The First Sunday of Lent: March 9, 2025
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WELCOME
Grace Church is a community of faith in the Episcopal tradition that seeks to be a welcoming and inclusive community to all who seek God and his son Jesus Christ. No matter who you are or where you are on your journey of faith you are welcome here in Christ’s name. Our hope is that as you leave this place you are reminded that you are a precious child of God and we are enriched by your presence among us. May God continue to bless you as we travel together the journey into the heart of God.
THE MISSION OF GRACE
is to devote ourselves to the teachings of Jesus Christ, to celebrate the Eucharist together, and to spread the knowledge of the love of God throughout our community. The foundation of Grace Church is its loving congregation which welcomes and embraces diversity and seeks to unify people of all ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds. In accordance with the teachings of Jesus Christ, we seek to increase our spiritual growth, to feed the hungry, give relief to the sick and tend to those in need, and promote peace, justice, and love.
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Prelude
Welcome
Acknowledgment Statement
We begin our time together by acknowledging and giving thanks to the land we are on and the waters that sustain our lives. We thank our friends and neighbors of the Onondaga Nation, the original people stewarding this land. We acknowledge and give thanks that they are still here; carrying out their duties to the Creator; still advocating for the ways of life in which humans can live well while living lightly and respectfully on Mother Earth.
Opening Hymn: #435 At the Name of Jesus (Hymnal 1982)
The people standing as they are able, the Celebrant says:
Blessed the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People: His mercy endures for ever.
The Decalogue: Contemporary
Hear the commandments of God to his people:
I am the Lord your God who brought you out of bondage.
You shall have no other gods but me.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not make for yourself any idol.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not invoke with malice the Name of the Lord your God.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
Honor your father and your mother.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
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You shall not commit murder.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not commit adultery.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not steal.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not be a false witness.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.
Amen. Lord have mercy.
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel:
The Lord your God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
The Celebrant says:
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Minister and People:
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 neighbors 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.
The Priest stands and says:
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins
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through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all
goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in
eternal life. Amen.
Kyrie: Wonder, Love, and Praise #840
Kyrie eleison.
Christe eleison.
Kyrie eleison.
The Collect of the Day: (Found on the Insert)
The Celebrant says to the people:
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Let us pray.
The Celebrant says the Collect.
People: Amen.
Liturgy of the Word
Please be seated.
First Lesson Insert Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Insert
Second Lesson Insert Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn #143 The Glory of These Forty Days (Hymnal 1982)
Gospel Insert The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.
The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.
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The Sermon: Mary Lou Clarke
Nicene Creed
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.
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The Prayers of the People
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
Grant, Almighty God, that all who confess your Name may be united in your truth, live together in your love, and reveal your glory in the world. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Guide the people of this land, and of all the nations, in the ways of justice and peace; that we may honor one another and serve the common good. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Bless all whose lives are closely linked with ours, and grant that we may serve Christ in them, and love one another as he loves us. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit; give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. We pray for Chuck, Lou, Pauline, Cheryl, Otto, Annie, Melvin, and Phyllis; we pray for our Parish Cycle of Prayer, especially Marcia Steele Peterson, Marcia Putnam, Beverly Rawlins, Roxann Ray, Edward Richmond & Rick Rodriguez, Lisa Rucker, Gracia Sears, and Barbara Slater; we pray for our Vestry and Clerk; and for those you name aloud or silently in your hearts… Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We commend to your mercy all who have died, that your will for them may be fulfilled; and we pray that we may share with all your saints in your eternal kingdom. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
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The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Announcements
Offertory Hymn: #187 Farther Along (Lift Every Voice and Sing)
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Great Thanksgiving
Eucharistic Prayer
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Celebrant: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and every-where to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who was tempted in every way as we are, yet did not sin. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer for ourselves alone, but for him who died for us and rose again.
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:
Celebrant and People: Wonder, Love & Praise 858
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The Celebrant continues
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last
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days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
(At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or to lay a hand upon it; and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.)
On the night before he died for us, 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.
The Celebrant continues
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the New Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. David Oakerhater, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
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By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
And now, as our Savior Christ has 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, for ever and ever. Amen.
Peace
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your Apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you, look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live for ever and ever. Amen.
The Celebrant says to the people:
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.
Then the Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord and gather in a circle around the Altar for Communion.
If you wish to remain in your pew, please do so and Communion will be brought to you.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.
A period of silence is kept.
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following Invitation
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.
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Communion Hymn: On Eagle's Wings (Grace Singers)
After Communion the Celebrant says:
Let us pray.
Celebrant and People
Eternal God, heavenly Father,
you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing
The Celebrant says
Bow down before the Lord.
(The people kneel and the Celebrant says the following:)
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.
The Priest blesses the people.
May the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon and remain with you always.
Amen.
Closing Hymn: #529 In Christ There Is No East Or West (Hymnal 1982)
Dismissal
People Respond: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
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Please come to Coffee Hour in the Great Hall (through the door to the left of the altar and down a few steps/or Lift, then on your right).
Grace Episcopal Church Leadership
Rector
Fr. Steven Moore
spm308a@aol.com
315-730-3390
Seminarian
Matthew Sanaker
Wardens
Susan Keeter
Barbara Slater
Vestry Members
Jamal Adams, Josie Atkins, Mary Lou Clark, Shelley Turner, Emily Czerkies, Wayne Grove, Alex Lawson, Ernestine Patterson, Audrey Zaccarya
Clerk of the Vestry
John Auwaerter
Treasurer
Open
Office Administrator
Beth Montague
Organist
Erin Moore
