St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Mothering
Sunday
As a mother comforts a child so will I comfort you, says the
Lord. Isaiah 66:13
INTRODUCTION
For many years the Fourth Sunday in Lent
has been observed as Mothering Sunday. The
tradition arose from a sentence in
Processional Hymn-362
Opening Sentence BCP 323
Gloria (sung)
Collect for Mothering Sunday
God of compassion, whose Son Jesus
Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in Nazareth, and on the
cross drew the whole human family to himself:
Strengthen us in our daily living that in joy and in sorrow we may know
the power of your presence to bind together and to heal; thru Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
First
1 In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it,
2 and many
nations shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may
walk in his paths.” For out of
3 He shall
judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;
they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning
hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn
war any more;
4 but they
shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one
shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of
hosts has spoken.
5 For all the
peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord
our God forever and ever.
Psalm 32
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven, *whose
sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes to iniquity, *and those in whose spirit there is not deceit.
3 While I keep silence, my body wasted away *through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; *my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not hide my iniquity; *I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
6 Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; *at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; *you surround me with glad cries of deliverance.
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; *I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding, *whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle, else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked, *but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous, *and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.
Second
12 As God’s
chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,
humility, meekness, and patience.
13 Bear with
one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other;
just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
14 Above all,
clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
15 And let the
peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one
body. And be thankful.
16 Let the
word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all
wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts
sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Sermon Hymn—686
Holy Gospel—Matthew
37 “
38 See, your
house is left to you, desolate.
39 For I tell
you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in
the name of the Lord.’”
Sermon Father David McGuinness
Blessing of Baptismal Font Cover and New
Ciborium
Blessing of Baptismal Font Cover
Antiphon
Repent and be
baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ.
V.
All of us are baptized into Christ:
R.
Have clothed ourselves with Christ.
Let us pray.
Father,
we ask you to bless this new baptismal font cover which now graces this
baptismal font. We thank you that
through the waters of Baptism we die to sin and are made new in Christ.
Grant through your Spirit that those baptized here may enjoy the liberty
and splendor of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessing of Ciborium
Antiphon
Taste and see
that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in Him.
Let us pray.
Almighty
God, whose blessed Son instituted the Sacrament of his Body and Blood:
Grant that all who receive the holy Mysteries from this vessel, which we
now consecrate for use in your Church, may be sustained by his presence and
enjoy his heavenly benediction; who lives and reigns in glory everlasting. Amen.
.
The Nicene Creed (stand) BCP 326
The Prayers of the People BCP 328
Confession of Sin and Absolution BCP 332
The Peace
Anniversary and Birthday Blessings
The
Holy Communion
Presentation of the Gifts & Alms (stand)
The Great Thanksgiving: Eucharistic Prayer I BCP 333
Sanctus
Eucharistic Prayer & Invitation (kneel)
The Lord’s Prayer BCP 336
The Breaking of the Bread BCP 337
Reception of Communion
Prayer of Thanksgiving (kneel) BCP 339
Closing Hymn—690
The Blessing
You are invited by the Adair family to a reception in the parish hall immediately following the service.
The flowers on the Altar are given to the Glory of God and in Loving memory of Dr. William E. Adair, Jr.
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Servers:
Chalicers—
John Todd, Allison Crumpler
Lectors—
Alan Ingram, Barbara Nicholl
Crucifer—Maggie
Adams
Acolytes—
Abbie Adams, Jacob Wells
Ushers—
Don Adams, Jonathan Crumpler
Staff:
Fr.
David McGuinness—Rector
Michael
Wimberly—Organist/Choirmaster
Bulletin printed by Twyford Printing Company, Dunn, NC