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APRIL 7
Bulletin Message
"You will always
have the poor with you"
This statement from
Jesus is not a comfortable one; it was never meant to be! We all want to live
in a world where no one will be in need. Yet, Jesus is direct in reminding us
all that there will always be those who are experiencing some form of poverty:
poor in finances, poor in spirit, poor in compassion, etc.
"...but you do not
always have me."
What a stark reminder
from Jesus that this poverty will always exist, because humanity does not
always bring to it the baptismal vow of seeking and service Christ in all
people.
We have before us,
then, an invitation from Jesus: to recognise the poverty in our community, and
in ourselves - and to find ways to overcome the harshness of poverty with the
abundance of Christ's love.
Prayers
Prayers
As we quiet our minds and open our hearts,
we offer our prayers responding to "Lord, in your mercy" with "hear our prayer"
We pray for the whole people of God; for
those whose hearts have turned to you throughout their lives, and those who are
new to the faith. We pray especially for those taking First Communion classes,
and those preparing for baptism. May we celebrate the abundance of youthful
faith among us, and be inspired by them to rekindle and strengthen our
relationship with you.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
We pray for the Queen, the Prime Minister,
the Premier, and all in government. We pray for the Archbishop of Canterbury,
for the Primate, for our Archbishop, and all in leadership within the church.
May they know your blessings and feel your peace as they are tasked with
responsibilities that affect countless people.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
We pray for the world, as the dawn and dusk
yield to each other, inviting us to marvel at the beauty of creation. May our hearts be filled with awe as we face
the changing of the seasons, delighting in the longer and warmer days. May we
seek wisdom and joy as we encounter the mysteries of this life, and act with
respect and wonder for this generation and for ages to come.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
We pray for our local community and for all
who live here. We ask your blessings upon those in thankless jobs; stocking
shelves, cleaning, telemarketing. We ask your blessings on those whose
employment depends on the weather: in fishing, construction, roadworks. May we
recognise and value the efforts of all our neighbours to the benefit of our
community and our world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
We pray for those in need; for the sick and
recovering; for the lonely and weary; for those who will be victims of crime
and those whose desperation has led them to perpetrate such actions. We pause
and recall all those this week whose names we carry in our hearts. *pause* We
ask you to fill them with knowledge of your love and strength to endure the
trials they endure.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
We pray for those who have completed their
earthly time; may their family and friends find the comfort that comes from you
alone. We pray for those who are preparing to die, and give you thanks for the
caregivers who make their passing as peaceful as possible.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear
our prayer.
Holy God, we speak these prayers,
reverently in your presence, giving grateful thanks that we have been invited
to live this day in obedience to your Word. Amen.
APRIL 14
Bulletin Message
This morning marks the beginning of Holy
Week; the most engaging week in the Christian Calendar. We will journey this
week through daily prayers and praises; through earthly celebrations into the
darkest of days before re-emerging with highest celebrations as we are
profoundly shocked and delighted by the Resurrection of our Lord.
As this week progresses, I invite you to immerse yourself in the journey as
much as you are able; sharing in our collective worship here at the church or
in your daily prayers at home. The themes are intense and can be extremely
emotional, and bring us to the edge of our comfort zones.
In the midst of this spiritual work, we offers deep thanks for the ministry
teams who are undergoing much earthly work to facilitate our worship: through
bulletins, music, altar guild, lay readers, and beyond. Their extensive service
makes St John's a welcoming place for the journey. Thank you.
My prayer for us all this week is to embrace the journey, knowing that we are
never alone; that even in the darkest times God is with us. This is a
foundation of our faith, and this week highlights that as a gift.
May God's blessings comfort and sustain you, this Holy Week and forever.
Prayers
To
each petition of Hear us Lord, please respond with Lord have mercy.
We
pray for the church: for all gathered to pray and praise in the name of Christ;
for those with beautiful buildings, and those whose houses of worship have
suffered from abandonment and misuse. We pray for all who will go above and
beyond this week, that Your Good News might be shared with all who would hear
it.
Hear
us Lord,
Lord
have mercy.
We
pray for those in leadership: for those elected to office, those whose
authority came through birth, those who have stolen political power. We pray
for the servant leaders who wash our feet, for the Herods who fearfully deflect
responsibility, and for the Pilates who succumb to mob pressures.
Hear
us Lord,
Lord
have mercy.
We
pray for the world, as we watch the blankets of snow peel back with the
awakening of spring. We pray to appreciate those places of harmony and beauty;
we pray to work against areas of degradation and conflict. May all we do honour
the Creation you have gifted us.
Hear
us Lord,
Lord
have mercy.
We
pray for one another, as we enter into the Spiritual Depths of this Holy Week.
As we are strengthened and sustained by the peace of Christ, may we be bold
enough to engage with those who have never known peace, those who no longer
feel peace, and those who would deny peace from others.
Hear
us Lord,
Lord
have mercy.
We
pray for those whose needs are physical, those whose needs are emotional, and
those whose needs are spiritual. We pray to prevent the suffering of others,
including by our own actions and complacencies. May we do all we can to be the
hands and feet of Jesus to a hurting world.
Hear
us Lord,
Lord
have mercy.
APRIL 21 (Easter
Sunday)
Bulletin Message:
HAPPY EASTER!
We
are so glad to welcome you to St John's this morning as we celebrate the
Resurrection of our Lord. As a beloved child of God, you are welcome in God's
house.
If
this is your first time here, thank you for coming! We hope you feel at home.
If there is any way we can make things more comfortable for you, please let us
know.
If
you have been coming for generations, thank you for coming! We're glad this is
home for you.
We
love our children: today is a special day, and we know that God put the wiggle
into our young friends. (We also know the Easter Bunny may have brought them
treats this morning!) Church can be overwhelming for little ones, so if you
need a few minutes alone outside, please re-join us as you are able. All our
younger friends are invited to join us for the children's talk (and egg hunt),
and to wander about quietly during the service (for safety, please make sure
they are not going anywhere they might fall from!)
If
you have mobility concerns, and require assistance, please speak to one of our
greeters, and we will aim to help you as best we can. We will be offering
Eucharist at the high altar and at a station on the floor; if you wish to
remain in your pew and have the communion brought to you, we will accommodate
to the best of our ability.
You
will notice that we are a multi-generational community, and we work hard to
respect the spiritual needs of everyone in our worshiping community. We
delight in being a welcoming and loving family of God.
Again,
I wish you a very happy Easter; my prayer is that you will feel the blessing of
the season and carry the Good News of God in your hearts from this day
forward.
APRIL 28:
Bulletin Message
Today, a number of our
brothers and sisters in the faith will receive their first communion. As
Anglicans, anyone who has received the sacrament of baptism is invited to the
table of our Lord.
Communion is an
extension of baptism; in baptism we celebrate our Christian initiation; in
communion we celebrate our participation in the family of God. This is a
different sacrament from confirmation (where the baptized confirm the faith
declared on their behalf at baptism).
Those receiving their
first communion today have attended classes and engaged in discussions about
their faith, from living our baptismal vows to our creedal statements to the
structure of our churches and our worship. They have embraced and understood
what communion means to us all, a heir of the Kingdom and foretaste of Christ's
heavenly banquet.
We delight to share in
God's Holy Meal with God's Holy People, especially with those who are receiving
for the first time today.
Congratulations on your
First Holy Communion! May God's blessings continue to be lavished upon you.
Prayers (interactive)
Today, we (the people of God) are invited to write
our own prayers - the prayers of the people. You are welcome to follow the
format below or to write your own.
These will be collected during the offertory, and
placed on the altar; a part of our holy offering to God. They will not be read
aloud.
Following our common worship, they will be disposed
of with sanctity and respect.
THANKSGIVING: (a
prayer of gratitude)
God of grace, I
give thanks ...
INTERCESSION: (a
prayer for someone else)
God of
compassion, I pray for ...
PETITION (a
prayer for myself)
God of all ages,
I ask your help ...
PRAISE: (a
prayer of adoration)
God of love and
glory, I praise you ...
OBLATION: (a
prayer of giving to God)
God of vision, I
offer to you ...
PENITENCE (a
prayer of confession)
God of
forgiveness, I am sorry ...
MAY 5:
Bulletin Blurb:
So Much Detail!
Today's gospel passage shares a LOT of details! The overall message is there:
Jesus appearing to his friends, their trust being rewarded, the importance of
caring for all of God's people, and Jesus' invitation to continue following in
the way of the Lord.
Yet
the evangelist gives us copious details about the mundane realities of the
setting and situation of this event. What everyone is wearing (or not!), which
side of the boat will enable a catch, how many fish are in the over-flowing
net, even the lineage of Simon Peter in his personal exchange with Jesus.
I
wonder if there's a two-part reason for this... first, the author of this
Gospel was communicating the excitement of the occasion. While the disciples
were likely expecting the return of the messiah to take minutes, not days (and
now millennia!), they would have been exuberant in their telling of how Jesus
came back and spent time with them on the beach - making every little detail
important to share.
Secondly, I think that the details are given to demonstrate the ordinary nature
of what was happening, to show that Jesus comes to us in the common moments:
his presence in our lives is not limited to special events. Jesus comes to us
at work and at rest, with our friends and by ourselves, at banquets and at
breakfast, when we expect it and when we do not.
The
details are there in our lives too; today's gospel reminds us to focus on what
matters so that we recognize Jesus as he stands in front of us, and be excited
by his invitation to tend to one another as a part of our normal, everyday
experience.
Prayers:
Let us quiet our
minds, and open our hearts, as we bring to God our prayers; saying "Lord,
hear our prayer."
Loving God, we
pray for the church, as we gather as your family. Today we uphold our Primate
Fred, our Archbishop Ron, our delegates to the Anglican Consultative Council
meeting, and all who offer their service of leadership. May your Holy Spirit
guide and direct us in ways that support your mission in the world.
We
pray:
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the
Queen, for governments and authorities, that we remember them as your beloved
children regardless of our own politics and perceptions. May their work honour
you and your people through careful decisions and a genuine desire for justice
and peace.
We
pray:
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the
world, and its interdependent relationships. We focus on the mysteries of
creation, the connections between peoples and nations, and the need to work for
leaving a sustainable planet for our children's children. May we be empowered
to embrace the web of life in which we are a part.
We
pray:
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We pray for
ourselves here in Lunenburg: for those who live in joy and those who struggle;
for those who enjoy abundance and those living in scarcity; for those working
on the land and on the sea; for the shops and restaurants busily preparing for
the summer season. May we greet one another in the peace that you give us.
We
pray:
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We pray for those
in any need of mind, body, or spirit: those whose names we carry in our hearts,
and those whose names are known to you alone. We ask your mercies on those who
travel, those who are caregivers, those who grieve, those who feel desperation,
and those who are apathetic to the needs of others. May we be boldened by you
to welcome all we encounter with compassion.
We
pray:
Lord,
hear our prayer.
We bring you
these prayers, O God, knowing that you hear the words of our lips and the
whispers of our hearts. We ask you to answer these prayers, as may be best for
us, that we may glorify your name at all times.
We
pray:
Lord,
hear our prayer. Amen.
MAY 12
Bulletin Message
This weekend, we are pleased to
welcome the Rev. Fran Boutlier to lead us in worship! Rev. Fran is an honourary
assistant in Bridgewater, and was gracious to accept the invitation to come to
St. John's for this Good Shepherd Sunday. Fran's ministry with you today has
allowed me to be elsewhere for some important events... This weekend I am in
Ontario, both officiating a friends' wedding and seeing my godson on his 10th
birthday.
I am using holiday time this week,
and will be off work May 11-17. (Please
note, there is no Wednesday Eucharist on May 15)
Rev. Linda is also in Ontario this
week, in Ottawa for the annual tulip festival.
I know you will welcome Rev. Fran
with open arms and a hearts!
Prayers
We pray as the
church and for the church; holding before you our Primate Fred, our Archbishop
Ron, those five candidates for the Primatial election; and for all in
leadership in ministry. We ask your blessing on them, and we ask for courage
and strength for ourselves, that we may to sing your praise in all we do in our
lives.
We pray to the
Lord:
Lord, hear our prayer.
We give thanks
for the Queen and all in her family, especially for the safe arrival of Archie
Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. We pray for our Prime Minister Justin, our
Premier Stephen, our mayor Rachel; we pray for their families and friends. May
they govern with justice and kindness.
We pray to the
Lord:
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the
world, when we hear of so much conflict and fear and violence: for those who
live in peace, for those who watch peace disappear, and for those who have
never known peace. We pray for all who are victims of violence, especially
children, and we pray for those who perpetuate it. May we use our hearts and
hands to bring about more peace in our world.
We pray to the
Lord:
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for the
life of this community, and for all those who place their trust in you. May
your loving kindness be known to all who live here, all who visit here, all who
call this place home. We ask your protection on those whose labour benefits us
all.
We pray to the
Lord:
Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for those
in need: the hungry, homeless, and desperate. We pray for those living with
pain: the abused, brokenhearted, the lonely. We pray for all who grieve and
mourn. We pray for those who have any want in mind, body, or spirit; and we
offer our thanksgivings for those whose ministry seeks to reduce and prevent
such need.
We pray to the
Lord:
Lord, hear our prayer.
MAY 19:
Bulletin Message
In the late 1960's, as Beatles-Mania
swept the globe, John, Paul, George, and Ringo were going down in history for
their original and influential sound.
One of the things that was NOT
original, however, was the lyrics to their hit song "All You Need Is
Love." While it is a catchy tune (go ahead and hum it, if you like!), the
lyrics themselves are hardly the high point of the song. The message is, in
fact, what matters... and for those of us with faith, the source of that
message is also significant.
Love is all you need: All you need
is love.
The Gospel today shares the message
of love, as an act of faith. The original author of this message, being Jesus,
is profoundly more spiritual and significant than even the cited
Lennon-McCartney collaboration.
Love, Jesus shares, is all that's
needed: to know who and whose you are, go out and give love. Love broadly, love
fully, love extravagantly. Love. And celebrate the source of that love: God.
The God who loves you entirely is constantly inviting you to go into the world
and love freely. Let's spend this week
embracing this truth - God's love is all you need: All you need is God's love.
Prayers:
For the unity of
the Church in witness and proclamation of the Gospel; for our Primate Fred, our
Archbishop Ron, for all clergy and people; for those who will gather at
Diocesan Synod this week to discern the mission and ministry that we are being
called to;
let us pray to
the Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
For the peace
and stability of all peoples and for the leaders of the nations; for our
governments and community leaders, for all who work in social services, and for
all whose lives are devastated by war and strife, and those whose work aims to
alleviate suffering;
let us pray to
the Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
For places of
work, education and leisure; remembering this week our recreational directors,
teachers of all ages, and caregivers; and for the safety and well-being of
those who find work and leisure on the sea;
let us pray to
the Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
For a blessing
on our homes; for our relations and friends and all whom we love; for safety
for those who will travel this week, for those who are in conflict and those
who seek reconciliation;
let us pray to
the Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
For the sick and
suffering and all who minister to their needs; those in the midst of famine,
flood, or other disaster; victims of abuse and violence, and all those who work
in the medical and healing professions;
let us pray to
the Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
For those whose
names we carry in our hearts and in our minds: those who have died and those
who mourn them, remembering especially the families of [name] and [name]; for
those who have welcomed someone to their family; and for all those who have
touched our lives this week;
let us pray to
the Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
Let us commend
ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God.
We pray to the
Lord:
Lord, Hear our prayer.
