The Holy Eucharist
5th Sunday After Epiphany (Year C)
February 6, 2022
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, February 6, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #362: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty!
[Verses 1-4]
1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee:
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the sinful human eye thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in power, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Words: Reginald Heber, alt., Public Domain. Music: Nicaea, John Bacchus Dykes, Public Domain. All rights reserved.
The Opening Sentence
[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, 216]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (6:1-13)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said:
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory."
The pivots on the thresholds shook at the voices of those who called, and the house filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!"
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said: "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!" And he said, "Go and say to this people:
`Keep listening, but do not comprehend;
keep looking, but do not understand.'
Make the mind of this people dull, and stop their ears, and shut their eyes,
so that they may not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears,
and comprehend with their minds, and turn and be healed."
Then I said, "How long, O Lord?" And he said:
"Until cities lie waste without inhabitant,
and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate;
until the Lord sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land.
Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled."
The holy seed is its stump.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 138
[BCP, p. 793]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart; * before the gods I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your Name, * because of your love and faithfulness;
3 For you have glorified your Name * and your word above all things.
4 When I called, you answered me; * you increased my strength within me.
5 All the kings of the earth will praise you, O Lord, * when they have heard the words of your mouth.
6 They will sing of the ways of the Lord, * that great is the glory of the Lord.
7 Though the Lord be high, he cares for the lowly; * he perceives the haughty from afar.
8 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe; * you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.
9 The Lord will make good his purpose for me; * O Lord, your love endures for ever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
A Reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (15:1-11)
I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you--unless you have come to believe in vain.
For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them--though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we proclaim and so you have come to believe.
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. Luke (5:1-11)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets." When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people." When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
"Unworthiness and Grace" by The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda
Have you ever felt unprepared for something big? Maybe it’s an exam in school or a job interview or something more personal like raising a child or caring for an aging family member. People around you expect you to do it. Maybe there’s no way of getting out of this big new thing. But deep down inside you’re afraid that you’ll fail. You’re afraid that you’re not worthy of the honor or responsibility. If you’ve ever felt something like that, then you understand a little of what Isaiah, Simon Peter, and even Paul were going through in today’s Bible lessons.
In each of these stories, God has a big task for these people to participate in. Isaiah will become a Prophet to the leaders of Judah and Israel (and generations of Jews and Christians to come). Simon Peter will become one of Jesus’ closest followers and later lead the early church after Jesus died and rose again. Paul will become the most famous missionary and church planter in Christian history and write about a quarter of what will become the New Testament.
And in all three stories, the main character meets God but doesn’t feel up to the task. None of them even think they deserve to be talking with God.
Isaiah sees a vision of God sitting on a giant throne, surrounded by heavenly creatures, and he exclaims, “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isa 6:5). Jesus approached Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John and instructed them to fish in a spot where they hadn’t caught anything. They caught so many fish that Simon Peter recognized the power of God. Luke 5:8 says, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, ‘Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!’” And of course Paul says that he was “the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Cor 15:9).
All three of these people felt unworthy before God. They all doubted themselves. They couldn’t see themselves accomplishing much of anything, let alone the great things that God had in store for them. That’s something I think we all can connect with. We’ve all been there, unsure that we’re up for whatever the task is, especially if it’s a task or a calling from God.
But thankfully, God doesn’t leave us to wallow in self-doubt. God cares too much about us to end the conversation about a calling after we balk. So, as in these Bible stories, God encourages us to do more and be more than we ever thought possible.
Isaiah complained that he had unclean lips, so God purified his mouth with a live coal from the altar (metaphorically, I assume). Then the seraph (angel) said, “Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out” (Isa 6:6-7). Isaiah was refreshed and rejuvenated. He was given the confidence he needed to answer God’s call to go wherever he was needed. God asked, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And Isaiah ultimately responded famously, ‘Here am I; send me!’” (Isa 6:8).
Very similarly, Simon Peter didn’t feel worthy to stand before Jesus. He fell to his knees and asked Jesus to leave him. But Jesus wouldn’t leave or forsake him. “Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people’” (Luke 5:10). Without this encouragement, without acknowledging Simon Peter’s fear, he would not have been able to take the next step. But Jesus showed Simon Peter that God isn’t a far off tyrant, demanding our obedience in everything. Jesus was God in the flesh, God willing to come down and be like us and understand our hopes and fears. God meets us where we are and helps us overcome those fears and live into those hopes. So Simon Peter and his friends respond, “When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him” (Luke 5:11).
Finally, Paul is able to get really specific about why he is the wrong choice to lead the church. He doesn’t just say he is “sinful” or “unclean.” He literally used to persecute the church. He was an enemy of Christians. He was what we might now call a religious zealot or even a terrorist. But Paul was so fully transformed by Jesus, that he repented. He turned away from that old behavior, did his best to make amends, and accepted God’s undeserved forgiveness. “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me has not been in vain” (1 Cor 15:10). Paul reminds us that no matter what we have done, no matter how far we believe that we have fallen, we are never outside of the reach of God’s grace. As Isaiah later wrote poetically, “Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save” (Isa 59:1, NIV).
So we may have fear, we may have doubt, we may even have sinful or embarrassing behaviors in our past. But these are not disqualifiers in God’s eyes. By grace, God can still call you to do great things. And even if the accomplishments aren’t great in other people’s eyes, God has a calling for your life. Acknowledge the fears and look for God’s encouragement, because it will come. Just be faithful and loving in whatever situation comes your way. God will give you and us the strength to take that next faithful step. Amen.
Hymn #517: How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place
[Verses 1-4]
1 How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of hosts to me!
My thirsty soul desires and longs within thy courts to be
My very hear and flesh cry out, O living God for thee.
2 Beside thine altars, gracious Lord, the swallows find a nest
How happy they who dwell with thee and praise thee without rest,
And happy they whose hearts are set upon the pilgrim's quest.
3 They who go through the desert vale will find it filled with springs,
And they shall climb from height to height till Zion's temple rings
With praise to thee, in glory throned, Lord God, great King of kings.
4 One day within thy courts excels a thousand spent away
How happy they who keep thy laws nor from they precepts stray,
For thou shalt surely bless all those who live the words they pray.
Words: Para. of Psalm 84; sts. 1-2, The Psalms of David in Meeter, 1650, Public Domain; sts. 3-4, Carl P. Daw Jr. © 1982 Hope Publishing Company. Music: Brother James' Air, J. L. Macbeth Bain, by permission of Oxford University Press. Reprinted with permission under ONELICENSE #05210, #05319. 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
[Adapted from http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1355]
Let us pray to God, who is made manifest in Jesus Christ.
As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”; empower your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus, which pierces even the deepest darkness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
As a star rose high into the nighttime sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child; send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your peace and truth.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
As John the Baptist guided crowds of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country and our leaders to the ways of justice and righteousness.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Like the Magi who traveled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Savior’s birth; we pray for this community: for Jabbaar Newton (2/10), Janice Newton (2/11), Janise Wright (2/11), and Evadne Roberts (2/12) on their birthdays, and Kirk and Ja'wana Pennamon (2/10) on their wedding anniversary.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world; we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame. We pray for those on our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Annie Bell Greer, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Craig Maxwell, Bette Milledge, Helen Scroggins, and Paulette Sibert.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him; we pray for the departed whom we love and have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom... Give them your peace.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
The Celebrant prays:
Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy. Amen.
The Confession of Sin
[BCP, p. 360]
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
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. Free SCAD Black History Tours on 2/6: The Savannah College of Art and Design is inviting the St. Matthew's community to learn about SCAD's commitment to preserving local Black history and the university's enduring fellowship with community leaders like Dr. Walter O. Evans and the late W.W. Law.
From significant civil rights sites to major contemporary restoration initiatives, each stop on the tour centers visionary voices from Savannah's African American past, present, and future. Guests will view treasured artwork from Virginia Jackson Kiah and explore the historic journey of William and Ellen Craft as they traversed the country, through Savannah, in pursuit of freedom from enslavement.
The free bus tours are at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, February 6th. The tours begin at the SCAD Museum of Art, 601 Turner Blvd. Reserve your FREE tickets by calling Sharon Jameson at (912) 352-5909 or reserve FREE tickets directly by clicking here.
B. 2021 Giving Statements Available Now: The Bookkeeper, Rector, and Parish Administrator worked this week to compile 2021 Giving Statements for all donors to St. Matthew's in the year 2021. Following IRS guidelines, we are providing statements only to individuals or families whose gifts totaled at least $250.00, so some donors may not have a statement.
You can collect your statement in person this Sunday, February 6, or wait for this statement to arrive by mail next week. If you prefer to receive your statement by email, please contact Fr. Arboleda at FrGAA@StMattSav.org or contact the Parish Administrator at Office@StMattSav.org.
If you notice a discrepancy between your giving statement and your own giving records, please contact our Bookkeeper, Pat Lanchester, at Bookkeeper@StMattSav.org.
C. CORR on 2/20 at St. Thomas’ Church: Conversations on Relationships and Race (CORR) is a joint Christian Education course with St. Matthew’s, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Isle of Hope United Methodist Church, and Asbury United Methodist Church. In January, we will continue to read How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi. You may purchase it from any major bookstore (such as Amazon).
Our next CORR meeting is scheduled to be in person on Sunday, January 23, 2022, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at Isle of Hope United Methodist Church (412 Parkersburg Road, Savannah, GA 31406). Please read Chapters 3-5 of Kendi’s book before the meeting.
D. Epiphany Chalk Blessings: Following an ancient tradition, we are providing a way to bless all of the homes in our parish in the new year and the Epiphany Season. We will provide blessed chalk for you to bring home and mark the front door to your home. Traditionally, the chalking is done above the lintel and takes this form: 20+C+M+B+22 - The letters are the abbreviation for the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" - "Christ bless this house" (A second meaning and mnemonic device is Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar traditional names for the Magi). The + signs represent the cross, and 20-22 is the year.
Blessed chalk will be available at church until the end of Epiphany Season on Shrove Tuesday (March 1, 2022). If you would like us to mail or drop off chalk to your home, please contact Fr. Arboleda or another member of the church.
E. 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
F. 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. At the October Vestry meeting, they reaffirmed the use of these guidelines and the maintenance of this temporary Sunday worship schedule.
All people in attendance are still required to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth at all times and maintain social distancing in their assigned seating areas. Click here to read the Vestry's June 2021 COVID-19 Safety Guidelines in their entirety.
The 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.
“From the rising of the sun to its setting my Name shall be great among the nations, and in every place incense shall be offered to my Name, and a pure offering: for my Name shall be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.” [Malachi 1:11]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
AAHH #131: Guide My Feet
[Verses 1-4]
1 Guide my feet while I run this race,
Guide my feet while I run this race,
Guide my feet while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.
2 Hold my hand while I run this race,
Hold my hand while I run this race,
Hold my hand while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.
3 Stand by me while I run this race,
Stand by me while I run this race,
Stand by me while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.
4 I'm Your child while I run this race,
I'm Your child while I run this race,
I'm Your child while I run this race,
For I don't want to run this race in vain.
Words: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain. Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain; harm. Dr. Wendell P. Whalum © estate of Wendell Whalum. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #LMGM2537. All rights reserved.
AAHH #651: Doxology
[See also Hymn # 380, v. 3]
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Words: Thomas Ken, Public Domain. Music: Old 100th, attributed to Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84260. All rights reserved.
Eucharistic Prayer B
[BCP, p. 367]
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. …
Preface of the Epiphany [BCP, p. 378]:
Because in the mystery of the Word made flesh, you have caused a new light to shine in our hearts, to give the knowledge of your glory in the face of your son Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 #254:
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: Carl Maultsby, The Saint Mary Mass, © 1989 Malted Milk Music. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #00004C1989. 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;
We remember his death,
We proclaim his resurrection,
We await his coming in glory;
[Word: Public Domain. Music: Hezekiah Brinson, Jr. © 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 our Patron, Blessed Mary the Mother of Jesus, 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 Anthem
[BCP, p. 364, 407]
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast. Alleluia!
This Far By Faith (1999) #36:
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy and grant us peace,
we pray, O Lamb of God.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Grayson Warren Brown, arr. Larry Adams © 1979 Grayson Warren Brown, admin. by OCP Publications. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #81590. 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.
WLP #726: I Am The Bread of Life
[Verses 1-4]
REFRAIN:
I am the bread of life.
I am the bread of life.
1 Whoever comes to me shall never hunger
Whoever trusts in me shall never thirst [REFRAIN]
2 This is the living Bread which comes from heaven
The bread which all may eat and never die [REFRAIN]
3 None come to me unless the Father draw them
And I will raise them up at the last day [REFRAIN]
4 All they who eat my flesh and drink my blood
Abide in me and I abide in them [REFRAIN]
Words: John Warren Burnam based on John 6 © 1978 John Warren Burnam. Music: John Warren Burnam © 1978 John Warren Burnam. 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
[The Book of Occasional Services 2018, p. 10]
May Christ, the Son of God, be manifest in you, that your lives may be a light to the world; 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]
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
The Parish Prayer List
Prayer List: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Annie Bell Greer, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Craig Maxwell, Bette Milledge, Helen Scroggins, and Paulette Sibert
Birthdays: Jabbaar Newton (2/10), Janice Newton (2/11), Janise Wright (2/11), and Evadne Roberts (2/12)
Wedding Anniversaries: Kirk and Ja'wana Pennamon (2/10)
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), Wonder Love and Praise (WLP), and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
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