Saint Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen
MORNING PRAYER (1) – PAGE 84 
The Third Sunday in Lent 23/3/2025

Hymn: 108 Praise to the holiest
A GENERAL CONFESSION
Almighty and most merciful Father; We have erred and strayed from Thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against Thy holy laws. We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no health in us. But Thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us, miserable offenders. Spare Thou them, O God, which confess their faults. Restore Thou them that are penitent; According to Thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for His sake; That we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, To the glory of Thy holy Name. Amen.
THE ABSOLUTION
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness, and live; and hath given power, and commandment, to His Ministers, to declare and pronounce to His people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins: He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe His holy Gospel. Wherefore let us beseech Him to grant us true repentance, and His Holy Spirit, that those things may please Him which we do at this present; 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.

O Lord, open Thou our lips and our mouth shall show forth Thy praise.
God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Praise ye the Lord. The Lord's Name be praised.

Canticle: Urbs Fortitudinis

The First Reading: Isaiah 55: 1-9
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that He may have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

The Psalm: 63: 1-9 - page 660 (376)
1  O God, You are my God; eagerly I seek You; ♦
   my soul is athirst for You.
2  My flesh also faints for You, ♦
   as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.
3  So would I gaze upon You in Your holy place, ♦
   that I might behold Your power and Your glory.
4  Your loving-kindness is better than life itself ♦
   and so my lips shall praise You.
5  I will bless You as long as I live ♦
   and lift up my hands in Your Name.
6  My soul shall be satisfied, as with marrow and fatness, ♦
   and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips,
7  When I remember You upon my bed ♦
   and meditate on You in the watches of the night.
8  For You have been my Helper ♦
   and under the shadow of Your wings will I rejoice.
9  My soul clings to You; ♦
   Your right hand shall hold me fast.

The Epistle: 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.

Hymn: 401 Be known to us
 
The Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9
At that very time there were some present who told Him 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 round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’

THE APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into Hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Lord, have mercy upon us Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

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. Amen.

O Lord, show thy mercy upon us and grant us Thy salvation.

O Lord, save the King and mercifully hear us when we call upon Thee.

Endue Thy ministers with righteousness and make Thy chosen people joyful.

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance.

Give peace in our time, O Lord, because there is none other that fighteth for us, but only Thou, O God.

O God, make clean our hearts within us and take not Thy Holy Spirit from us.

THE COLLECTS
The Collect of the Day - page 262 (174)
Merciful Lord, Grant Your people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh and the Devil and with pure hearts and minds to follow You, the only God; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

THE SECOND COLLECT For Peace
O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of Whom standeth our eternal life, Whose service is perfect freedom; Defend us Thy humble servants in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in Thy defence, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE THIRD COLLECT For Grace
O Lord, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day: Defend us in the same with Thy mighty power; and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger; but that all our doings may be ordered by Thy governance, to do always that is righteous in Thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

PRAYERS

Hymn: 646 Glorious things of thee are spoken

 SERMON

Offertory Hymn: 576 I heard the voice of Jesus

 THE BLESSING

Hymn: 662 He who would valiant be

ANNOUNCEMENTS for Sunday 23rd March

Daily Reading for Lent - Pilgrim Journeys - The Commandments
The Pilgrim Journeys booklets are ideal for anyone to use daily in Lent but can be used at any time of the year. There are 40 daily reflections. Each day offers: A theme for the day; A suggested short Bible reading exploring the theme; An invitation to reflect; A suggestion of how to pray; A prompt to act. These booklets are available for £3.00 at the back of the Cathedral or from the Cathedral Office.
Lenten Project - Mission Focus - Mothers’ Union Overseas Fund
This Lenten Season we, the Parish of Enniskillen, are going to support this vital work. Please take a Lenten Box or a Gift Aid Envelope, available in the Cathedral porch, and return it during Holy Week.
Tuesday Club
The next meeting is on 25th March at 2.00pm in the Eniskeene Room. Mrs Carol Trimble is the speaker and will share her baking skills. The mini bus will collect those who require transport, please contact the Cathedral Office.
Lenten Lunches
Fermanagh Churches Forum invite you to a series of Lenten lunches beginning on Wednesday 26th March at 12.30pm in the Presbyterian Church Hall. A light lunch is provided followed by reflections. The series continues on 2nd April in St Michael’s Hall, 9th April in the Methodist Hall and on 16th April in the Hilliard Room, St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall.
Annual Easter Vestry
Will be held on Monday 7th April at 7.30pm. Anyone is welcome to attend but only those who are registered can vote.
Adult Confirmation
A service to confirm adults will take place in the Cathedral on Ascension Thursday (29th May) at 7.30pm.  Adults throughout the Diocese are welcome to be confirmed at this service – please contact the clergy or the Parish Office and a member of the Clergy will contact you.
Mid Week Services
Wednesday 26th March at 7.30pm – Compline
Thursday 27th March at 11.00am – Holy Communion
Sunday 30th March - The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Mothering Sunday
9.00am – Holy Communion   
11.00am – Morning Prayer - Family Service