The Fourth Sunday in Lent

10AM Holy Eucharist

March 30, 2025

1314 Spring Street Saint Helena, CA 94574 (707) 963-4157

[email protected] / www.grace-episcopal.org

Prelude

Opening Hymn

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah v.1-3 1982 Hymnal #690

Opening Acclamation

Blessed be the God of our salvation
Who bears our burdens and forgives our sins
Let us confess our sins to God

Silence is Kept

God of all mercy, we confess that we have sinned against you,
opposing your will in our lives. We have denied your goodness
in each other, in ourselves, and in the world you have created.
We repent of the evil that enslaves us, the evil we have done,
and the evil done on our behalf. Forgive, restore, and strengthen
us through our Savior Jesus Christ, that we may abide in
your love and serve only your will. Amen.

Absolution Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your
sins through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
Amen.

Kyrie

Lord, have mercy on us

Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.

The Collect of the Day

God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray.

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord

The Lessons

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

A Reading from the second letter to the Corinthians.

From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reader The Word of the Lord.

People Thanks be to God

Psalm 32

1 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
and whose sin is put away!
2 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
because of my groaning all day long.
4 For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
and did not conceal my guilt.
6 I said,” I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7 Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
8 You are my hiding-place;
you preserve me from trouble; *
you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
9 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; *
I will guide you with my eye.
10 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; *
who must be fitted with bit and bridle,
or else they will not stay near you.”
11 Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
12 Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.

Gospel Song

O Love of God, How Strong and True v.1-3 1982 Hymnal #455

The Gospel Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Gospeller The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke.

People Glory to You, Lord Christ.

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

So Jesus told them this parable:

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe–the best one–and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'”

Gospeller The Gospel of the Lord.

People Praise to You, Lord Christ.

Sermon

During the season of Lent, we will hold three minutes of silent meditation following the sermon, begun and ended by a bell

Prayer of Faith

Though he was divine,
he did not cling to equality with God,
but made himself nothing.
Taking the form of a slave,
he was born in human likeness.
He humbled himself
and was obedient to death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God has raised him on high,
and given him the name above every name:
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
and every voice proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Amen.

The Prayers of the People

The Peace

The peace of Christ be always with you.
And also with you.

Offertory Music

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise him all creatures here below; Praise God above, ye heavenly host, Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; O praise him, O praise him,

The Holy Communion

Eucharistic Prayer 1 Enriching Our Worship

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to God.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,
It is right to give thanks and praise.
It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, all-holy
God, Source of life and fountain of mercy.

You have fi lled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us
with your constant love; you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ and
knit us into one body. through your Spirit you replenish us and call
us to fullness of life.

Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful
of every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we
sing:

Sanctus

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver
of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in
your infinite love.

You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful
stewards and show forth your bountiful grace.

But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves;
we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so
we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your
love. Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of
salvation for all people.

Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you.
You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and
raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in
the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh
in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he
revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he
triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.

On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took
bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave
it to his friends, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body which is
given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. As supper was
ending, Jesus 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 poured out for you and for all
for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the
remembrance of me.”

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again

Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you
from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy
Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus
Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be fi lled with the
Holy Spirit and live as Christ’s Body in the world. Bring us into
the everlasting heritage of your children, that with all your saints,
past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and ever. AMEN.

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say, 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 king- dom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore, let us keep the feast. Alleluia! Alleluia!

Fraction Anthem

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.

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

Deep River, My Home is Over Jordan LEVAS #8

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

(for those not receiving communion)

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

If you have special prayer requests, our Intercessors are available to pray for you at any time. You may send prayer requests to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Our intercessors are ready to pray with you for whatever needs you have in this time.

Post-Communion Prayer

God of abundance, you have fed us with the bread of life and
cup of salvation; you have united us with Christ and one
another; and you have made us one with all your people in
heaven and on earth. Now send us forth in the power of your
Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world
and continue for ever in the risen life of Christ our Savior.
Amen.

Prayer for Eucharistic Visitors

In the name of this congregation, I send you forth bearing these holy gifts that those to whom you go may share with usin the com- munion of Christ’s body and blood. We who are many are one body; because we all share one bread, one cup.

Bulletins 2025