Holy Eucharist for the First Sunday of Lent, March 6, 2022, 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM

The First Sunday in Lent
March 6, 2022
St. Titus’ Episcopal Church
400 Moline St., Durham, NC 27707
(919) 682-5504

Welcome to St. Titus’ Episcopal Church

Whether you are here for the first time or your family has been part of St. Titus’ for generations, whether you’re here in person or watching online, the Holy Spirit has brought you to this place. We’re glad you’re here! Our Mission and Vision Statements are printed below. You can learn more about this faith community on our website, sttitusdurham.org. Our curate, Rev. Mawethu or our deacon, Rev. Sarah would be happy to talk with you about who we are and what we do at St. Titus’. We invite you to join us on our journey of faith.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

St. Titus’ is a diverse and growing community committed to walking with Christ by serving others, pursuing justice and welcoming all.

OUR VISION STATEMENT

God dreams for St. Titus’ to be sacred ground where all of God’s children experience the unconditional love of Jesus. In faithful response, we will offer Spirit-filled worship where people from diverse backgrounds encounter God. As an intergenerational community, we will deepen our faith through sharing scripture, Christian tradition and our own experience. We will be open and authentic with one another, and respond to the needs of our neighbors with compassion and creativity. Our passion for God’s justice and peace will compel us to become agents for social, political, and economic transformation. St. Titus’ will be Beloved Community.

Serving Today: March 6

8:30
Celebrant: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Preacher: The Rev. Harmon Smith
Deacon: The Rev. Sarah Woodard
Curate: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Eucharistic Minister: Mary Hawkins
First Lesson: Jack Peterson
Epistle: Carolyn White
Intercessor: Mary Hawkins

10:30
Celebrant: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Preacher: The Rev. Harmon Smith
Deacon: The Rev. Sarah Woodard
Curate: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Eucharistic Minister: Lionell Parker
First Lesson: Chuck Hennessee
Epistle: Diane Hundley
Intercessor: Lionell Parker

The First Sunday in Lent
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
March 6, 2022 at 8:30 AM (no music) and 10:30 AM

Prelude

Hymn O God, our help in ages past Hymnal 1982 #680

A Penitential Order

Celebrant: Blessed the Lord who forgives all our sins.
People: His mercy endures for ever.

The people may stand or kneel

The Celebrant then says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Litany of Penitence

The Celebrant and People together, all kneeling
Most holy and merciful Father: We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth that we have sinned by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.

The Celebrant continues
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.

We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us, Lord.

We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness: the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience of our lives
We confess to you Lord.

Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.

Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done: for our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

Restore us, good Lord, and let your anger depart from us;
Favorably hear us, for your mercy is great.

Accomplish in us the work of your salvation,
That we may show forth your glory in the world.

By the cross and passion of your Son our Lord,
Bring us with all your saints to the joy of his resurrection.

Absolution

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desires not the death of sinners, but rather that they may turn from their wickedness and live, has given power and commandment to his ministers to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He pardons and absolves all those who truly repent, and with sincere hearts believe his holy Gospel.

Therefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do on this day, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

8:30 am

Celebrant: Lord, have mercy
People: Christ, have mercy
Celebrant: Lord, have mercy

10:30 am Kyrie LEVAS II #239

Kyrie Eleison (2x)
Christie Eleison (2x)
Kyrie Eleison (2x)

Collect of the Day

The celebrant says to the people
The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.

Celebrant: Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading Deuteronomy 26:1-11

When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, “Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.” When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.” You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.

Reader: The Word of the Lord
People: Thanks be to God

Psalm Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

Qui habitat

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, *
abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the Lord,
“You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I put my trust.”
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, *
and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *
you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love,
therefore will I deliver him; *
I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; *
I am with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.

Second Reading Romans 10:8b-13

“The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Reader The Word of the Lord
People Thanks be to God

Sequence Hymn Forty days and forty nights Hymnal 1982 #150

Gospel Luke 4:1-13

After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'”

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.'”

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’

and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'”

Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

After the Gospel the deacon says
The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Sermon The Rev. Dr. Harmon Smith

The Nicene Creed

[Please stand as you are able.]

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of the People

I ask your prayers for God’s people throughout the world;
for our Bishops Sam and Anne; for this gathering; and for all
ministers and people. Pray for the Church.

Silence

I ask your prayers for peace; for goodwill among nations;
and for the well-being of all people. Pray for justice and peace.

Silence

I ask your prayers for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison.
Pray for those in any need or trouble.

Silence

I ask your prayers for all who seek God, or a deeper
knowledge of him. Pray that they may find and be found by him.

Silence

I ask your prayers for the departed. Pray for those who have died.

Silence

I ask your prayers for those on the St. Titus’ prayer list.
(Additional petitions and thanksgivings may be included here.)

Silence

Praise God for those in every generation in whom Christ has been honored. Pray that we may have grace to glorify Christ in our own day.

In the communion of blessed Titus and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God.

To thee, O Lord our God.

The celebrant adds a concluding collect.
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, “Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you:” Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and for ever. Amen.

The Peace

Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you.
People: And also with you.

The Ministers and People may greet one another in the name of the Lord.

Welcome and Announcements

The Holy Communion

Offertory Rest in you [Ruby Mann Pool] Janice Williams, Soloist

As a COVID precaution we are not passing the plate for monetary offerings at this time. You may place your offering in the basket at the entrance to the worship space, or you may donate online at sttitusdurham.org.

See the announcement section of this bulletin for other ways you can support St. Titus’ ministries.

The Great Thanksgiving

The people remain standing.
Celebrant: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Celebrant: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.

Celebrant
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who was tempted in every way as we are, yet did not sin. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer for ourselves alone, but for him who died for us and rose again.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

Sanctus (spoken at 8:30 a.m.)

Holy, Holy, Holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest LEVAS II #255 (sung at 10:30 a.m.)

Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy Lord God of hosts,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in
the name of the Lord, of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
Hosanna in the highest.

The people stand or kneel.

Then the celebrant continues
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.

He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, 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 we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Celebrant and People
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.

The Celebrant continues
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer [Spoken at 8:30 am; sung at 10:30 am]

The Celebrant says
As our Savior Christ has taught us we are bold to say

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
or ever and ever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Celebrant: Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
People: Therefore let us keep the feast.

Agnus Dei (spoken at 8:30, sung at 10:30) LEVAS II #270

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.

The celebrant invites the people to Communion
The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Christ died for you, and feed on him in your hearts by faith, with thanksgiving.

Please come to the altar to receive the consecrated bread. You may remove your mask briefly to consume the consecrated bread. Due to COVID precautions, we are not sharing the cup at this time. The consecrated wine will be returned to the earth.

Communion Hymn Taste and see LEVAS II #154

For those of you who are participating in this celebration of Holy Eucharist from a different location, we invite you to pray with these words during the distribution of the holy sacrament:

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

Post-communion Prayer [The people stand as they are able.]

The Celebrant says
Let us pray.

The Celebrant and People say together
Almighty God, we thank you for feeding us with the holy food of the Body and Blood of your Son, and for uniting us through him in the fellowship of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for raising up among us faithful servants of your Word and Sacraments. Grant that we may serve you in the days ahead, and always rejoice in your glory, and come at length into your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

The Celebrant says
May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

Closing Hymn Lead me, guide me LEVAS II #194

Deacon: Let us go forth in the name of Christ.
People: Thanks be to God.

Seasonal Collect

The celebrant says
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Announcements

Invite.Welcome.Connect Virtual Gathering today (Sunday) from 3-4 pm. Everyone, especially our newcomers, are invited to participate in this virtual gathering. We’ll get to know each other better by extending to each other radical hospitality and a sense of belonging. Join via Zoom here: https://duke.zoom.us/j/94027561421

Lenten Book Discussion: Join in a virtual discussion of After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging by Willie James Jennings, Wednesdays from 6:30 – 7:30 on March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6, 2022. The Zoom link is found on the St. Titus’ homepage (sttitusdurham.org) and in the weekly announcements.

Creation Care and Outdoor Learning: An Invitation to Partnership: St. Philip’s and St. Titus’ announce our partnership with the Fayetteville Street Elementary School as we explore nature and recognize environmental concerns in our neighborhoods. Both parishes are committed to their surrounding communities and the City of Durham and promoting racial equity and care of the environment.

Opportunities to help:
• Expertise: Parishioners with experience or love for outdoor learning, gardening and development of outdoor learning spaces. Some physical labor might be required.
• Financial support: A limited amount of funds and an opportunity to seek grants
• Time Commitment – This ministry will begin mid-March. Details are forthcoming.
All volunteers are required to complete the Durham Public Schools Volunteer form if you are interested.
https://ec.samaritan.com/recruiter/index.php?class=VolunteerRegistration&recruiterID=1343

Questions/Contacts:
• Rev. Jill Bullard, St. Philip’s — jill@stphilipsdurham.org
• Rev. Sarah Woodard, St. Titus’ — sarah.woodard@duke.edu

Support St. Titus’: If you would like to support our ministries you can make an online donation here by following the QR code or by visiting our homepage: sttitusdurham.org. You can also mail or hand-deliver a check to St. Titus’ at 400 Moline St., Durham, NC, 27707. Thank you
Stay in Touch: To receive weekly email announcements from St. Titus’, email Jack or sign up by following this link: http://eepurl.com/htIWIr .

Sign up for The Titusian, St. Titus’ monthly newsletter, on the St. Titus’ homepage: sttitusdurham.org, or by emailing Jack.

Subscribe to Please Note, a weekly update from the Diocese of North Carolina by following this link: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/QCPKOTo .

Calendar of Events

For more information on these events, please see the St. Titus’ weekly E-news or go to sttitusdurham.org/weeklyannouncements.

Sundays in Lent : March 6, 13, 20, 27 & April 3: 8:30 a.m. (in-person) & 10:30 a.m. (hybrid) Holy Eucharist

Wednesdays in Lent: March 9, 16, 23, 30 & April 6
6 p.m. – Evening Prayer (Hybrid event)
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. – St. Titus’ Virtual Book Discussion:
Discussion of After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging by Willie J. Jennings
6 p.m. – Curious Conversations at St. Philip’s
Discussion of Seek and You Will Find by The Rev. Rhonda Mawhood Lee

Palm Sunday: April 10: 9:30 a.m. (one service): Process outside from the lower parking lot.

Holy Week Altar swapping services with St. Philip’s
April 11: Monday, noon at St. Philip’s: Mawethu presiding and Maryann preaching
April 12: Tuesday, noon at St. Titus’: Maryann presiding and Mawethu preaching
April 13: Wednesday, noon at St. Philip’s: Mawethu presiding and Gabe preaching
7pm Tenebrae service at St. Philip’s
April 14: Maundy Thursday Agape Meal at 6:30
Holy Eucharist with hand washing at 7 p.m. at St. Titus’
April 15: Good Friday Stations of the Cross liturgy at noon at St. Titus’
April 16: Holy Saturday hosted by St. Titus’ at 9 am on Zoom
Easter Vigil at St. Philip’s at 8pm
April 17: Easter Day Holy Eucharist at 8:30 & 10:30 am

March
6: 3-4 p.m. – Invite.Welcome.Connect Virtual Gathering
19: 9 a.m.- 2 p.m – C.C. Spaulding Beautification Day
April
2 – NCCU First Lady’s Tea Fundraiser
June
22: 7 p.m. Pauli Murray Service
25: Pauli Murray Pilgrimage