SUNDAY WORSHIP

Looking to Lent and Easter
In anticipation of the coming of Easter we enter into a reflective time in the church known as Lent. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday which we will recognize at St. Paul's with an evening service on March 1 at 6:30 pm. Through the six Sundays of Lent we take a look at our personal and community life and ask for insight and direction from our guiding Spirit.
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Prelude: Sets the tone for worship by music appropriate to the season
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Bell Ringing: Calls the community to worship
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Greeting: Tells that all are welcome here
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Centering: A song that invites quiet inner reflection
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Lenten Liturgy:
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Earth, ashes, dust — Acknowledging our humanity and our mortality
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Candle out — Extinguishing one of the six candles to experience the solemnity of darkness
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Silence — Deepens our openness to the Spirit
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Glimmer of hope — The Spirit speaks of and to our longing
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Christ candle — The Light shines in the darkness
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Kyrie eleison — God have mercy
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Lenten Hymn - To sing the sacred songs of the Lenten season
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Responsive Reading: Using ancient scripture of the peoples who looked to the coming of the Messiah
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Gospel: The Good News of the Christian Community
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Sung Response: We honour the words of scripture as valid and valuable for us
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Anthem: The church choir offers their gift of sacred music
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Commentary: The one ministering speaks of an understanding and interpretation for today
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Hymn: Singing that supports the message
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Mission: Statement about who we are, what we believe, and how to participate
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Offering: Our expression of thanks for life and blessings
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Music: To accompany the gathering of the offering
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Life and Work: Sharing about what we are up to in making a difference
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Community Prayers: We speak of our global community and ask for direction and compassion.
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Prayer of Jesus: We recite or sing in unison the prayer commonly known as the Lord’s prayer
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Hymn: Our final song of faith and intention
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Benediction: The words of blessing based on letters written to the church of the first century
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Sung response: Lively words of encouragement to one another
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Postlude: Music that nurtures our spirits