Eucharist for the first Sunday of Lent

Eucharist for the first Sunday of Lent

The Gathering

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit All: Amen

The Greeting

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you

All: And also with you.

Song: Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us o'er the world's tempestuous sea; guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us for we have no help but thee; yet possessing every blessing, if our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us; all our weakness thou dost know; thou didst tread this earth before us, thou didst feel its keenest woe; self-denying, death defying, thou to Calvary didst go. Spirit of our God, descending, fill our hearts with heavenly joy, love with every passion blending, pleasure that can never cloy: thus provided, pardoned, guided, nothing can our peace destroy.

Prayers of penitence

The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart God will not despise. Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion,

and acknowledge our transgressions in penitence and faith. We confess to you our selfishness and lack of love:

fill us with your Spirit. Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.

We confess to you our fear and failure in sharing our faith: fill us with your Spirit.

Christ, have mercy. All: Christ, have mercy.

We confess to you our stubbornness and lack of trust: fill us with your Spirit.

Lord, have mercy. All: Lord, have mercy.

The president says:

The almighty and merciful Lord

grant you pardon and forgiveness of all your sins, time for amendment of life,

and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit. All: Amen

The Collect

Almighty God,

whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness; and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:

give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your spirit; and, as you know our weaknesses,

The Liturgy of the Word

Readings:

This is the word of the Lord All: Thanks be to God

Gospel reading:

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. All: Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.

When the Gospel is announced the minister says:

The Lord be with you All: And also with you

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark All: Glory to you, O Lord

At the end the minister says:

This is the Gospel of the Lord All: Praise to you, O Christ

Sermon

The Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary, 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,

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

Prayers of Intercession

The Liturgy of the Sacrament

The Peace

Since we are justified by faith,

we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to his grace.

The peace of the Lord be always with you All: and also with you.

All exchange a sign of peace within their household and online.

Song: Father, hear the prayer we offer

Father, hear the prayer we offer: not for ease that prayer shall be, but for strength that we may ever live our lives courageously.

Not for ever in green pastures do we ask our way to be;

but the steep and rugged pathway may we tread rejoicingly.

Not for ever by still waters would we idly rest and stay;

Be our strength in hours of weakness, in our wanderings be our guide; through endeavour, failure, danger, Father, be thou at our side.

Songwriter: Maria Willis, Samuel Longfellow

Taking of the Bread and Wine

God of our journey,

as we walk with you on your path of obedience, sustain us on our way and lead us to your glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

The Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you All: And also with you

Lift up your hearts

All: We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. All: It is right to give thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise,

almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. For in these forty days

you lead us into the desert of repentance

that through a pilgrimage of prayer and discipline we may grow in grace

and learn to be your people once again. Through fasting, prayer and acts of service you bring us back to your generous heart. Through study of your holy word

you open our eyes to your presence in the world and free our hands to welcome others

As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feast with joyful hearts and minds

we bless you for your mercy and join with saints and angels for ever praising you and saying: Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Accept our praises, heavenly Father, through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,

and as we follow his example and obey his command, grant that by the power of your Holy Spirit

these gifts of bread and wine

may be to us his body and his blood;

who, in the same night that he was betrayed, took bread and gave you thanks;

he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way, after supper

he took the cup and gave you thanks; he gave it to them, saying:

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. Do this, as often as you drink it,

in remembrance of me. Therefore, heavenly Father,

we remember his offering of himself made once for all upon the cross;

we proclaim his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; we look for the coming of your kingdom,

and with this bread and this cup

we make the memorial of Christ your Son our Lord. Great is the mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died: Christ is risen:

Accept through him, our great high priest, this our sacrifice of thanks and praise, and as we eat and drink these holy gifts in the presence of your divine majesty, renew us by your Spirit,

inspire us with your love

and unite us in the body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

with all who stand before you in earth and heaven, we worship you, Father almighty,

in songs of everlasting praise:

All: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Trusting in the compassion of God, as our saviour taught us, so we pray

All: 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. Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

Breaking of the Bread

Every time we eat this bread and drink this cup,

Agnus Dei

All: Jesus, Lamb of God, have mercy on us. Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.

Jesus, redeemer of the world, grant us peace.

Giving of Communion

Jesus is the Lamb of God

who takes away the sin of the world.

Blessed are those who are called to his supper. All: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,

but only say the word and I shall be healed.

As the celebrant receives the Eucharist, you might wish to pray this prayer:

Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’

Lord, in these days of mercy, make us quiet and prayerful; in these days of challenge, make us stronger in you; in these days of emptiness, take possession of us;

in these days of waiting, open our hearts to the mystery of your cross.

Prayer after Communion

The post communion prayer for the week is said:

Lord God,

you have renewed us with the living bread from heaven; by it you nourish our faith,

increase our hope, and strengthen our love:

teach us always to hunger for him who is the true and living bread, and enable us to live by every word

All: Almighty God,

we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ. Through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out

in the power of your Spirit to live and work

to your praise and glory. Amen.

Song: Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer, pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but thou art mighty, hold me with thy powerful hand: bread of heaven,

feed me now and evermore. Open now the crystal fountain

whence the healing stream doth flow; let the fiery, cloudy pillar

lead me all my journey through: strong deliverer,

be thou still my strength and shield. When I tread the verge of Jordan bid my anxious fears subside;

death of death, and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side:

songs of praises

I will ever give to thee. Songwriter: William Williams

The Blessing

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness,

to deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow him; And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. All: Amen

The Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. All: In the name of Christ.