02/26/2026
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
YEAR A
ENTRANCE HYMN
GREETING
The grace and peace of our Saviour Jesus Christ be with you,
and also with you.
INTRODUCTION
As we prepare for Easter, when we shall reaffirm the baptismal covenant, let us continue to observe a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy word.
KYRIES
Wash away all our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Against you, you only have we sinned and done what is evil in your sight: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Create in us a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within us: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Let us pray,
God of mercy, you are full of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in mercy, and always ready to forgive: grant us grace to renounce all evil and to cling to Christ, so that in every way we may prove to be your loving children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A READING FROM THE BOOK GENESIS:
Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. (12: 1 – 4a)
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church,
Thanks be to God.
PSALM
Refrain: The Lord himself watches over you.
I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Refrain.
The Lord will not let your foot be moved and the One who watches over you will not fall asleep. Behold, the One who keeps watch over Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. Refrain.
The Lord, the Lord, watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your side, so that the sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. Refrain.
The Lord shall preserve you from all evil and shall keep you safe. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore. Refrain. PSALM 121
A READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS:
What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations") -- in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. (4: 1-5, 13 – 17)
Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church,
Thanks be to God.
HYMN BEFORE THE GOSPEL
HOLY GOSPEL
The Lord be with you,
and also with you.
THE HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO JOHN (3:1-16)
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?
‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. (3:1-16)
The Gospel of Christ
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
THE SERMON
AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in God,
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Most Holy God, your goodness always tests our readiness to receive it, please increase our eagerness for you and enlarge our ability to share your love around. Gracious God, steer us through times of temptation, and deliver us from evil.
Today, we think of those who are being acutely tempted: tempted to look the other way when wrong is happening in our world; tempted to misuse their gifts for unwise purposes; tempted to allow untamed emotions to hold sway; tempted by the corrupting power of money; and those tempted to stay in a rut rather than strike out on new paths for Christ Jesus. Generous God, steer us through times of temptation, and deliver us from evil.
We pray for the many who feel pushed and tested almost beyond their endurance; those in positions of heavy responsibility who feel overloaded to the point of collapse; suffering people–and all who must watch a loved one suffer– who feel they can bear no more; kindly folk whose patience with a difficult friend is now at breaking point; persecuted Christians whose faith seems stretched beyond their limit; and the depressed whose inner being endures a misery which no human word can alleviate. Merciful God, steer us through times of temptation, and deliver us from evil.
We also pray for those who seem to be in a position of advantage: the happy, that their happiness may always be used for goodwill and compassion; the strong, that their energies may be used wisely and gently; for the rich, that their wealth may be shared for the uplifting of the poor; for the powerful, that they may use their position as a blessing to humanity; and those of strong faith, that they may walk humbly and affirm the weaker souls. Righteous God, steer us through times of temptation, and deliver us from evil.
And now most Holy Friend, we pray for each other in this church. None of us know the extent of the pressures that some may be under this very day. Look upon us all, read our thoughts and weigh our feelings, and by your utter resourcefulness, “save us in the time of trial and deliver us from all evil.” Through Christ Jesus our Saviour, Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Dear friends in Christ, as we prepare for the Paschal Feast, let us make ready our hearts to reaffirm the covenant of our baptism.
Let us ask God to bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and to disclose to us the secret purposes of our hearts.
How faithfully have we continued in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, and complete your work in us.
How faithfully have we persevered in resisting evil, and whenever we fell into sin, repented and returned to the Lord?
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, and complete your work in us.
How faithfully have we proclaimed by word and example the good news of God in Christ?
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, and complete your work in us.
How faithfully have we sought and served Christ in all persons, loving our neighbours as ourselves?
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, and complete your work in us.
How faithfully have we worked for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being?
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, and complete your work in us.
How faithfully have we worked to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, respecting, sustaining and renewing the life of the earth?
Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, and complete your work in us.
Almighty God, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SHARING THE PEACE
We are the body of Christ.
In the one Spirit we were baptized into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
And build up our common life.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
And also with you.
Let us offer one another a sign of peace.
OFFERTORY HYMN
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
God of our journey, as we walk with you on your path of obedience, sustain us on our way and lead us to your glory; through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give thanks to God our Creator.
It is right to offer thanks and praise.
Eternal God, Source of all being, we give you thanks and praise for your faithful love. You call us into friendship with you and one another to be your holy people, a sign of your presence in the world.
When those we trust betray us, unfailingly you remain with us. When we injure others, you confront us in your love and call us to the paths of righteousness. You stand with the weak, and those, broken and alone, whom you have always welcomed home, making the first last, and the last first. Therefore we raise our voices with angels and archangels, forever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Lord God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full, full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes, who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed are you, O Holy One:
when Hagar was driven into the wilderness
you followed her and gave her hope.
When Joseph was sold into bo***ge,
you turned malice to your people’s good.
When you called Israel out of slavery,
you brought them through the wilderness
into the promised land.
When your people were taken into exile
you wept with them by the river of Babylon
and carried them home.
Restore us, O God, let your face shine!
At the right time you sent your Anointed One
to stand with the poor,
the outcast, and the oppressed.
Jesus touched lepers, and the sick, and healed them.
He accepted water from a woman of Samaria
and offered her the water of new life.
Christ knew the desolation of the cross
and opened the way for all humanity
into the redemption of your reconciling love.
On the night he was betrayed,
Jesus, at supper with his friends,
took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread,
gave it to them, and said, “Take and eat:
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine,
and when he had given thanks,
he gave it to them,
and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is my blood of the new covenant
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Loving and Holy One,
recalling Christ’s death and resurrection,
we offer you these gifts,
longing for the bread of tomorrow and the wine of the age to come.
Therefore we proclaim our hope.
Dying you destroyed our death,
rising you restored our life.
Lord Jesus, come in glory.
Pour out your Spirit on these gifts
that through them you may sustain us
in our hunger for your peace.
We hold before you
all whose lives are marked by suffering,
our sisters and brothers.
When we are broken and cast aside,
embrace us in your love.
Restore us, O God, let your face shine!
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all honour and glory are yours,
O Source of all life,
now and for ever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Trusting in the compassion of God,
we pray as our Saviour taught us,
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.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
BREAKING OF THE BREAD
We break this bread,
Communion in Christ’s body once broken.
Let your Church be the wheat which bears its fruit in dying.
If we have died with him, we shall live with him; if we hold firm,
we shall reign with him.
THE COMMUNION
The gifts of God for the People of God.
Thanks be to God.
COMMUNION HYMN
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION AND BLESSING
Let us pray,
Compassionate God, you have fed us with the bread of heaven.
Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage: may our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
Glory to God,
whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus,for ever and ever. Amen.
May God the Father, who does not despise the broken spirit, give to you a contrite heart. Amen.
May Christ, who bore our sins in his body on the tree, heal you by his wounds. Amen.
May the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth, speak to you words of pardon and peace. Amen.
Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
HYMN BEFORE THE DISMISSAL
DISMISSAL
Let us continue in our Lenten journey.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Acknowledgements: (a) the collect of the day, ‘Trial Use Collects for Years A, B, and C etc. Anglican Church of Canada’, and the psalm, ‘A Liturgical Psalter. General Synod 2016 Edition. For trial use within the Anglican Church of Canada.’ Also, from “Becoming the Story We Tell,’ 31, 32 – introduction to confession, confession and absolution, (alt.), and Eucharistic prayer (S2). (b) from Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), prayer after communion, 65; (c) from the Church of England’s Common Worship: Times and Seasons (2006) greeting, 223; introduction from Ash Wednesday (alt), 223; kyries (alt), 260 B1; an affirmation of faith, 100; prayers of the people (alt), 215; prayer over the gifts, 217 K3; the final blessings and dismissal, 235, and the Lord’s Prayer; and (d) New Patterns for Worship (2016) peace, 351, and introduction to the Lord’s Prayer, 183, F
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