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
April 6, 2025
th
5 Sunday in Lent
 Holy Eucharist: Rite Two

Pr o ce s s i on al H y mn S t an d H 40 8

Blessed be Lord who forgives all our sins.

People His mercy endures forever.

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.

Celebrant: The Lord be with you.

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

The Collect:

Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills
and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what
you command and desire what you promise; that, among the
swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely
there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus
Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Lessons:

A Reading from Isaiah 43:16-21: Susan Eliason

Thus says the LORD,
who makes a way in the sea,
a path in the mighty waters,
who brings out chariot and horse,
army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
Do not remember the former things,
or consider the things of old.
I am about to do a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
 I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.
The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches;
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
the people whom I formed for myself
so that they might declare my praise. The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God

Psalm 126: Janet Voss

1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, *

then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
and our tongue with shouts of joy.
3 Then they said among the nations, *
"The LORD has done great things for them."
4 The LORD has done great things for us, *
and we are glad indeed.
5 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, *
like the watercourses of the Negev.
6 Those who sowed with tears *
will reap with songs of joy.
7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

The Epistle- Philippians 3:4b-14: Susan Eliason

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have
more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people
of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of
Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of
the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet
whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss
because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss
because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my
Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I
regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be
found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that
comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in
Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to
know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing
of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if
somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that
I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal;
but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has
made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made
it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the
goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!

Gospel Hymn Stand H 440

The Gospel- Luke 12:1-8: Rev. Bruce Lomas

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

People: Glory to you Lord Christ
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of
Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a
dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the
table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure
nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house
was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot,
one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,
"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the
money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about
the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse
and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her
alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my
burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always
have me." 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.

The 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 Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe Presiding Bishop, and
The RT. Rev. Kevin S. Brown our Diocesan Bishop, Bruce Lomas,
our Priest, Vestry Group: Susan, Selena, George, Sonny, Margaret
Kinney and Cathy. The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer—St. Luke’s
Church, Seaford, The Rev. Marianne S. Ell, Pastor and for all
bishops, priests, and deacons;

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: C hri st opher
Daws on, J us t i n Garey, R ussel l Knaub, J ohn Hearn,
J ai m e Gri m es , Bruc e C arrol l , Am ber M abre y, J ared
Farm e r, Da rren Hea rn and Ga rret t Burri s

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 the Sick, and/or issues:

J ohn M acce y R egi na Mi l l er Karen Hi l l
Lex i M i l es S hi rl e y Bowden P aul a S wi ft
Em m a Fi s her Bri st ol Herd Ti m W al t ers
J ean M os s Karen W ri ght S arah Kenn y
Donal d Fr az i er Barb ara Faj no r J im Fri el
M i chael C l ul e y Berni e Dupr as Hunt Hacket t
Andrea T a yl or R ose W arren C al vi n Hi l l
P at Bake r J ason Dean El i z abet h R oss
M oni ca S wane y R occo Herm o genes
Debbi e M cKi nn e y

For Good Health in Older Years:

M ar yAnn P rui ksm a J i m P rui ksm a

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:
Baptism of Tristan Schweiger & Juanita Melling

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

Silence

The Celebrant concludes with an absolution or a suitable Collect

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.

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 tan d H 439

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 everywhere 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

[Alleluia.] Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. [Alleluia.] 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 47 3

Dismissal- Let us go forth into the world rejoicing in the power of

the Spirit! Thanks be to God
Announcements:

Holy Week Schedule:

April 13- Palm Sunday Service at 10:30am

April 17- Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00pm

-Dinner at 6:00pm (Please rsvp by next
Sunday April 13th)

April 18- Good Friday Service at 7:00pm

April 20- Easter Sunday at 10:30am.

-Coffee Hour and Egg Hunt following the
service.
-Everyone is invited to bring something for
coffee hour following the service

Other Announcements

April 21st- Bill Shaw Memorial & Baptism of a Family

Member at 12:30pm
-Signup Sheet is on back table for the
Luncheon. Please sign up by April 13th
-We need Desserts and Covered
Dishes. The church will supply the paper
products, drinks and Meat.