Sunday Worship for All Saints' Day (October 31, 2021)
The Holy Eucharist
All Saints' Day, Year B (transferred)
October 31, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, October 31, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #287: For All the Saints
[Verses 1-4, 7-8]
1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
4. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
7. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
8. From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Words: William Walsham How, Public Domain.
Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #18303. All rights reserved.
Opening Sentences
[BCP, p. 355]
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be God's kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
A Litany for All Saints’ Day
[Adapted from Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book (2014), pp. 430-434]
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, have mercy on us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
O God, the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Holy Michael and Gabriel, Archangels, pray for us.
All holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
All holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.
Holy Abraham Isaac, and Jacob, pray for us.
Holy Sarah, Hagar, Keturah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah, pray for us.
Holy Moses, Miriam, and Aaron, pray for us.
Holy Ruth and Naomi, pray for us.
Holy David, Samuel, and Elijah, pray for us.
Holy John the Baptist, Forerunner to our Savior, pray for us.
Holy Mary, the Bearer of God, pray for us.
Holy Joseph, stepfather of our Savior, pray for us.
All holy patriarchs, matriarchs, and prophets, pray for us.
Holy Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Holy Andrew, James, and John, pray for us.
Holy Matthew: Apostle, Evangelist, and our parish's patron, pray for us.
Holy Mark and Luke, pray for us.
Holy Mary Magdalene and Junia, pray for us.
All apostles, disciples, and evangelists, pray for us.
Holy Stephen, first martyr and our patron, pray for us.
Holy Ignatius and Polycarp, pray for us.
Holy Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us.
Holy Constance and the Martyrs of Memphis, pray for us.
Holy Jonathan Daniels and Martin Luther King, Jr., pray for us.
Holy Janani Luwum and Óscar Romero, pray for us.
All holy martyrs of our God, pray for us.
Holy Gregory, Basil, and Chrysostom, pray for us.
Holy Augustine of Hippo, our patron, pray for us.
Holy Columba, Patrick, and Brigid, pray for us.
Holy Anthony, Benedict, Francis, and Dominic, pray for us.
Holy Hildegard, Clare, and Julian, pray for us.
All holy teachers, confessors, and doctors, pray for us.
Holy Augustine and Anselm of Canterbury, pray for us.
Holy Samuel Seabury, first Episcopal bishop, pray for us.
Holy Enmegabowh, first Native American Episcopal priest, pray for us.
Holy James Theodore Holly, first Black Episcopal bishop, pray for us.
Holy Frances Perkins, Harriet Bedell, and Thurgood Marshall, pray for us.
Holy Anna Alexander, patron saint of the Diocese of Georgia, pray for us.
All holy leaders of Anglicanism and The Episcopal Church, pray for us.
All holy bishops, priests, and deacons, pray for us. All holy lay people, the hands and feet of the Body of Christ, pray for us. All holy missionaries, evangelists, and preachers, pray for us. All holy monks and hermits, pray for us. All holy advocates for love, justice, and mercy, pray for us. All holy women and holy men, saints of God, pray for us.
Let us pray: We give thanks to you, Most Holy God, for all your servants and witnesses of time past, for all the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and saints in every age and in every land. In your mercy, O God, give us, as you gave to them, the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the first-born of many from the dead. Amen.
Hymn S-280: Glory to God (Gloria in Excelsis)
[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.
Words: Public Domain.
Music: Robert Powell © 1985 Church Publishing, Inc.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #77081. All rights reserved.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 245]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Wisdom (3:1-9)
The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 24
[BCP, p. 613]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, * the world and all who dwell therein.
2 For it is he who founded it upon the seas * and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3 "Who can ascend the hill of the Lord? " * and who can stand in his holy place?"
4 "Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, * who have not pledged themselves to falsehood, nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5 They shall receive a blessing from the Lord * and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, * of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7 Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
8 "Who is this King of glory?" * "The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle."
9 Lift up your heads, O gates; lift them high, O everlasting doors; * and the King of glory shall come in.
10 "Who is he, this King of glory?" * "The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory."
A Reading from the Revelation to St. John the Divine (21:1-6a)
I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them as their God; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away."
And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end."
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
The People stand for the reading of the Gospel.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. John (11:32-44)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
“Shine the Light of Christ” by Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
“In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect” (Wisdom 3:7-9).
As we gather together on this Halloween Sunday, we are celebrating tomorrow’s feast: All Saints’ Day. It’s a time to think about all the saints and the meaning of sainthood. Who are the saints? What makes them saints? Why do we remember and celebrate them?
The saints are varied and diverse from every time, place, people, culture, gender, occupation, and vocation. Many of them are famous but many more are not and we don’t know their names (which is why we have this feast as a catch-all in addition to all the individual saint days). They lived lives that represent all the wonderful diversity of humankind. There is no one way to be a saint. Godliness and saintliness take many forms because living the Gospel and loving as Christ loved can fit into any culture and just about any way of life. But all the saints always have at least two things in common:
They are people who give us examples of godly living
They are people led by the Holy Spirit to do good works
Being a saint is both about what that person did, but also about what God did through that person. God makes you a saint and you become a saint through your choices and actions. It’s both-and. God is always at work in you, guiding and leading you to walk in love. That’s what God did in the lives of all the saints and what God has prepared for each of us.
As the Book of Wisdom says, the saints “will shine forth” and “The Lord will reign over them forever.” The saints do amazing things that shine bright for the world to see, and it’s by God’s hands that they shine. Saints are like the moon, which doesn’t really produce its own light, but absorbs and reflects light from the sun. We want to absorb the light of Christ and shine it on others, allowing ourselves to be transformed in the process. It’s always this mysterious and holy combination of what God has given you and what you choose to do with those gifts that lead people to saintly living.
Of course, we must remember that the saints were not perfect people. We don’t believe that they are sinless like Jesus Christ. So it’s okay to acknowledge their flaws and learn from those too. For everyone we celebrate on the calendar of saints, we could name something about their lives that isn’t worth imitating, some area of sin. But that’s true of all of us too. Nobody is perfect. But what we can do is absorb the light of Christ and shine it through good, loving deeds.
Despite our imperfections, God can still accomplish great things in your life just as God did in the lives of the saints. Sainthood is not this far-off unattainable ideal. You can be a saint too because God loves you and (as we say during the baptism service) “you are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ's own forever.” (BCP, p. 308). We celebrate All Saints’ Day to remind each of us of all the ways we can lead saintly lives too. The same God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and saved us from sin lives in you. The same Holy Spirit that lived in the saints lives in you.
All the holy, admirable, and beautiful things the saints did were done by Christ and with Christ and in Christ. “By him and with him and in him…” That phrase from the end of the Eucharistic Prayer reminds us that Jesus is present with us always. Christ is with us and able to guide us each and every day. His Holy Spirit empowers us to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. That is the path of the saints.
Earlier in this worship service, we prayed a Litany for All Saints’ Day. In it, we named dozens of saints. Some of them are from the Bible, others are from much later in history, all the way up to the 20th century. They come from all over the world and from all walks of life. I encourage you to go back and look at that list and find a name or two that intrigues you. Google them. Learn more about their story and why they are remembered as saints. Give thanks to God for the example they left us and ask God to shine that same light of Christ through you. Because God can make you a saint too. Amen.
LEV #42: He Lives
[Verses 1-3]
1. I serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today,
I know that He is living, Whatever others say,
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice cheer,
and just the time I need Him He’s always near.
REFRAIN:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way,
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
2. In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair,
I know that He is leading through all the stormy blast
The day of His appearing will come at last. [REFRAIN]
3. Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,
None other is so loving, so good and kind. [REFRAIN]
Words: Alfred H. Ackley © 1933 Homer A. Rodeheaver, renewed 1961 The Rodeheaver Co. (a division of WORD, Inc.).
Music: Alfred H. Ackley © 1933 Homer A. Rodeheaver, renewed 1961 The Rodeheaver Co. (a division of WORD, Inc.).
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #90882. All rights reserved.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
[BCP, p. 292]
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 Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, and 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 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.
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
[Adapted from Form III, BCP, p. 387]
Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church; That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you; That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons; That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake; That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble especially those on our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Genelle Joseph and her children, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Craig Maxwell, Jameel Newton, Mackenzie Orth, Helen Scroggins, the Townsend family, and Gon Trimble; That they may be delivered from their distress.
As All Souls' Day draws near, let us pray for all our loved ones who have died...
Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for all your saints who have entered into joy, especially Blessed Matthew, Blessed Stephen, and Blessed Augustine, our patrons; May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others, especially for Misha Taylor (11/2) on her birthday; and other thanksgivings we remember now.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions.
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 forever. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
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:
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“I appeal to you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” [Romans 12:1; see BCP, p. 376]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
AAHH #595: When the Saints Go Marching In
[Verses 1-3]
1 O when the saints go marching in,
O when the saints go marching in,
O Lord, I want to be in that number
when the saints go marching in.
2 O when the sun refused to shine,
O when the sun refused to shine,
O Lord, I want to be in that number
when the sun refused to shine.
3 O when they crown Him Lord of all,
O when they crown Him Lord of all,
O Lord, I want to be in that number
when they crown Him Lord of all.
Words: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain.
Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain; arr. Stephen Key © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95145. All rights reserved.
AAHH #651: Doxology
[See also Hymn # 380, v. 3]
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.
Words: Thomas Ken, Public Domain.
Music: Old 100th, attributed to Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84260. All rights reserved.
Eucharistic Prayer B
[BCP, p. 367, 380]
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 him 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 for in the multitude of your saints you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses, that we might rejoice in their fellowship, and run with endurance the race that is set before us; and, together with them, receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
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!
[Words: Public Domain; Music: Grayson Warren Brown, A Mass for a Soulful People © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #98299. All Rights Reserved.]
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,
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 the Blessed Virgin Mary, Blessed Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, Blessed Stephen the Deacon and Martyr, Blessed Augustine of Hippo, 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 forever. 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 Anthem
[BCP, p. 364, 407]
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.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Lena McLin © 1972-1993 General Words and Music Co., reprinted from Eucharist of the Soul. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #100355. All Rights Reserved.]
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
LEV #12: We're Marching to Zion
[Verses 1-4]
1 Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.
REFRAIN:
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
2 Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heav’nly King,
But children of the heav’nly King,
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad. [REFRAIN]
3 The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets. [REFRAIN]
4 Then let our songs abound,
And ev’ry tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching thro’ Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high. [REFRAIN]
Words: Isaac Watts, Public Domain.
Music: Robert S. Lowry, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95131. 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.
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 (i.e., 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
[Book of Occasional Services 2018, p. 15]
May Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate this festival of all the Saints, be now and evermore your guide and companion in the way. Amen.
May God, who has bound us together in the company of the elect, in this age and the age to come, attend to the prayers of his faithful servants on your behalf, as he hears your prayers for them. Amen.
May God, who has given us, in the lives of his saints, patterns of holy living and victorious dying, strengthen your faith and devotion, and enable you to bear witness to the truth against all adversity. Amen.
And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
Parish Announcements
A. 2022 Giving Campaign: The 2022 Giving Campaign is the Vestry’s opportunity to check in with different members and your opportunity to reconsider your commitments to St. Matthew’s in the coming year. Following the trend of many churches, we are updating our language around stewardship and giving to make it more straightforward and easier to understand for people who did not grow up in church. The 2022 Giving Estimate Forms (formerly called "Pledges") are now available electronically. Physical copies were distributed at the A.S.K. Dinner To-Go. Giving Estimates and Giving Campaign Letters will be mailed to all members shortly. All giving estimates are due by Sunday, November 7, when we will bless them and give thanks for God’s many blessings!
If you have not already submitted a giving estimate, keep an eye out for the 2022 Stewardship Letter in the mail this week.
The Online 2022 Giving Estimate: https://tinyurl.com/StMattSav2022
Click here to learn more about how and why to give to St. Matthew's.
B. PREPARE TO VOTE: Prior to Election Day, November 2, confirm your registration and poll location by calling Voter Registration at (912) 790-1520 or use the MY VOTER PAGE website at www.mvp.sos.ga.gov. The voter registration deadline for this election was Monday, October 4.
C. Episcopal Diocese of Georgia Convention 11/4-11/6: The 200th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia will take place at Jekyll Island Convention Center on November 4-6, 2021. On Friday, November 5, the Convention Eucharist will take place at Honey Creek Camp & Retreat Center, Waverly, GA, and include a Celebration of the New Ministry of Bishop Frank Logue.
St. Matthew's will be represented by one clergy delegate and two lay delegates. Our clergy delegate is the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda. Our lay delegates are Ms. Sheila Jones and Ms. Rachael Blue-Jones; Ms. Frieda McDew Shorter will serve as an alternate delegate. Please pray for St. Matthew's delegation and the entire Convention.
Learn more about the business we will discuss here: https://gaepiscopal.org/convention/.
D. Emmaus House Empty Bowl Fundraiser 11/7: Emmaus House is holding its 11th Annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Sunday, November 7 from 12:00-2:00.
Purchase a ticket, enjoy a delicious soup lunch and take home a beautiful locally handmade bowl! Proceeds will directly benefit the Emmaus House mission of providing vital services to the unsheltered homeless population. We will also host an online art auction, an Artist Spotlight series on social media showcasing the artists who donate to the event, and a fun recipe video featuring our Executive Chef Brandi! Tickets can be purchased in advance, at the door, or at the event. Credit cards, checks and cash are all accepted. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/11th-annual-empty-bowl-fundraiser-tickets-159677322169?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
E. Conversations on Relationships and Race (CORR) on 11/9: St. Matthew’s is partnering with St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Isle of Hope UMC, and Asbury UMC to hold a monthly book club and dialogue series on race and relationships that will focus on a different book about racial injustice every month. Our hope is to continue learning more about others and ourselves, while also building deeper and meaningful relationships with our greater community across the barriers of denomination and race.
Our second gathering will be held on Tuesday, November 9, 6:00-7:30 PM in person only at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, 412 Parkersburg Road, Savannah, GA 31406. Dinner will be served. The December meeting with be on Sunday, December 12, at 4:00-5:30 PM at St. Matthew's.
Our current book is called Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho. Please read the Introduction through Chapter 6 (i.e., "Part I: You and Me") before the November meeting. Please do not read ahead so we can all be on the same page in the discussion. You can purchase the book online or in most book stores (Amazon link).
F. Care Packages for Needy Neighbors: As we all continue to struggle during the pandemic, and the neighborhood around St. Matthew's Church has been especially hard-hit. We want to respond to the immediate needs of our neighbors by building care packages we can distribute to anyone who asks for help, especially those experiencing homelessness. You can help support this initiative by donating individual size packages any or all of the following:
Gallon-size Zipper Bags
Bottled Water
Non-perishable snacks
Disposable Washcloths
Travel size First Aid Kit
Travel size Facial Tissue
Travel size Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Travel size Hand Sanitizer, 2 fl. oz.
Travel size Deodorant
Canned foods with pull tab
Packs of Gum
Some of these care packages will be kept on site at St. Matthew's for local distribution, but the majority will be donated to Emmaus House, our partner ministry for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Savannah. If you would like to serve our unhoused neighbors in other ways, Emmaus House is now accepting volunteers to serve breakfast on weekdays from 7:30-9:30 AM. Register today: https://www.unitedministriessavannah.org/volunteer
G. Upcoming Dates for Baptisms & Confirmations: Holy Baptism is available to anyone at any age who has not already been baptized. Confirmation or Reception is available for teens and adults who would like to make a mature commitment to The Episcopal Church. Baptisms can be performed on almost any Sunday or feast day based on your family's schedule. Confirmations, Receptions, and Renewals of Baptismal Vows must take place when a Bishop is present. The Right Rev. Frank Logue, Bishop of Georgia, will hold his next visitation to St. Matthew's on Sunday, January 16, 2022. If you are interested in taking any of these next steps in your faith journey, please contact Fr. Arboleda by cell phone or email (FrGAA@StMattSav.org).
H. T/W/Th Evening Prayer via Zoom: 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
I. Revised COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for In-Person Worship: On June 21, the Vestry authorized revised COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for in-person worship at St. Matthew's. Changes include:
Up to 100 people are now allowed in the church at a time (increased from 70)
People may stay in the building for up to 1.5 hours (increased from 1 hour)
One-way foot traffic floor arrows are removed and no longer necessary
Congregational singing is now allowed
All people in attendance are still required to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth at all times and maintain social distancing in their assigned seating areas. Click here to read the Vestry's June 2021 COVID-19 Safety Guidelines in their entirety.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!
Thanks be to God!
The Parish Prayer List
Prayer List: Martha Avery, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Genelle Joseph and her children, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Craig Maxwell, Jameel Newton, Mackenzie Orth, Helen Scroggins, the Townsend family, and Gon Trimble
Birthdays: Misha Taylor (11/2)
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), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), African American Heritage Hymnal (AAHH) and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
Image Credit: https://www.livinglutheran.org/2017/11/living-saints/