The Holy Eucharist
11th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 14B, Track 2)
August 8, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, August 8, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #47: On This Day, The First of Days
[Verses 1-6]
1 On this day, the first of days,
God the Father's Name we praise,
who, creation's Lord and spring,
did the world from darkness bring.
2 On this day the eternal Son
over death his triumph won;
on this day the Spirit came
with his gifts of living flame.
3 Maker, who didst fashion me
image of thyself to be,
fill me with thy love divine,
let my every thought be thine.
4 Holy Jesus, may I be
dead and buried here with thee;
and, by love inflamed, arise
unto thee a sacrifice.
5 Thou who dost all gifts impart,
shine, blest Spirit, in my heart;
best of gifts, thyself bestow;
make me burn thy love to know.
6 God, the blessèd Three in One,
dwell within my heart alone;
thou dost give thyself to me,
may I give myself to thee.
Words: Latin, tr. Henry Williams Baker, alt., Public Domain.
Music: Gott sei Dank, adapt. and harm. William Henry Havergal, alt., Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84481. 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.
The 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 (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, 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 First Book of Kings (19:4-8)
Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 34:1-8
[BCP, p. 627]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; * his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord; * let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; * let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me * and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, * and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me * and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, * and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; * happy are they who trust in him!
A Reading from the Letter to the Ephesians (4:25-5:2)
Putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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 (6:35, 41-51)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
"Sleep and Eat” by Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
I’m so glad to be back at St. Matthew’s today after a restful week of vacation with some family up north. Thank you for the opportunity to take that time of rest. And special thanks to all those who did a little bit extra around the church while I was away, especially to Toni Blue for officiating our worship service last Sunday and to Idella Jones for writing and preaching the sermon.
But I have to admit that it was hard for me personally to rest for the entirety of my week of vacation. Sometimes it’s difficult to step away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find that genuine renewal and replenishment. I regularly worry that I’m not doing enough. I think back to what I could have done more or better, dwelling on things done and left undone, if you will. And I sometimes feel guilty for resting when I know there is more to do, more that I’m responsible for. I worry that I haven’t “earned” the rest.
But that’s the point of this week’s Scripture lessons. I don’t have to earn rest. Nobody does. Rest and nourishment are gracious gifts from God. In 1 Kings 19, Elijah models rest and nourishment as key components of a spiritual life. He has just been through a very difficult “work” experience. He publicly challenged the king and queen of Israel for their religious practices or worshipping other gods. It didn’t end well and Elijah goes on the run, fearing for his life.
When we meet him in this story, Elijah is justifiably tired. Once he realizes he is far away enough from the king and queen to be safe, he sits down under a tree, collapsing from his efforts. He prays, telling God that he is ready to die if God will take him. Instead he laid down and fell asleep. He rested his body, mind, and soul. And when he woke up, an angel was there to give him food and water, so he ate a good meal. Then he fell asleep again and woke up again and ate again. Only then was he ready to do the work God gave him to do.
Instead of working nonstop, instead of trying to earn God’s grace and favor, even in a very stressful situation, Elijah shows us how important it is to take care of oneself. Like Elijah, we need to rest and be nourished in order to do the ministry God calls us to do. God invites Elijah into that rest and God feeds him when he is hungry, without judgment and without shame. Likewise, we can rest and eat, knowing that God will not judge us for attending to these needs.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus offers his flesh as the bread of life without cost, without works, without anyone having to earn it. Jesus says, “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:50-51). He doesn’t say he is living bread for all the best Christians only, or for the ones who work the hardest to be the holiest. Instead this bread of life is available to anyone who wants it. It’s a gift and it’s unearned. These two stories show us the power of grace to offer healing in a very graceless world.
Our society is very focused on work and achievement. We’ve gotta work hard to graduate and then work hard to get a degree and work hard to get your first job and work hard to get promotions or find a better job, and it never ends until you have the privilege (maybe) to retire. And if you’re raising a family or caring for a loved one in need, all of that gets even more complicated. Because then home life becomes about work too. We Americans have a collective case of workaholism. We’re addicted to work, both personally and professionally. We work without rest and often don’t have grace or understanding for others when they say they need a rest. Or maybe we’re okay with other people but don’t allow ourselves to rest. We all want to drive to succeed and often live with an unconscious fear that if we slow down we might lose what we have or lose something for future generations.
To be fair, this overactive work ethic has come from necessity, a survival instinct of the working and middle classes. As a grandchild of immigrants, I grew up around people who were bold and adventurous enough to leave their home countries and try to find opportunities in the USA. Both sets of my grandparents came here and worked their tails off in blue collar jobs to give my parents better lives than they had. And my parents worked hard to give me opportunities. And I have always felt pressure to achieve in order to justify their hard work and sacrifice. That’s my story and my family’s story and it may connect with yours. And there is nothing wrong with wanting to work hard and provide for those you love. Where things go wrong is when we get so focused on work that we forget to rest, or feel guilty every time we slow down, or become unable to rest, unable to trust that God will provide even when we fall short.
All of us need rhythms of work and rest. We need the habit of sabbath, of setting aside all the work that remains undone and trusting together that God will provide. So often we focus in church on what we need to do to be good Christians. But it’s just as important to highlight stories about how we need to be, about how important it is to rest. Just like Elijah trusted in the angel to feed him and make him take a nap (twice!), we need to trust God enough to curb our impulse to work endlessly.
That’s why God commanded us to keep the sabbath, a weekly day of rest to set things aside and recharge for the days to come. It’s not productive; it won’t earn you money; it won’t help you get ahead; but the Sabbath is one of the ways that God gives us life. You can practice it on Saturday or on Sunday or whatever you need to do for your schedule. The important thing is that you commit to times of rest and retreat, where you can pray and sleep and eat and enjoy time with those you love. Don’t get caught up in the rules, just try to find pockets of time to get away from the noise of life, and in them, you will find that God’s angels will provide what you need.
We are all works in progress. I’m obviously not perfect at resting. But I’m trying to both live into the rhythms of rest and sabbath myself and model them in my church leadership. That’s why we had worship last Sunday that was entirely led by lay people. For one, we have exceptionally gifted lay people at St. Matthew’s. But more importantly, we all need to know that we’re not superhuman. We can’t do it all, all the time, not even your priest.
And I hope that gives you permission to rest regularly, to say no to extra work sometimes, even to say no to me if you have to. You can start today by taking an afternoon nap. Practice habits of rest and trust that God will provide, that it will be okay. As St. Julian of Norwich famously prayed, “All shall be well, all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” Amen.
Bibliography
Butler, Jen. “The Quest for Rest: The Radical Nature of Sabbath.” Notes from Jen. Blog. Published 2 August 2021. Accessed 7 August 2021. https://www.revjenbutler.com/post/the-quest-for-rest-the-radical-nature-of-sabbath
Oden, Amy G. “Commentary on 1 Kings 19:4-8.” Working Preacher. Blog. Published July 2021. Accessed 29 July 2021. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-19-2/commentary-on-1-kings-194-8-5.
Hymn #577: God Is Love
[Verses 1-3]
REFRAIN:
God is love, and where true love is
God himself is there.
1 Here in Christ we gather, love of Christ our calling.
Christ, our love, is with us, gladness be his greeting.
Let us fear and love him, holy God eternal.
Loving him, let each love Christ in one another. (REFRAIN)
2 When we Christians gather, members of one Body,
Let there be in us no discord but one spirit.
Banished now be anger, strife and every quarrel.
Christ, our God, be always present here among us.
3 Grant us love's fulfillment, joy with all the blessed,
When we see your face, O Savior, in its glory.
Shine on us, O purest Light of all creation,
Be our bliss while endless ages sing your praises.
Words: Latin, tr. James Quinn, alt., © 1969, 1988 James Quinn, SJ., printed by permission of Geoffrey Chapman.
Music: Ubi Caritas (Murray), A. Gregory Murray © 1969, 1988 The Trustees of Downside Abbey.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #30137650. All rights reserved.
The Nicene Creed
[BCP, p. 358]
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
[BCP, p. 392, Form VI]
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; Ann, the Superintendent of our Public Schools, 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; 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, Ronald Baynes, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Willie Mae Robinson, Helen Scroggins, Gon Trimble, and Leonard Villabona; and those we remember now…
Silence. The People may add their own petitions.
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life; for all visitors to this parish; for DeAndre Wesley Scott (8/8) on their birthday; and for any other thanksgivings we remember now.
Silence. The People may add their own thanksgivings.
We will exalt you, O God our King;
And praise your Name for ever and ever.
We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially those we remember now...
Silence. The People may add their own petitions.
Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;
Who put their trust in you.
We pray to you also for the forgiveness of our sins.
Silence may be kept.
Leader and People:
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father; in your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone; and so uphold us by your Spirit that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Celebrant concludes with an absolution:
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through the grace of 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.
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; see BCP, p. 376]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
LEV #185: Blessed Quietness
[Verses 1-5]
1 Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.
REFRAIN:
Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance is my soul,
On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to me,
And the billows cease to roll.
2 Bringing life and health and gladness
All around this heav’nly guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Chang’d our weariness to rest. [REFRAIN]
3 Like the rain that falls from heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high. [REFRAIN]
4 See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessed fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness. [REFRAIN]
5 What a wonderful salvation,
When we always see His face,
What a perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place. [REFRAIN]
Words: Marie P. Ferguson, Public Domain.
Music: W. S. Marshall, Public Domain.
All rights reserved.
Eucharistic Prayer A
[BCP, p. 361]
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. ...
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 Soulfoul People © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #98299. All Rights Reserved.]
The people stand or kneel.
Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all.
He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.
On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, 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 we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom. All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: 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 Anthem
[BCP, p. 364]
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
LEV #149: In Remembrance of Me
[Verses 1-2]
1 In remembrance of me, eat this bread.
In remembrance of me, drink this wine.
In remembrance of me, pray for the time
When God's own will is done
2 In remembrance of me, heal the sick.
In remembrance of me, feed the poor.
In remembrance of me, open the door
And let your brother in.
BRIDGE: Let him in.
Take, eat, and be comforted;
Drink and remember too.
That this is my body and precious blood
Shed for you, shed for you.
3 In remembrance of me, search for truth.
In remembrance of me, always love.
In remembrance of me, don'y look above
But in your heart look for God.
Do this in remembrance of me.
Words: Ragen Courtney © Copyright 1972 Broadman Press (SESAC) Assigned to Van Ness Press, Inc.
Music: Buryl Red, arr. Robert F. Douglas © Copyright 1972 Broadman Press (SESAC) Assigned to Van Ness Press, Inc.
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
[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.
Parish Announcements
A. 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.
For now, we will maintain the current worship schedule: one Sunday service at 9:30 AM. We will reevaluate and consider the congregation's feedback in the late summer or early fall, once we have tried this out for a few months. Note that even if you do not feel comfortable attending, in person, we will continue to live-stream services to Facebook permanently.
B. Bishop Harris' Hallelujah, Anyhow! Book Study: Thanks to all those who participated in the Christian Education Survey! We reached a consensus to study Hallelujah, Anyhow!: A Memoir by the Right Rev. Barbara C. Harris (1930-2020), the first woman and first Black woman ordained as a bishop in the Anglican Communion.
We will hold our first meeting on Wednesday, August 18, at 5:30 PM. Please read the Preface, Introduction, and Chapter 1 in time for the first meeting. The Zoom information is featured in the e-Newsletter. For now, you can purchase Bishop Harris' book from Amazon or Church Publishing for about $16. (If you need help ordering the book, you may contact the Office Manager at office@stmattsav.org or (912) 234-4440.)
C. Baptisms Available this Fall: After a long hiatus due to COVID-19, St. Matthew's is ready to resume performing baptisms and welcoming new members into the household of God. Holy Baptism is available to anyone at any age who has not already been baptized. We would like to hold baptisms on St. Matthew's Day and the 166th Parish Anniversary (Sunday, September 26) and the Eve of All Saints' Day (Sunday, October 31). We are also willing to work around you and your family's schedule to find a day for these celebrations.
If you or your child would like to get baptized, please contact Fr. Arboleda by cell phone or email (FrGAA@StMattSav.org). If you would like to be confirmed or received into The Episcopal Church, or if you would like to renew the commitment you made at confirmation, you may do so when Bishop Logue visits St. Matthew's on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Again, reach out to Fr. Arboleda to make a plan for preparing for this next step in your faith journey.
D. Parish Prayer List: In an effort to improve communication about the parish prayer list, the Office Manager and Rector launched a new format for collecting names beginning in August:
With the exception of members we know to be chronically sick and/or shut-in, the prayer list will reset every month.
If you would like a loved one to be prayed for publicly, please send the request to Office@StMattSav.org and/or FrGAA@StMattSav.org.
After one month, each name will be automatically removed from the list unless it is requested again.
This will help ensure that the list is as accurate and succinct as possible. You may begin sending names for August now.
E. T/W/Th Evening Prayer via Zoom Resumes: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Fr. Arboleda invites you to pray Evening Prayer with him over Zoom. The video will continue to stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM. Please join the Zoom call by 4:50 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
F. “Trip Around the World” Quilt Raffle: The Quilter's Guild, through St. Matthew's ECW, is raffling a "Trip Around the World" Quilt to benefit St. Matthew's Building Renovation Fund. This fund supports major extra-budgetary building improvement projects, such as painting, replacing the sound system, replacing the oven in Toomer-Walker Hall, etc.
This beautiful, jewel-toned quilt measures 103"x90" and will fit a queen-sized bed. This machine-stitched quilt in tones of deep violet amethyst, blue sapphire, green emerald, blue topaz, and green peridot will enhance any bedroom.
The winner will be announced on September 30, 2021. Winners do not need to be present to win. In addition to the grand prize of the "Trip Around the World '' quilt, there will be interim raffles of seasonal quilt-type projects for no additional ticket purchase. Interim winners will still be eligible for the grand prize.
Tickets are $15 each. Please make donations in $15 increments. Tickets may be purchased by:
Mailing a check to St. Matthew's with "Quilt Raffle" in the memo line; OR
Expect your raffle tickets to be returned to you by mail or email within 5-7 business days of receipt. Direct any questions to office@stmattsav.org.
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, Ronald Baynes, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Willie Mae Robinson, Helen Scroggins, Gon Trimble, and Leonard Villabona
Birthdays: 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), 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: "Sleeping Elijah" by He Qi; https://calebyap.tumblr.com/post/138671385428/sleeping-elijah-by-chinese-painter-he-qi-1-kings