St.

Stephen’s Episcopal
Church

1 9 0 Ra ughl e y Hi l l Rd.
Ha rri ngton, De l aw are
3 0 2 -39 8 -3 71 0
www.ststephensde.org

O ur Mi s s i on i s to grow a c ongre ga ti on tha t

w el c ome s a l l , to c ome toge the r to c e l e bra te
our be l i e f i n J es us Chri s t through bi bl i c a l
te a c hi ngs a nd pra ye r w hi l e s tri vi n g to a c hi e ve
a s pi r i tual c onnec ti on a nd fe l l ow shi p w i thi n i ts
m e m be r s hi p a nd c ommuni t y w e s er ve .

Holy Eucharist
March 5, 2023
nd
2 Sunday in Lent
 Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
Pr o ce s s i on al H y mn S t an d H 150

Blessed be Lord who forgives all our sins.

People His mercy endures for ever.

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.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

People: And also, with you.
Celebrant: Let us Pray.

The Collect:

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to

all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them
again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and
hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ
your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Lessons:

A Reading from Genesis 12: 1-4a: Connie Harrington

The LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your
kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show
you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you,
and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I
will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I
will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be
blessed.” So, Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot
went with him. The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God

Psalm 121: Janet Voss

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; *

from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the LORD, *
the maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved *
and he who watches over you will not fall asleep.
4 Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel *
shall neither slumber nor sleep;
5 The LORD himself watches over you; *
the LORD is your shade at your right hand,
6 So that the sun shall not strike you by day, *
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; *
it is he who shall keep you safe.
8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and your
coming in, *
from this time forth for evermore.

The Epistle- Romans 4:1-5,13-17: Connie Harrington

What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our
ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified
by works, he has something to boast about, but not before
God. For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed
God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Now to
one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as
something due. But to one who without works trusts him who
justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness.
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come
to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through
the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who
are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For
the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is
there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order
that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his
descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to
those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of
all of us, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many
nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed,
who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things
that do not exist. The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Gospel Hymn Stand H 439

The Gospel- John 3:1-17: Rev. Bruce Lomas

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

People: Glory to you Lord Christ

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He

came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you
are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these
signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered
him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God
without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How
can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a
second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus
answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of
God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the
flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be
astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The
wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you
do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with
everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How
can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of
Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? “Very truly, I
tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have
seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about
earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell
you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven
except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And
just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the
Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have
eternal life. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have
eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to
condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved
through him.” The Gospel of the Lord! Praise to you Lord
Christ!

Sermon Rev. Bruce Lomas

The 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.

Prayers of the People- Form II: Janet Voss

In the course of the silence after each bidding, the People offer
their own prayers, either silently or aloud.

I ask your prayers for God's people throughout the world;

for our Bishop(s) The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry our
Presiding Bishop, and The RT. Rev. Kevin S. Brown our
Diocesan Bishop, Bruce Lomas, Priest and Vestry Group:
Viva, Connie, Alyce, Lee, George, & Susan. The Diocesan
Cycle of Prayer— Province III; for this gathering; and for all
ministers and people.
Pray for the Church.
Silence

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations;

and for the well-being of all people. We prayer for those in the
Military: Ch ri s top h e r Daw son , J u sti n Garey,
Ru s s el l Kn au b , Ju sti n R. H u d so n , Jaime G ri mes
B ru ce Carr ol l , A mb er Mab rey , an d Jared Fa r mer

Pray for justice and peace.

Silence

I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed,
and those in prison. We pray for the following:
Sick, and/or issues:
J ohn M acce y R egi na Mi l l er Bi l l S haw
Lex i M i l es S hi rl e y Bowden P aul a S wi ft
Em m a Fi s her Lori S cot t J ean Moss
Dorot h y Lom as Bri st ol s Herd Berni e Dupr as
P res t on Bowden Donal d Fr az i er Nahei m S m i t h
Bobb y S ears Karen W ri gh t P at Froel i ch
Barb ara Faj no r Mi chael C l ul e y
For Good H eal th i n O l d er Years:
M ol l i e R evel s

Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Silence

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper

knowledge of him.
Pray that they may find and be found by him.
Silence

I ask your prayers for the departed [especially

___________________].
Pray for those who have died.
Silence

I ask your thanksgiving for the:

Birthday of Chase Gleeson, Pat Sullivan, Jessica Sullivan &

Bill Shaw
Baptism of Doug Poore

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been
honored [especially whom we remember today].
Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.
Silence

The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.

Confession of Sins:

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 Bishop when present, or 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. The Celebrant says to the people

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

People- And also with you.

O f f er to r y S ta n d H 325

The Great Thanksgiving

Eucharistic Prayer A

The people remain standing. The Celebrant, whether bishop or priest,

faces them and sings or says

Celebrant The Lord be with you.

People And also with you.
Celebrant Life you 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.

Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceeds

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.

Here a Proper Preface is sung or said on all Sundays, and on

other
occasions as appointed.

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

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.

Then the Celebrant continues

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us

for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become
subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus
Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human
nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the
God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself,
in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole
world.
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 he was handed over to suffering and death, 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

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in

this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death,
resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the

Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new
and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully
receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy,
and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints
into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: 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 forever. 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.

The Breaking of the Bread

The Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.

A period of silence is kept.

Then may be sung or said

Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast.

In Lent, Alleluia is omitted, and may be omitted at other times

except during Easter Season.

In place of, or in addition to, the preceding, some other suitable

anthem may be used. Facing the people, the Celebrant says the
following Invitation
The Gifts of God for the People of God.

And may add- Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you,
and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

The ministers receive the Sacrament in both kinds, and then

immediately deliver it to the people.

The Bread and the Cup are given to the communicants with these
words

The Body (Blood) of our Lord Jesus Christ keep you in

everlasting life. [Amen.]

or with these words

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. [Amen.]

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

Announcements

Re c es s i on al H y mn - Stand H 63 7
Dismissal

Let us go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!

Thanks be to God

Announcements:

Easter Lilly’s Order Form are due back by March 26th. See
Heather Crouse with any questions.