**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church
of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of
Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other
hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
Opening Prayer
God, your tortured Son felt abandoned, and
cried out in anguish from the cross, yet you delivered him. He overcame the
bonds of death and rose in triumph from the grave. Do not hide your face from
those who cry out to you: feed the hungry, strengthen the weak, and break the
chains of the oppressed, that your people may rejoice in your saving deeds.
This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
Opening
Hymn – For the Fruit of All Creation (BCP #259)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with
you all.
And
also with you.
Collect for Purity
The Gloria
Collect of the Day (p.385)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, in our baptism you adopted us for
your own. Quicken, we pray, your Spirit within us, that we, being renewed both
in body and mind, may worship you in sincerity and truth; through Jesus Christ
our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever.
Amen.
The Readings
A reading from the Book of Job 23:1-9, 16-17
Then Job answered:
“Today also my
complaint is bitter;
his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where
I might find him,
that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case
before him,
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he
would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with
me in the greatness of his power?
No; but he would give heed to me.
There an upright
person could reason with him,
and I should be acquitted forever by my
judge.
“If I go forward, he
is not there;
or backward, I cannot perceive him;
on the left he hides,
and I cannot behold him;
I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be the God.
Psalm 22:1-15
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why
are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
and
by night, but find no rest.
Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel.
In you our ancestors trusted;
they
trusted, and you delivered them.
To you they cried, and were saved;
in
you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
But I am a worm, and not human;
scorned by others, and despised by the people.
All who see me mock at me;
they
make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
“Commit your cause to the Lord; let him
deliver—
let
him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
you
kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
On you I was cast from my birth,
and
since my mother bore me you have been my God.
Do not be far from me,
for
trouble is near
and
there is no one to help.
Many bulls encircle me,
strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
they open wide their mouths at me,
like
a ravening and roaring lion.
I am poured out like water,
and
all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is
melted within my breast;
my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you
lay me in the dust of death.
A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews
4:12-16
Indeed, the word of
God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it
divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts
and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked
and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.
Since, then, we have
a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable
to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has
been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of
grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in
time of need.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Gradual
Hymn – Seek Ye First (BCP #458)
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Mark 10:17-31
Glory
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
As he was setting out
on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me
good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not
murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear
false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said
to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him,
loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the
money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”
When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many
possessions.
Then Jesus looked
around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have
wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these
words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the
kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than
for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly
astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at
them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all
things are possible.”
Peter began to say to
him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I
tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother
or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news,
who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and
sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to
come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be
first.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
May only truth be spoken and truth heard. Amen.
We
continue today with our examination of the Letter to the Hebrews.
As
I mentioned last week, we don’t know the author of the letter, nor do we know
the exact circumstances around which the letter was written. What we do know is
that one key purpose in writing to the churches was to strengthen, secure, and
refocus their faith in the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
The
portrait of who Jesus Chris is and its sketch of what Jesus Christ means to humanity
are broad and comprehensive, and they have been influential on Christian faith
and theology.
Hebrews
speaks of the two natures of Christ: the Divine Christ and the Human Christ.
Jesus
is equated with God, and the letter speaks of Christ’s pre-existence,
incarnation, sacrificial death, resurrection, heavenly intercession, and return
for judgment.
The
first two items on this list express the idea that the person now know as Jesus
Christ existed as a divine being prior to becoming a human being.
The
heavenly intercession refers to Christ’s presence in heaven, where he prays for
his followers in ways that support and sustain them on earth.
Hebrews
declares Jesus Christ to be both fully human and fully divine and is said to
represent the exact imprint of God’s very being.
This
is one of the most important pieces of Christian dogma, and probably the most
difficult to understand.
Just
now I said the Jesus Christ is an exact imprint of God. This in no way implies
that Jesus is only some kind of copy and therefore someone inferior to God.
The
divine Christ is the mirror image of God’s glory, the one who sustains all
things, is without sin and able to sanctify others, and will return to save those
who wait eagerly for him.
Jesus
Christ is the divine Son of God, the second person of the Holy Trinity, and the
image of God in which man was originally created.
He
is also fully and profoundly human, a person of flesh and blood, like all children
of God, a person who had to be made perfect through obedience to God.
The
notion of Jesus needed to learn things and to grow in knowledge is rare in the
bible. The idea of him needing to learn obedience, to grow in faithfulness to
God, is unique to Hebrews.
The
letter is clear that Jesus did not sin but still alleges that a prolonged
period of testing and suffering brought Jesus to progressive levels of faithfulness
that marked growth in obedience and, ultimately, perfection.
The
humanity of Christ is theologically significant in Hebrews because:
- Being human allows Christ to suffer and die,
thus offering the ultimate sacrifice for sin and destroy the power of
death
- Being human enables Christ to identify with human beings so that he is able to sympathize mercifully with the weak and wayward
There
is much we could talk about when examining Jesus as fully human and fully
divine, more than we could cover in a Sunday morning homily.
Let
me highlight seven things the author of Hebrews says about Christ.
- The first thing that the author notes is
Jesus is “his Son.” We’ve talked about this already today, and it is nothing
new to us. Now, in what exact sense Christ is the “Son” here in this
letter will be filled out in a couple of the other qualities which the author
ascribes to him. All of the work Jesus does while on earth is as the Son
of God.
- Secondly, the Son is the ultimate capstone
of God’s self-revelation. In former times, God spoke in various ways,
through prophets, through poets, through historians, and the other authors
of Scripture, inspired by God. But now God speaks – God communicates God’s
will, God’s works, and God’s wisdom – in the person of the Son. Jesus is
the culmination – though, not the denial! Remember what I said to you last
week – of all that God has spoken before.
- It is this Son who has been appointed the
“heir of all things.” What could this mean? Well, the Son is Son, in one
sense, according to the flesh. As the Psalms testify, he is the Royal Son
of David, heir to the throne of Israel, the blessings of the covenant, and
even more, the true Son of Adam, heir to the kingdom of the whole world.
- Next, this Son who has been appointed heir
of all things according to his humanity seems to have a deeper claim on
the world: he is the agent through whom God “created the world.” Note the
echoes here of God’s Wisdom from Proverbs 8. With that reference in mind,
we see that the author of Hebrews says something fascinating. Just like
the John and Paul, the author operates with the clear, Jewish connection
between the Creator and the creation, but also just like them, he has the
Son on the Creator side of the line. The world was made through him and by
him.
- The Son, we are told, is the radiance, the
shining, the splendour, of the glory of God. This is part of his role as
Revealer. Of course, in Scripture, God’s glory and God’s person are irrefutably
bound up together as the sun is with the rays of light pouring forth from
it. The Son reveals God’s glory precisely because he is the “exact
imprint”, the one who has the very “form” and shares the “nature” of God.
- In case you’re still a bit skeptical, we
also learn that the Son is the one who “upholds the universe.” How? By
“the word of his power.” The Son, then, is not only the one who brings the
world into existence, he sustains it in existence at every moment. He is
the source of its coherence, integrity, and continued being. The letter to
the Hebrews has a Christologically-focused doctrine of providence.
- Beyond the work of creation and
providence, though, stands that of salvation. This condensed Christology
turns out to be short-hand account of the entire economy of redemption.
The Son is, in a way that will be filled out at length in the rest of the
letter, the one who “makes purification for sins” for his brothers and
sisters. He does this both through what he is (the true Priest and
Mediator), but also in his work, presenting a better sacrifice to remove
the stain of sins, as well as sealing a better covenant in his blood. All
of this is confirmed in his being “seated at the right hand of Majesty on
high” having completed his work once and for all.
Jesus,
the Son, is the agent of revelation, creation, providence, and salvation – all
divine works. Alongside key passages in John, Paul, and Revelation, it’s quite
easy to see how the Fathers at Nicaea and Chalcedon came to the conclusions
about the person of Christ that they did.
This
rich christological letter to the Hebrews describes the Son in whom God has
spoken God’s full and final word and who surpasses and supersedes the prophets
of old because in him is the fulfillment of all the promises spoken by God
through them.
Indeed,
in this brief space the Son is presented in the three functions of his
messianic office: as Prophet (he himself is the divine Word), as Priest (he
made purification for our sins), and as King (he is enthroned in glory). The
Christology here sets the tone for the whole epistle.
And
this leads us into a discussion on Christ, the incarnate Son of God, who
becomes the perfect high priest who offers up himself, the perfect substitute,
man for man, as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind, which we will
leave for next week.
Affirmation of Faith
Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we
say the Apostles’ Creed:
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.
The Prayers of the People
Let us pray to the Lord, saying, Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the peace of the world: the Lord grant that we may live together in justice and faith.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for Canada, and especially for Queen Elizabeth, the Governor General, the Prime Minister, and all in authority: the Lord help them to serve this people according to his holy will.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for children and young people: the Lord guide their growth and development.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the sick, especially….: the Lord deliver them and keep them in his love.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all who are condemned to exile, prison, harsh treatment, or hard labour, for the sake of justice and truth: the Lord support them and keep them steadfast.
Lord, hear our prayer.
We remember the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all who have borne witness to the gospel: the Lord direct our lives in the same spirit of service and sacrifice.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God of the harvest, giving us the good earth, providing seeds that germinate and grow, producing vegetables and fruits, we thank you for this year’s harvest, for daily food we eat, for food we can share with others. .
God of the hungry, caring about those who suffer malnutrition, calling us to share our harvest with the world, holding us accountable when we store our surplus, we consume more food than we should, we withhold the harvest from the hungry, we store rather than share what comes from YOUR earth.
Forgive us when we “raise the song of harvest home,” and do not understand that “all the world is God’s own field.” As You provide the earth for all humanity, and not for the good of one people over another, we need to see our use of this earth as not for one nation’s good over against another. In this Thanksgiving season, give us a world view of Your creation, and of our responsibility to Your people everywhere.
We move beyond our thanksgiving for food to all the blessings of this life: warm houses in which we live, family love in which we are made secure, friendships in which we find acceptance, employment in which we find meaning, freedoms in which we enjoy the blessings of liberty.
Receive today our hymns of grateful praise, our prayers of thanksgiving, our offerings of thankful giving, our vows of thankful living.
Create in us thankful hearts for all days and all seasons, that what we sense in this service will be enjoyed and expressed on every occasion of worship and fellowship, that we will be a thankful people always.
Accept our prayers in the name of Christ whom we seek to follow and serve.
Amen
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends in Christ,
God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy;
God welcomes sinners and invites them to the
table.
Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s
forgiveness.
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.
As we speak the truth of our lives, God who is
faithful and just, restores us and brings us home again and again.
Almighty God have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And
also with you.
Offertory
Hymn – Draw Near and Take (BCP #49)
Prayer over the Gifts (p. 386)
**Although
not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would
encourage you to set your offering of money aside so that it can be dropped off
or placed in the church once services resume, to mail your offering to the
church, or to make donations online. Please remember ministry is still taking
place.
Let us pray.
God of constant love, in this eucharist you
renew the covenant made once with us in baptism. As you are faithful in all
things may we, in our offering, be faithful to our calling.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
This service was created for live worship. For
those worshiping on your own, you may either read the Eucharistic prayer, or
skip ahead to the Lord's Prayer and then the Doxology.
Eucharistic Prayer 2 (p. 196)
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 our thanks and praise.
We give you thanks and praise, almighty God,
through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,
our Saviour and Redeemer.
He is your living Word,
through whom you have created all things.
By the power of the Holy Spirit
he took flesh of the Virgin Mary
and shared our human nature.
He lived and died as one of us,
to reconcile us to you,
the God and Father of all.
In fulfilment of your will
he stretched out his hands in suffering,
to bring release to those who place their hope
in you;
and so he won for you a holy people.
He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows,
and to give up his life on the cross,
that he might shatter the chains of evil and
death,
and banish the darkness of sin and despair.
By his resurrection
he brings us into the light of your presence.
Now with all creation we raise our voices
to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy,
holy, holy Lord,
God
of power and might,
heaven
and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna
in the highest.
Blessed
are they who come in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna
in the highest.
Holy and gracious God,
accept our praise,
through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;
who on the night he was handed over
to suffering and death,
took bread and gave you thanks,
saying, “Take, and eat:
this is my body which is broken for you.”
In the same way he took the cup,
saying, “This is my blood which is shed for
you.
When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”
Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,
we offer you this bread and this cup,
giving thanks that you have made us worthy
to stand in your presence and serve you.
We ask you to send your Holy Spirit
upon the offering of your holy Church.
Gather into one
all who share in these sacred mysteries,
filling them with the Holy Spirit
and confirming their faith in the truth,
that together we may praise you
and give you glory
through your Servant, Jesus Christ.
All glory and honour are yours,
Father and Son,
with the Holy Spirit
in the holy Church,
now and for ever.
Amen.
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to pray,
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 for ever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
This is the body of Christ.
Behold what you are.
Become what you receive.
Amen.
Communion
This is the table of Christ. It is made ready
for those who love him, and for those who want to love him more. Come, whether
you have much faith or little, have tried to follow, or are afraid that you
have failed. Come. Because it is Christ's will that those who want to meet him,
might meet him here.
These are the gifts of God for the People of
God.
Thanks
be to God.
Share
in the Eucharist
Prayer After Communion (p. 386)
As we have feasted around the table, let us
pray.
Faithful God, in baptism and eucharist we are
made one with you. May we who have shared in holy things always bear witness to
your covenant, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
Doxology
As a congregation, we declare our doxology, as
we say together,
Glory to God,
whose
power, working in us,
can
do infinitely more
than
we can ask or imagine.
Glory
to God from generation to generation,
in
the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for
ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing
The peace of God, which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son
Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of the Holy and Undivided Trinity be
with you and remain with you always, in the Name of Love, ☩ the Glory of Love, and the Power of Love. Amen.
Closing Hymn – Rock of Ages, Cleft
for Me (BCP #522)
Dismissal
Go
forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
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