To support prayer at home, we will distribute this order of service. Many thanks to the Rev. Stephen Muncie and the parish of St. Mary and St. Jude for sharing this resource with us.
Worship at Home: Fifth Sunday in Lent
A Service of Readings and Prayers for when we are unable to attend worship.
The Greeting and Confession
To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, because we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following his laws which he set before us. -Daniel 9:9, 10
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence may be kept.
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.
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.
The Lessons
The First Lesson
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 honor 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.
The Response
Psalm 126 In convertendo
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, * then were we like those who dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy. 3 Then they said among the nations, * "The Lord has done great things for them." 4 The Lord has done great things for us, * and we are glad indeed. 5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, * like the watercourses of the Negev. 6 Those who sowed with tears * will reap with songs of joy. 7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, * will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
The Second Lesson
Philippians 3:4b-14 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 toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Gospel Lesson
John 12:1-8 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 Apostles' Creed 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 Prayers Prayers are offered for the whole world; for those we love; for the sick and the suffering; for those working to respond to the pandemic, especially all health care workers, physicians, nurses, emergency responders and support staff, and for scientists, researchers, and leaders of governments; for the poor, the homeless, and the uninsured; for the dying and the dead; for those who mourn; and for our communities, friends, and neighbors, and for other prayer concerns.
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 Collect of the Day 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.
Prayers of the People
God of compassion, you give water in the wilderness and call dry bones to dance. Hear us as we pray for all who are in need.
For the Church: that we may be instruments of hope to all who are bear the burden of loss and despair; God of mercy…. Save your people.
For people of other faiths; and all who seek the truth. especially for our Muslim friends and neighbors as they begin Ramadan: that together we may witness to God's loving-kindness; God of mercy…. Save your people,
For Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Thomas, our bishop; and for all who serve the Church, especially for the parishes of Mount Desert Island: that God will fill us with wisdom, humility, and love; God of mercy…. Save your people.
For an end to war and violence throughout the world; especially for the people of Ukraine; for all refugees; and for wise and just political leadership in every land: that God will lead the human family to peace and goodwill; God of mercy,…. Save your people.
For healing within families: that God will heal the wounds of words and deeds so that families may support one another with tender-hearts; God of mercy... Save your people.
For all who are suffering for the Gospel: that God will strengthen them and help them to offer faithful witness to Christ; God of mercy... Save your people.
For those who must fast every day; for the hungry, the homeless, and the oppressed: that they may know justice on earth; God of mercy…. Save your people.
For the gift of a new beginning: that God will transform our fears into hope, and our selfishness into love, God of mercy... Save your people.
For all who face prejudice and discrimination: that God will heal their wounds and strengthen our commitment to respect the dignity of all people; God of mercy…. Save your people.
For those the Church has injured or offended; and for those we find it hardest to love: that God will forgive our wrongs and resentments; God of mercy…. Save your people.
For those who are sick; especially those suffering from the pandemic; for the safety of all health care workers; and for the hospitalized and the homebound; God of mercy…. Save your people.
We pray for our family members, friends, and neighbors:
At Church of Our Father we pray for those on our prayer list.
At St. Saviour's Parish we pray for Gregory Berube, Connie Brush, Yolanda Ferrari, Cheryl Kolodziej, Julie Grindle, Geoff Schuller, Eleanor Raynes, Howard Brush, John Stewart, Ruth Westphal, Gretchen Westphal, Lucy Triplett, Gail Leland, Christopher Lebida, Christopher Walls, Linda Carman, Mary Smith, John Fibiger, Ray McDonald, Emily O'Connor, Sarah Cleaves, Nicholas, Janet Flood, Rachel, Mimi, Charlie, Sarah B., Dickie, Alex, Penny Ayer, Arletta Sullivan, and Anne Cleaves.
At St. Andrew & St. John we pray for for Mary Ann Mahoney, Liz, Edie Stanwood, Susan Buell, Elizabeth Ward, Bunny Watts, Anne Wetzel, Paul Haertel, Chuck Bradshaw, Ted Bromage, Jean Storace, Spencer Ervin, Geoff Schuller, Doris McCorison, Gail Leland, Michael Shook, Joyce and Jim Risser, Loretta Schmidt, Theresa Mitchell, Fred & Dollis Sprague, Sara Winchenbach, Richard Ramsdell, Dorothy & Jim Clunan, Bill & Barbara Loveland.
I now invite you to offer your own prayers for those in any need or trouble……(silence)…. God of mercy…. Save your people.
For Cassidy Murray, Preston Kenney, and all who have died; and for all who weep and mourn; God of mercy…. Save your people.
We give you thanks for the people and families of our parish, for the special blessing of children in our lives, and for the presence of our visitors and guests today; God of mercy... Save your people.
Concluding Collects
O Dear Lord, three things I pray: to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. (St. Richard of Chichester)
Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness and your grace waters the desert. Help us to recognize your hand working miracles beyond our imagining. Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, so that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love for all, and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.
For the Human Family O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 815)
For Those We Love Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 831)
Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God. 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. 2 Corinthians 13:14
View this email in your browser or Click "view entire message" at the bottom if your browser does not display the whole message.
The MDI Episcopal Partnership
St. Andrew's and St. John's PO Box 767 Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 GPS Location: 315 Main Street, Southwest Harbor, Maine
