Welcome to our Sunday worship, whether you are gathering in person at St Paul’s or online.
We invite you to use the time before the Service begins for reflection.
Prelude : A selection of music recorded by Dr Greg Caisley will be played electronically.
GATHERING THE COMMUNITY
The Minister welcomes everyone informally and any directions given.
The Greeting
Minister Dear friends, we gather this morning on the traditional and unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
All May we dwell on this land with respect and peace.
Minister The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
All And also with you.
Minister Drawn from many backgrounds and experiences,
All God gathers us as one body.
Minister Bringing our whole selves before our Maker,
All God transforms us more and more into who we were created to be.
Minister We stand together as people loved by God,
All and who are called to love others in ordinary and extraordinary ways.
Minister Let us celebrate God’s majesty, and delight in the wonder of God’s love. Together we shall confess our sins and receive assurance that we are forgiven. As the scriptures are read we can allow God’s word to speak to us, and ponder its meaning for our lives. In our prayers, we give thanks for God’s goodness, we pray for others as well as for ourselves, and we offer our lives anew in Christ’s service. All this we do, because we believe in the presence among us of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and in the mighty power of the Holy Spirit.
Confession & Absolution
Minister Love one another, for love is of God, and whoever loves is born of God and knows God.
All Spirit of God, search our hearts.
Minister Let us pause and, in silence, remember our need for God’s forgiveness.
Silence is kept
Minister Let us confess our sins to God, as we say
All 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 neighbours 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.
Minister Merciful God, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
All Amen.
THE COLLECT OF THE DAY
Minister Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ fed the hungry with the bread of his life and the word of his kingdom. Renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your true and living bread, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
All Amen
THE PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
First Reading: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS Debbie Lanigan
The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is breaking." But Jacob said, "I will not let you go, unless you bless me." So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then the man said, "You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed." Then Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved." The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. GENESIS 32:22-31
Reader This is the Word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Musical Interlude
THE GOSPEL Debbie Lanigan
Reader +The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. MATTHEW 14:13-21
Reader The Gospel of Christ.
All Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Musical Interlude
HOMILY
A Time for Reflection will follow (including time with music).
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Minister Let us confess our faith as we say,
All 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.
INTERCESSIONS AND THANKSGIVINGS Linda Bourne
After the intercessions, a time for personal prayer follows
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Minister Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray as our Saviour taught us,
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. 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 DISMISSAL
Announcements are given
Minister May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, through the power of the Holy Spirit; and the blessing of God our Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be with you always.
All Amen.
Minister Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
All Thanks be to God
If you would like to join us for a virtual coffee hour on Zoom, please go to https//zoom.us/j/240454925 Meeting ID 240 454 925
