Saint Matthias the Apostle

 Almighty God, who in the place of Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve: Grant that your Church, being delivered from false apostles, may always be guided and governed by faithful and true pastors; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Upcoming Events as of February 23

March 2 - Mardi Gras Potluck after church 

March 5 - Ash Wednesday Service at 5:00 PM

Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

 O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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 Prayers of the People 

Sustaining God, you have promised to turn our hearts from stone to flesh; to give us life through the power of your love and hear our hopes and needs. Answer these prayers lifted to you as we say, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

For the people of God everywhere, that they may be beacons of hope whose light shines forth to dispel fear and hate. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

For those with authority over our lives, that they might wield their power for the common good and with respect for the dignity of all people. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

For those in our lives who have caused us pain and hurt; lead them to an awareness of their impact and lead us to the path of forgiveness where those hurts have no hold on us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

For our local communities - our neighbors, our co-workers, and our classmates, help us to sow the seeds of your presence in our daily interactions. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

For our beleaguered earth, the garden where you have placed us; grant us wisdom as we discern how to be worthy stewards of the gift and give us strength and courage to persevere in its preservation. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

For all who live in pain, in sickness, in fear or dread; sustain them with your grace that they might bear their suffering and grant us an awareness and a willingness to be their companions and caregivers, especially we pray for those who are on St. Paul's prayer list. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Hold in your care those who have died and welcome us into your eternal arms when our time comes, and let us all rise together in your new age. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Almighty God, who is the Sower of love, mercy, and hope; let us be the seeds of you salvation; growing in love ourselves that through us your hopeful mercy might be known and established everywhere, and hear our prayers, those spoken and those held quietly in our hearts that we might know grace and become the people we were created to be. All this we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany (Snow Storm Zoom Service Once More)

 O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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Spiritual Communion Prayer 

 My, Jesus, I know that you are present in the Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany (Snow Storm Zoom Service)

 Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

Spiritual Communion Prayer 

 My, Jesus, I know that you are present in the Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally come spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.

The Presentation of our Lord - Candlemas

God our Father, source of all light, today you revealed to the aged Simeon your light which enlightens the nations. Fill our hearts with the light of faith, that we who hear these candles may walk in the path of goodness, and come to the light that shines for ever, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

O God, you have made this day holy by the presentation of your Son in the Temple, and by the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mercifully grant that we, who delight in her humble readiness to be the birth-giver of the Only-begotten, may rejoice for ever in our adoption as his sisters and brothers; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

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 Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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 Prayers of the People 

Most Holy God, cast away the shadows in our lives that we might know the glory of you presence and hear and respond to our prayers that we might more fully live into your dreams for us as we say, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Guide your whole church into the light of your revelation and grant us the will and the commitment to continue the mission of Jesus in our own lives, Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Grant the people of this nation the will and commitment to live in peace and to work in unity for the benefit of all people. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Show us, gathered here today, the glory of your Son and help us discern more clearly your call in our lives that we might work in concert to work towards furthering the reign of Christ. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Kindle in our hearts a sense of urgency and a firm commitment to be better stewards of your creation, that all future generations may know the abundance we have taken for granted. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Be with all who suffer, relieve their distress, and bring healing to whatever needs mending in their bodies, souls, and mind, especially we pray for those on our prayer list. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

Welcome the dying into your loving care and deal gently with all who grieve. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. 

In Christ we have seen your desire for our lives. Guide our feet and our hearts to truly live into His example that your hopes for humanity might be fulfilled. All these we ask through our Lord and intercessor, Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and always. Amen.

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 Thank you, thank you Marguerite for your gift to us all of beautiful candles made from the 2024 Paschal Candle of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Warwick, RI. 

 "... these eyes of mine have seen the Savior whom you prepared for all the world to see...a light to enlighten the nations and the glory of your people, Israel." The Song of Simeon