THE SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

March 1, 2026

11:00 AM

Today’s PRESIDER & PREACHER: The Rev. Steven Metcalfe

MUSIC DIRECTOR and ORGANIST: Stephen Kennedy 

VANDELINDER FELLOW and ASSISTANT ORGANIST: Jimmy Jeffery

VANDELINDER FELLOW and ORGANIST: Dominic Fiacco

We seek to serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.
We strive for justice and peace among all people,
respecting the dignity of every human being.

Welcome

We seek to mirror the love of God and the hospitality of Jesus in our worship and our service to others. We are a community welcoming all races, ethnicities, faiths, genders, orientations, and abilities. Our worship is open to all, and every person is invited to receive communion.

CHRIST CHURCH OFFICE HOURS – TELEPHONE: 585.454.3878

TUESDAYS - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAYS - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

THURSDAYS - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

THE HOLY EUCHARIST: RITE TWO

From The Book of Common Prayer

VOLUNTARY     Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele   Gottfried August Homilius (1714 – 1785)

OPENING HYMN 149 Eternal Lord of love, behold your church

THE WORD OF GOD

Presider: Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

All: Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Presider: Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

COLLECT FOR PURITY

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

COLLECT OF THE DAY

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson Genesis 12:1-4a

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.

Presider The word of the Lord

People Thanks be to God.

Gradual  Psalm

Psalm 121

Qui habitat
1 Choir: I lift up my eyes /to the hills; *

from where /is my help to come?

2 My help comes /from the LORD, *

the ma-/ker of heav’n and earth.

3 All: He will not let your /foot be moved *

and he who watches over you /will not fall asleep.

4 Behold, he who keeps watch over /Israel *

shall neither /slumber nor sleep;

5 The LORD himself watches /over you; *

the LORD is your /shade at your right hand,

6 So that the sun shall not strike /you by day, *

- /nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve you from all /evil; *

it is he /who shall keep you safe.

8 The LORD shall watch over your going out and your /coming in, *

from this time /forth for evermore.

EPISTLE:  Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

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.

Please stand, as able.

TRACT:  Qui habitat

Cantors:    Who-so dwelleth under the defense of the Most High: Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope and my stronghold: my God, in him will I trust.

THE HOLY GOSPEL:     John 3:1-17 

Gospeler:  The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

All:  Glory to you, Lord Christ.

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.

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Gospeler:  The Gospel of the Lord.

All:   Praise to you, Lord Christ.

SERMON     The Rev. Steven Metcalfe

The Nicene Creed

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 worshipped 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.

The Prayers of the People- Form I

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the
Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."

For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

 Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For this city of Rochester, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For seasonable weather, and for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

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

To you, O Lord our God.

Presider prays:

Hasten, O Father, the coming of thy kingdom; and grant that we thy servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold thy Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.

Presider : Let us pray together for Christ Church’s search process for the next Rector.

All : Loving God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on this parish and guide those who shall discern and choose its next rector, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Peace

Presider  The peace of Christ be always with you.

People And also with you.

Parish announcements and offertory sentence

OFFERTORY- To donate electronically, please scan this QR code.

Your monetary offering- whether given in the offering plate or by online donation- supports the worship, pastoral care, and outreach of Christ Church as we seek to love and serve God and our neighbors. Thank you for your generosity.

PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE HOLY COMMUNION

Offertory Hymn  489 The great creator of the worlds

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Great Thanksgiving Rite II Eucharistic Prayer B,

All who are able stand

SURSUM CORDA

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

You bid your faithful people cleanse their hearts, and prepare with joy for the Paschal feast; that, fervent in prayer and in works of mercy, and renewed by your Word and Sacraments, they may come to the fullness of grace which you have prepared for those who love you.

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            

Celebrant and People:

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 BREAKING OF THE BREAD

A period of silence is kept.

FRACTION ANTHEM

Invitation to Communion

Presider 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.

Everyone, without exception is welcome to receive Holy Communion.

If a gluten free wafer is better for you, please tell the minister when you come forward.

The bread and the cup are given with these Words:

The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven. Please respond: Amen.

The Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation. Please respond: Amen.

Please stand, as able.

Choral Anthem O salutaris hostia Piere del la Rue (1452-11518) Translation:

O saving Victim, Who expandest the door of heaven, Hostile armies press,

Give strength; bear aid. To the One and Triune Lord, May there be everlasting glory; who life without end

gives us in the homeland. Amen.

HYMN  559 Lead us, heavenly father

Post-Communion Prayer

Presider Let us pray. (Silence)

All :

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom.
And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Blessing and Dismissal

Presider blesses the congregation.

People Thanks be to God.

Deo Gratias

VOLUNTARY  Praeludium in F Minor, BWV 534/I  Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

PARISH PRAYER LIST
The wardens, vestry, search committee, and clergy of this parish.

The sick and the suffering,  Cora McCallum, Kevin Finnigan, Ellen Iaia (Steve’s mother),

Antonio Taylor, Judy (Kevin Finnigan’s cousin),

David Jutsum, and John Ford, David Tinkelman

In thanksgiving that Kristy’s Liddell’s mother, Kina Knight, has completed

treatment and is in remission.

Capt. Charles Lewis, deployed to the Middle East.

Refugees and immigrants, those lacking housing, employment, and the necessities of life.

Those affected by recent storms, flooding, and wildfires.

All those afflicted by poverty, bigotry, violence, war, and oppression.

Those who have died, especially Patricia Knight, Kristy Liddell’s aunt, her family, and all those who mourn.

RRRN (Rochester Rapid Response Network) has a fund to support our immigrant neighbors in urgent need: things like grocery shopping, rent relief, and other things that cost money. This fund comes entirely from individual contributions via Venmo. If you would like to contribute, their Venmo handle is @rocrapidresponse.

+ + +

Join us each Sunday in Lent for Lectio Davina. We meet at 9:30 in the Guild Room. You are also invited to a Thursday Night Conversation/ Prayer/ Study which looks at Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Letters and Papers from Prison. This evening activity starts at 6pm with a simple supper of soup, bread, and any leftovers people have in their homes. It is simple and fun. See below

Our Lenten Series

Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Letters and papers from prison - begins March 5th 6:00 with a simple supper, soup, bread, leftovers, shared food. This is a time to share our Lent together. Scholarship is often an inspiration to devotion, but not a required component. The level of study will be left to the discretion of the attendees. This makes the emphasis more of a meditation to draw closer to God and each other as we face  our own social, ethical, and spiritual challenges. We will read and share thoughts about living at a time when those in power are driving history in a direction that feels wrong and painful to some of us. How did Bonhoeffer feel and respond? There will be prayer. We will soak in God’s presence and practice trading yokes with Jesus. Our direction is to  be people of power, in the Spirit of God.

+ + +

Every Sunday night is Compline at 9pm. The first Sunday of each month is a Candlelight concert at 8:30pm followed by Compline an a cookie reception in the Guild Room.

Upcoming PARISH Events and Activities

upcoming services and events

CALENDAR FOR THIS WEEK

TODAY/TONIGHT

SUNDAY MARCH 1ST

1:00- 3:00 pm LET’S BUILD TOGETHER

8:30 CANDLELIGHT CONCERT see poster below

9:00 COMPLINE

MONDAY, March 2

10:00 am Zoom Morning Prayer

https://songforchristchurch.org/monday-morning-prayer

TUESDAY, March 3

Tuesday Pipes 12:10pm

WEDNESDAY, March 4

6:30 pm Choir rehearsal

7:00 pm Zoom Evening Prayer

https://songforchristchurch.org/wednesday-evening-prayer

THURSDAY, March 5th

6:00 simple supper and Lenten Book share (Dietrich Bonhoeffer- Letters from Prison)

SATURDAY, March 7th

3:00-5:00 Writer’s Circle in the Guild Room

Each Sunday, the Office of Compline is observed and performed by the Christ Church Schola

Cantorum at 9:00 PM in the church. All are welcome to attend this 30-minute candlelight liturgy each Sunday from October through April.

MUSIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Compline by the Schola Cantorum serves a nearly full church each Sunday night at 9:00 p.m. We therefore need more ushers and candlelighters. Please consider participating in what the City Newspaper branded as “the place to be on Sunday nights”.   

First Sunday Candlelight Concerts and Receptions:

On the first Sundays of each month, a Candlelight Concert at 8:30 pm precedes Compline, and a reception in the Guild Room follows Compline. RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS AND BAKERS are needed in order to continue to offer this hospitality to those who join us.  Please SIGN-UP to co-host or bake cookies or help with clean-up. Sign-up sheets are posted on the bulletin board outside Wilder Hall. Thank you for helping with hospitality for these very popular musical offerings.

Our Lectors today-

1st Reading-  Chris Brennan  

2nd Reading-  Ben Doane

Prayers of the People- Elizabeth Dugdale

Vestry- Jeremy Cooney, Jim Ford, Jim Kurmis, Norma Hopcraft, Kristy Liddell,

Nancy Norwood, Shirley Ricker, Fred Scipione, Craig Smith,

Wardens- Valerie Jutsum & Deb VanderBilt

David Jutsum- Clerk of the Vestry

Organists 

Stephen Kennedy, director of music and organist

Jimmy Jeffery, assistant organist

Dominic Fiacco, VanDelinder Fellow

David Higgs and William Porter, associate organists

Choral Scholars

Anna Bjerken 

Amelia Harkey

Maya Watters 

Mary Reins

Caroline Barata

Andrea McGaugh 

Caleb Meyerhoff 

Daniel Perez (ESM/CC Choral Scholar)

CHRIST CHURCH OFFICE HOURS &Staff -

The Rev. Steven Metcalfe- Supply Priest

Stephen Kennedy, Director of Music, stephenk@rochester.rr.com

           Steve Iaia, Sexton, stepheniaia9@gmail.com

           Lori Frank, Office Administrator, office@christchurchrochester.org.

Office Hours:

TUESDAYS - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

WEDNESDAYS - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  

THURSDAYS - 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

Remember to “like” and “subscribe” to our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbkbAzGxOtsMI1dhb_3dGvg/videos

visit the website, http://www.christchurchrochester.org and

The Song, https://songforchristchurch.org often, for any updates and to access free recordings.

LITURGICAL CALENDARS 2024 or 2025

Please let the office know if you are interested in receiving a calendar.

Email: office@christchurchrochester.org 

Phone: 585-454-3878

FORWARD DAY BY DAY PUBLICATION 

Please let the office know if you are interested in receiving a copy.

Email: office@christchurchrochester.org 

Phone: 585-454-3878

DIRECTORY INFORMATION

Christ Church would like to make sure our parishioner records are up to date! Please remember to update the office with your contact information if you have recently changed address, your email address or your phone number.
Email: office@christchurchrochester.org