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Confirmations
The Rt. Rev. John R. Stephens
The Rt. Rev. John R. Stephens
Saturday, October 23, 2021
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The Procession. Hymn Wind upon the Waters (CP 408)

Bishop The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

All And also with you.

Bishop There is one body and one Spirit,


All There is one hope in God's call to us;


Bishop One Lord, one faith, one baptism,


All One God and Creator of all.


Bishop We gather on this holy day, to be strengthened by the God who forgives all our sins. We acknowledge with respect that we worship on the traditional unceded territories of the Musqueam People of the River Grass, the Squamish Mother of the Wind, and the Tsleil- Waututh People of the Inlet.

Let us pray that we may live more deeply into the calls to action from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

All May the Risen Christ lead us all on pathways of reconciliation and peace.

Bishop Let us pray. (silence)

Bishop Let your people, O God,

All continually cherish the memory of James, who was a pillar in your Church supporting its witness to the resurrection; and grant that, following his example in the work of reconciliation, we may bring all who are at variance and enmity to peace and perfect unity in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Proclamation of the Word

After each reading the reader will say
Reader Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
All Thanks be to God.

First Reading Acts 15:12–22a

Please remain seated

Psalm 1 Choir Setting: Peter Hallock

Before Gospel Gospel Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ

Gospel  Matthew 13:53-58  

After Gospel  Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reprise Alleluias 

Sermon Bishop John Stephens 

Presentation & Examination of the Candidates

Bishop The candidates will now be presented.

Presenters I present these persons for Confirmation.

Or I present these persons to be received into this Communion.

Or I present these persons who desire to reaffirm their baptismal vows.

Bishop Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil?

Candidate I do.

Bishop Do you renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

Candidate I do.

Bishop Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?

Candidate I do, and with God’s grace I will follow him as my Saviour and Lord.

After all have been presented, the Bishop addresses the congregation, saying

Bishop Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?

All We will.

The Baptismal Covenant

Bishop Let us join with those who commit themselves again to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant.

Bishop Do you believe in God the Father?

All I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Bishop Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

All I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He 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.

Bishop Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

All I believe in God the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.

Bishop Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?

All I will, with God’s help.

Bishop Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?

All I will, with God’s help.

Bishop Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?

All I will, with God’s help.

Bishop Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbour as yourself?

All I will, with God’s help.

Bishop Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?

All I will, with God’s help.

Bishop Will you strive to safeguard the integrity of God’s creation, and respect, sustain and renew the life of the Earth?

All I will, with God’s help.

Prayers for the Candidates

Bishop Let us now pray for those who have been prepared for confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation.

A person appointed leads the following litany.

Leader Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death.

All Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Open their hearts to your grace and truth.

All Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Fill them with your holy and life-giving Spirit.

All Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit.

All Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Send them into the world in witness to your love.

All Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory.

All Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and for ever.

All Amen.

Confirmation, Reaffirmation & Reception

Candidates for Confirmation, Reaffirmation & Reception are presented to the Bishop, parish by parish. As each parish’s candidates come forward, we encourage those in their congregation to stand in place as a way to show their support.

Bishop Let us pray. (silence is kept) Almighty God, we thank you that by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you have overcome sin and brought us to yourself, and that by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you have bound us to your service. Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at their baptism. Send them forth in the power of that Spirit to perform the service you set before them; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

All Amen.

For Confirmation

Bishop Strengthen, O Lord, your servant N with your Holy Spirit; empower him/her/them for your service; and sustain him/her/them all the days of his/her/their life.

All Amen.

For Reception Bishop N, we recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion. God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you.

All Amen.

For Reaffirmation

Bishop N, may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work in you, direct and uphold you in the service of Christ and his kingdom.

All Amen.

When all have been presented the Bishop shall say

Almighty and everliving God, let your loving hand ever be over these your servants; let your Holy Spirit ever be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of your word, that they may serve you in this life, and dwell with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All Amen. The Peace Bishop

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

All And also with you.

Celebration of the Eucharist
The Offertory

During the singing of the hymn you are invited to make a financial offering to further God’s mission through the work of the church using electronic giving or by leaving a donation in the plates in the narthex. The offering received today will go to Salal and Cedar in support of their program. Your financial gifts together with the bread and wine are brought forward and presented at the Altar as a sign of thanksgiving to God from whom all blessings flow. Online: Go to: tinyurl.com/dnwgive and select Salal+Cedar from the “Giving Type” menu. Or go to: https://salalandcedar.com/about/support-salal-cedar/ Cheques: Please make payable to Diocese of New Westminster with “Salal and Cedar” in the memo line.

Offertory Hymn Come and Journey with a Saviour (CP 482)

Prayer over the Gifts

Bishop Lord God,

All who made your servant James a pillar of your Church at Jerusalem, grant that we who offer these gifts may dwell in the bond of mutual peace. We ask this through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

Bishop The Lord be with you.

All And also with you.

Bishop Lift up your hearts.

All We lift them to the Lord.

Bishop Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All It is right to give our thanks and praise. Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; in the multitude of your saints you have surrounded us with so great a cloud of witnesses, that we, rejoicing in their fellowship, may run with patience the race that is set before us, and together with them receive the crown of glory that never fades away. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all who have served you in every age, we raise our voices to proclaim the glory of your name.

Sanctus 

Bishop We give thanks to you, Lord our God, for the goodness and love you have made known to us in creation; in calling Israel to be your people; in your word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life. On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, a death he freely accepted, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, “Take, 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.”

Therefore, according to his command,

All we remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection, we await his coming in glory;

Bishop and we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine. We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts, that they may be the sacrament of the body of Christ and his blood of the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we, made acceptable in him, may be sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, reconcile all things in Christ, and make them new, and bring us to that city of light where you dwell with all your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation; by whom, and with whom, and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honour and glory are yours, almighty Father, now and for ever.

All Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
Bishop As our Saviour taught us, let us pray.

All 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.

The Breaking of the Bread

Bishop We break this bread to share in the body of Christ.

All We, being many, are one body, for we all share in the one bread.

Bishop The gifts of God for the people of God.

All Thanks be to God.

During Communion - "Let Us Serve Him" - St. Cuthbert’s Youth Choir

Communion of the People

If you know the brokenness of life, its fractures within and its division without, then you have participated in the broken body of Christ and you are invited to share in the breaking of bread. If you desire to know the love of God that overcomes indifference and despair, and if you desire the reconciliation that overcomes estrangement and alienation then you are invited. 

Sending Out of the Disciples
Prayer after Communion

Bishop Giver of redemption,

All who taught your servant James, the brother of our Lord, to seek the way of reconciliation, keep us in the unity afforded by this sacrament, that we may never give occasion for strife and be ready in the service of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Doxology

Bishop Glory to God,

All 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.

The Episcopal Blessing