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 10, 2024
th
4 Sunday in Lent
 Holy Eucharist: Rite Two
Pr o ce s s i on al H y mn S t an d H 427

Blessed be Lord who forgives all our sins.

People His mercy endures for ever.

The Celebrant may read one of the following sentences

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

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the

truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is
faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8,9

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the
heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw
near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and
find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14,16

The Deacon or Celebrant then 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 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.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

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 Collect:

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 forever. Amen.

The Lessons:
A Reading from Numbers 21: 4-9: Cathy George
From Mount Hor the Israelites set out by the way to the Red
Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became
impatient on the way. The people spoke against God and
against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to
die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and
we detest this miserable food.” Then the LORD sent poisonous
serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that
many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said,
“We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against
you; pray to the LORD to take away the serpents from us.” So
Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses,
“Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone
who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a
serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a
serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of
bronze and live. The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God

Psalm 107: 1-3, 17-22: Janet Voss

1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, *

and his mercy endures forever.
2 Let all those whom the LORD has redeemed proclaim *
that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3 He gathered them out of the lands; *
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
17 Some were fools and took to rebellious ways; *
they were afflicted because of their sins.
18 They abhorred all manner of food *
and drew near to death's door.
19 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent forth his word and healed them *
and saved them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his mercy *
and the wonders he does for his children.
 22 Let them offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of his acts with shouts of joy.

The Epistle- Ephesians 2: 1-10: Cathy George

You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you
once lived, following the course of this world, following the
ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work
among those who are disobedient. All of us once lived among
them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of
flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath,
like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the
great love with which he loved us even when we were dead
through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--
by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and
seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so
that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable
riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not
your own doing; it is the gift of God-- not the result of works,
so that no one may boast. For we are what he has made us,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand to be our way of life. The Word of the Lord!
Thanks be to God!

Gospel Hymn Stand H 376

The Gospel- John 3: 14-21: Rev. Bruce Lomas

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

People: Glory to you Lord Christ

Jesus said, “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. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those
who do not believe are condemned already, because they have
not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is
the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and
people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds
were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come
to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those
who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly
seen that their deeds have been done in God.” 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 III: Janet Voss

The Leader and People pray responsively

Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church;

People-That we all may be one.

Grant that every member of the Church may truly and

humbly serve you;

People-That your Name may be glorified by all people.

We pray for [[The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry our Presiding

Bishop, and The RT. Rev. Kevin S. Brown our Diocesan
Bishop, Bruce Lomas, our Priest, Vestry Group: Lee, Alyce,
George, Susan, Selena and Sonny and the Diocesan Cycle of
Prayer- St. Nicholas Church, Newark, The Very Rev.
Williams B. Lane, Pastor

People-That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and

Sacraments.

We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations
of the world; We pray for those in the Military: Christopher
Dawson, Justin Garey, Jaime Grimes, Justin R. Hudson,
Russell Knaub, Amber Mabrey, Jared Farmer, Bruce Carroll,
Darren Hearn, John Hearn and Garrett Burris.

People-That there may be justice and peace on the earth.

Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake;
People-That our works may find favor in your sight.

Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble;

we pray for the following:

For th e S i ck , an d / or i ssu es:

Joh n Maccey Regi n a Mi l l er B i l l Sh aw
L exi Mi l es S h i rl ey B owd en Pau l a S w if t
E mma Fi s h e r Au sti n Dean Jean Moss
B ern i e Du p ras Pr eston B ow d en Ji m Fri el
Kar en Wri gh t B arb ara Fa jn or B ri stol H erd
Nah ei m S mi th Mi ch ael Cl u l ey Don H earn
Don al d Frazi e r Wi l l McCol l ey Cal vi n H i l l
Wh i tn ey Jon es L i n d a S u l li van H u n t H ack ett
Cath i e Fl e mi n g

For Good H eal th i n O l d er Years:

Mol l i e Revel s Pat B ak e r

People-That they may be delivered from their distress.

Give to the departed eternal rest.

People-Let light perpetual shine upon them.

We praise you for your saints who have entered into joy;
People-May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life. I ask your
thanksgiving for the:

Birthday of Bill Shaw & John Fajnor

Confirmation of Doug Poore, Bill Shaw, & Tommy Eliason

Let us pray for our own needs and those of others.

Silence

The Celebrant concludes with an absolution or a suitable Collect

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 693

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:
-Maundy Thursday Church Service on March 28th at
Christ Church in Milford at 7:15pm. Dinner at 6pm.
Sign-up Sheet is in the back of the church. We are in
charge of Desserts. Please RSVP by March 17th.
-Easter Lilly’s Order Form are due back by
March 17 t h . See Heather Crouse with any
questions.