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.
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, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church. Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love, joy, and peace; 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 PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
First Reading: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF GENESIS Guy Cribdon
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. This is the story of the family of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them." He answered, "Here I am." So he said to him, "Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. He came to Shechem, and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, "What are you seeking?" "I am seeking my brothers," he said; "tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock." The man said, "They have gone away, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams." But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life." Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him" - that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers agreed. When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt. GENESIS 37:1-4, 12-28
Reader This is the Word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL Guy Cribdon
Reader +The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew.
All Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." MATTHEW 14:22-33
Reader The Gospel of Christ.
All Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
HOMILY
A Time for Reflection will follow
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 Gail Evans
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
