Second Sunday in Lent: “Do You Trust Me?” — John 3:1-17 | St. Peter’s by-the-Sea

Fr. Craig Swan: Good morning and welcome.

Fr. Craig Swan: I kind of feel like we've all kind of dug our way out, and

Fr. Craig Swan: we're just all being to go about the cabin again after a, what do

Fr. Craig Swan: they call it, Snowmageddon number two this year.

Fr. Craig Swan: So, um, we're glad to see everybody.

Fr. Craig Swan: No one believed me ten years ago when I said, In Syracuse, we

Fr. Craig Swan: don't get, um, uh, gym memberships during the winter.

Fr. Craig Swan: We just shovel snow all winter because it's a daily event, and

Fr. Craig Swan: it kept us all nice in shape.

Fr. Craig Swan: Now you know why.

Fr. Craig Swan: So, uh, we're glad everyone's here.

Fr. Craig Swan: A handful of announcements this morning.

Fr. Craig Swan: First of all, we're beginning to

Fr. Craig Swan: look towards Holy Week and

Fr. Craig Swan: Easter.

Fr. Craig Swan: That is the last days of March

Fr. Craig Swan: and into the first weekend of

Fr. Craig Swan: Easter.

Fr. Craig Swan: And so things that are going on of import for those who are

Fr. Craig Swan: having young family members come in for Easter weekend.

Fr. Craig Swan: On the fourth, we will have an

Fr. Craig Swan: Easter egg hunt that will begin

Fr. Craig Swan: promptly around ten o'clock in

Fr. Craig Swan: the morning.

Fr. Craig Swan: And if you are able to help with

Fr. Craig Swan: donations of candy or plastic

Fr. Craig Swan: eggs for the hunt, gratefully

Fr. Craig Swan: accepted.

Fr. Craig Swan: Also in our unit this week and coming soon to our newsletter,

Fr. Craig Swan: is the opportunity to begin signing up or making memorial

Fr. Craig Swan: donations for Easter flowers.

Fr. Craig Swan: And then finally, our Holy Week schedule.

Fr. Craig Swan: That is March twenty ninth, palm

Fr. Craig Swan: Sunday eight and ten fifteen,

Fr. Craig Swan: Maundy Thursday, which is April

Fr. Craig Swan: second.

Fr. Craig Swan: We will gather at Saint Augustine's in Kingston at five

Fr. Craig Swan: pm for a simple shared meal and then six pm Holy Eucharist.

Fr. Craig Swan: Father Drake will be presiding.

Fr. Craig Swan: I will be preaching that night

Fr. Craig Swan: and then Good Friday, twelve

Fr. Craig Swan: o'clock PM is stations of the

Fr. Craig Swan: cross seven pm Good Friday

Fr. Craig Swan: liturgy with communion from the

Fr. Craig Swan: reserve that will take place

Fr. Craig Swan: here.

Fr. Craig Swan: And again that will be a joint

Fr. Craig Swan: service with the with our

Fr. Craig Swan: friends at Saint Augustine's and

Fr. Craig Swan: Father Drake will preach, I will

Fr. Craig Swan: preside Easter Vigil, which is

Fr. Craig Swan: Saturday, April fourth, is a

Fr. Craig Swan: event not to be missed this

Fr. Craig Swan: year.

Fr. Craig Swan: We are doing it as a deanery

Fr. Craig Swan: wide event here at Saint

Fr. Craig Swan: Peter's.

Fr. Craig Swan: And to kind of give it that

Fr. Craig Swan: multi congregational feel, our

Fr. Craig Swan: bishop will be presiding and

Fr. Craig Swan: preaching at that service and

Fr. Craig Swan: that is at seven pm here at

Fr. Craig Swan: Saint Peter's.

Fr. Craig Swan: And then finally on April fifth, which is Easter Sunday, there

Fr. Craig Swan: will be a festival Eucharist here with brass and timpani and

Fr. Craig Swan: our full choir.

Fr. Craig Swan: Please take time to read your net.

Fr. Craig Swan: Not only is there information about what's going on here at

Fr. Craig Swan: Saint Peter's, it also connects you with news from the national

Fr. Craig Swan: church, from our Presiding Bishop and the House of bishops,

Fr. Craig Swan: as well as what's going on throughout the diocese.

Fr. Craig Swan: So on that note, let us take a

Fr. Craig Swan: moment of silence as we prepare

Fr. Craig Swan: for worship.

Fr. Craig Swan: Bless the Lord, who forgiveth all our sins.

Fr. Craig Swan: His mercy endureth forever.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us kneel.

Fr. Craig Swan: God spake these words and said,

Fr. Craig Swan: I am the Lord thy God, who

Fr. Craig Swan: brought thee out of the land of

Fr. Craig Swan: Egypt, out of the house of

Fr. Craig Swan: bondage.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt have none other gods but me.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not make to thyself

Fr. Craig Swan: any graven image, nor the

Fr. Craig Swan: likeness of anything that is in

Fr. Craig Swan: heaven, above, or in the earth

Fr. Craig Swan: beneath, or in the water under

Fr. Craig Swan: the earth.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Honor thy father and thy mother.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt do no murder.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not steal.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: incline our hearts to keep this

Fr. Craig Swan: law.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt not covet.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us, and

Fr. Craig Swan: write all these thy laws in our

Fr. Craig Swan: hearts, we beseech thee, hear

Fr. Craig Swan: what our Lord Jesus Christ

Fr. Craig Swan: saith.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all

Fr. Craig Swan: thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Fr. Craig Swan: This is the first and great commandment, and the second is

Fr. Craig Swan: liken to it thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Fr. Craig Swan: On these two commandments hang all the laws and the prophets.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Fr. Craig Swan: Almighty and most merciful

Fr. Craig Swan: father, we have erred and

Fr. Craig Swan: strayed from thy ways like lost

Fr. Craig Swan: sheep.

Fr. Craig Swan: We have followed too much the

Fr. Craig Swan: devices and desires of our own

Fr. Craig Swan: hearts.

Fr. Craig Swan: We have offended against thy holy laws.

Fr. Craig Swan: We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and

Fr. Craig Swan: we have done those things which we ought not to have done.

Fr. Craig Swan: But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Spare thou those who confess their faults.

Fr. Craig Swan: Restore thou those who are penitent, according to thy

Fr. Craig Swan: promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: And grant, O most merciful father, for his sake, that we

Fr. Craig Swan: may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to

Fr. Craig Swan: the glory of thy name.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, have mercy upon us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Almighty and merciful Lord, grant you absolution and

Fr. Craig Swan: remission of all your sins, true repentance, amendment of life,

Fr. Craig Swan: and the grace and consolation of His Holy Spirit.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: The Lord be with you.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us pray, O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy.

Fr. Craig Swan: Be gracious to all who have gone

Fr. Craig Swan: astray from your ways, and bring

Fr. Craig Swan: them again with penitent hearts

Fr. Craig Swan: and steadfast faith, to embrace

Fr. Craig Swan: and hold fast the unchangeable

Fr. Craig Swan: truth of your word through Jesus

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, your son, who with you

Fr. Craig Swan: and the Holy Spirit lives and

Fr. Craig Swan: reigns, one God, forever and

Fr. Craig Swan: ever.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Please be seated for the readings.

Barbara V.: Our first reading is from the Book of Genesis.

Barbara V.: The Lord said to Abram, go from your country and your kindred,

Barbara V.: and your father's house, to the land that I will show you.

Barbara V.: I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and

Barbara V.: make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Barbara V.: I will bless those who bless you and the one who curses you.

Barbara V.: I will curse, and in you all the

Barbara V.: families of the earth shall be

Barbara V.: blessed.

Barbara V.: So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and lot went with him.

Barbara V.: The word of the Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thanks be to God.

Barbara V.: Please join in reading Psalm one

Barbara V.: twenty one I lift up my eyes to

Barbara V.: the hills from where is my help

Barbara V.: to come.

Barbara V.: My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

Barbara V.: He will not let your foot be moved, and he who watches over

Barbara V.: you will not fall asleep.

Barbara V.: Behold, he who keeps watch over

Barbara V.: Israel shall neither slumber nor

Barbara V.: sleep.

Barbara V.: The Lord himself watches over you.

Barbara V.: The Lord is your shade at your right hand, so that the sun

Barbara V.: shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

Barbara V.: The Lord shall preserve you from all evil.

Barbara V.: It is he who shall keep you safe.

Barbara V.: The Lord shall watch over your

Barbara V.: going out and your coming in

Barbara V.: from this time forth

Barbara V.: forevermore.

Barbara V.: Our second reading is from Paul's letter to the Romans.

Barbara V.: What then, are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor,

Barbara V.: according to the flesh?

Barbara V.: For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast

Barbara V.: about, but not before God.

Barbara V.: For what does the Scripture say?

Barbara V.: Abraham believed God, and it was

Barbara V.: reckoned to him as

Barbara V.: righteousness.

Barbara V.: Now to one who works.

Barbara V.: Wages are not reckoned as a gift, but as something due.

Barbara V.: But to one who without works

Barbara V.: trusts him who justifies the

Barbara V.: ungodly.

Barbara V.: Such faith is reckoned as righteousness.

Barbara V.: For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come

Barbara V.: to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, but through the

Barbara V.: righteousness of faith.

Barbara V.: If it is the adherence of the

Barbara V.: law who are to be the heirs,

Barbara V.: faith is null and the promise is

Barbara V.: void.

Barbara V.: For the law brings wrath.

Barbara V.: But where there is no law, neither is there violation.

Barbara V.: For this reason, it depends on faith, in order that the promise

Barbara V.: may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his

Barbara V.: descendants, not only to the adherents of the law, But also

Barbara V.: to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of

Barbara V.: all of us.

Barbara V.: As it is written, I have made

Barbara V.: you the father of many nations,

Barbara V.: in the presence of the God in

Barbara V.: whom he believed, who gives life

Barbara V.: to the dead, and calls into

Barbara V.: existence the things that do not

Barbara V.: exist.

Barbara V.: The word of the Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thanks be to God. The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ

Fr. Craig Swan: according to John.

Fr. Craig Swan: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Fr. Craig Swan: Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.

Fr. Craig Swan: He came to Jesus by night and

Fr. Craig Swan: said to him, Rabbi, we know that

Fr. Craig Swan: you are a teacher who has come

Fr. Craig Swan: from God.

Fr. Craig Swan: For no one can do these signs that you do apart from the

Fr. Craig Swan: presence of God.

Fr. Craig Swan: Jesus answered him, very truly, I tell you, no one can see the

Fr. Craig Swan: kingdom of God without being born from above.

Fr. Craig Swan: Nicodemus said to him, how can

Fr. Craig Swan: anyone be born after having

Fr. Craig Swan: grown old?

Fr. Craig Swan: Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?

Fr. Craig Swan: Jesus answered, very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the

Fr. Craig Swan: kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit.

Fr. Craig Swan: What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the

Fr. Craig Swan: spirit is spirit.

Fr. Craig Swan: Do not be astonished that I said

Fr. Craig Swan: to you, you must be born from

Fr. Craig Swan: above.

Fr. Craig Swan: The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it,

Fr. Craig Swan: but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.

Fr. Craig Swan: So it is with everyone who is born of the spirit.

Fr. Craig Swan: Nicodemus said to him, how can these things be?

Fr. Craig Swan: Jesus answered, are you a teacher of Israel?

Fr. Craig Swan: And yet you do not understand these things?

Fr. Craig Swan: Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to

Fr. Craig Swan: what we have seen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Yet you do not receive our testimony.

Fr. Craig Swan: If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe,

Fr. Craig Swan: how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

Fr. Craig Swan: No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended

Fr. Craig Swan: from heaven, the Son of Man.

Fr. Craig Swan: And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so

Fr. Craig Swan: must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him

Fr. Craig Swan: may have eternal life.

Fr. Craig Swan: For God so loved the world that

Fr. Craig Swan: he gave his only son, so that

Fr. Craig Swan: everyone who believes in him may

Fr. Craig Swan: not perish, but may have eternal

Fr. Craig Swan: life.

Fr. Craig Swan: Indeed, God did not send the son

Fr. Craig Swan: into the world to condemn the

Fr. Craig Swan: world, but in order that the

Fr. Craig Swan: world might be saved through

Fr. Craig Swan: him.

Fr. Craig Swan: The gospel of the Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Fr. Craig Swan: In the name of God, father, son, and Holy Spirit.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Please be seated.

Fr. Craig Swan: Today we hear the story of

Fr. Craig Swan: Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews,

Fr. Craig Swan: who comes in the night to see

Fr. Craig Swan: Jesus.

Fr. Craig Swan: As I kind of look at Nicodemus and think about what he is

Fr. Craig Swan: feeling or thinking, I see a man who is torn, torn between what

Fr. Craig Swan: he knows to be true.

Fr. Craig Swan: And what he hopes to be true.

Fr. Craig Swan: Nicodemus had the weight of the world on his shoulders as a

Fr. Craig Swan: leader of the Jews.

Fr. Craig Swan: Their most important job from

Fr. Craig Swan: the concept of the Roman

Fr. Craig Swan: government was that they keep

Fr. Craig Swan: the peace throughout Israel, or

Fr. Craig Swan: the area that time known as

Fr. Craig Swan: Palestine.

Fr. Craig Swan: If the Jews wish to maintain their special circumstance,

Fr. Craig Swan: which meant they did not have to pay homage to Caesar's statue

Fr. Craig Swan: and worship Caesar as a god, then the leadership had to keep

Fr. Craig Swan: everyone in check.

Fr. Craig Swan: That was Nicodemus role.

Fr. Craig Swan: Within the confines of the Roman Empire.

Fr. Craig Swan: Also, he served then as religious leader, teaching them

Fr. Craig Swan: what was truth, what was law, and what was Torah that he knew,

Fr. Craig Swan: that he understood, that gave him identity that he trusted in,

Fr. Craig Swan: would keep him safe.

Fr. Craig Swan: John doesn't have Nicodemus just so happening to show up, to see

Fr. Craig Swan: Jesus in the night.

Fr. Craig Swan: He comes out of the darkness and into the light.

Fr. Craig Swan: One of John's great motifs, the light has come into the

Fr. Craig Swan: darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Fr. Craig Swan: Jesus as the light Nicodemus is drawn to a teacher who teaches

Fr. Craig Swan: the law very differently than he understands in a very different

Fr. Craig Swan: and radical way.

Fr. Craig Swan: He, like each and every one of

Fr. Craig Swan: us, is attracted to this

Fr. Craig Swan: reality.

Fr. Craig Swan: But the question for him is, can he trust in it?

Fr. Craig Swan: Can he trust in what Jesus teaches?

Fr. Craig Swan: Can he trust in Jesus message?

Fr. Craig Swan: Trust is the golden rule of salvation history.

Fr. Craig Swan: Our Old Testament reading brings

Fr. Craig Swan: us back all the way to the days

Fr. Craig Swan: of Abraham and God's call to

Fr. Craig Swan: Abraham and Sarah at the age of

Fr. Craig Swan: seventy five, to leave his

Fr. Craig Swan: tribe, his family, everything he

Fr. Craig Swan: knows.

Fr. Craig Swan: All that protects him, holds him up.

Fr. Craig Swan: And to go out on their own with

Fr. Craig Swan: the promise that he and Sarah

Fr. Craig Swan: will be the parents of a great

Fr. Craig Swan: nation.

Fr. Craig Swan: Not a very sane request on any level.

Fr. Craig Swan: The idea of a couple in their seventies bearing children to

Fr. Craig Swan: begin a great nation.

Fr. Craig Swan: Highly unlikely.

Fr. Craig Swan: Abraham and Sarah strike out and follow God's call to them.

Fr. Craig Swan: And as we heard in Paul today, what made Abraham.

Fr. Craig Swan: Eventually Abraham righteous.

Fr. Craig Swan: was the fact that he chose to trust in God and to trust that

Fr. Craig Swan: God or for him, Yahweh would fulfill God's promise.

Fr. Craig Swan: That is the same place where

Fr. Craig Swan: Nicodemus is in this morning's

Fr. Craig Swan: gospel.

Fr. Craig Swan: He, like Abraham, is feeling a call towards Jesus.

Fr. Craig Swan: Will he let go of everything and trust that what Jesus has to say

Fr. Craig Swan: will be fulfilled?

Fr. Craig Swan: For that is the root of our righteousness with God.

Fr. Craig Swan: It's our willingness or ability to let go of that which we hold

Fr. Craig Swan: on to, that we know to be true in this world and to trust.

Fr. Craig Swan: That God will fulfill God's promise.

Fr. Craig Swan: The promises that we await.

Fr. Craig Swan: For through the glory and the efficacy of the cross.

Fr. Craig Swan: Eternal life and the kingdom of

Fr. Craig Swan: heaven to be thus on earth in

Fr. Craig Swan: this world transformed back into

Fr. Craig Swan: the reality with God as head of

Fr. Craig Swan: all nations.

Fr. Craig Swan: Do we trust that God will fulfill God's promise during

Fr. Craig Swan: this time of lent?

Fr. Craig Swan: One of the things that we

Fr. Craig Swan: reflect on is do we trust and

Fr. Craig Swan: how much do we trust in God's

Fr. Craig Swan: promise?

Fr. Craig Swan: And one of the things that we hear throughout the gospel is

Fr. Craig Swan: your faith has made you well.

Fr. Craig Swan: What is faith but trust in God?

Fr. Craig Swan: The people who bring the paraplegic to Jesus.

Fr. Craig Swan: Their faith has made him well.

Fr. Craig Swan: They trusted that Jesus could heal him.

Fr. Craig Swan: Do we trust that Jesus can heal us?

Fr. Craig Swan: Do we trust in the efficacy of the cross?

Fr. Craig Swan: And do we trust that it is not through what we do, but what God

Fr. Craig Swan: has done for us, that we have gained our own salvation?

Fr. Craig Swan: The image that comes to me this morning as I read through

Fr. Craig Swan: today's readings is that from a scene in the Disney movie

Fr. Craig Swan: Aladdin, as I told you all, I watched a lot of TV growing up.

Fr. Craig Swan: My daughters watched a lot of Disney movies, but the scene I'm

Fr. Craig Swan: thinking of is when Aladdin pulls up to Jasmine's balcony

Fr. Craig Swan: way up high on the magic carpet.

Fr. Craig Swan: And asks her to go for a ride on the magic carpet.

Fr. Craig Swan: And what does he say to her to

Fr. Craig Swan: get her to finally step out on

Fr. Craig Swan: the carpet?

Fr. Craig Swan: Do you trust me?

Fr. Craig Swan: Each and every one of us, like Nicodemus, is on the balcony,

Fr. Craig Swan: and God has pulled up God's magic carpet to us and has asked

Fr. Craig Swan: us, do you trust me?

Fr. Craig Swan: The question for us is, are we willing to put our whole faith

Fr. Craig Swan: and trust in that, a move that will give us the grace and the

Fr. Craig Swan: forgiveness and the salvation in the salvation we need to be

Fr. Craig Swan: right before God.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Please stand and join me as you can in affirming our faith with

Fr. Craig Swan: the words of the Nicene Creed.

Fr. Craig Swan: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of

Fr. Craig Swan: heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

Fr. Craig Swan: We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,

Fr. Craig Swan: eternally begotten of the father, God from God, light from

Fr. Craig Swan: light, true God from true God, begotten, not made of one, being

Fr. Craig Swan: with the father.

Fr. Craig Swan: Through him all things were made for us and for our salvation.

Fr. Craig Swan: He came down from heaven by the

Fr. Craig Swan: power of the Holy Spirit He

Fr. Craig Swan: became incarnate from the Virgin

Fr. Craig Swan: Mary and was made man for our

Fr. Craig Swan: sake.

Fr. Craig Swan: He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

Fr. Craig Swan: He suffered death and was buried.

Fr. Craig Swan: On the third day.

Fr. Craig Swan: He rose again in accordance with the scriptures.

Fr. Craig Swan: He ascended into heaven and is

Fr. Craig Swan: seated at the right hand of the

Fr. Craig Swan: father.

Fr. Craig Swan: He will come again in glory to

Fr. Craig Swan: judge the living and the dead,

Fr. Craig Swan: and his kingdom will have no

Fr. Craig Swan: end.

Fr. Craig Swan: We believe in the Holy Spirit,

Fr. Craig Swan: the Lord, the giver of life, who

Fr. Craig Swan: proceeds from the father and the

Fr. Craig Swan: son.

Fr. Craig Swan: With the father and the son, he is worshiped and glorified.

Fr. Craig Swan: He has spoken through the prophets.

Fr. Craig Swan: We believe in one holy, Catholic and apostolic church.

Fr. Craig Swan: We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

Fr. Craig Swan: We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the

Fr. Craig Swan: world to come.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Shelley L.: The prayers of the people.

Shelley L.: Let us pray for the whole state

Shelley L.: of Christ's church and the

Shelley L.: world.

Shelley L.: Almighty and ever living God, who in Thy Holy Word has taught

Shelley L.: us to make prayers and supplications, and to give

Shelley L.: thanks for all men.

Shelley L.: Receive these our prayers which

Shelley L.: we offer unto thy divine

Shelley L.: majesty.

Shelley L.: Beseeching thee to inspire

Shelley L.: continually the universal Church

Shelley L.: with the spirit of truth, unity,

Shelley L.: and concord.

Shelley L.: And grant that all those who do

Shelley L.: confess thy holy name may agree

Shelley L.: in the truth of Thy Holy Word,

Shelley L.: and live in unity and godly

Shelley L.: love.

Shelley L.: Give grace, O Heavenly Father,

Shelley L.: to all bishops and other

Shelley L.: ministers, especially Sean, our

Shelley L.: Presiding Bishop, Nicholas our

Shelley L.: Bishop and Craig, our rector,

Shelley L.: that they may both, by their

Shelley L.: life and doctrine, set forth thy

Shelley L.: true and lively word, and

Shelley L.: rightly and duty, administer and

Shelley L.: duly administer thy holy

Shelley L.: sacraments, and to all thy

Shelley L.: people give thy heavenly grace,

Shelley L.: and especially to this

Shelley L.: congregation here in present

Shelley L.: that with me carte and due

Shelley L.: reverence they may hear and

Shelley L.: receive thy holy word, truly

Shelley L.: serving thee in holiness and

Shelley L.: righteousness all the days of

Shelley L.: their life.

Shelley L.: We beseech thee also to so to rule the hearts of those who

Shelley L.: bear the authority of government in this and every land,

Shelley L.: especially Donald, our president, and Daniel, our

Shelley L.: governor, that they may be led to wise decisions and right

Shelley L.: actions for the welfare and peace of the world.

Shelley L.: Open, oh Lord, the eyes of all people, to behold thy gracious

Shelley L.: hand in all thy works, that rejoicing in thy whole creation,

Shelley L.: they may honor thee with their substance, and be faithful

Shelley L.: stewards of thy bounty.

Shelley L.: And we most humbly beseech thee

Shelley L.: of thy goodness, O Lord, to

Shelley L.: comfort and succour all those

Shelley L.: who who in this transitory life

Shelley L.: are in trouble, sorrow, need,

Shelley L.: sickness, or any other

Shelley L.: adversity.

Shelley L.: In our parish cycle of prayer, we pray for Ted, White, Jay and

Shelley L.: Billy, Joe, Wilbur and Jamie and Debbie Wilson in our in our

Shelley L.: diocesan cycle of prayer.

Shelley L.: We pray for Saint David's on the Hill, Cranston.

Shelley L.: And we also bless thy holy name

Shelley L.: for all who, although thy

Shelley L.: servants departed this life in

Shelley L.: thy faith and fear, especially

Shelley L.: Marilyn Charest, beseeching thee

Shelley L.: to grant them continual growth

Shelley L.: in thy love and service, and to

Shelley L.: grant us grace, to grant us

Shelley L.: grace.

Shelley L.: So to follow the good examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Shelley L.: Blessed Peter and patron, and of

Shelley L.: all thy saints, that with them

Shelley L.: we may be partakers of thy

Shelley L.: heavenly kingdom.

Shelley L.: Grant these our prayers.

Shelley L.: Oh, father, for Jesus Christ's

Shelley L.: sake, our only mediator and

Shelley L.: advocate.

Shelley L.: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us greet one another with a sign of Christ's love for us.

Fr. Craig Swan: And I invite everyone to please be seated.

Fr. Craig Swan: And anyone who has a birthday or wedding anniversary during the

Fr. Craig Swan: month of March is invited to come forward for a blessing.

Fr. Craig Swan: Boy, oh boy, we're striking out month after month.

Fr. Craig Swan: It's all going to add up in April and May.

Fr. Craig Swan: Walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us an

Fr. Craig Swan: offering and sacrifice to God.

Fr. Craig Swan: Okay.

Speaker 4: Thank you.

Speaker 4: Just the wine in the water.

Speaker 4: Yes.

Speaker 4: The glass bowl.

Speaker 4: Oh, there's no. Okay.

Speaker 4: Just.

Speaker 4: Sorry.

Fr. Craig Swan: All things come from you, O Lord, and of your own.

Fr. Craig Swan: Have we offered you?

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: The Lord be with you.

Fr. Craig Swan: Lift up your hearts.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Fr. Craig Swan: It is meet and right so to do.

Fr. Craig Swan: It is very meet right, and are

Fr. Craig Swan: bound in duty that we should at

Fr. Craig Swan: all times and in all places give

Fr. Craig Swan: thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy

Fr. Craig Swan: Father, Almighty, everlasting

Fr. Craig Swan: God, through Jesus Christ our

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, who was in every way

Fr. Craig Swan: tempted as we are, yet did not

Fr. Craig Swan: sin.

Fr. Craig Swan: By whose grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and

Fr. Craig Swan: live no longer unto ourselves, but unto him who died for us,

Fr. Craig Swan: and rose again therefore with angels and archangels, and with

Fr. Craig Swan: all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious

Fr. Craig Swan: name, evermore praising thee, and saying, Holy, holy, holy,

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory.

Fr. Craig Swan: Glory be to thee, O Lord Most High.

Fr. Craig Swan: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: Hosanna in the highest!

Fr. Craig Swan: All glory be to thee, Almighty God, our heavenly father, that

Fr. Craig Swan: thou of thy tender mercy didst give thine only son Jesus

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption.

Fr. Craig Swan: Who made there by his one oblation of himself, once

Fr. Craig Swan: offered a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation,

Fr. Craig Swan: and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world, and did

Fr. Craig Swan: institute and in his holy gospel command us to continue a

Fr. Craig Swan: perpetual memory of that his precious death and sacrifice,

Fr. Craig Swan: until his coming again.

Fr. Craig Swan: For in the night in which he was

Fr. Craig Swan: betrayed, he took bread, and

Fr. Craig Swan: when he had given thanks, he

Fr. Craig Swan: brake it, and gave it to his

Fr. Craig Swan: disciples, saying, take, eat,

Fr. Craig Swan: this is my body which is given

Fr. Craig Swan: for you.

Fr. Craig Swan: Do this in remembrance of me.

Fr. Craig Swan: Likewise, after supper he took

Fr. Craig Swan: the cup, and when he had given

Fr. Craig Swan: thanks, he gave it to them,

Fr. Craig Swan: saying, drink ye all of this,

Fr. Craig Swan: for this is my blood of the New

Fr. Craig Swan: Testament, which is shed for you

Fr. Craig Swan: and for many for the remission

Fr. Craig Swan: of sins.

Fr. Craig Swan: Do this as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me.

Fr. Craig Swan: Wherefore, oh Lord, and heavenly father, according to the

Fr. Craig Swan: institution of thy dearly beloved son, our Savior Jesus

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, we, thy humble servants, do celebrate and make here

Fr. Craig Swan: before thy divine majesty, with these thy holy gifts, which we

Fr. Craig Swan: now offer unto thee.

Fr. Craig Swan: The memorial thy son hath commanded us to make, having in

Fr. Craig Swan: remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty

Fr. Craig Swan: resurrection and glorious ascension, rendering unto thee

Fr. Craig Swan: most hearty thanks for the innumerable benefits procured

Fr. Craig Swan: unto us by the same.

Fr. Craig Swan: And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful father, to hear us,

Fr. Craig Swan: and of thy almighty goodness, vouchsafe to bless and sanctify

Fr. Craig Swan: with thy Word and Holy Spirit these thy gifts and creatures of

Fr. Craig Swan: bread and wine, that we receiving them according to thy

Fr. Craig Swan: Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, Holy institution, in remembrance

Fr. Craig Swan: of his death and passion, may be partakers of his most blessed

Fr. Craig Swan: body and son.

Fr. Craig Swan: and we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness mercifully to

Fr. Craig Swan: accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

Fr. Craig Swan: Most humbly beseeching thee to

Fr. Craig Swan: grant that by the merits and

Fr. Craig Swan: death of thy Son Jesus Christ,

Fr. Craig Swan: and through faith in his blood,

Fr. Craig Swan: we and all thy whole church may

Fr. Craig Swan: obtain remission of our sins and

Fr. Craig Swan: all other benefits of his

Fr. Craig Swan: passion.

Fr. Craig Swan: And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves,

Fr. Craig Swan: our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy, and living

Fr. Craig Swan: sacrifice unto thee.

Fr. Craig Swan: Humbly beseeching thee that we and all others who shall be

Fr. Craig Swan: partakers of this Holy Communion, may worthily receive

Fr. Craig Swan: the most precious body and blood of thy Son Jesus Christ, be

Fr. Craig Swan: filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction, and made

Fr. Craig Swan: one body with him, that he may dwell in us and we in him.

Fr. Craig Swan: And although we are unworthy

Fr. Craig Swan: through our manifold sins, to

Fr. Craig Swan: offer unto thee any sacrifice,

Fr. Craig Swan: yet we beseech thee to accept

Fr. Craig Swan: this, our bound and duty and

Fr. Craig Swan: service, not weighing our

Fr. Craig Swan: merits, but pardoning our

Fr. Craig Swan: offenses.

Fr. Craig Swan: Through Jesus Christ our Lord,

Fr. Craig Swan: by whom and with whom, in the

Fr. Craig Swan: unity of the Holy Ghost, all

Fr. Craig Swan: honor and glory be unto thee, O

Fr. Craig Swan: Father Almighty, world without

Fr. Craig Swan: end.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: And now, as our Savior Christ

Fr. Craig Swan: hath taught us, we are bold to

Fr. Craig Swan: say.

Fr. Craig Swan: Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thy kingdom come, thy will be

Fr. Craig Swan: done on earth as it is in

Fr. Craig Swan: heaven.

Fr. Craig Swan: Give us this day our daily bread

Fr. Craig Swan: and forgive us our trespasses,

Fr. Craig Swan: as we forgive those who trespass

Fr. Craig Swan: against us.

Fr. Craig Swan: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Fr. Craig Swan: For thine is the kingdom, and

Fr. Craig Swan: the power and the glory, forever

Fr. Craig Swan: and ever.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us.

Fr. Craig Swan: Therefore let us keep the feast.

Fr. Craig Swan: Oh, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.

Fr. Craig Swan: Oh, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.

Fr. Craig Swan: Oh, Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us join together.

Fr. Craig Swan: We do not presume to come to

Fr. Craig Swan: this thy table, O merciful Lord,

Fr. Craig Swan: trusting in our own

Fr. Craig Swan: righteousness, but in thy

Fr. Craig Swan: manifold and great mercies, we

Fr. Craig Swan: are not worthy so much as to

Fr. Craig Swan: gather up the crumbs under thy

Fr. Craig Swan: table.

Fr. Craig Swan: But thou art the same Lord,

Fr. Craig Swan: whose property is always to have

Fr. Craig Swan: mercy.

Fr. Craig Swan: Grant us therefore, gracious

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy

Fr. Craig Swan: dear son Jesus Christ, and to

Fr. Craig Swan: drink his blood, that we may

Fr. Craig Swan: ever more dwell in him, and he

Fr. Craig Swan: in us.

Fr. Craig Swan: The gifts of God for the people of God.

Fr. Craig Swan: Take them in remembrance that

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ died for you, and feed on

Fr. Craig Swan: him in your hearts by faith with

Fr. Craig Swan: thanksgiving.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The blood of Christ.

Speaker 4: The cup of salvation.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The The body of Christ, the

Speaker 4: bread of heaven, the Body of

Speaker 4: Christ, the bread of heaven, the

Speaker 4: Body of Christ, the bread of

Speaker 4: heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The blessing of God, father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with

Speaker 4: you and remain with you always.

Speaker 4: Amen.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: So if you go this way.

Speaker 4: There we go.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ, the bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Speaker 4: The body of Christ.

Speaker 4: The bread of heaven.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us pray.

Fr. Craig Swan: Almighty and ever living God, we most heartily thank thee for

Fr. Craig Swan: that thou dost feed us in these holy mysteries with the

Fr. Craig Swan: spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of Thy

Fr. Craig Swan: Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, and dost assure us thereby of

Fr. Craig Swan: thy favor and goodness towards us, and that we are very members

Fr. Craig Swan: in corporate, in the mystical Body of Thy Son, the blessed

Fr. Craig Swan: company of all faithful people, and are also heirs through hope

Fr. Craig Swan: of thy everlasting kingdom.

Fr. Craig Swan: And we humbly beseech thee, O

Fr. Craig Swan: heavenly Father, so to assist us

Fr. Craig Swan: with thy grace, that we may

Fr. Craig Swan: continue in that holy

Fr. Craig Swan: fellowship, and do all such good

Fr. Craig Swan: works as thou hast prepared for

Fr. Craig Swan: us to walk in through Jesus

Fr. Craig Swan: Christ our Lord, to whom with

Fr. Craig Swan: thee and the Holy Ghost be all

Fr. Craig Swan: honor and glory, world without

Fr. Craig Swan: end.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Bow down before the Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: Keep this your family, Lord, with your never failing mercy.

Fr. Craig Swan: That relying solely on the help

Fr. Craig Swan: of your heavenly grace, they may

Fr. Craig Swan: be upheld by your divine

Fr. Craig Swan: protection through Christ our

Fr. Craig Swan: Lord.

Fr. Craig Swan: Amen.

Fr. Craig Swan: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.

Fr. Craig Swan: Thanks be to God.