Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Aug 7, 2022
- 22 min read

Sunday Worship for August 7, 2022

The Holy Eucharist

The 9th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 14C)

August 7, 2022

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

Sunday, August 7, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #636: How Firm A Foundation

1 How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,

is laid for your faith in his excellent word!

What more can he say than to you he hath said,

to you that for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2 "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed!

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,

upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

3 "When through the deep waters I call thee to go,

the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;

for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,

and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

4 "When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,

my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

the flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

5 "The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

that soul, though all hell shall endeavor to shake,

I'll never, no, never, no, never forsake."

Words: K. in John Rippon's Selection (1787), alt., Public Domain. Music: Foundation, melody from The Sacred Harp (1844), Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #81568. 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.

The Collect of the Day

[BCP, p. 357, 232]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Genesis (15:1-6)

The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great." But Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir." But the word of the Lord came to him, "This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir." He brought him outside and said, "Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them." Then he said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 33:12-22

[BCP, p. 626]

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

12 Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! * happy the people he has chosen to be his own!

13 The Lord looks down from heaven, * and beholds all the people in the world.

14 From where he sits enthroned he turns his gaze * on all who dwell on the earth.

15 He fashions all the hearts of them * and understands all their works.

16 There is no king that can be saved by a mighty army; * a strong man is not delivered by his great strength.

17 The horse is a vain hope for deliverance; * for all its strength it cannot save.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him, * on those who wait upon his love,

19 To pluck their lives from death, * and to feed them in time of famine.

20 Our soul waits for the Lord; * he is our help and our shield.

21 Indeed, our heart rejoices in him, * for in his holy Name we put our trust.

22 Let your loving-kindness, O Lord, be upon us, * as we have put our trust in you.

A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (11:1-3, 8-16)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn #533: How Wondrous and Great (Verse 1)

1 How wondrous and great thy works, God of praise! How just, King of saints, and true are thy ways! O who shall not fear thee, and honor thy Name? Thou only art holy, thou only supreme.

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 (12:32-40)

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn #533: How Wondrous and Great (Verse 2)

2 To nations of earth thy light shall be shown; their worship and vows shall come to thy throne: thy truth and thy judgments shall spread all abroad, till earth's every people confess thee their God.

The Sermon

"Give Mercy" by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector

“Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:32-34).

Are you ready to talk about money for the second week in a row? Deacon Davis so eloquently reminded us last Sunday about the importance of sharing what we have with others, unlike the rich fool from the parable. Today, we’re hearing some more of Jesus’ teaching about money and possessions. And the temptation for the preacher whenever we see a Bible passage about money is to talk about tithing, giving to the church to support our local ministry.

But here’s the thing: this passage is not about giving regularly to your local church. Churches with buildings like this did not exist in Jesus’ time. There was the Temple in Jerusalem and faithful Jewish people were expected to give money or stuff to support the Temple. That’s where we find the biblical principle behind the practice of tithing or pledging to the parish.

As someone who earns their livelihood through a portion of your gifts to St. Matthew’s Church, I think giving to your local church is important. I encourage all of you to do it. I give a portion of my income from this church back to this church to use for other things. I aim to give about 10% of my gross income to the church and to other charitable causes. So I’m not encouraging you to do anything that I don’t do myself. And there are other portions of the Bible that talk more directly about supporting faith communities and leaders. That’s all well and good.

But this passage from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 12, is not about paying your tithes. The key phrase here is not to give to the priests, the temple, or the church; instead, Jesus tells us to “give alms.” That means to show compassion to people in need. The Greek word for alms has the same root as the word for “mercy”, like when we pray “Lord, have mercy on us” (Kyrie eleison). In other words, Jesus tells us to “give mercy.” Just like we pray for God to be merciful to us, Jesus asks us to be merciful and generous to one another. That’s why we give to people experiencing poverty and hardship; it is our effort to show Christ-like mercy and compassion.

Jesus cares much more about our attitudes and actions toward people in need than he does about propping up institutional churches. If there were no church buildings or vestries or paid clergy or church budgets, the church would still exist. Because the church is the faithful people of God. It’s all of us. We are St. Matthew’s. We are God’s church. And as we strive to manage money carefully, faithfully, and transparently, we always have to remember that. In the big picture, the money-side of church is secondary to the mission of the church. We are in the “business” of caring for people, so that must always come first.

The Book of Common Prayer summarizes the Church’s mission like this: “The mission of the Church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. … The Church pursues its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and promotes justice, peace, and love” (p. 855). Everything we do as a church should be aimed toward unity, justice, peace, and love. Everything is about becoming a people who give mercy. I’m obviously not saying that money is unimportant (we need to use it to achieve those goals). But money is never the most important thing.

Here is a story that might help illustrate the point. My friend and classmate at Duke Divinity School, Candice Marie Benbow, published a captivating memoir this year called Red Lip Theology. In it, she tells a story about a friend she had who was going through a rough patch. That friend needed help covering their rent because of some emergency in their life. So Candice, living on a tight income, decided to take the money she was planning to give to church that month and give it to her friend instead. To be honest, that seems really faithful to me. Candice chose to give mercy to her friend in need. That may not be the message that personally benefits me or St. Matthew’s Church the most, but it’s the message that seems closest to Jesus’ words here.

None of us has unlimited money (this church doesn’t either). We all have to make difficult decisions about where and how to spend our money. And the guiding principle that Jesus gives us is: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). And more specifically, Jesus wants us to prioritize showing mercy to the members of our human family over everything else. That means that sometimes the right answer is to “tithe” to someone in need and not to the church. Then, love and blessings will flow elsewhere for a while, and they will circle back around in good time. That’s why Jesus starts this teaching with “Do not be afraid” (Luke 12:32). Instead of living in fear, we live in trust and hope that God will provide for the church, especially when we put mercy first. Amen.

Bibliography

Benbow, Candice Marie. Red Lip Theology: For Church Girls Who’ve Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn’t Enough. New York: Convergent, 2022.

AAHH #160: The Lord Is My Light

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Whom shall I fear?

REFRAIN:

Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life.

Whom shall I fear?

2 In the time of trouble, he shall hide me.

In the time of trouble, he shall hide me.

Whom shall I fear?

3 Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage.

Wait on the Lord, and be of good courage.

Whom shall I fear?

Words: Lillian Bouknight © 1980 Savgos Music, Inc. Music: Lillian Bouknight © 1980 Savgos Music, Inc; arr. by Stephen Key © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #41692. 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: Timryl Rhett (8/7), Irene Dixon (8/7), RaSheen Jones (8/7), and DeAndre Wesley Scott (8/8); 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

Click here to sign up for our e-Newsletter

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.

https://onrealm.org/HoneyCreek/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=ZmRhYmMwNDAtODE5MC00NTc3LTg5YjItYWVlNTAxMWI4YWFh

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. Georgia Rental Assistance Program Funds Now Available: The Georgia Department of Community Affairs can provide relief to landlords and tenants whose finances have been negatively impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic by bringing past due rent and utility payments current up to 18 months. To check your eligibility and submit an application, please visit GeorgiaRentalAssistance.ga.gov. For questions regarding your application, please email rentalassistance@dca.ga.gov.

E. Coffee Hour Sign Up & New COVID Guidelines: St. Matthew’s Vestry agreed to update its In-Person COVID-19 Safety Guidelines on March 31, 2022. To summarize, when the CDC indicates that Chatham County has a Low or Medium “COVID-19 Community Level,” the Vestry will allow light refreshments to be served at public indoor events, provided that people continue to wear masks whenever they are not eating or drinking. When Chatham County has a High COVID-19 level, food and drink will not be allowed. Chatham County currently has a Medium COVID-19 level. You can read the guidance in all its detail here: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/new-covid-19-safety-guidelines-spring-2022.

The Vestry invites individuals and families to serve light refreshments after worship on Sundays in-person. Please sign up for upcoming dates using the poster near the kitchen in Toomer-Walker Hall.

F. 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

LEV #142: Sign Me Up

REFRAIN:

Sign me up for the Christian jubilee,

write my name on the roll.

I've been changed since the Lord has lifted me,

I want to be ready when Jesus comes.

When Jesus comes, oh the trumpet will sound loud.

When my Savior comes, all the saints in Christ shall rise.

Oh, I'm glad I've been changed since He lifted me,

I want to be ready when Jesus comes.

Words: Kevin Yancey and Jerome Metcalfe © 1979 GIA Publications, Inc. Music: Kevin Yancy and Jerome Metcalfe; harm. by Kenneth Morris © 1979 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #12829. All rights reserved.

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.

AAHH #668: All Things Come Of Thee

All things come of Thee, O Lord, And of Thine own have we given Thee

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.

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.

WLP #762: I Am the Bread of Life

ANTIPHON / REFRAIN:

I am the Bread of life!

1 Whoever comes to me shall never hunger,

whoever trusts in me shall never thirst

2 This is the living Bread which comes from heaven

the bread which all may eat and never die

3 None come to me unless the Father draw them

and I will raise them up at the last day

4 All they who eat my flesh and drink my blood

abide in me and I abide in them

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: Timryl Rhett (8/7), Irene Dixon (8/7), RaSheen Jones (8/7), and DeAndre Wesley Scott (8/8)

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.

Image Credits: https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_giving_season_2019_insight_into_fundraising_and_philanthropy_from_ssirs_archives

Sunday Worship for August 7, 2022

The Holy Eucharist

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

Sunday, August 7, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

The Word of God

Hymn #636: How Firm A Foundation

The Opening Acclamation

A Collect for Purity

Hymn S-280: Glory to God

The Collect of the Day

A Reading from the Book of Genesis (15:1-6)

Psalm 33:12-22

A Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (11:1-3, 8-16)

Hymn #533: How Wondrous and Great (Verse 1)

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Luke (12:32-40)

Hymn #533: How Wondrous and Great (Verse 2)

The Sermon

AAHH #160: The Lord Is My Light

The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of the People

Confession of Sin

The Peace

Parish Announcements

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The Offertory

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

LEV #142: Sign Me Up

AAHH #651: Doxology

AAHH #668: All Things Come Of Thee

Eucharistic Prayer B

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction Anthems

WLP #762: I Am the Bread of Life

The Post-Communion Prayer

The Blessing of the People

The Dismissal

The Parish Prayer List

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