Sunday at CEC

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Sunday,March 30, 2025
Fourth Sunday in Lent
9:00 & 11:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite Two

Service from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP)  Congregational participation in bold

Opening Prayer, all seated

Choral Introit, remain seated

“If thou but trust in God to guide thee”        Wer nur den lieben Gott

If thou but trust in God to guide thee,
and hope in him through all thy ways,
he’ll give thee strength what e’er betide thee,
and bear thee through the evil days.
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
builds on a rock that nought can move.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving;
so do thine own part faithfully,
and trust his word, though undeserving;
thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook in need
the soul that trusted him indeed.

Welcome & Announcements, all seated

Please take a moment of silence to prepare your heart and mind for worship after the announcements are concluded.

The Procession, all standing

“Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!”           Hymn 438

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Savior shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name the Lord, the Mighty One.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore!


Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. BCP 351
His mercy endures for ever.

Jesus said, “The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”   Mark 12:29-31

Let us humbly confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence is kept, all kneeling.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, we have offended against your holy laws, we have left undone those things which we ought to have done and we have those things which we ought not to have done.  O Lord, have mercy upon us, spare those who confess their faults, restore those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to us in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name.  Amen.

Absolution

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

Kyrie, remain kneeling

“Lord, have mercy” arr. Josh Benninger1

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy.
Have mercy upon us, O Christ, have mercy.
Cast us not from thy presence, keep us faithful and true.
Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy.

Collect of the Day BCP 213

The Lord be with you.  And also with you.  Let us pray. 

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Prayer for National Vietnam War Veterans Day, March 29

Gracious and Almighty God, the names etched on The Wall at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial remind us of our loved ones who gave their all and never came home. To the families, caregivers, and survivors of the more than 58,000 service members whose names are memorialized in the black granite, we pledge never to forget the eternal sacrifice they gave in service to this country. And for the multiplied thousands who continue on, grieving their absence, we ask you to comfort, heal, and bring joy. May our observance today be a timely reminder that our freedom was purchased at a high cost and should not be taken for granted. Amen

The Lessons BCP 357

Joshua 5:9-12

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 32, read responsively

1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
because of my groaning all day long.
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
and did not conceal my guilt.
6 I said,” I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers 
to you in time of trouble; *
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
8 You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *
I will guide you with my eye.
10 Do not be like horse or mule, 
which have no understanding; *
who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
or else they will not stay near you.”
11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Gradual Hymn, all standing

“Come, thou fount of every blessing” Hymn 686:1-2

Come, thou fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace!
Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! Oh, fix me on it, mount of God’s unchanging love.

Here I find my greatest treasure: hither, by thy help, I’ve come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger, interposed his precious blood.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Luke. Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

The Gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, Lord Christ.

“Come, thou fount of every blessing” Hymn 686:3

Oh, to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Sermon The Rev. Scott Kitayama
After the sermon, brief silence is kept for meditation on God’s Holy Word.

The Nicene Creed, all standing

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People, all kneeling or seated

With confidence and trust let us pray to the Lord, saying, Lord, have mercy.

For the Church throughout the world that it may extend the Good News of Christ graciously and compassionately, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For those preparing for Baptism and Confirmation and for their teachers and sponsors that this may be a season of transformation, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For peace in the world that a spirit of respect and reconciliation may grow among nations and amongst the people of our own communities, that our President, Congress, Governor, Mayor, and all leaders may serve righteously, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer; for refugees, our military, prisoners, and all in danger that they may be relieved and protected, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For all whom we have injured or offended and for the grace to amend our lives, make peace with others, and further God’s gracious reign, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For all who have died for those who care for them, miss them, and grieve the loss of their companionship, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

For the people of Ukraine, the Holy Land, and all war-torn places, that they will be delivered from terror and destruction, and for all who inflict harm that their  hearts would be turned to mercy and they would repent of evil, we pray to you, Lord.
Lord, have mercy. 

The officiant prays...

O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compassion upon us and all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.  Amen.

Passing of the Peace, all standing
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.

Offertory Sentence

Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High.  Psalm 50:14 BCP 376

Choral Anthem,  all seated

“Jerusalem, My Happy Home” Arr. Mark Shepperd

Presentation of gifts, all standing Old 100th

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
praise him, all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heavenly host:
praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen. 

The Great Thanksgiving BCP 361

The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who was tempted in every way as we are, yet did not sin. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer for ourselves alone, but for him who died for us and rose again.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

“Holy, holy, holy” S-129

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.

The Celebrant continues 

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, “Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you nd for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues….

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
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 Breaking of the Bread BCP 337

“Jesus, Lamb of God” Hymn S-164

Jesus, Lamb of God: have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins: have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer, redeemer of the world:
give us your peace, give us your peace.

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

Communion Music

“This is the hour of banquet and of song” Hymn 317

This is the hour of banquet and of song;
This is the heavenly table spread of me;
here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
the brief, bright hour of fellowship with thee.

Too soon we rise; we go our several ways;
the feast, though not the love, is past and gone,
the Bread and Wine consumed:  yet all our days 
thou still art here with us––our Shield and Sun.

Feast after feast thus comes and passes by,
yet, passing, points to the glad feast above,
giving us foretaste of the festal joy, 
the Lamb’s great marriage feast of bliss and love.

After Communion, the Celebrant says
Let us pray.

Closing prayers BCP 365

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Solemn Prayer for Lent is prayed

Grant, Almighty God, that your people may recognize their weakness and put their whole trust in your strength, so that they may rejoice for ever in the protection of your loving providence; through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Closing Hymn

“Guide me, O thou great Jehovah” Hymn 690

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land;}
I am weak, but thou art mighty;  hold me with thy powerful hand;
bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me now and evermore,
feed me now and evermore.

Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through;
strong deliverer, strong deliverer, be thou still my strength and shield,
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, songs of praises, I will ever give to thee,
I will ever give to thee.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. 
Thanks be to God.

Hymns from Hymnal 1982, Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS) II and Wonder, Love and Praise (WLP) are reprinted under OneLicense.net. A-709130. 1 © Music: Nettleton, melody from A Repository of Sacred music, Part II, 1813