grace. Dispel from your children arrogance of heart, that the world may be drawn to your truth by their humble witness.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor In every age you call forth men and women of integrity to lead your people in the way of righteousness. Help pastors and teachers fulfill their calling; give them courage to speak the truth in love, and shield them from temptation to misuse their authority. For pastors and teachers, especially Katherine, our Presiding Bishop, Jeff our Diocesan Bishop, and Chris our Assisting Bishop, and our priest, Stacy.*For the congregations of Mandalay in Myanmar, the Congregations in the Chicago-West Deanery, and our companion dioceses of Southeast Mexico and Renk.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor God, your reign encompasses all the earth, though the nations may rebel against your justice. Save the nations from the wrath of their disobedience. Help them to dwell in peace and promote the common good. For governments and leaders, especially for our President, Barak, and for Bruce, our governor.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor You hear the cry of the sick and the afflicted. Save them from their distress, heal them of their disease, and deliver them from the destructive power of suffering. For all who sorrow in distress, especially for Alan and Brenda, Kyleigh, June, Jill and her family, Laura, Paula Hofer, Jan Kuntz, Jim, Margaret Johnson, Betsey and Family, Kurt, Gretta May, Jan, Kara, Jim and Ryan, and Kurt, Gail, Shelton, Faith, Marcia, and Aleta and Dale.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor We also offer our prayers this morning for those serving in the armed forces, especially those serving on the U.S.S. Ohio, Greg, and Dana in Okinawa.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor We remember before you not only our cares, but also our joys. For those celebrating birthdays and anniversaries this week, especially Miles Guiborat.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor For those who have died.
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor For all those needs still unnamed but placed before you now.
(The people may add their prayers either silently or out loud.)
Silence
Intercessor Merciful God
People hear our prayer.
Intercessor O God, in Jesus Christ you have shown your love for the world. Receive our prayers, grant us what we need, save us from perishing, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
*Every week we will pray for a different international church in the Anglican Communion as part of the Anglican Cycle of Prayer. We also will pray weekly for churches and ministries in the Diocese of Chicago and our Companion Dioceses as part of the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.
The Peace Page 332
Announcements and Prayers
The Holy Communion
The Great Thanksgiving
Eucharistic Prayer I Pages 333-336
Sanctus Page 334
The Lord’s Prayer Page 336
The Breaking of the Bread
Agnus Dei Page 337
Prayer of Humble Access Page 337
The Episcopal Church invites all Christians to receive communion.
The host is placed in your open hands; please assist in guiding the chalice to your lips,
or dip the host in the wine. We have gluten free hosts available, ask the priest at the rail. It is acceptable to receive only the bread or the wine. If you would rather not receive communion, you are invited to come to the rail for a blessing. Simply cross your arms over your chest and the priest will say a prayer for you.
The Post Communion Prayer Page 339
The Prayer over the People
Priest Bow down before the Lord.
Look down in mercy, Lord, on your people who kneel before you; and grant that those whom you have nourished by your Word and Sacraments may bring forth fruit worthy of repentance; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Welcome to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
DeKalb, Illinois, Diocese of Chicago Member of the Episcopal Church
Celebrations of the Holy Eucharist
Sundays: 8:00 A.M. (spoken service)
10:30 A.M. (sung service)
Child care for infants & young children is available
Sundays 9:15 A.M. – 11:45 A.M. in the Nursery.
Christian Education Classes
Sundays 9:30-10:15 A.M.: Christian formation classes for all ages.
Children and youth meet in the St. Timothy Center, September-May