St. John’s Episcopal Church
Helena, Arkansas
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 27, 2022
THE HOLY EUCHARIST RITE TWO
Entrance Rite, Eucharistic Prayer B
The Word of God
Entrance Hymn There's a wideness in God's mercy (H 470)
Opening Acclamation
The people standing, the Celebrant says
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Celebrant |
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins. |
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People |
His mercy endures for ever. |
The Celebrant may say
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Opening Anthem or Song of Praise
The following is repeated 3 times, all standing
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One.
Have mercy upon us.
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Celebrant |
The Lord be with you. |
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People |
And also with you. |
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Celebrant |
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 LESSONS
First Reading Joshua 5:9-12
The people sit.
A Reading from the book of Joshua.
9The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 10While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
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Reader |
The Word of the Lord. |
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People |
Thanks be to God. |
Psalm Psalm 32
Remain seated and read responsively by whole verse.
1Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, *
and whose sin is put away!
2Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, *
and in whose spirit there is no guile!
3While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, *
because of my groaning all day long.
4For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; *
my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
5Then I acknowledged my sin to you, *
and did not conceal my guilt.
6I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” *
Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
7Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; *
when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
8You 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.
10Do 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.”
11Great are the tribulations of the wicked; *
but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
12Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; *
shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The people sit.
A Reading from Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth.
16From 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. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Reader |
The Word of the Lord. |
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People |
Thanks be to God. |
Sequence Hymn The glory of these forty days (H 143)
All stand.
Gospel Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
All stand.
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Priest |
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. |
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People |
Glory to you, Lord Christ. |
1Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
3So he told them this parable: 11b“There was a man who had two sons. 12The 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. 13A 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. 14When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17But 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! 18I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ 20So 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. 21Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But 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. 23And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
25“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29But 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. 30But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32But 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.’ ”
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Priest |
The Gospel of the Lord. |
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People |
Praise to you, Lord Christ. |
The Sermon Rev. Danny Schieffler
The Creed
All stand.
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.
The Prayers of the People
People may stand or kneel.
With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying, “Lord, have mercy.”
For the peace from above, for the loving kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our Bishop, Larry and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For our President, Joe, Asa, our governor, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this city. Helena-West Helena, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord. We pray especially for those who suffer from Covid -19, their families, and caregivers and for all those who are alone or afraid,
Lord, have mercy.
For peace in Ukraine, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, remembering especially Nancy Brown Howe and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
In the communion of St. John the Evangelist and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.
To thee, O Lord our God.
O God, who has blessed and sustained us through the years; we ask that you continue to lead us, stretch us, and direct us, in our search for a new rector. Raise for us, we pray, a priest and pastor who will boldly proclaim your Gospel, faithfully administer your Sacraments, and serve your people with love and compassion, that we may continue to grow in the likeness of Christ and be a beacon of love and hope to our community and the world. To the glory of your holy name. Amen.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Lord, hear the prayers of your people; and what they have asked faithfully, grant that we may obtain effectually, to the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession of Sin
The Celebrant says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
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 through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
All stand.
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Celebrant |
The peace of the Lord be always with you. |
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People |
And also with you. |
Then the Ministers and the People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.
Announcements and birthday and anniversary blessings.
The Holy Communion
Offertory Sentence
The Celebrant says
Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High.
Offertory Music
Doxology
The Great Thanksgiving
The People remain standing.
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Celebrant |
The Lord be with you. |
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People |
And also with you. |
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Celebrant |
Lift up your hearts. |
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People |
We lift them to the Lord. |
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Celebrant |
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. |
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People |
It is right to give him thanks and praise. |
Facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed in prayer by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you.
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:
Sanctus
All sing
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
The People stand or kneel.
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.
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, according to his command, O Father,
Celebrant and People
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
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, 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.
The Lord’s Prayer
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,
forever and ever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
Fraction Anthem
All sing
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.
Celebrant: Behold what you are.
People: May we become what we receive.
The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then immediately deliver it to the people.
The Bread is given to the communicants with these words
The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in everlasting life. [Amen.]
Communion Music
Post-Communion Prayer
Let us pray.
Almighty and everliving God,
we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food
of the most precious Body and Blood
of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;
and for assuring us in these holy mysteries
that we are living members of the Body of your Son,
and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out
to do the work you have given us to do,
to love and serve you
as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.
To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Blessing
Celebrant: Bow down before the Lord.
The people bow as the celebrant continues.
Look down in mercy, Lord, on your people who kneel before you; and grant that those whom you have nourished by your Word and Sacraments may bring forth fruit worthy of repentance; through Christ our Lord. And may the blessing of God, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Post-Communion Hymn Jerusalem the golden (H 624)
Dismissal
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Celebrant |
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. |
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People |
Thanks be to God. |
Note on Today’s Readings
The Fourth Sunday in Lent—Year C
Welcome to our parish. This Fourth Sunday in Lent has often been called “Refreshment Sunday.” It always includes the theme of eating and drinking as signs of God’s love and of the rejoicing of God’s people in the Eucharist and in God’s kingdom.
In the reading from the Hebrew Scriptures, we hear about the first Passover celebrated by the Israelites in the Promised Land. On that occasion, the manna, which sustained them in their wilderness journey, ceased and they lived on the “fruit of the land.” God’s people, washed and adopted in baptism and sustained in this world by Holy Communion, will likewise enter into God’s Kingdom and be nourished by God’s life.
In the second reading, we learn from Paul that not only has Christ reconciled us to God, but in baptism God makes us agents of reconciliation to the world. and we become the new creation of the Kingdom of God.
Thus, in today’s gospel reading of the story of the Prodigal Son, the culmination of forgiveness is reconciliation celebrated in a banquet and feast. This parable describes the totality of forgiveness and God’s eagerness to be reconciled with us rebellious children, which is fulfilled in our celebration of Holy Eucharist and, above all, in our Easter rejoicing.
This sacred meal is the sign of our return to God, of God’s unlimited forgiveness, and of the feasting of God with all the redeemed in the Kingdom. In our Lenten self-denial, we are reminded that our pilgrimage in this life is like Israel’s journey through the wilderness, and that our ultimate goal is the Promised Land of God’s Kingdom, foreshadowed in the Holy Eucharist.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.
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Lenten Tidbits
“Jesus does not come down from Heaven each day to live in the golden ciborium. Jesus comes down to find another heaven He cherishes infinitely more than the first, the Heaven of our souls, made in His image, the living temple of the Most Blessed Trinity! Terese of Lisieux
Welcome to St. John’s. We are so glad to have the Rev. Danny Schieffler back to his home parish. This is so appropriate since it is Laetare Sunday in Lent. It gets this name in that it is midway through Lent and the introit begins with “Rejoice”. Many customs have developed over the years one is to call this Mothering Sunday when one returns to visit their mother church, either the church where one was Baptized or the church one grew up in. Welcome home Danny to your first Episcopal Home parish. In England I believe they also call it Carlin Sunday for the name of the pies that are usually baked for this Sunday.
Since it is a joyful Sunday we will be using Rite II and you will find it is not as penitential as the previous Lenten worship services of Rite I. So “Rejoice in the Lord always” and enjoy this nice break in Lent.
Please keep the following in your prayers: Debra Richardson, Kathy Sullivan, Parker Pace, Courtney Turner, Jo Boone Wild, Kathleen Gibson, Cole Jefferies, Carol Spencer, Bonnie & Charles Rowland, Jo Liddy, Janet Juengel, Vivian Wright, Jim Howe, Cliff Clark, Linda Dowling, Susan Taylor, and Sylvia Ross.
St. John’s continues to support the Angels of Grace and the Anchor Mission ministries.
Grace Food Pantry: plastic bags go in the labeled container in the narthex.
Thank you for your donations. They are all greatly appreciated and needed.
Evening prayer in St. John’s chapel each Wednesday at 5:30 pm
DATES TO MARK IN YOUR CALENDAR:
April 10....Palm Sunday
April 13….Stations of the Cross at 5:30 pm in the church
April 14....Maundy Thursday service at 6:00 pm in the church
April 15....Good Friday service at noon in the church
April 17.... Easter Sunday
Contact info:
Email: rector@saintjohnshelena.org
St. John’s Church Office:
Phone: 870-338-8115
Email: office@saintjohnshelena.org
Mailing address: P.O. Box 770, Helena, AR 72342
Street address: 625 Pecan St., Helena, Arkansas
The Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church
The Rt. Reverend Larry R. Benfield, Bishop of Arkansas
The Rev. Danny Schieffler
The Vestry of St. John’s Church, Helena
Allison Biederman, Senior Warden (2022)
Ed Pat Wright, Junior Warden (2023)
Brooke Tappan, Clerk (2023), Tap Jennings (2023)
Mark Rogers (2022), Susan Carter (2022)
West Hornor (2024), Ned Pillow (2024)
Walter Morris, Treasurer
Pianist –Dagmar Bergan
Organist – Dr. Gabriel Statom
French Horn – Tommy Patterson
Lay Eucharist Minister – Allison Biederman
Acolyte – Ed Pat Wright
Altar Guild – Julie Pittman
Ushers – Dana Kurts & Tap Jennings
Facebook Live – Julie Pittman
The flowers in the church today are given to the glory of God
and in memory of Nancy Brown Howe
Given by Jim Howe
