Day of Pentecost

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #512 – Come, Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove

1 Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove,

with light and comfort from above;

be thou our guardian, thou our guide

o'er every thought and step preside.

2 The light of truth to us display,

and make us know and choose thy way;

plant holy fear in every heart,

that we from thee may ne'er depart.

3 Lead us to Christ, the living way,

nor let us from his precepts stray;

lead us to holiness, the road

that we must take to dwell with God.

4 Lead us to heaven, that we may share

fullness of joy for ever there;

lead us to God, our final rest,

to be with him for ever blest.

The Opening Acclamation & Baptismal Versicles

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

There is one Body and one Spirit;

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

One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism;

One God and Father of all.

LEV #243: Glory to God

The Collect of the Day  

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way of eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Genesis (11:1-9)

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built. And the Lord said, "Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 104:25-35, 37

Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).

25 O Lord, how manifold are your works! *

in wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

26 Yonder is the great and wide sea with its living things too many to number, *

creatures both small and great.

27 There move the ships, and there is that Leviathan, *

which you have made for the sport of it.

28 All of them look to you *

to give them their food in due season.

29 You give it to them; they gather it; *

you open your hand, and they are filled with good things.

30 You hide your face, and they are terrified; *

you take away their breath, and they die and return to their dust.

31 You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *

and so you renew the face of the earth.

32 May the glory of the Lord endure for ever; *

may the Lord rejoice in all his works.

33 He looks at the earth and it trembles; *

he touches the mountains and they smoke.

34 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; *

I will praise my God while I have my being.

35 May these words of mine please him; *

I will rejoice in the Lord.

37 Bless the Lord, O my soul. *

Hallelujah!

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (2:1-21)

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

LEV #119: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (Verses 1-3)

The People stand, as they are able, for the reading of the Gospel.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (14:8-17;25-27)

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you." ["I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."]

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

LEV #119: Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart (Verse 4)

The Sermon

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

Through the Paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into his death, and raised with him to newness of life. I call upon you, therefore, now that our Lenten observance is ended, to renew the solemn promises and vows of Holy Baptism, by which we once renounced Satan and all his works, and promised to serve God faithfully in his holy Catholic Church.

All standing as they are able, the Celebrant and People pray:

Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?

I do.

Do you believe in God the Father?

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

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

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.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

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.

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

I will, with God's help.

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

I will, with God's help.

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?

I will, with God's help.

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

I will, with God's help.

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

I will, with God's help.

The Celebrant concludes the Renewal of Vows as follows:

May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

The Prayers of the People (Form VI)

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

For all people in their daily life and work;

For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

For Donald, our president; Brian, our governor; Van, our mayor; and all other civic officials; For this community, the nation, and the world;

For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation;

For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;

For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For all the churches in Savannah, that we may be one as you are one with the Son, and the Holy Spirit; For the peace and unity of the Church of God;

For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

For Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury; Sean, our Presiding Bishop; Frank, our Bishop; and for all bishops and other ministers;

For all who serve God in his Church.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially for our Day Care’s staff, students, and families, for those on our Parish Prayer List: Teresa Blue-Clemons, Lazola Cope, David Jones, Milburn Lewis, Jessica Mathis, Marion Mathis, Jewel Wheeler; and those we remember now… [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]  Hear us, Lord;

For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially for all visitors to this parish, for Rose Robinson, Dr. Janice Vaughn, Lee Pearson, Jr. and Patrece Grant on their birthday; and for anything else we remember now… [Silence. The People may add their own thanksgivings.]  We will exalt you, O God our King;

And praise your Name for ever and ever.

We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially those we remember now… [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]  Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;

Who put their trust in you.

The Celebrant concludes:

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

Parish Announcements

Save the Date - Vacation Bible School 7/8-7/10: Vacation Bible School for children and adults will be held Tuesday - Thursday, July 8 - 10, 2025, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. More details coming soon.

T/W/Th Evening Prayer Zoom ONLY: Evening Prayer will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays Zoom only at 5:00 pm.

The Offertory

Giving to St. Matthew's:

1.     Give a check or money order; OR 

2. Make a secure online gift to St. Matthew’s at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now; OR 

3.     Text “stmattsav” to 73256 to make a secure online donation through your phone.

NOTE: Donations made online (#2 or #3) through Realm incur a processing fee of about 2.5%. Please consider adding an additional 2.5% to your online gift to cover these costs.

LEV #112: Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest

1 Come, Holy ghost, Creator blest,

And in our hearts take up thy rest;

Come with thy grace and heav’nly aid

To fill the hearts which thou hast made.

2 O Comforter, to thee we cry,

Thou heav’nly gift of God most high;

Thou fount of life, and fire of love,

And sweet anointing from above.

3 O Holy Ghost, through thee alone,

Know we the Father and the Son;

Be this our firm unchanging creed,

That thou dost from them both proceed.

4 Praise we the Lord, Father and Son,

And Holy Spirit with them one;

And may the Son on us bestow

All gifts that from the Spirit flow.

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow!

Praise him all creatures here below!

Praise him above ye heavenly hosts!

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer B

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give God thanks and praise.

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

O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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

LEV#255:

Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts

Heaven and earth are filled with 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.

We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of 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 Savior 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 before he died for us, 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, O Father:  

LEV #260

We remember his death,

We proclaim his resurrection,

We await his coming in glory!

And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O 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 may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Blessed Mary, the Bearer of God, Blessed Matthew our patron, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of 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 him, with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever.  AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father, which 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Silence may be kept.

Alleluia. Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia.

LEV #269:

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace

Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 

The Gifts of God for the people of God.

The Distribution of Holy Communion

The ushers will direct people to leave their pews to receive Communion at the altar rails. You may receive Communion kneeling or standing. Please extend your hands forward to receive the Body of Christ (bread). If you would like to receive the Blood of Christ (wine), the minister will take the bread from your hand and dip (intinct) it in the wine for you, then place it in your mouth. If you would only like to receive the bread, you may consume it and return to your seat. If you need gluten-free bread for Communion, please tell the ushers or ask the Priest when you are at the altar rail.

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion in this church, regardless of age or denominational background. If you would not like to receive Communion for any reason, please cross your arms over your chest, and the Priest will say a blessing over you.

LEV #113: How Like A Gentle Spirit

LEV #118: Spirit Song

The Post-Communion Prayer

Let us pray.

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.

 

The Blessing of the People

May the Spirit of truth lead you into all truth, giving you grace to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, and to proclaim the wonderful works of God; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen. 

LEV #114: Ev’ry Time I Feel The Spirit

REFRAIN:

Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray,

Ev'ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

1 Upon the mountain my Lord spoke,

out of his mouth came fire and smoke.

All around me looked so fine,

asked my Lord if all was mine. [Refrain]

2 Jordan river chilly and cold,

chills the body but not the soul.

There ain’t but one train runs this track,

runs to heaven and runs right back. [Refrain]

The Dismissal

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Permissions and Credits

This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), Enriching Our Worship 1 (EOW1), The Book of Occasional Services 2022, The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), and other sources cited. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.

Hymn #512: Words: Simon Browne, alt. Music: Mendon, melody from Methodist Harmonist; adapt. And harm. Lowell Mason. Words and Music: Copyright © 2003 Lorenz Publishing Company. Reprinted with permission under One License # 1038389. All rights reserved.

Hymn #228: Words: Copyright © 1971. John Webster Grant, alt. Music: Webbe, melody from An Essay on the Church Plain Chant; adapt. Att. Samuel Webbe, alt; harm. Hymns ancient and Modern. All rights reserved.

LEV #114: Words: Traditional. Music: Negro Spiritual. Public Domain. All rights reserved.

LEV #255: Music: Grayson Warren Brown, A Mass for Soulful People, Copyright © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources, Published by OCP. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #83420. All rights reserved.

LEV #112: Words: Veni, Creator Spiritus; attr. Rambanus Maurus; tr. Edward Caswell, alt. Music: Lambillotte, LM; with repeat; Louis Lambillotte, SJ; harm. Richard Proulx. Harm. Copyright © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc., All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #106680. All rights reserved.