The Holy Eucharist
The 10th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 15C)
August 14, 2022
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, August 14, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #596: Judge Eternal
1 Judge eternal, throned in splendor,
Lord of lords and King of kings,
with thy living fire of judgment
purge this land of bitter things;
solace all its wide dominion
with the healing of thy wings.
2 Still the weary folk are pining
for the hour that brings release,
and the city's crowded clangor
cries aloud for sin to cease;
and the homesteads and the woodlands
plead in silence for their peace.
3 Crown, O God, thine own endeavor;
cleave our darkness with thy sword;
feed all those who do not know thee
with the richness of thy word;
cleanse the body of this nation
through the glory of the Lord.
Words: Henry Scott Holland, alt., Public Domain. Music: Komm, o komm, du Geist des Lebens, melody from Neu-vermehrtes und zu Übung Christl. Gottseligkeit eingerichtetes Meiningisches Gesangbuch (1693), Public Domain. All rights reserved.
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 Collect for Purity
[BCP, p. 355]
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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.
Words: Public Domain. Music: Robert Powell © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #28331. All rights reserved.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 232]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son 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 Jeremiah (23:23-29)
Am I a God near by, says the Lord, and not a God far off? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them? says the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? says the Lord. I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, "I have dreamed, I have dreamed!" How long? Will the hearts of the prophets ever turn back-- those who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart? They plan to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, just as their ancestors forgot my name for Baal. Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the Lord. Is not my word like fire, says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 82
[BCP, p. 705]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 God takes his stand in the council of heaven; * he gives judgment in the midst of the gods:
2 "How long will you judge unjustly, * and show favor to the wicked?
3 Save the weak and the orphan; * defend the humble and needy;
4 Rescue the weak and the poor; * deliver them from the power of the wicked.
5 They do not know, neither do they understand; they go about in darkness; * all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 Now I say to you, 'You are gods, * and all of you children of the Most High;
7 Nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, * and fall like any prince.'"
8 Arise, O God, and rule the earth, * for you shall take all nations for your own.
A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (11:29-12:2)
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn #574: Before Thy Throne, O God (Verses 1-3)
1 Before thy throne, O God, we kneel:
give us a conscience quick to feel,
a ready mind to understand
the meaning of thy chastening hand;
whate'er the pain and shame may be,
bring us, O Father, nearer thee.
2 Search out our hearts and make us true;
help us to give to all their due.
From love of pleasure, lust of gold,
from sins which make the heart grow cold,
wean us and train us with thy rod;
teach us to know our faults, O God.
3 For sins of heedless word and deed, for pride ambitious to succeed, for crafty trade and subtle snare to catch the simple unaware, for lives bereft of purpose high, forgive, forgive, O Lord, we cry.
Words: William Boyd Carpenter, alt., Public Domain. Music: St. Petersburg, Dimitri S. Bortniansky, Public Domain. 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. Luke (12:49-56)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided:
father against son and son against father,
mother against daughter and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."
He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Hymn #574: Before Thy Throne, O God (Verse 4)
4 Let the fierce fires which burn and try,
our inmost spirits purify:
consume the ill; purge out the shame;
O God, be with us in the flame;
a newborn people may we rise,
more pure, more true, more nobly wise.
Words: William Boyd Carpenter, alt., Public Domain. Music: St. Petersburg, Dimitri S. Bortniansky, Public Domain. All rights reserved.
The Sermon
"God's Fiery Love" by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector
What does the word of God feel like to you? What image comes to mind? What sensations do you feel?
Jeremiah says that God’s word is “like fire” (23:29). Fire is a great metaphor because fire produces light to help us see, warmth to regulate our temperatures, and heat to cook our food. Fire is incredibly powerful and useful in the right hands. But fire is also dangerous and uncontrollable at times. If you’re not careful with fire, if you don’t respect its power, it can burn you and destroy many things. People of faith often treat God’s Word like it is a cuddly teddy bear -- warm and cozy, but not at all challenging. What Jeremiah and the other scriptures here are teaching us is that God’s Word isn’t like that. It is not to be trifled with or used willy-nilly.
Here’s what we mean by that. In Jeremiah 23, the Prophet is speaking for God, accusing other leaders of Judah of behaving like false prophets. The prophets who we read about in the Bible were not the only people running around claiming to speak for God. There were plenty of other preachers and so-called prophets trying to instruct the people. But, according to Jeremiah, most of them were corrupt. They said they were speaking God’s Word, that they had received special dreams and visions, but they prophesied “lies” and “the deceit of their own heart” (23:26).
To put it plainly, they told the people what they wanted to hear. They smoothed out God’s Word. False prophets are notorious for preaching God’s love without considering God’s justice. In Jeremiah’s day, the false prophets kept telling the people of Judah that God had chosen them, that they were special, that they were invincible because God lived with them in the Temple. They didn’t have to worry about foreign threats and they didn’t have to follow all of those pesky laws about fairness for the poor and the oppressed. As long as they took care of worship in the Temple, God had their back. Do the rituals, say the prayers, pay your tithes, and God will handle the rest.
But, this message was incomplete. The people failed to care for the neediest among them. They did not think economic and social justice mattered and they let inequality and injustice grow like weeds. God cried out to them in the words of the Psalmist, “How long will you judge unjustly, * and show favor to the wicked? Save the weak and the orphan; * defend the humble and needy; Rescue the weak and the poor; * deliver them from the power of the wicked” (Psalm 82:2-4).
People often try to pit God’s love and God’s justice against one another, as if they are two different parts of God’s character, as if God has a split personality. But they are really the same thing. Of course, God does love us. God does live with us in this holy place. God will protect us from harm and comfort us in our times of affliction. But God also doesn’t love us more than anybody else. That’s why God is love and justice and fairness. If we start to use “God’s love” to cover over our oppression of the weak and poor, or our negligence of the humble and needy, then God’s love (like a fire) may start to burn more than it warms us. It’s not that God changed, it’s that we do. And we can never use God as an excuse for our laziness or apathy toward other beloved children of God.
The Rev. Dr. Joy J. Moore is a Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Reflecting on Jeremiah 23, she asks, “How is it that we’ve highlighted the judgment [of God] and not highlighted why? And the ‘why’ is to give justice to the weak and the orphan, to maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute, to rescue the weak and the needy, to deliver from the hand of the wicked. This is why God is responding. This is why God is reacting. God has always been concerned that we experience peace on this side of heaven. I don’t know how we’ve missed that in talking about the character of God” (“Brainwave 857”).
God’s love and God’s Word are a fire that can warm and comfort us and light our path. But God’s fiery love burns for all people. And just as we would defend any of our children from harm, God defends those in need. So God’s judgment is not about God being mean or vindictive. God’s judgment is simply God’s love for everyone, God’s desire to set all things right, God balancing the scales and making the world fair and equitable.
And here’s the kicker: all of us are both weak and strong. All of us are both oppressed and oppressors. All of us are both saints and sinners. And so God’s love is going to feel different to us at different times in our lives. When we’re living as beacons of God’s love to people around us, or when we’ve been hurt by forces of evil, God’s love is a warming comfort. But when we turn around and hurt our siblings or support the systems that oppress us, God’s love will feel like a different kind of fire. Jeremiah warns that false prophets will tell only half the story, the part we like to hear the most. But God is both nearby and far off. God sees us at our best and at our worst, and God sees everyone else too. May the Spirit fill us with the fire of God’s true Word and give us the grace to love our neighbors as God loves all of us. Amen.
Bibliography
Lewis, Karoline, Joy J. Moore, and Matt Skinner. “Brainwave 857: Ordinary 20C (Tenth Sunday after Pentecost) - August 14, 2022.” Produced by Working Preacher. Working Preacher’s Sermon Brainwave, August 6, 2022. Podcast, 25:00. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/working-preachers-sermon-brainwave/id282364902?i=1000575199519.
AAHH #507: He Has Done Great Things For Me
1 He has done great things for me
Great things, great things
He has done great things for me
2 He has made a way for me
Made a way, made a way
He has made a way for me
3 He will give you victory
Victory, victory
He will give you victory
4 I'm gonna be a witness for Him
Witness, witness
I'm gonna be a witness for Him
5 I'm gonna let my little light shine
Shine, shine
I'm gonna let my little light shine
Words: Shirley M. K. Berkeley © 1989 Shirley M. K. Berkeley. Music: Shirley M. K. Berkeley © 1989 Shirley M. K. Berkeley; arr. by Stephen Key © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #93255. All rights reserved.
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. 92]
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, Altheria Maynard, Bette Milledge, 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: Claudine Lee (8/17) and Quentin Scott (8/19); those celebrating anniversaries; 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 suitable Collect...
Confession of Sin
[BCP, p. 360]
The Deacon says
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Deacon and People
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
A. LEM & LEV Training on 8/14: On Sunday, August 14, after worship, Deacon Davis and Fr. Arboleda will lead a training session for people interested in serving as Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM) or Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEV). LEM’s serve on the altar on Sundays and other holidays, assisting the priest and deacon during worship. LEV’s bring Communion to people who are sick, shut-in, or otherwise unable to attend church in person. They are equipped to provide pastoral care and prayer for people in their times of need.
Even if you have served in these roles in the past, please try to attend this training to refresh your memory and learn about changes and updates to these ministries. If you cannot attend on August 14, please contact Deacon Davis (Deacon@StMattSav.org) and Fr. Arboleda (FrGAA@StMattSav.org) to try to schedule a makeup session.
B. Lay Ministers' Conference at Honey Creek 9/9-10: “Baptized for Life: A Lay Ministers’ Conference” will take place September 9-10 at Honey Creek Camp and Retreat Center in Waverly, GA! This conference is intended for any lay person in the Diocese who is in any active ministry in their congregation. Examples of such lay ministries include those who assist or lead worship, serve on the Vestry, serve on committees, teach Sunday School or lead youth activities, serve on the Altar Guild, care for the buildings and grounds, lead outreach activities, and more. This conference will be led by Dr. Lisa Kimball, the Vice President for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary.
This conference will focus on the ministry of the laity, including its joys and challenges especially over the past two years. It will frame our various calls in the context of our Baptismal identity and the vows we make at Baptism, and will give participants an opportunity to think toward the future in their own specific contexts. There will also be time to rest, relax, worship together, and enjoy simply being together at Honey Creek!
The event begins with Evening Prayer at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, September 9, and ends at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10. Please register by clicking here or at the following link. Registration prices range from $90 - $144 depending on whether you select a double or single occupancy lodge room. If you would like to go, but the registration fee is a problem, please talk with Fr. Guillermo.
C. Fundraiser for Duplechien Family Medical Bills: Aaron Duplechien Jr. has been battling a rare cerebral disease called Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). He and his family are trying to get him the best treatment possible and that has been expensive. Please consider making a direct donation to the Duplechien family to help them with Aaron Jr.'s medical expenses. Either way, click below to read an update about Aaron's health. Above all else, please continue praying for them! https://www.facebook.com/donate/2199694463523280/7764425680297217/
Heavenly Father, watch with us over your child Aaron, and hear our yearning that he may be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Note: Gifts made at the link above will go directly to the Duplechien family (via Facebook’s fundraising platform), not to St. Matthew’s Church, so they are not tax deductible.
D. Parish Cleaning Day on 8/27: Join us on Saturday, August 27, from 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon for a parish cleaning day. We need help cleaning and tidying both indoors and outdoors. We can use help from people of all ages and skill levels. Some coffee and light refreshments will be available for participants.
E. Zoom Bible Study Launching 9/7: Starting on Wednesday, September 7, Deacon Davis and Fr. Arboleda will launch a weekly Zoom Bible Study. The group will gather on Wednesdays at 5:30 PM using the same Zoom link as Evening Prayer. The first meeting will be an introduction and overview; the assembled group will help select the first Bible book to focus on.
F. September is Church Anniversary Month!: 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. This year, we will expand the celebration to include a series of events throughout September:
Sunday, September 11: Lemonade on the Lawn - Outdoor repast after worship on the lawn on the corner of MLK Jr. Blvd and W Anderson St. Invite friends and neighbors to join us!
Sunday, September 18: Gospel Brunch at Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant - After worship, church members are invited to eat brunch and listen to live Gospel music at Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant, 107 W Broughton St, Savannah, GA 31401, at 11:00 AM. Individuals and families are encouraged to make reservations by calling 912-236-2226 or visiting https://goodtimesjazzbar.com. Note: Attendees will be responsible for their own meals at this optional indoor event.
Tuesday - Thursday, September 20-22: Evening Prayer with Guest Preachers: On these days, Evening Prayer will be held in-person at St. Matthew's with guest homilists from neighboring churches. These services will still be live-streamed to Facebook for virtual participants.
Sunday, September 25: St. Matthew's Day, 167th Church Anniversary, & Church Picnic: Celebrate the Feast of St. Matthew and our Parish's 167th Anniversary during Sunday worship at 9:30 AM! Church members are encouraged to make an Anniversary donation at or around $167.00. Afterward, we will hold a church picnic on the grounds for people to eat and fellowship with one another.
G. 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.
H. 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]
OR
"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
LEV #132: Certainly, Lord
1 Have you got good religion?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Have you got good religion?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Have you got good religion?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Cert’nly, cert’nly, cert’nly, Lord!
2 Have you been redeemed?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Have you been redeemed?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Have you been redeemed?
Cert’nly, Lord!
Cert’nly, cert’nly, cert’nly, Lord!
3 Have you been to the water?
Cert’nly Lord!
Have you been to the water?
Cert’nly Lord!
Have you been to the water?
Cert’nly Lord!
Cert’nly, cert’nly, cert’nly, Lord!
4 Have you been baptized?
Cert’nly Lord!
Have you been baptized?
Cert’nly Lord!
Have you been baptized?
Cert’nly Lord!
Cert’nly, cert’nly, cert’nly, Lord!
Words: Traditional, Public Domain. Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #12829. All rights reserved.
AAHH #668: All Things Come Of Thee
All things come of Thee, O Lord, And of Thine own have we given Thee.
Amen.
Words: 1 Chronicles 29:14, Public Domain. Music: Attributed to Ludwig van Beethoven, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #OLOFOB668. All rights reserved.
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. …
The Celebrant sings or says a Proper Preface
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.
[Word: Public Domain. Music: From A Community Mass, Richard Proulx © 1971, 1977 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #00216. 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,
LEV #260:
We remember his death. We proclaim his resurrection. We await his coming in glory.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Hezekiah Brinson © 1990 Hezekiah Brinson, Jr. All rights reserved.]
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!
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Ambrosian chant; adapt. Mason Martens © 1971 Mason Martens.]
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, Eucharist of the Soul © 1972 General Words and Music Co. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #57436. All rights reserved.]
Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
AAHH #269: Think of His Goodness To You
1 When waves of affliction sweep over the soul,
And sunlight is hidden from view,
If ever you’re tempted to fret or complain,
Just think of His goodness to you.
REFRAIN:
Just think of His goodness to you;
Yes, think of His goodness to you;
Though storms o’er thee sweep,
He is able to keep;
O think of His goodness to you.
2 The world may forsake you, and those whom you trust
May prove to be false and untrue;
There’s One you can trust even unto the end;
Just think of His goodness to you. [Refrain]
3 Misfortune’s dark cloud my hang over the way,
Despite your best efforts to do;
The Savior is guarding your treasures up there;
Just think of His goodness to you. [Refrain]
4 When dear ones are taken away from you here,
You loved with affection so true,
Look unto the Savior for strength to endure,
And think of His goodness to you. [Refrain]
Words and Music: R. C. Ward, Public Domain. 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 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 Enriching Our Worship 1, p. 71]
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
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, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angelica Glover, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Bette Milledge, Jewel Wheeler
BIRTHDAYS: Claudine Lee (8/17) and Quentin Scott (8/19)
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.