Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 27, 2022

The Parish of Blandford Worshiping at All Saints

Sunday Bulletin – Scroll Down.

Parish of Blandford

Aspotogan Peninsula, Municipality of Chester, Nova Scotia

Striving to be a Christian Community

of Worship, Welcome and Care.

If you know someone who cannot access this document on line, print it for them or pick one up at the rectory. Please Remember – if you are concerned about transmission of the virus on surfaces: Wash or sanitize your hands before handling the document. I will be doing so as I print them.

Contact Information: Telephone: (902)228-2761, Email: ministry@parishofblandford.ca, Website: parishofblandford.ca

Rector: Reverend Louis Quennelle, Rector, Phone: (902)521-5169, E-mail: louisq@eastlink.ca

Our Wardens: All Saints: Malcolm Boutilier (902)228-2961, St. Cuthbert: Ken Miller, (902)204-1000, Saint Barnabas: Claudia Zinck (902)228-2091

Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

Anglican Church of Canada

Holy Eucharist

Collect: Eternal Lover of our wayward race, you open your arms to accept us even before we turn to meet your welcome; you invite us to forgiveness even before our hearts are softened to repentance. Hold before us the image of our humanity made new, so that we may live in Jesus Christ, your new creation. Amen. Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), alt.

First Reading: A READING FROM THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God. JOSHUA 5:9-12

Psalm Refrain: You surround me with shouts of deliverance, O Lord.
Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away! Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit there is no guile! R

While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long. For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer. R

Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin. R

Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them. You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. R

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will guide you with my eye. Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you.” R

Great are the tribulations of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord. Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart. R PSALM 32

Second Reading: A READING FROM THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL TO THE CORINTHIANS. From now on, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church. Thanks be to God. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21

Gospel: THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO LUKE. Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”‘ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe – the best one – and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him! ‘Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'” The Gospel of Christ. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ. LUKE 15:1-3, 11B-32

Prayers of the People: Let us offer prayers to the God whose loving care embraces each son and daughter in need, saying: Merciful God, hear our prayer.

For the Church: that we who are baptised may be signs of God’s compassion, and welcome all sinners, among whom we number, with an embrace of love, and a place at the table. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

For this Family of the Parish of Blandford, that, we whose many failings have been so freely and frequently forgiven, may celebrate God’s goodness each day. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

For the leaders of the nations as they take counsel together: grant them compassion, courage, and wisdom to guide their choices, that the people of Ukraine may know the blessings of peace. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

That as we pray for the people of Ukraine, we may not forget the many other people all over the world who need prayers. May all be kept safe from the violence of war, find adequate shelter and food, and remain strong in the knowledge that God is with them. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

For all those whose work is dangerous, dirty, or looked down upon, and those who labour and yet are poor and hungry, that they may find places of welcome and refreshment, in our communities and churches. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

For all those in need of our prayers, especially those who struggle for physical, mental and spiritual health, that they may share in the generous banquet of God’s reconciling love. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

For those who mourn, remembering especially those who have lost loved ones in violence and war, that they may heartened in faith that their loved ones are part of the new creation, as God in Christ makes all things new. Merciful God, hear our prayer.

Gracious God, rich in mercy and pardon, hear our prayers, restore us now with the embrace of your compassion, and feed us at the paschal banquet of the Lamb, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts: God of mercy and compassion, your Word calls us home to faith and love. Accept all we offer you this day, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Prayer After Communion: Giver of life, you enlighten all who come into the world. Fill our hearts with the splendour of your grace, that we may perfectly love you and worthily praise your holy name, through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

Our Life Continues in the Parish of Blandford

Next Sunday: April 03 – Service of Healing & Reconciliation, 10AM

Pastoral Presence during Uncertain Times: Rev. Louis is available by telephone or email anytime. He will in the Parish on Tuesday & Wednesday this week.

What is God calling us to Give? This year, perhaps, as our Lenten offering, we can help provide Humanitarian aid to the Ukraine or give extra help to our local Food Bank.

PWRDF supports Ukrainians forced to flee: To make a donation, go to pwrdf.org/give-today and click on Response in Ukraine. To donate by phone, call 416-822-9083 or leave a voice mail toll-free at 1-866-308-7973 and we will return your call. Cheques may be ,ailed to PWRDF, 80 Hayden, 3rd floor, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 3G2. Please mark Ukraine in the memo field.

Bible Study: to be announced today.

Paschal Candle: The Parish has purchased a new Paschal candle for Easter. The cost is approximately $200. You may make a donation towards the cost of the candle in Thanksgiving for a special event or person in your life or in Memory of a special person in your life who has gone to God. Donations in excess to the cost of the candle will be given to the Chester Food Bank. All Thanksgivings and Memorials will be listed in the Easter Bulletin.

Diocesan Prayer Partner: King’s College Chapel

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: St. George’s, New Glasgow The Reverend Gary Sinclair, Priest-in-Charge, and Reverend Lee; Strait-Chedabucto, Nova Scotia The Reverend Susan Slater, Priest-in-Charge, and Reverend Leif Vaage St. James’, Melford St. Andrew’s, Mulgrave Holy Trinity, Port Hawkesbury.

Anglican/Lutheran Cycle of Praye: ACC The theological colleges and training programs within the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada: The Atlantic School of Theology, Montreal Diocesan Theological, College, and Queen’s College ELCIC The congregations of the Northwestern Ontario area of the Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod