St. Luke's Episcopal Church
313 Main Street
Chester, Vermont 05143
(802) 875 - 6000
Coffee hour afterwards.
About Us
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Chester, Vermont
Palm Sunday/ Passion Sunday
April 2, 2023
The Holy Eucharist
This page will be updated during the week.
Organ prelude selected and played by Karlaine Livingston
The church bell is rung after the prelude.
There will be a short period of silence before the service begins
We end Lent today and begin Holy Week. Gospel readings have become longer and longer on the Sundays in Lent until today when it requires an entire cast to read the Gospel describing Matthew’s story of the arrest, trial, crucifixion or execution, and burial of Jesus. Today’s service anticipates the entire Holy Week. We enter in humble triumph, with expectations not given by Jesus, and end with his death and burial. The week leads us to be almost inside all those events. Let’s live the week in that spirit.
The Great Litany
(If it is comfortable for you to do so, please stand)
I.
Presider: Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth.
People: Have mercy on us.
Presider: Holy and Mighty, Redeemer of the world,
People: Have mercy on us.
Presider: Holy Immortal One, Sanctifier of the faithful,
People: Have mercy on us.
Presider: Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity, One God,
People: Have mercy on us.
II.
Presider: From all evil and mischief; from pride, vanity and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred and malice; and from all evil intent.
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: From sloth, worldliness and love of money; from hardness of heart and contempt for your word and your laws,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: From sins of body and mind; from deceits of the world, flesh and the devil,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: From famine and disaster; from violence, murder, and dying unprepared,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: In all times of sorrow; in all times of joy; in the hour of our death and at the day of judgment,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: By the mystery of your holy incarnation; by your birth, childhood and obedience; by your baptism, fasting and temptation,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: By your ministry in word and work; by your mighty acts of power; by the preaching of your reign,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: By your agony and trial; by your cross and passion; by your precious death and burial,
People: Savior deliver us.
Presider: By your mighty resurrection; by your glorious ascension; and by your sending of the Holy Spirit,
People: Savior deliver us.
III.
Presider: Hear our prayers, O Christ our God.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Govern and direct your holy Church; fill it with love and truth; and grant it that unity which is your will.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world, and to make disciples of all the nations.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Enlighten your bishops, priests and deacons (especially _______) with knowledge and understanding, that by their teaching and their lives they may proclaim your word.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Give your people grace to witness to your word and bring forth the fruit of your Spirit.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Strengthen those who stand; comfort and help the fainthearted; raise up the fallen; and finally beat down Satan under our feet.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
IV.
Presider: Guide the leaders of the nations into the ways of peace and justice.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Give your wisdom and strength to Joseph R. Biden, the President of the United States, Phil Scott, the Governor of this state, and the elected officials of Chester and all our communities, that in all things they may do your will, for your glory and the common good.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Give to the Congress of the United States, the members of the President’s Cabinet, those who serve in our state legislature, and all others in authority the grace to walk always in the ways of truth.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Bless the justices of the Supreme Court and all those who administer the law, that they may act with integrity and do justice for all your people.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Give us the will to use the resources of the earth to your glory and for the good of all.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Bless and keep all your people,
People: Hear us, O Christ.
V.
Presider: Comfort and liberate the lonely, the bereaved (especially _______) and the oppressed.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Keep in safety those who travel (especially _______) and all who are in peril.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Heal the sick in body, mind or spirit, extend our care to the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey, and provide for the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Guard and protect all children who are in danger.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Shower your compassion on prisoners, hostages and refugees, and all who are in trouble.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and turn their hearts.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
Presider: Hear us as we remember those who have died (especially _______) and grant us with them a share in your eternal glory.
People: Hear us, O Christ.
VI.
Presider: Give us true repentance; forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance and our deliberate sins; and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to your word.
Presider: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presider: Let us pray.
Collect for the First Sunday in Lent (Book of Common Prayer, p. 218)
Presider and people:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations, and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The First Reading - Genesis (2:15-17; 3:1-7)
Reader: A reading from Genesis
15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.”
3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die; 5 for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm 32
1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven * and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom God 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 God;” * then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayersto 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 Most High.
12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in God; * shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
The Second Reading - Romans 5:12-19
Reader: A reading from Romans
12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned— 13 sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. 14 Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those
whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come. 15 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. 16 And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. 17 If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. 19 For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
Reader: Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn 445 (The Hymnal 1982)
The Holy Gospel - Matthew 4:1-11
Reader: The Holy Gospel according to Matthew
People: Glory to you, O Christ.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said
to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Reader The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
The Sermon: The Rev. Bruce L. MacDuffie
The Peace
Presider: The peace of Christ be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Offertory Sentence Walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself For us, an offering and sacrifice to God.
Offertory Hymn 448 (The Hymnal 1982)
Presider: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presider Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Presider Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Presider It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth.
Presider You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you. 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:
The Sanctus 133 (Enriching our Music 2)
The people stand or kneel.
Celebrant: Holy and gracious God: In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and maker of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, 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 we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Celebrant and People:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Celebrant: We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, Almighty God, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in Christ. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Savior. By Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty God, now and forever. AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say
Presider and People: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Breaking of the Bread and Invitation to communion
Presider: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
People: Therefore let us keep the feast.
S-164 The Hymnal (1982 Service Music)
The Communion
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. It is Christ who invites you to be known and fed here. All are welcome to receive communion. Gluten-free bread is available. Inform the priest if you prefer this option. The communion wine contains alcohol. If you prefer a blessing, cross your arms across your chest.
Communion Hymn 178 (Lift Every Voice and Sing II)
Post-communion Prayer
Presider: Let us pray.
Presider and People:
Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image and nourishing us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood. Now send us forth a people, forgiven, healed, renewed; that we may proclaim your love to the world and continue in the risen life of Christ our Savior.
Amen.
Closing Hymn 142 (The Hymnal 1982)
Closing Blessing for the First Sunday in Lent
Presider Bow down before the Lord.
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 Jesus Christ our Lord.
Organ Postlude selected and played by Karlaine Livingston
Announcements
Dismissal
Presider Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PLEASE!! Take this service leaflet with you. Read the scriptures again. Learn a
hymn or two. Use the Great Litany all this coming week. Blessings!
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
(Note: until warmer weather, all midweek and Sunday worship will meet in Willard Hall)
March 1
Midweek Service in Lent
5:30-6:00 PM
March 5
The Second Sunday in Lent
10:00 to 11:15 AM Holy Eucharist
March 8
Midweek Eucharist in Lent
5:30-6:00 PM
March 12
The Third Sunday in Lent
10:00 -11:15 AM Holy Eucharist
March 15
Midweek Eucharist in Lent
5:30-6:00 PM
OTHER EVENTS
March 8, Vestry Meeting