7th Sunday after the Epiphany Hybrid Worship 23 February, 2025 10:00am

7th Sunday after the Epiphany

Hybrid Worship

23 February 2025

Presider: The Rev. Deborah van der Goes

Music Director: Dorothy Dittrich

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey,

you are welcome here!

Words For Worship

Words in bold italics, please say together

Prelude:                                                  Untitled composition by Andrea Dow                       

Welcome & Gathering           (adapted from Diocese of BC Liturgy of Islands & Inlets)

In this time and in this place

We gather on the ancestral lands of the Snuneymuxw First Nation 

and Coast Salish Peoples

From many places and many peoples 

we come to this house in prayer.

In this time and in this space

We are not alone

For we meet in the presence of the living God.

In this time and in this place

We are not alone

For the Risen Jesus stands in our midst.

In this time and in this space

We are not alone

For the wind of the Spirit 

moves in and through us.

In this time and in this space

      We light this candle to

remind us that our Light comes.

(The Christ Candle is lit)

Almighty God,

            to you all hearts are open, all desires known,

            and from you no secrets are hidden.

            Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

            by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

            that we may perfectly love you,

            and worthily magnify your holy name;

            through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn: O God of Every Nation                                                               CP #593

The Collect                                              (from “A Prayer book for Australia 1995)

God of mercy, keep before us the love

you have revealed in your Son,

who prayed even for his enemies. 

In our words and actions help us to follow his example,

so that we may transform hatred into love 

and selfishness into generosity;

through Jesus Christ, our great reward.

Amen.

First Reading                                                      Reader: George Westarp                                                           

By the gift of your Spirit, calm and quiet our souls that we may hear your Word today and be lifted up to walk with you.

Genesis 45:3-11, 15                                                                    (NRSV)

Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.” And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

The Message of God

            Thanks be to God                                                

Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide                                               CP #487   

Gospel Reading                                       Reader: Deborah van der Goes                                 

As is your custom, please stand or sit for the reading of the gospel.

God be with you.  

            And also with you

The Good News of Jesus the Christ according to Luke

            Glory to you, Christ Jesus.

Luke 6:27‒38                                                                               (NRSV)

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’

The Gospel of Christ.   

            Praise to you, Jesus the Christ.                                                               

Sermon: Being Faithful In Our Day

Silence

Affirmation of Faith                             (adapted from Anglican Church of Canada)

Let us affirm our Faith.   

The Lord our God, the Lord is one,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart,

With all your soul,

With all your mind,

And with all your strength.

This Is the first and great commandment.

The second is like it:

Love your neighbour as yourself.

There is no greater commandment than these.

Prayers of the People                                                       Paddy Waymark                                             

Our Faith in You Sustains us,                                                           

            Hear Our Prayers 

Life & Work of the Church

The Peace                                                  (please stand as you are able)

The peace of Christ be with you! 

And also with you!

(You are invited to turn to those directly around you and share Christ’s peace. Those on Zoom, please unmute and share with one another)

The Celebration of the Eucharist

The Offerings 

Let us now gather our offerings

(Immediately the Elements of bread and wine are brought forward to the altar. While the altar is being prepared, monetary offerings are gathered, and quiet music is played) 

Offertory Response

(When all is ready at the altar, the monetary offerings are brought forward while the congregation sings)                                                   

Doxology                                                                                                                                       CP #669

Praise God the Source of life and birth,

Praise God the Word, who came to earth.

Praise God the Spirit, holy flame.

All Glory, honour to God’s name.

Prayer over the Gifts                               

Generous God,

accept all we offer you this day.

Lead us to love you with all our heart,

And to love all people with your perfect love.

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.               

Amen                              

The Great Thanksgiving                                      (Lutheran Book of Worship)

God 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 our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and all places, 

give thanks and praise to you,                                                             5

Almighty and Merciful God, through our Saviour Jesus Christ. 

With all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and hosts in heaven, we praise your holy name and join in their unending hymn.

Sanctus and Benedictus                                                      CP #719

Holy, holy, holy Lord, 

God of power and might,

Heav’n and earth are full of your glory, 

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is…. the One who comes

In the name of the Lord,

Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.

In the night in which he was betrayed, 

our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, 

and gave thanks; and broke it, 

and gave it to his disciples, saying: 

Take and eat, this is my body given for you.  

Do this to remember me.

And again, after supper, he took the cup, 

gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 

This cup is the new covenant in my blood, 

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  

Do this to remember me.

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:                                       CP #720

            Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! (x2)

With this bread and cup

We remember your Word

Dwelling among us, full of grace and truth.

We remember our new birth

In his death and resurrection.

We look with hope for his coming.

            Come Lord Jesus.

Holy God, We long for your Spirit,

Come among us. Bless this meal.

May your Word take flesh in us.

Awaken your people.

Fill us with your light.
Bring the gift of peace on earth.

            Come Holy Spirit.                                                                        6

All praise and glory are yours,

Holy one of Israel,

Word of God incarnate,

Power of the Most High,

One God, now and forever

            Amen

The Breaking of the Bread 

We break this bread

To share in the body of Christ

We, being many, are one body,

for we all share in the one bread.                               

And now as Jesus has taught us, let us sing.                         VU #960 

            Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,

            Thy Kin-dom 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 them

            that trespass against us.

            And lead us not into temptation,

            but deliver us from evil

            for thine is the kin-dom, 

            and the power and the glory, 

            for ever and ever.  

Amen. 

The Invitation to Share Communion                             (Iona Community)

This is the table, not of the Church but of Jesus Christ.

It is made ready for those who love God

and who want to love God more.

So come, you who have much faith and you who have little,

You who have been here often

and you who have not been for a long time or ever before,

You who have tried to follow and you who have failed.

Come, not because the Church invites you;

It is Christ who invites you to be known and fed here.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God

Prayer After Communion for Epiphany                      (Church of England)

Almighty God, 

whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world:

may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments,

shine with the radiance of his glory,

that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed

to the ends of the earth;

for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.

            Amen.

Hymn: How Can I Keep From Singing                                CP #401

Blessing and Dismissal                                      (Liturgy for Island and Inlets)

May the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you,

and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his countenance to you

and give you peace;

and the blessing of God almighty,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen. 

Go forth from this place in the power of Christ.

Encourage the faint-hearted;

Help the weak; Be patient with those in need.

See that none of you repays evil for evil;

But always do good to one another and to all.

Rejoice always;

Pray without ceasing;

Give thanks in all circumstances

and the God of peace will be with you

Postlude:                                                Untitled composition by Andrea Dow