As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

I will arise and go to my father,
and I will say to him:  
Father I have sinned
against heaven and before you. 

Luke 15.18

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

Gathering

Almighty God:
To you all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
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.

Collect for Today 

Gracious Father, 
whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came 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 Proclamation of the Gospel:

Luke 13. 1-9

May the words of my lips and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to You, O Lord.  Amen.

A Pilgrimage with Through Lent:
"Discovering Divine Grace"

Amen.

Let Us Pray

Led by the Spirit, let us turn to God in prayer for the church, the world, and all in need.
(Silence)

God of faithful promise:
Make your Church a new creation in Christ as you reconcile us to yourself, guide us also in our way of reconciliation, that through the confession and forgiveness, repentance and reparations, your church may bear witness to your love.

God of mercy, receive our prayer.

God of new beginnings, restore balance to the earth.
Send rain in places of drought, and sunshine in places of flooding that the produce of the land may again support us.

God of mercy, receive our prayer.

God of prodigal grace, unite the nations as fellow members of the human family. Give leaders the courage to put aside pride and ego, to cease squandering lives and time, and to work for the wellbeing of all. 
God of mercy, receive our prayer.

God of boundless love,
receive with open arms any in need of compassion. Embrace all who are far from home or estranged from loved ones and all who live with regret. Embolden your people to offer and to see forgiveness. 
In our parish we continue to pray for: Sheila, for Geoff, and for John, and those on our hearts.
God of mercy, receive our prayer.
.

God of radical inclusion, widen human circles to welcome all who are excluded.
Bless the work of Disability Ministries, ministries by and with neurodivergent people, and multicultural and ethnic-specific ministries that the welcome of Jesus be extended to all
God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of resurrection life, welcome home all who have died.

We  thank you for their lives and entrust them to your keeping where true reconciliation and eternal peace are found.
God in your mercy, receive our prayer.

Receive these our prayers, Gracious God, drawing all things together in your love, in the name of Jesus who leads us from death to life.  Amen.

And your people faithfully pray:

Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always.  
Amen.

Let us go out  into the world to love and serve our Lord.

Amen.