The Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday)

April 9th, 2017

9:00AM - SAID EUCHARIST

10:30AM - SUNG EUCHARIST

BE THOUGHTFUL AND REVERENT

Before Service: Talk with God

During Service: Let God talk to you

After Service: Talk with each other

2259 Jane Street, TORONTO, ON. M3M 1A6

Tel: Office - (416) 241-4639 Fax: Office - (416) 248-5415

Church Email: office@saintstephensdownsview.com

Website: www.saintstephensdownsview.com

Priest In Charge: The Reverend

Jacqueline Daley Parish Administrator: Bruno Lucas

MISSION

To worship God, creating a caring, Christian

community, through growth and celebration,

using our gifts and talents to reach out in

love to others.

OUR MOTTO

Bearing witness by faith and works.

OUR PRIORITIES

Christian Education, Youth & Outreach.

WELCOME

Special welcome to all parishioners, visitors &

friends.

We invite visitors to sign our visitors book.

If you do not have a Church home, we invite you to make

the Church of St. Stephen your spiritual haven.

LAST WEEK’S

STATISTICS

ATTENDANCE

265

OFFERINGS

$3,331.50

YTD

$37,839.082

BUDGET

$2,778

Corporation Meeting—Sunday, April 9th, after 10:30AM service

Baptism Preparation: Wednesday, April 12th , 6PM - 9PM, Wednesday,

April 26th , 7PM - 8:30PM (Post Baptism Session). Sunday’s session is can-

celled.

WOSS — WOSS MEETING: After much anticipation, we have secured a

date for our annual conference, please save this date - SATURDAY MAY

6TH @ 9:30PM in the parish hall. More details to follow.

Healing Conference in Jamaica , May 26th-28th, information please speak

to Monica.

Easter Candle & Flowers: Would you like to donate flowers or towards

the Paschal Candle in memory of or in celebration of loved ones or blessings

received? Please call the Church at 416 241-4630 and speak to or leave a

message for Bruno our new PA. Prepare your offering, place in an envelope

and mark EASTER FLOWERS legibly. Please state what the flowers are

for e.g.: IN MEMORY OF MY DEARLY DEPARTED MOTHER - ELLA

SMITH. or IN THANKSGIVING FOR MY CHILDREN etc... Place this

offering on the plate. Your donations will be greatly appreciated. Sign up

sheet also available

Thank You:

All who to all who came out to help make the palm crosses on Satur-

day.

Deepest thanks and gratitude to St Stephen for your prayers and support last Sunday at my late husband, Ernest Cummings service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance. May his soul rest in peace to rise in glory!

Bring someone to church this Holy Week

Let’s Communicate, Connect and Collaborate

Holy Week & Easter

The glory of Easter is the heart of the Christian gospel. It is the centre of the Church’s faith and worship. In the earliest days of the Church it was the only Christian festival: an annual celebration, in one act, of Christ’s life, death, resurrection, ascension, and his sending of the Holy Spirit. The celebration lasted fifty days in one continuous festival of adoration, joy, and thanksgiving, ending on the Feast of Pentecost. By the fourth century, the Church was adding to its celebration of Easter a week-long commemoration of the events which preceded our Lord’s resurrection, beginning on Sunday with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Christians would recall the final meal Jesus had with his disciples, his institution of the sacrament of the Eucharist and the washing of his disciples feet as an act of humble service On the Friday they would commemorate Christ’s agony and death on the cross. On Saturday night they would gather for the reading of the scripture, for prayers, for the baptism of new converts, and then, as the day of the resurrection dawned, for the joyful celebration of Easter. The week before Easter became known as Holy Week. The focal points of this week would be The Sunday of the Passion with the Liturgy of the Palms, Maundy Thursday, with foot washing and a thanksgiving for the institution of the Eucharist, Good Friday, with a veneration of the cross, Easter Eve, with the Great Vigil, paschal fire, initiation, and the Easter Eucharist.

Welcome to Holy Week! Join us for worship during Holy Week to learn how to love

and live like Jesus.

THEMES

Thursday ~ from BETRAYAL to HUMBLE SERVICE

Friday ~ from HATE to LOVE

Baptism Saturday ~ from DEATH to new LIFE

Sunday ~ from FEAR to FAITH

Come and encounter the power and presence of the Risen Christ and be inspired

to GO and TELL a friend or an enemy. Source: Book of Alternative Services

GATHERING OF THE COMMUNITY

Liturgy of the Palms:

Priest: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. All: Hosanna in the highest.

Priest: Dear friends in Christ, during Lent we have been preparing for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery. On this day our Lord Jesus Christ entered the holy city of Jerusalem in triumph. The people welcomed him with palms and shouts of praise, but the path before him led to self-giving, suffering, and death. Today we greet him as our King, although we know his crown is thorns and his throne a cross. We follow him this week from the glory of the palms to the glory of the resurrection by way of the dark road of suffering and death. United with him in his suffering on the cross, may we share his resurrection and new life.

Let us pray. Assist us mercifully with your help, Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy into the celebration of those mighty acts whereby you give us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

All remain standing for the Gospel.

Reader: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

Reader: The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew 21: 1 – 11 People: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

After the reading of the Gospel

Reader: The Gospel of Christ. People: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Priest: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you.

Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. People: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Priest: It is right to praise you, almighty God, for the acts of love by which you have redeemed us through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The Hebrews acclaimed Jesus as Messiah and King, with palm branches in their hands, crying, Hosanna in the highest. May we also, carrying these emblems, go forth to meet Christ and follow him in the way that leads to eternal life; who lives and reigns in glory with you and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. People: Amen.

Priest: Let us go forth in peace. People: In the name of Christ. Amen.

Processional: 297BB – Hosanna, Loud Hosanna

(During the singing of the song the congregation will process from Parish hall to the parking lot and then to the church via front door)

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

The Collect: page 299 Praise & Worship: 103BB - All Hail King Jesus

129BB - Great And Mighty

THE WORD

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4 – 9a

For the Psalm: 118: Vs 1-2, 19-29

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 5 – 11

Gradual Hymn: 300BB – All Glory, Laud And Honor

The Passion Narrative: Matthew 27:11 – 54

Sermon: PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Leader: Let us pray, God in the highest, you came to us in a human being who humbled himself like a slave. Teach us humility that we may not lord it over anyone, that we may be gentle, gracious , forgiving and kind in our dealings . Christ by your passion, All: heal and restore us.

Leader: We pray for the nations that worship power and might; may they be ruled by humility and peace. We pray for fractured and fragmented peoples, especially the refugees and those living in war-torn countries. Christ by your passion, All: heal and restore us.

Leader: We pray for our church and new leaders, that we may have the mind of Christ and work for the coming of your kingdom, by seeking to do your will and work for your glory. We pray for the sick in our parish family and the stranger. Christ by your passion, All: heal and restore us.

Leader: We pray for all victims of hate, especially our Muslim brothers and sisters. We pray for peace to reign in our communities. We remember those who are in prison, the repentant and the unrepentant, those falsely accused and communities that are policed. We pray for justice for all missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls. Christ by your passion,

Leader: God of love, we pray for the candidates for baptism, Kiara and Savan nah; for their parents Fredrick, Susana, Heron and Janelle; for their God parents and for us who commit to support them grow in the full stature of Christ. Help us to offer them Godly examples to follow you. Christ by your passion ALL: heal and restore us Leader: God of compassion, through Jesus Christ you have come to us and shared our common lot. Mold us into people who show your mercy and keep us obedient to him whose name is above all other names—Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. All: Amen. Confession & Absolution: page 191

THE SACRAMENT

Offertory Hymn: 178RB - Onward! Christian Soldiers

Choir Contribution: Ride On, Jesus Ride

Prayer over The Gifts: page 300

Eucharistic Prayer 1: page 193

Sanctus (Schubert)

Lord’s Prayer (631BB - Malotte)

Communion Hymns: 488BB - Just As I Am; 492BB - At Calvary

306BB - Alas! And Did My Saviour Bleed?

Ablutions: 219BB - Surely The Presence

Prayer after Communion: page 300

THE BLESSING

Priest: Step gratefully into this holy weak; tread softly for many things are already bruised; go reverently for holiness is found in unlikely places; walk lovingly for the love of the Crucified One is the key to all things on earth and in heaven. All: Amen! Even with our small faith, may Christ live and rule in our hearts.

Priest: Go out into the world in peace, encourage the timid, assist the weak, be patient with all, take up your cross daily and follow Christ, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be with you now and forevermore. All: Amen! Amen! Amen! Welcome & Announcements Recessional Hymn: 449RB - Ride On! Ride On In Majesty!

This Week At St. Stephen’s T

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9:00 a.m. Service 10:30 a.m. Service Ushers: Beatrice Kameel, Tellece, Wen

Chalice: Hilton Ramessar Sonia & Bosun

Readers: Rachel Orphtee, Samuel

Gospeller: Dwight

Intercessor: Hyacinth

Comm Ad Tamra Palmer Servers: Alister & Akeem Aliya , Hailey, Kendra, Marc, Matthew, Ethan

Altar Guild: Verna & Wendy

Counters: Foster, Maraval. Kameel

Mon-Fri. @ 4-6pm - DYC Homework Club

Mondays @ 9am-1pm- Saints Café

Wednesdays @ 9am-1pm - Saints Café

Thu. April. 13th @ 7pm - Maundy Thursday Service

Fri. April. 14th @ 11am - Good Friday Walk

@ 12 pm - Good Friday Service

Sat . April 15th @ 7pm- 9pm - Easter Vigil & Baptism

Sun. April. 16th @ 9am & 10:30am - Easter Sunday

Elin Goulden was recently appointed the Social Justice

& Advocacy Consultant for the Diocese of Toronto. In

this role, she consults with the Bishops and coordinates

the education, organizing and advocacy programs of the Diocese around

issues of social and ecological justice. Before taking on this position she

spent several years as the Parish Outreach Facilitator for York-Credit Val-

ley, engaging parishes in this Area on outreach and advocacy initiatives.

Elin studied at Wycliffe College and received her M.A. in Theology in

2008. She is passionate about connecting the biblical call to justice and

wholeness for all of God’s people and creation with the day-to-day life

and work of the church.

Elin Goulden

This Week’s Readings for Daily Devotion

Mon. – Ps. 51; 2 Cor. 1: 1 - 7; Mk. 11: 12 - 25

Tue. – Ps. 6 & 12; 2 Cor. 1: 8 - 22; Mk. 11: 27 - 33

Wed. – Ps. 55; 2 Cor. 1:23 - 2:11; Mk. 12: 1 - 11

Readings for Maundy Thursday - April 13th: FROM BETRAYAL TO HUMBLE SERVICE

Ex. 12: 1-4, 11-14; Ps. 116: 1, 10-17; 1 Cor. 11: 23-26; Jn. 13: 1-17, 31b-35

St. Stephen’s Rule of Life

† GIVE regularly to support the Church’s ministry [envelopes, gifts, talents and time]

Baptism Preparation: Wednesday, April 12th, 6PM-9PM

Readings for Good Friday - April 14th: FROM HATE TO LOVE

Is. 52:13 - 53:12; Ps. 22; Heb. 10:16-25; Jn. 18:1-19:42

Readings for Holy Saturday - April 15th: FROM DEATH TO LIFE

Exodus 14:10-31;15:20-21; Canticle 1: Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18; Ezekiel 36:24-28, Ps 42 & 43; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Ps. 98 I Ps. 114; Roman 6:3-11; Matt. 28:1-10

Birthday Blessings

Sandra Ramessar (20th)

Samuel Nwosu (6th) Angela Gonsalves (21st)

Housebound George Barnett, Dophne Bolden & Dophnia Lindsay.

Sick & Recovering

Olive Arnold, Arlene August, Alton Ballantyne, Dorothy Barnett, Sonia Bartley, Harold Beharry, Sekinat Bello, Courtney Bolden, Coralee Campbell, Thelma Edwards, Kathleen Ellis, Rueben Grant, Nellie Greenidge, Lily Griggs, Andrew Gunraj, Carmen Hibbert, Ena Hor-datt, Rita John, Torrette Knight, Felicia McCalla, Paul Patterson,

Perlina Pitter, Kathleen Reid, Joan Singh, Rema Yellery .

Sick Friends

Abigail Barran, Rosette Bartley, Jacqueline Brady, Mohani Budhwa, Joyce Burpee, Angie Chung, Norma Elcock, Donna Henriques, Eve-lyn Hordatt, Margaret Hudson, Enric Johnson, Audrey Laidlaw, Tania Leon, Kyle McIntosh, Emma Prichard, Bob & Barb Putnam, Robert Sinclair, Nolan Telfer, Charles Warrington, Joyce Williams, Junior Williams , Sharon Gray & Michael Allder

Readings for Easter Sunday - April 16th: FROM FEAR TO FAITH

Acts 10: 34-43; Col. 3:1-4; John 20:1-18