Holy Eucharist for the Third Sunday of Lent, March 20, 2022, 8:30 and 10:30 Services

The Third Sunday in Lent
March 20, 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 20

8:30

Celebrant: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Preacher: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Deacon: The Rev. Sarah Woodard
Curate: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Eucharistic Minister: Mary Hawkins
First Lesson: Mike Woodard
Epistle: Althea Alton
Intercessor: Carolyn White
Altar Guild: Robyn Furges, Lisa Barnes

10:30

Celebrant: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Preacher: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Deacon: The Rev. Sarah Woodard
Curate: The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca
Eucharistic Minister: Robyn Furges
First Lesson: Kendall Vanderslice
Epistle: Yvette Matthews
Intercessor: Pam Howard
Altar Guild: Robyn Furges, Lisa Barnes
Tech Team: Livio Carnera, Chuck Hennessee, Yvette Matthews

The Third Sunday in Lent
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
March 20, 2022 at 8:30 AM (no music) and 10:30 AM

Prelude

Hymn Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty Hymnal 1982 #362

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, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Exodus 3:1-15

Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” He said further, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” He said, “I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.”

But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” God also said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’:

This is my name forever,
and this my title for all generations.”

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

Psalm 63:1-8 Deus, Deus meus

1 O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; *
my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you,
as in a barren and dry land where there is no water.
2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, *
that I might behold your power and your glory.
3 For your loving-kindness is better than life itself; *
my lips shall give you praise.
4 So will I bless you as long as I live *
and lift up my hands in your Name.
5 My soul is content, as with marrow and fatness, *
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
6 When I remember you upon my bed, *
and meditate on you in the night watches.
7 For you have been my helper, *
and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
8 My soul clings to you; *
your right hand holds me fast.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness.

Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

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

Sequence Hymn Lord, who throughout these forty days Hymnal 1982 #142

Then, all standing, the Deacon or a Priest reads the Gospel, first saying
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

The Gospel Luke 13:1-9

At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them–do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'”

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

Sermon The Rev. Mawethu Ncaca

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. Please read aloud the name on the prayer card included in your bulletin.

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.

Hymn for the Passing of the Peace Koinonia AAHH #579

How can I say that I love the Lord
whom I’ve never, ever seen before;
and forget to say that I love the one
whom I walk beside each and every day?
How can look upon your face and ignore GOD’s Love?
You, I must embrace!
You’re my brother; you’re my sister;
and I love you with the love of my Lord.

Welcome and Announcements

The Holy Communion

Offertory: The Lord is blessing me AAHH #506
He’s done so much for me (Janice Williams, Song Leader) AAHH #511

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. Instead of holding hands, if you are inclined, please raise your hands.]

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,
for 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 The blood will never lose its power AAHH #256

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
Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through 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 We’re marching to Zion AAHH #590

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

Announcements

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 23, 30 and April 6, 2022. The Zoom link is found on the St. Titus’ homepage (sttitusdurham.org) and in the weekly announcements.

Lenten Quiet Day: The Spiritual Life Guild of the Chapel of the Cross invites you to register for the Lenten Quiet Day, April 2, 2022, 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M~ish at Camp New Hope (4805 NC-86, Chapel Hill, NC). We will be led by the Rev. Philip and Erin Zoutendam, who is currently a PhD candidate in church history. Together we will explore desert teachings and how our own internal and external deserts shape our encounter with God. See St. Titus’ weekly announcements for registration details.

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
19: 9 am- 2 pm – C.C. Spaulding Beautification Day
19: 8 am – 2 pm – Chapel of the Cross ABC Sale

April
2 – 7:30 am – 2:30 pm – Food Distribution at El Buen Pastor
2 – 9 am – 3 pm – Lenten Quiet Day at Camp New Hope
2 – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Diocesan History Day: A Tribute to Ven. Odell Greenleaf Harris
2 – NCCU First Lady’s Tea Fundraiser
9 – 9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Being in the World Together: Toward Congreg. Engagement in Global Mission
June
Month-long Pauli Murray Readings/Discussions
22: 7 pm Pauli Murray Service
25: Pauli Murray Pilgrimage