The Third Sunday of Lent: March 23, 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: #148 Creator of the Earth and Skies (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.
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;
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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
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:
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
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
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Second Lesson
Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.
People: Thanks be to God.
Sequence Hymn #228 When Israel was in Egypt’s land (LEVAS)
Gospel
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.
The Sermon: Marian Thompson
Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
Celebrant: Yi Lin please come forward.
Catechumen: Present
Celebrant: What do you ask of God’s Church?
Catechumen: Faith.
Celebrant: What does faith offer you?
Catechumen: Eternal Life.
The Celebrant says:
God is our Creator and in God all things have their existence. God enlightens our minds, so that we may come to know and worship him. God has sent his faithful witness, Jesus Christ, to announce to us what he has seen and heard, the mysteries of heaven and earth.
Since you acknowledge with joy that Christ has come, now is the time to hear his word, so that you may possess eternal life by beginning in our company to deepen your knowledge of God and to love your neighbor. Are you ready, with the help of God, to live this life?
Catechumen: I am.
Celebrant: Dear sponsor, you now present Yi Lin to us; are you and all who are gathered here ready to help him follow Christ?
People: We are.
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Celebrant: Father of mercy, we thank you for Yi Lin. You have sought and summoned him in many ways and now he has turned to seek you. You have called him today and he has answered in our presence: we praise you, Lord, and we bless you.
People: We praise you, Lord, and we bless you.
Celebrant: Yi Lin, receive the cross on your forehead. It is Christ who now strengthens you with this sign of his love. Learn to know and follow him.
People: Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
The People are invited to make the sign of the cross on Yi Lin’s forehead
The Celebrant says:
Lord, we have signed this catechumen, our brother Yi Lin, with the sign of Christ’s cross. Protect him by its power, so that, faithful to the grace begun in him, he may keep your commandments and come to the glory of rebirth in baptism. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Celebrant: Yi Lin, you have been marked with the cross of Christ. Receive now these signs of God’s love.
A bible and cross are given and the Celebrant continues:
This catechumen, our brother, has already traveled a long road. We rejoice with him in the gentle guidance of God who has brought him to this day. Let us pray that he may press onwards, until he comes to share fully in our way of life.
The Prayers of the People
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
That God may reveal Christ to Yi Lin more and more with every passing day. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
That he may undertake with generous heart and soul whatever God may ask of him. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
That he may have our sincere and unfailing support every step on the way. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
That he may find in our community compelling signs of unity and generous love. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
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That his heart and the hearts of all gathered may become more responsive to the needs of others. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
That we ourselves in preparation for Easter may seek a change of heart, give ourselves in prayer, and persevere in our good works. Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
The Celebrant says:
God of all creation, we ask you to look favorably on your servant Yi Lin; make him fervent in spirit; joyful in hope, and always ready to serve your name. Lead him, Lord, to the baptism of new birth, so that, living a fruitful life in the company of your faithful, he may receive the eternal reward that you promise. We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen.
Announcements
Offertory Hymn #754 When from bondage we are summoned (WLP)
Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Great Thanksgiving Eucharistic Prayer A
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 God thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere 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:
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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 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.
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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.
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.
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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.
Communion Hymn LEVAS # 178 Sweet Hour of Prayer (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.
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The Blessing
The Celebrant says
Bow down before the Lord.
Keep this your family, Lord, with your never-failing mercy, that relying solely on the help of your heavenly grace, they may be upheld by your divine protection; 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 #142 Lord Who Throughout These Forty Days (Hymnal 1982)
Dismissal
People Respond: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
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).
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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
