Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Sep 25, 2022
- 22 min read

St. Matthew's Day & 167th Parish Anniversary (September 25, 2022)

The Holy Eucharist

The Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle & Evangelist (transferred)

Celebration of our 167th Church Anniversary

September 25, 2022

Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/

Sunday, September 25, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #525: The Church's One Foundation

1 The Church's one foundation

is Jesus Christ her Lord;

she is his new creation

by water and the word:

from heaven he came and sought her

to be his holy bride;

with his own blood he bought her,

and for her life he died.

2 Elect from every nation,

yet one o'er all the earth,

her charter of salvation,

one Lord, one faith, one birth;

one holy Name she blesses,

partakes one holy food,

and to one hope she presses,

with every grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder

men see her sore oppressed,

by schisms rent asunder,

by heresies distressed;

yet saints their watch are keeping,

their cry goes up, "How long?"

and soon the night of weeping

shall be the morn of song.

4 Mid toil and tribulation,

and tumult of her war

she waits the consummation

of peace for evermore;

till with the vision glorious

her longing eyes are blessed,

and the great Church victorious

shall be the Church at rest.

5 Yet she on earth hath union

with God, the Three in One,

and mystic sweet communion

with those whose rest is won.

O happy ones and holy!

Lord, give us grace that we

like them, the meek and lowly,

on high may dwell with thee.

The Opening Acclamation

[BCP, p. 355]

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

And blessed be God's kingdom, now and forever! Amen!

A Litany of Thanksgiving for a Church

[BCP, p. 578, 254]

Let us thank God whom we worship here in the beauty of holiness.

Eternal God, the heaven of heavens cannot contain you, much less the walls of temples made with hands. Graciously receive our thanks for this place, and accept the work of our hands, offered to your honor and glory.

For the Church universal, of which these visible buildings are the symbol,

We thank you, Lord.

For your presence whenever two or three have gathered together in your Name,

We thank you, Lord.

For this place where we may be still and know that you are God,

We thank you, Lord.

For making us your children by adoption and grace, and for refreshing us day by day with the bread of life.

We thank you, Lord.

For the knowledge of your will and the grace to perform it,

We thank you, Lord.

For the fulfilling of our desires and petitions as you see best for us,

We thank you, Lord.

For the pardon of our sins, which restores us to the company of your faithful people,

We thank you, Lord.

For the blessing of our vows and the crowning of our years with your goodness,

We thank you, Lord.

For the faith of those who have gone before us and for our encouragement by their perseverance,

We thank you, Lord.

For the fellowship of Blessed Matthew, our patron, Blessed Stephen and Blessed Augustine, our former patrons, and of all your Saints,

We thank you, Lord.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty;

For everything in heaven and on earth is yours.

Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom;

And you are exalted as head over all. Amen.

Let us pray:

Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate the founding of this house of prayer: We give you thanks for the fellowship of those who have worshiped in this place, and we pray that all who seek you here may find you, and be filled with your joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn S-280: Glory to God

[See also BCP, p. 356]

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

[BCP, p. 357, 244]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

We thank you, heavenly Father, for the witness of your apostle and evangelist Matthew to the Gospel of your Son our Savior; and we pray that, after his example, we may with ready wills and hearts obey the calling of our Lord to follow him; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Proverbs (3:1-6)

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of life and abundant welfare they will give you. Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them round your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and of people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119:33-40

[BCP, p. 766]

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

33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, *

and I shall keep it to the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your law; *

I shall keep it with all my heart.

35 Make me go in the path of your commandments, *

for that is my desire.

36 Incline my heart to your decrees *

and not to unjust gain.

37 Turn my eyes from watching what is worthless; *

give me life in your ways.

38 Fulfill your promise to your servant, *

which you make to those who fear you.

39 Turn away the reproach which I dread, *

because your judgments are good.

40 Behold, I long for your commandments; *

in your righteousness preserve my life.

A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to Timothy (3:14-17)

As for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

AAHH #343: Renew Thy Church, Her Ministries Restore (Verses 1-3)

1 Renew your church, our ministries restore:

both to serve and adore.

Make us again as salt throughout the land,

and as light from a stand.

'Mid somber shadows of the night,

where greed and hatreds spread their blight,

O send us forth with power endued,

help us, Lord, be renewed.

2 Teach us your Word, reveal its truth divine,

on our path let it shine;

tell of your works, your mighty acts of grace,

from each page show your face.

As you have loved us, sent your Son,

and our salvation now is won,

O let our hearts with love be stirred,

help us, Lord, know your Word.

3 Teach us to pray, for you are ever near,

your still voice let us hear.

Our souls are restless till they rest in you,

this the goal we pursue.

Before your presence keep us still

that we may find for us your will,

and seek your guidance every day,

teach us, Lord, how to pray.

Words: Kenneth L. Cober © 1960, Kenneth Cober, ren. 1985, Judson Press. Music: All Is Well, J. T. White's Sacred Harp, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #OLOFOB581. All rights reserved.

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

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew (9:9-13)

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

AAHH #343: Renew Thy Church, Her Ministries Restore (Verse 4)

4 Teach us to love, with strength of heart and mind,

each and all, humankind;

break down old walls of prejudice and hate,

leave us not to our fate.

As you have loved and given your life

to end hostility and strife,

O share your grace from heaven above,

teach us, Lord, how to love.

The Sermon

“We Found Another Way” by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda

Happy St. Matthew’s Day! And Happy 167th Anniversary to all the members of this parish! Our church is named after St. Matthew, an important person from the Bible. And many churches draw inspiration from their namesake for their common life. But when we first meet Matthew in today's Gospel reading, he isn’t a saint yet. Matthew was far from a “perfect person.” He was a Jewish man working for the Roman Empire as a tax collector. That meant that he took from his kinsfolk to benefit the Empire that oppressed them. He was considered a thief and a traitor to his people. But when Jesus asked him to “Follow me,” he left his tax booth behind and became a disciple. Despite Matthew’s flaws, tradition has it that Jesus chose him to be one of the Twelve Apostles and ultimately to write down his story in one of the four Gospels.

The story of Matthew is about falling away, failing at your goal, but then turning back to God for mercy. He knew what he was doing as a tax collector was wrong and kept doing it for a long time. Matthew let greed for money and power drive him to hurt his neighbors. But when Jesus gave him the opportunity to leave his crooked ways behind, he did, and that’s what matters. Matthew knew he was sick and trusted Jesus to be his Physician and Healer. Following Jesus was not about being perfect. It’s about knowing that you aren’t perfect and working to get better, trusting in God’s help. It’s about getting up and trying again, knowing that Jesus will not leave us or forsake us. Christian repentance (sinning, turning around, and asking forgiveness) is not too different from perseverance (trying again and again, refusing to give up).

Likewise, being a Christian today is not about being perfect. It’s about refusing to give up when we fail. It’s about not giving up on ourselves, on our communities, or on the world, no matter how bad things get. It’s about trusting that God will always lead us into something greater than the mess we might make for ourselves.

The story of this parish is also about perseverance. As you probably already know, we haven’t always been named St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. Our story begins 167 years ago with St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in 1855.

The founders of St. Stephen’s formed their church community in 1855 because there was a growing group of free Black Episcopalians in Savannah. But these Black Christians were not welcome in the established majority-White parishes. They faced blatant, un-Christlike discrimination. And we might not blame them if they decided to give up on Christianity or give up on The Episcopal Church. But they chose to meet together in godliness and dignity in a bakery, rather than be insulted in those fancy church buildings. Instead of giving up, they kept following Jesus and found another way.

By 1871, St. Stephen’s had become a self-sustaining parish, but there was trouble on the horizon. They had just hired the Rev. John Robert Love as their rector, the first Black clergyperson in the Diocese of Georgia. Less than a year later, in 1872, there was a big conflict in the church (unfortunately we don’t know exactly what it was about). That conflict led Fr. Love and many others to leave St. Stephen’s and found St. Augustine’s Church. Imagine how discouraging it must have been for both groups when their new church couldn’t even make it 20 years without being torn apart by infighting. But instead of giving up, both St. Stephen’s and the new St. Augustine’s kept following Jesus and found another way.

In 1943, St. Stephen’s and St. Augustine’s churches were reconciled and re-merged, changing their joint name to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church. But many of you know that the vestries of those churches (the parents and grandparents of some of us gathered today) didn’t really want to merge. Our third set of founders were pushed into this merger by the then-Bishop of Georgia. Bishop Barnwell was motivated by Jim Crow segregation, moving St. Stephen’s away from the east side of downtown over here to the west side. Again, insulted and oppressed, pushed together with their estranged siblings, the founders of St. Matthew’s could have given up. But instead they kept following Jesus and they found another way.

We’ve gone through our fair share of hardships in recent years too. Being a church community is never easy because people are people and conflicts will always come up. But it was that much harder for the last generation to work through the Civil Rights Movement and its aftermath. It was hard for us to navigate the changing world at the turn of the 21st century. It still is hard for us to stay together through the COVID-19 pandemic. But instead of giving up when things got tough, we kept following Jesus and we’re finding another way. We’re still here. To riff on the title of one of Fr. Hoskins’ many books, it has been 167 “years of struggle, hardship, and success,” but we’re still here.

And we’re still gonna be here. We’re not giving up. In fact, we’re just getting started. We trust in Jesus to lead and guide us in the ways to go. We trust Jesus to heal us when we are sick, to pick us up when we fall, and to forgive us when we mess up. And we trust that God has a purpose and mission for us in this place, in this community, for the benefit of all God’s children in Savannah.

Over the next year, we’ll be working intentionally on a process of community discernment. The Vestry and I are planning to launch a strategic visioning process later this fall. By the winter and spring there will be a series of events for the whole parish to take part in where we share our stories and dream together about the future of St. Matthew’s. Whether you have been here nearly every Sunday for eighty years or today is your first day with us, we are inviting you to dive deeper into this resilient, faithful community. Together, we will grow our trust in God and our perseverance in the face of any struggle. To quote our Rector Emeritus one more time (and Fr. Cope on Thursday), with God’s help, we’re going to “pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, pick up the pieces, and carry on.” Amen.

Bibliography

Hoskins, Charles Lwanga. Saints Stephen, Augustine, and Matthew: 150 Years of Struggle, Hardship and Success. Savannah, GA: Gullah Press, 2005.

CHOIR: "Except the Lord Build A House"

The Nicene Creed

[BCP, p. 358]

All standing as they are able, the People pray:

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.

The Prayers of the People

[Adapted from Form VI, BCP, p. 392]

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

[Silence]

For all people in their daily life and work;

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

For Joseph, our president; Brian, our governor; Van, our mayor; Chester, the chair of our County Commission; 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 Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Frank, our Bishop; Guillermo our Priest; Ella our Deacon; 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, and for those on our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angelica Glover, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, Jewel Wheeler; and those we remember now…

Hear us, Lord;

For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially for all visitors, those celebrating birthdays: Kevin Harris (9/25), Alex Jenkins (9/27), Sigmund Hudson (9/29), and Tracee Williams (10/1); those celebrating anniversaries: Donald & Marilyn Jones (9/25) and Noel & Jocelyn Wheeler (9/29); and any other thanksgivings we offer now...

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 for those we remember now...

The People may add their own petitions.

Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;

Who put their trust in you.

The Celebrant concludes with a Collect for a Saint (BCP, p. 248)...

Heavenly Father, Shepherd of your people, we thank you for your servant, Saint Matthew, who was faithful in the care and nurture of your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by your grace grow into the stature of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Peace

[BCP, p. 360]

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

Parish Announcements

Click here to sign up for our e-Newsletter

St. Matthew's Day, 167th Church Anniversary, & Church Picnic TODAY: Every year we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church on the Sunday nearest to September 21, the Feast of St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist. Church members are encouraged to make an Anniversary donation at or around $167.00. After worship today, we will hold a church picnic on the grounds for people to eat and fellowship with one another.

Faithful Voter Seminar & Listening Session on 10/2: On Sunday, October 2, 2022, at 11:00 AM (after worship), Georgia Faith in Public Life will sponsor a Listening Session at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church to encourage our community to Get Out The Vote as part of its Faithful Voter Pledge Campaign. Minister Shavonne Williams, FPL's Georgia Organizing Ambassador from Hephzibah, GA, will offer a presentation about recent changes to voting access in Georgia and lead a discussion about the issues that we care the most about. Faith in Public Life is a nonpartisan interreligious nonprofit organization committed to the democratic pursuit of justice, equality, and the common good.

There is a lot of literature available in the parish hall about voter registration, voting deadlines, and statewide candidates on the ballot courtesy of FPL and Georgia Interfaith Power and Light.

New Deacon Vestments: Earlier this year, the Bishop assigned a deacon to St. Matthew's for the first time in recent memory. There are special stoles and vestments for deacons called Dalmatics to distinguish them from priests during Communion services. Deacon Davis and I researched a variety of options and found an affordable set of four stole dalmatic sets in the four primary liturgical colors: white, green, red, and purple (see the photo below or click here). We are asking people to donate to cover the total cost of these new vestments with tax and shipping is about $800. Please mark donations for the Memorial Fund (in memory of a loved one, if desired).

Gospel of Luke Bible Study on Wednesdays: Every Wednesday, Deacon Davis will host a weekly Zoom Bible Study at 5:30 PM after Evening Prayer. The group will use the same Zoom link as Evening Prayer (see e-Newsletter). This fall, the Bible Study will focus on the Gospel of Luke. After taking a week off because of our special Evening Prayer services last week, we will resume on September 28. Please bring your own Bible with you for the Zoom meeting.

Updated COVID-19 Safety Guidelines: On August 24, the Vestry adopted new, simplified COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. Masks will still be required for all who attend in-person worship services and events. In summary, the changes include the following:

Removal of 100-person attendance cap
Removal of 6-foot spacing and pew spacing
Remove Attendance Sheets upon entry
Remove Temperature Checks upon entry
Remove Restroom Limit of 1 at a time
Allowing Communion to be served at the rail
Allowing Communion to be served in one or both kinds
Clarifying Indoor vs. Outdoor Eating

To read the new guidelines in full, click here: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/new-covid-19-safety-guidelines-august-2022.

Save the Date - Silver Tea on 11/5: St. Matthew's Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will once again sponsor the Silver Tea Fundraiser on Saturday, November 5, 2022. Money raised will go toward Episcopal Children and Youth Services (EYCS) college scholarships. The ECW seeks sixteen hostesses, each of whom is responsible to invite three friends and provide cups, saucers, salad and/or dessert for four. Contact Evalena Hoskins, ECW President, to register as a hostess.

T/W/Th Evening Prayer: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, St. Matthew's invites you to pray Evening Prayer over Zoom. The video will continue to stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM. Please join the Zoom call by 4:55 PM. Otherwise, watch the prayer service as you have been on Facebook Live.

For security purposes, below is the Meeting ID only; please check your St. Matthew's e-Newsletter for the password (or email FrGAA@StMattSav.org to request it).

Topic: Zoom Evening Prayer

Time: 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday

Join Zoom Meeting: See e-Newsletter

Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541

Passcode: See e-Newsletter

Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington D.C)

Meeting ID: 991 8577 8541

Passcode: See e-Newsletter

The Offertory

[BCP, p. 377]

Giving to St. Matthew's: We know that many people are feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The church is feeling it too. We still need your support to pay our staff, pay our bills, and provide for these online live streams. There are several ways to give, but the simplest are these:

Mail us a check or money order at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415; OR
Make a secure online gift to St. Matthew’s and/or automate future gifts at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now; OR
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.

“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High." [Psalm 50:14]

"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God." [Ephesians 5:2]

Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now

AAHH #402: Walking Up the King's Highway

REFRAIN:

It's a highway to heaven,

None can walk up there but the pure in heart

It's a highway to heaven

I am walking up the King's Highway

1 My way gets brighter, my load gets lighter

Walking up the King's Highway

There's joy in knowing with Him I'm going

Walking up the King's Highway [REFRAIN]

2 Don't have to worry, don't have to hurry

Walking up the King's Highway

Christ walks beside me, angels to guide me

Walking up the King's Highway [REFRAIN]

3 If you're not walking, start while I'm talking

Walking up the King's Highway

There'll be a blessing you'll be possessing

Walking up the King's Highway [REFRAIN]

AAHH #651: Doxology

[See also Hymn # 380, v. 3]

Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer B

[BCP, p. 367]

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 the great shepherd of your flock, Jesus Christ our Lord; who after his resurrection sent forth his apostles to preach the Gospel and to teach all nations; and promised to be with them always, even to the end of the ages.

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:

Hymn S-125:

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.

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 Matthew, Blessed Stephen, Blessed Augustine, 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, 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

[BCP, p. 364]

And now, 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 Fraction Anthems

[BCP, p. 364, 407]

Hymn S-152:

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!

Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!

LEV #269:

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.

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The Gifts of God for the people of God.

LEV #149: In Remembrance of Me

1 In remembrance of me, eat this bread

In remembrance of me, drink this wine

In remembrance of me, pray for the time

when God's own will is done

2 In remembrance of me, heal the sick

In remembrance of me, feed the poor

In remembrance of me open the door

and let your brother in, Let him in

REFRAIN:

Take, eat, and be comforted

Drink and remember too

That this is my body and precious blood

shed for you, shed for you

3 In remembrance of me, search for truth

In remembrance of me, always love

In remembrance of me, don't look above,

but in your heart look for God

Do this in remembrance of me

LEV #150: Jesus, the Bread of Life

REFRAIN:

Jesus, the Bread of life

All who eat and drink of Him will never die

Will never die

1 I am the Bread that came down from heaven

I will be your food

All who put their trust in me

Will never die

2 All who come to me will not hunger

Nor will they ever thirst

If you turn to me in faith

I'll never turn away

3 All who love and keep my commandments

Will be loved by my Father

And we shall both comfort them

And make our home in them

Words and Music: Grayson Warren Brown (words adapt. from John 6), harm. Michael B. Lynch © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources, OCP. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #81302. All rights reserved.

The Post-Communion Prayer

[Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]

Let us pray.

For In-Person Worshippers:

Faithful God,

in the wonder of your wisdom and love

you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,

and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.

We thank you for feeding us with this bread and wine.

May it strengthen us

that by the power of the Holy Spirit

we may embody your desire

and be renewed for your service

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:

Faithful God,

in the wonder of your wisdom and love

you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,

and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.

Though we cannot consume now these gifts of bread and wine,

we thank you that we have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence,

the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion.

By the power of the Holy Spirit,

may we embody your desire

and be renewed for your service

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing of the People

[Adapted from Book of Occasional Services 2018, p. 17]

May God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, to know the hope to which God has called you. Amen.

May God, who has given you an example of holy living and holy dying in the witness of Saint Matthew, bring you to share the glorious inheritance of the saints. Amen.

May God, who calls you friends and fellow citizens with the saints, give you grace to walk in the way of Christ. Amen.

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

LEV #158: Make Me A Blessing

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,

Many are weary and sad;

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,

Making the sorrowing glad.

REFRAIN:

Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,

Out of my life may Jesus shine;

Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

2 Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love,

Tell of His power to forgive;

Others will trust Him if only you prove

True, every moment you live, [REFRAIN]

3 Give as ’twas given to you in your need,

Love as the Master loved you;

Be to the helpless a helper indeed,

Unto your mission be true. [REFRAIN]

Words: Ira B. Wilson, Public Domain. Music: George Schuler © 1924 George S. Schuler, renewed 1952 The Rodeheaver Co. (a division of WORD, INC.). Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #OLOFOB450. All rights reserved.

The Dismissal

[BCP, p. 366]

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

The Parish Prayer List

PRAYER LIST: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angelica Glover, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, Jewel Wheeler

BIRTHDAYS: Edward Vaughn (9/22)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: N/A

RECENT DEATHS: N/A

May the souls of all the departed rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.

Note: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), Enriching Our Worship 1 (EOW1), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), African American Heritage Hymnal (AAHH), Wonder Love and Praise (WLP), and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.

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St. Matthew's Day & 167th Parish Anniversary (September 25, 2022)

The Holy Eucharist

Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/

Sunday, September 25, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #525: The Church's One Foundation

The Opening Acclamation

A Litany of Thanksgiving for a Church

Hymn S-280: Glory to God

The Collect of the Day

A Reading from the Book of Proverbs (3:1-6)

Psalm 119:33-40

A Reading from the Second Letter of Paul to Timothy (3:14-17)

AAHH #343: Renew Thy Church, Her Ministries Restore (Verses 1-3)

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew (9:9-13)

AAHH #343: Renew Thy Church, Her Ministries Restore (Verse 4)

The Sermon

CHOIR: "Except the Lord Build A House"

The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of the People

The Peace

Parish Announcements

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The Offertory

Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now

AAHH #402: Walking Up the King's Highway

AAHH #651: Doxology

Eucharistic Prayer B

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction Anthems

LEV #149: In Remembrance of Me

LEV #150: Jesus, the Bread of Life

The Post-Communion Prayer

The Blessing of the People

LEV #158: Make Me A Blessing

The Dismissal

The Parish Prayer List

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