St. John's Episcopal Church

St. John’s Episcopal Church

 Helena, Arkansas

 

First Sunday in Lent

 

March 6, 2022

 

 

THE HOLY EUCHARIST RITE ONE

 

Penitential Order, Eucharistic Prayer 2

 

The Word of God

The priest and processional party all enter in silence.

 

PENITENTIAL ORDER

 

Opening Acclamation

The people standing

Celebrant	Bless the Lord who forgiveth all our sins.
People	His mercy endureth for ever.

 

Decalogue

the People kneeling

God spake these words, and said:

I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Honor thy father and thy mother.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt do no murder.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not steal.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and incline our hearts to keep this law.

Thou shalt not covet.

Lord, have mercy upon us,

and write all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee.

 

 

Confession of Sin

All kneel.

The Celebrant says

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us; but if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

The Celebrant then says

Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.

 

Silence may be kept.

Minister and People

 

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against thee

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved thee with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of thy Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in thy will,

and walk in thy ways,

to the glory of thy Name. Amen.

 

The Priest stands and says

The Almighty and merciful Lord grant you absolution and remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of his Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Opening Anthem of Praise

The following is said 3 times, all standing

Holy God,

Holy and Mighty,

Holy Immortal One.

Have mercy upon us.

 

Celebrant	The Lord be with you.
People	And with thy spirit.
Celebrant	Let us pray.

 

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted of Satan: Make speed to help thy servants who are assaulted by manifold temptations; and, as thou knowest their several infirmities, let each one find thee mighty to save; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

THE LESSONS

First Reading                                                      Deuteronomy 26:1-11

The people sit.

A Reading from the book of Deuteronomy.

¹When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, ²you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. ³You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, “Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” ⁴When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, ⁵you shall make this response before the Lord your God: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. ⁶When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, ⁷we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. ⁸The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; ⁹and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. ¹⁰So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.” You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. ¹¹Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

 

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

 

Psalm                                                          Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

Remain seated and read responsively by whole verse.

 ¹He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
  abides under the shadow of the Almighty.

 ²He shall say to the Lord,
 “You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
  my God in whom I put my trust.”

 ⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *
  and the Most High your habitation,

 ¹⁰There shall no evil happen to you, *
  neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.

 ¹¹For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
  to keep you in all your ways.

 ¹²They shall bear you in their hands, *
  lest you dash your foot against a stone.

 ¹³You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; *
  you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.

 ¹⁴Because he is bound to me in love,
 therefore will I deliver him; *
  I will protect him, because he knows my Name.

 ¹⁵He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
  I am with him in trouble;
  I will rescue him and bring him to honor.

 ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him, *
  and show him my salvation.

 

Second Reading                                        Romans 10:8b-13

The people sit.

A Reading from Paul's letter to the Church in Rome.

^8b“The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. ¹¹The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. ¹³For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

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

 

Sequence Hymn                                    Lord, who throughout these forty days         (H 142)

All stand.

 

Gospel                                                     Luke4:1-13

All stand.

Priest		The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People		Glory be to thee, O Lord.

 

[After his baptism,] ¹Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” ⁴Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”
  ⁵Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” ⁸Jesus answered him, “It is written,
 ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”
  ⁹Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written,
 ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ ¹¹and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
¹²Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” ¹³When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

 

Priest	The Gospel of the Lord.
People	Praise be to thee, O Christ.

 

The Sermon                                                        

 

The Creed

All stand.

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

The people may stand or kneel.

Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church and the world.

After each paragraph of this prayer, the People may make an appropriate response, as directed.

Almighty and everliving God, who in thy holy Word hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: Receive these our prayers which we offer unto thy divine Majesty, beseeching thee to inspire continually the Universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; and grant that all those who do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.

Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all bishops and other ministers especially Larry, our Bishop and Teresa, our celebrant, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments.

And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and especially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy Word, truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.

We beseech thee also so to rule the hearts of those who bear the authority of government in this and every land especially Joe, our President and Asa, our Governor, that they may be led to wise decisions and right actions for the welfare and peace of the world.

Open, O Lord, the eyes of all people to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works, that, rejoicing in thy whole creation, they may honor thee with their substance, and be faithful stewards of thy bounty.

And we most humbly beseech thee, of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succor all those who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.  Remembering especially all those who suffer from Covid – 19, their families and the caregivers.  We pray also for all those who are alone or afraid.

And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear especially Duane Saba, beseeching thee to grant them continual growth in thy love and service; and to grant us grace so to follow the good examples of St. John the Evangelist and of all thy saints, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom.

Grant these our prayers, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

 

The Peace

All stand.

Celebrant	The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People	And with thy spirit.

 

Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Announcements and birthday and anniversary blessings.

 

The Holy Communion

 

Offertory Sentence

The Celebrant says

If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there remember that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 

 

Offertory Music

 

Doxolgy

 

The Great Thanksgiving

 

The People remain standing.

Celebrant	The Lord be with you.
People	And with thy spirit.
Celebrant	Lift up your hearts.
People	We lift them up unto the Lord.
Celebrant	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People	It is meet and right so to do.

 

 

Proper Preface

Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who was in every way tempted as we are, yet did not sin; by whose grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer unto ourselves, but unto him who died for us and rose again.

Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name; evermore praising thee, and saying,

 

Sanctus

Celebrant and People say in unison

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts:

Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.

Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

The people kneel or stand.

Then the Celebrant continues

All glory be to thee, O Lord our God, for that thou didst create heaven and earth, and didst make us in thine own image; and, of thy tender mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. He made there a full and perfect sacrifice for the whole world; and did institute, and in his holy Gospel command us to continue, a perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again.

For in the night in which he was betrayed, he took bread; and when he had given thanks to thee, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take, eat, this is my Body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Likewise, after supper, he took the cup; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you; for this is my Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins. Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Wherefore, O Lord and heavenly Father, we thy people do celebrate and make, with these thy holy gifts which we now offer unto thee, the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make; having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension; and looking for his coming again with power and great glory.

And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us, and, with thy Word and Holy Spirit, to bless and sanctify these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be unto us the Body and Blood of thy dearly-beloved Son Jesus Christ.

And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, whereby we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies. Grant, we beseech thee, that all who partake of this Holy Communion may worthily receive the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, and be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction; and also that we and all thy whole Church may be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord;

By whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. AMEN.

 

 

The Lord’s Prayer

The Celebrant then continues

And now, as our Savior Christ hath taught us, we are bold to say,

People and Celebrant

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,

forever and ever. Amen.

 

The Breaking of the Bread

 

Fraction Anthem

 

Celebrant:  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.

     People:  Have mercy upon us.

Celebrant:  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.

     People:  Have mercy upon us.

Celebrant:  O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.

     People:  Grant us thy peace.

 

Prayer of Humble Access

The celebrant and people say

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies.  We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.  But thou art the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.  Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

 

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.

The Bread is given to the communicants with these words

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]

 

Communion Music

 

Post-Communion Prayer

After Communion, the Celebrant says

Let us pray.

The People may join in saying this prayer

Almighty and everliving God, we most heartily thank thee for that thou dost feed us, in these holy mysteries, with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and dost assure us thereby of thy favor and goodness towards us; and that we are very members incorporate in the mystical body of thy Son, the blessed company of all faithful people; and are also heirs, through hope, of thy everlasting kingdom. And we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist us with thy grace, that we may continue in that holy fellowship, and do all such good works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

 

The celebrant says

Bow down before the Lord.

The people bow and remain in humble reverence as the celebrant continues.

Grant, Almighty God, that your people may recognize their weakness and put their whole trust in your strength, so that they may rejoice forever in the protection of your loving providence; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Post-Communion Hymn                          Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us (Dulce carmen)           (H 559)

 

Dismissal

Celebrant	Let us bless the Lord.
People	Thanks be to God.

 

 

Welcome to St. John’s.  We are so glad you’re here to worship with us today. 

 

Please keep the following in your prayers:  Debra Richardson, Kathy Sullivan, Parker Pace, Courtney Turner, Jo Boone Wild, Gloria Higginbotham, Kathleen Gibson, Cole Jefferies, Carol Spencer, Bonnie & Charles Rowland, Jo Liddy, Janet Juengel, Vivian Wright, Jim Howe, Cliff Clark, Linda Dowling, Susan Taylor, and Sylvia Ross.

St. John’s continues to support the Angels of Grace and the Anchor Mission ministries.

Grace Food Pantry: plastic bags go in the labeled container in the narthex.

Thank you for your donations.  They are all greatly appreciated and needed.

 

Evening prayer in St. John’s chapel each Wednesday at 5:30 pm during Lent.

 

DATES TO MARK IN YOUR CALENDAR:

April 10....Palm Sunday

April 14....Maundy Thursday service at 5:45 in the church

April 15....Good Friday service at noon in the church

April 17.... Easter Sunday

 

Contact info:

Email:  rector@saintjohnshelena.org                  

St. John’s Church Office:

Phone:  870-338-8115   

Email:   office@saintjohnshelena.org 

Mailing address:  P.O. Box 770, Helena, AR 72342

Street address: 625 Pecan St., Helena, Arkansas

 

 

The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Rt. Reverend Larry R. Benfield, Bishop of Arkansas

The Rev. Teresa Cantrell

 

The Vestry of St. John’s Church, Helena

Allison Biederman, Senior Warden (2022)

Ed Pat Wright, Junior Warden (2023)

Brooke Tappan, Clerk (2023), Tap Jennings (2023)

 Mark Rogers (2022), Susan Carter (2022)

West Hornor (2024), Ned Pillow (2024)

Walter Morris, Treasurer

 

Pianist –Dagmar Bergan

Organist – Dr. Gabriel Statom

 

Lay Eucharist Minister – West Hornor

Acolyte – West Hornor

Altar Guild – Susan Carter

Ushers – Ben Pittman & Macon Kirkman

Facebook Live – Jessica Pillow

 

 

The flowers in the church today are given to the glory of God

and in memory of Duane Saba.

Given by St. John’s