The Fourth Sunday In Lent

Sunday, March 10, at 10:00 am | The Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Livestreamed on Facebook (click and open the ‘live’ video)

The order of this service can also be found in The Book of Common Prayer, page 355. Spoken responses are in bold typeface.

To give to St. Paul’s, select an option below:

• Online: E-Giving (Realm) | PayPal

• Text: message 73256 with the phrase saintpauls $X (insert an amount in place of X)

• Check: mail your offering to St. Paul’s Church, 84 E Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901

Prelude: “Wen Nur Den Lieben Gott Lässt Wahen” J.S. Bach

THE ENTRANCE RITE & PENITENTIAL ORDER

Hymn 690: “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah”

1. 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,
feed me now and evermore.

2. 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,
be thou still my strength and shield.

3. 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.

The Penitential Order

Celebrant    ✠ Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People   His mercy endures for ever.

The Decalogue is sung, and the people respond, “Amen. Lord have mercy.”

Hear the commandments of God to his people: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage. You shall have no other gods but me.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not make for yourself any idol.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Honor your father and your mother.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit murder.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not commit adultery.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not steal.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not be a false witness.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Amen. Lord have mercy.

Celebrant

Jesus said, “The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our 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 other commandment greater than these.”

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.                       

Silence is kept.

Celebrant and People

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 neighbors 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.

The Celebrant pronounces absolution.

Kyrie: “Lord, have mercy”

Salutation & The Collect of the Day

Priest     The Lord be with you. 
People     And also with you.
Priest    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.

The Liturgy of the Word

First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9

From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Reader     The Word of the Lord.
People     Thanks be to God.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *
and his mercy endures for ever.

2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.

3 He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

17 Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their sins.

18 They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death's door.

19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.

20 He sent forth his word and healed them *
and saved them from the grave.

21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.

22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

Second Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

Reader     The Word of the Lord.
People     Thanks be to God.

Hymn 620: “Jerusalem, my happy home”

1. Jerusalem, my happy home,
when shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end?
Thy joys when shall I see?

2. Thy saints are crowned with glory great;
they see God face to face;
they triumph still, they still rejoice
in that most happy place.

3. There David stands with harp in hand
as master of the choir:
ten thousand times would one be blest
who might this music hear.

4. Our Lady sings Magnificat
with tune surpassing sweet,
and blessed martyrs’ harmony
doth ring in every street.

5. Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
God grant that I may see
thine endless joy, and of the same
partaker ever be!

A tract is then sung by the choir.

The Gospel: John 3:14-21

Priest     The ✠ Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John.
People  Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

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

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed Said in unison

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.

The Prayers of the People

In peace, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”

For the holy Church of God, that it may be filled with truth and love, and be found without fault at the day of your coming, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, Presiding Bishop; Daniel, Bishop of this Diocese; and Daniel, priest of this Parish; for all bishops and other ministers, and for all the holy people of God, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who fear God and believe in you, Lord Christ, that our divisions may cease, and that all may be one as you and the Father are one, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the mission of the Church, that in faithful witness it may preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those who do not yet believe, and for those who have lost their faith, that they may receive the light of the Gospel, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, that you would make all wars to cease, and that a spirit of respect and forbearance may grow among nations and peoples, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For those in positions of public trust, especially ___ , that they may serve justice, and promote the dignity and freedom of every person, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For a blessing upon all human labor, and for the right use of the riches of creation, that the world may be freed from poverty, famine, and disaster, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

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

For this congregation—for those who are present, and for those who are absent—that we may be delivered from hardness of heart, and show forth your glory in all that we do, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our enemies and those who wish us harm, and for all whom we have injured or offended, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins, and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who have commended themselves to our prayers, especially ___ , and for those we now name:

The people may add their own petitions

… for our families, friends, and neighbors; that being freed from anxiety, they may live in joy, peace, and health, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For our sister parish of St. Mary’s, Sololá, in our companion diocese of Guatemala, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For __________, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For all who have ✠ died in the communion of your Church, and those whose faith is known to you alone, that, with all the saints, they may have rest in that place where there is no pain or grief, but life eternal, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, blessed Paul the Apostle and all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life to Christ our God.
To you, O Lord our God.

Silence

The Celebrant concludes the prayers with a Doxology.

The Peace

Priest     The peace of the Lord be always with you. 
People     And also with you.

The Holy Communion

An anthem is sung as the Altar is prepared with the elements of Holy Communion.

To give an offering, select an option below:

• Online: E-Giving (Realm) | PayPal

• Text: message 73256 with the phrase saintpauls $X (insert an amount in place of X)

• Check: mail your offering to St. Paul’s Church, 84 E Oakland Ave, Doylestown, PA 18901

Offertory Anthem: “Lord God, Hear My Prayer” Brad Steed

Lord God, hear my pray’r;
and let my cry come to thee.
Lord God, hear my pray’r;
hide not thy face from me.
Incline thine ear to me;
and when I call, O Lord, hear me.
My days are like a shadow that declineth;
I am withered like the grass.
Thou, Lord, shalt endure forever.
Lord God, hear my pray’r;
and let my cry come to thee.
Lord God, hear my pray’r;
hide not thy face from me.
Incline thine ear to me;
and when I call, O Lord, hear me.
Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer B

The Priest faces the People and says

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

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Priest continues

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:

Sanctus: “Holy, holy, holy Lord”

The People may stand or kneel. The Priest 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 and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” 

Therefore, according to his command, O Father, 

Priest and People

We remember his death, 
We proclaim his resurrection, 
We await his coming in glory; 

The Priest continues

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being ✠ sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with the ever-blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, blessed Paul the Apostle, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. 

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, 

People and Priest

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

The Priest breaks the consecrated Bread. A period of silence is kept.

Priest     Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People     Therefore let us keep the feast.

The Agnus Dei

Facing the People, the Priest says

The Gifts of God for the People of God.

Spiritual Communion: Act of Reception

This prayer form is for those who desire to receive the Sacrament but are unable to do so, with the assurance that all the benefits of Communion are received, even though the Sacrament is not received with the mouth. 

In union, blessed Jesus, with the faithful gathered at every altar of your Church where your blessed Body and Blood are offered this day, I long to offer you praise and thanksgiving, for creation and all the blessings of this life, for the redemption won for us by your life, death, and resurrection, for the means of grace and the hope of glory.

I believe that you are truly present in the Holy Sacrament, and, since I cannot at this time receive communion, I pray you to come into my heart. I unite myself with you and embrace you with all my heart, my soul, and my mind. Let nothing separate me from you; let me serve you in this life until, by your grace, I come to your glorious kingdom and unending peace. Amen.

Come Lord Jesus, and dwell in my heart in the fullness of your strength; be my wisdom and guide me in right pathways; conform my life and actions to the image of your holiness; and, in the power of your gracious might, rule over every hostile power that threatens or disturbs the growth of your kingdom, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Communion Anthem: “Behold, we have seen Him” Eleanor Daley

Behold, we have seen Him
without form or comeliness.
His form is gone from Him.
He hath borne our sins;
and His sorrows are for us.

He was wounded for our transgressions;
and with His stripes we are healed.
Surely He hath borne our griefs;
and carried our sorrows,
and with His stripes we are healed.

Hymn 321: “My God, thy table now is spread”

1. My God, thy table now is spread,
thy cup with love doth overflow;
be all thy children thither led,
and let them thy sweet mercies know.

2. O let thy table honored be,
and furnished well with joyful guests;
and may each soul salvation see,
that here its sacred pledges tastes.

3. Drawn by thy quickening grace, O Lord,
in countless number let them come
and gather from their Father’s board
the Bread that lives beyond the tomb.

4. Nor let thy spreading Gospel rest
till through the world thy truth has run,
till with this Bread shall all be blessed
who see the light or feel the sun.

Postcommunion Prayer

Priest     Let us pray.

The People may join in saying this prayer 

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Announcements

The Blessing & Dismissal

The Priest gives the blessing.

The Priest dismisses the people, who respond Thanks be to God.

Postlude: “Alas! And did my Savior Bleed” John Leavitt

Service Participants

• Celebrant: The Rev. Daniel T. Moore

• Preacher: Kyle Evans

• Eucharistic Ministers: Kyle Evans, John Black

• Thurifer: Madeleine Moore

• Crucifer: Weston Massey

• Lector: Trudie Benton

• Ushers: Joe DeTato, Andy Morse

• Organist: W. Edward McCall

• Altar: Sara Frister, Widgette Kelly

• A/V: Josh Pankoe

Choir: George Achilles, Trudie Benton, Wendy Brumbaugh, Alexander Famous, Carol Fox, Laura Pankoe, Shelley Reed, Mike Roberts, Sue Roberts, Amber Robinson, Annie Rogers, Anne Shute, Jim Shute, Caitlin Stein, Marian Wentworth

Online giving is available through Realm E-Giving and PayPal. We thank you for your generous giving to St. Paul’s.

WEEKDAY WORSHIP

Mass for the lesser feast of James Theodore Holly (Bishop, d. 1911) will be held this week on Wednesday, March 13, at noon in the Chapel.

LENTEN SOUP & STUDY SERIES

What does it mean to be a disciple—is it different from being a Christian? In this year’s Lenten Soup & Study Series, we will explore this very question, using as our launching point the book Being Disciples: Essentials of the Christian Life by Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury from 2003-2012). “Discipleship,” writes Williams “is a state of being … about how we live; not just the decisions we make, not just the things we believe, but a state of being.” Topics include: faith, hope, & love; forgiveness; holiness; faith in society; and life in the Spirit. The evening schedule is as follows:

·         5:30—Stations of the Cross (Nave)

·         6:00—Soup Dinner (Parish Hall)

·         6:30—Study & Discussion, ending by 7:30pm

This study series meets on Wednesday nights during Lent, beginning February 21. As we gather, week by week, we will deepen our knowledge of what being disciples really means. To RSVP for the series (so that we can plan for enough food & seating), please send a message to Fr. Daniel Moore.

Holy Week Schedule of Services
March 24 – march 31, 2024

Palm Sunday (Mar. 24)
8:00 AM Liturgy of the Palms & Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:00 AM Palm Sunday Procession & Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (Mar. 25-27)
7:00PM Holy Eucharist
(on Wednesday, preceded by Stations at 6:30 PM)

Maundy Thursday (Mar. 28)
7:00 PM Mandatum Liturgy (Foot Washing) & Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday (Mar. 29)
12:00 Noon The Solemn Collects & Veneration of the Cross

Easter Eve: The Great Vigil (Mar. 30)
7:15 PM The Kindling of the Fire & Lighting of the Paschal Candle, The Story of Salvation, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, & Holy Eucharist

Easter Day: the Sunday of the Resurrection (Mar. 31)
7:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Sunrise in the Garden
8:30 AM Holy Eucharist, Rite I
10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Rite II

EASTER MUSIC AND FLOWERS: MEMORIALS & THANKSGIVINGS

We invite you to to submit a memorial and/or thanksgiving offering for Easter music and flowers, along with the names of those you wish to be remembered. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, March 24. You can submit names through our website using the buttons below:

Continuing Discernment about Daughters of the King at St. Paul’s: 

There will be an informational meeting on Sunday, March 17 at 9:00 for anyone interested.  Please plan to join us in the chapel at that time.

Little Free Pantry

Thank you to everyone who has, and continues, to support the Little Free Pantry.  Your help and generosity in maintaining the supplies for the pantry are greatly appreciated by everyone.  With food prices skyrocketing and the number utilizing the pantry  increasing,  it is difficult to keep up with the demand.  During the Lenten season, would you please consider bringing a food donation with you on Sundays.  Additionally, if you prefer, a monetary donation to the Pantry is also very helpful.  The cost to keep the pantry stocked is increasing and all help is greatly appreciated.  Thank you again.

Spiritual Practices: 

Come and explore some ancient and some not-so ancient ways of opening and deepening your prayer life.  You will be among friends in an informal environment.  Meet once a month – as you wish and can – for about an hour.  The second meeting is planned for Saturday, April 13 at 10:00 in Paxson Hall.  Questions?  Contact Leigh DeTato.

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE

Our next meeting is at 7:30 PM on March 12th, the usual 2nd Tuesday of every month.  Join us on Zoom (login credentials can be found in the most recent Weekly E-Notes email). Contact chair Jim Massey with any questions. All are welcome!

Blood Drive:
Thursday, March 21, 2:00pm – 7:00pm in the Parish Hall

Appointments are preferred. To register, scan the QR code to the right,
visit www.redcrossblood.org (enter sponsor code: stpaulepisc),

or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Altar Guild Cleaning Day: Saturday, March 23 
Join the Altar Guild as we prepare for Easter. 

March 23rd, at 10:00 AM the Altar Guild will be cleaning the church and we would like to give everyone in the church family the opportunity to join us. Dusting, Polishing, Wax Removal and plenty of Schlepping - no experience is needed, just a willing spirit and helping hands. Pizza and salad will be served at noon, please bring your own drink. For more information contact Carol Fox.

CARING FOR FRIENDS

Caring for Friends has resumed our meal packing at the church. Our next meeting will be Saturday, March 16 from 9:30-11:30am. We are asking for anyone who would like to cook at home to bring the food to church on the 16th to pack. Please include a list of ingredients for all meals. Casseroles with a protein source, meats like meatloaf, chicken, beef, turkey breasts with a side of rice or potatoes are some other ideas. Donations of canned goods are appreciated, especially fruits and vegetables. Hope you can make it. Please contact Myra Parker, Mary Smith, or George Wiemann with any questions.