Words: Sylvia Dunstan, Copyright © 1991 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission, OneLicense A721121. Tune: Paddleford, Dent Davidson Copyright © 2010.

Bishop Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:2)

Bishop Let us confess our sins to God.

Silence

Together God of all mercy,

we confess that we have sinned against you,

opposing your will in our lives.

We have denied your goodness in each other,

in ourselves, and in the world you have created.

We repent of the evil that enslaves us,

the evil we have done,

and the evil done on our behalf.

Forgive, restore, and strengthen us

through our Saviour Jesus Christ,

that we may abide in your love

and serve only your will. Amen.

Bishop Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins

through the grace of Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness,

and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.

People Amen.

Bishop O God, let our mouth proclaim your praise.

People And your glory all the day long.

Together Praise to the holy and undivided Trinity, one God: as it was in the

beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

O God, you are my God; from break of day I seek you.

Psalm 63:1-8 Deus, Deus meus

O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *

my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,

as in barren and dry land where there is no water.

Therefore, I have gazed upon you in your holy place *

that I might behold your power and your glory.

For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *

my lips shall give you praise.

So will I bless you as long as I live *

and lift up my hands in your Name.

My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *

and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,

When I remember you upon my bed, *

and meditate on you in the night watches.

For you have been my helper, *

and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.

My soul clings to you; *

your right hand holds me fast.

Reader Lesson according to Mark Mark 1: 8-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in

the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens

torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from

heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the

Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness

forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels

waited on him.

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news

of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come

near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people.

Canticle A Song of Our Adoption Ephesians 1:3-10

Blessed are you, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, *

for you have blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Before the world was made, you chose us to be yours in Christ, *

that we should be holy and blameless before you.

You destined us for adoption as your children through Jesus Christ, *

according to the good pleasure of your will,

To the praise of your glorious grace, *

that you have freely given us in the Beloved.

In you, we have redemption through the blood of Christ, *

the forgiveness of our sins,

According to the riches of your grace, *

which you have lavished upon us.

You have made know to us, in all wisdom and insight, *

the mystery of your will,

According to your good pleasure which you set forth in Christ, *

as a plan for the fullness of time,

To gather together all things in Christ, *

things in heaven and things on earth.

Together I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Bishop Hear our cry, O God.

People and listen to our prayer.

Bishop As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now pray,

Together Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily

bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save

us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the

power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen.

Reader Help us, O God our Saviour;

People Deliver us and forgive us our sins.

Reader Look upon your congregation;

People Give to your people the blessing of peace.

Reader Declare your glory among the nations;

People And your wonders among all peoples.

Reader Do not let the oppressed be shamed and turned away;

People Never forget the lives of your poor.

Reader Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you;

People And your favor to those who are true of heart.

Reader Satisfy us by your loving-kindness in the morning;

People So shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

Bishop God of unchanging power and eternal light, loving God, who is Mother

and Father of us all; Grant to your people in the Episcopal Diocese of

Maine grace and courage to be a new church for a new day. Give us

vision and wisdom to discern your will in a changing world and

persistence to go out to our neighbors and live your Good News in new

and creative ways. Help us to trust the companionship of your Spirit on

this journey even as we experience confusion and difficulty. Lead us, we

pray, to that future, still unseen by us, where you are already waiting for

our arrival and where, with your Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and

reign, now and for ever.

Together Amen.

Bishop Almighty and everlasting Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide

with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with his grace and presence, the bishop

and the other clergy and the laity here now assembled in your Name,

that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline,

may fulfill all the mind of him who loved it and gave himself for it, your

Son Jesus Christ our Saviour; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity

of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Together Amen.

Bishop Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your

works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we,

putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service

of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a

preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Together Amen.

Reader Creator of all, you have drawn us together in the Body of your Son. Hear our

prayers for all whom you have called, especially Michael, our Presiding

Bishop, Stephen, our Bishop, our clergy and people, and for the ministries we

offer, that we may be visible signs of your kingdom.

God of the Church,

Together come near us.

Reader Judge of the nations, you have charged the leaders of the earth to seek justice.

Hear our prayers for leaders of the world, especially Barack, our President,

Paul, our Governor, Donald and Hillary, candidates for President, and leaders

in every city and town, that they may care for your people and create the

common good.

God of Justice,

Together come near us.

Reader Giver of all good gifts, you have created us to live together in love and peace

and to share the bounty you have made. Hear our prayers for the peoples of the

world, especially those whose lands are torn by poverty, hunger, war and

disaster. (The people may offer their own intercessions here…)

Generous God,

Together come near us.

Reader God in our neighborhoods, you call us into communion with our neighbors.

Hear our prayers for the people with whom we live and work, our friends and

colleagues, the unemployed and the under-employed, the poor, and those who

struggle to find a place. (The people may add their own intercessions here…)

God of community,

Together come near us.

Reader Bearer of pain and loss, you heal the wounds of all who are sick in body, mind

or spirit. Hear our prayers for those who are ill, for those in prison, for those

who are lost or estranged. (The people may offer their own intercessions

here…)

God of love,

Together come near us.

Reader God of the living and dead, you offer each of us a place in your kingdom both

now and for ever. Hear our prayers for all who have died, for all who are

dying, and for those who keep watch. (The people may offer their own

intercessions here…)

Eternal God,

Together come near us.

Reader Kingdom-making God, come near us and hear our prayers. Draw us into

your reign of love. Then send us into the world bearing the good news of your

presence.

Together Amen.

Together Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks

for all your goodness and loving-kindness

to us and to all whom you have made.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your immeasurable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,

that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,

not only with our lips, but in our lives,

by giving up our selves to your service,

and by walking before you

in holiness and righteousness all our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory throughout all ages.

Amen.

Bishop Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord

to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised

through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered

together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now,

O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in the

world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting.

Together Amen.

Bishop Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than

we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the

Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.

Together Amen.