The Holy Eucharist
4th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7B, Track 2)
June 20, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, June 20, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #432: O Praise Ye The Lord!
[Verses 1-2, 4]
1 O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him in the height;
rejoice in his word,
ye angels of light;
ye heavens, adore him
by whom ye were made,
and worship before him,
in brightness arrayed.
2 O praise ye the Lord!
Praise him upon earth,
in tuneful accord,
all ye of new birth;
praise him who hath brought you
his grace from above,
praise him who hath taught you
to sing of his love.
4 O praise ye the Lord!
Thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured
all ages along!
For love in creation,
for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation,
O praise ye the Lord!
Words: Henry Williams Baker, alt., based on Psalms 148 and 150, Public Domain.
Music: Laudate Dominum, Charles Hubert Hastings Parry, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #94300. 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, 230]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; 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 Job (38:1-11)
The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone
when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
"Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?—
when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band,
and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors,
and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped'?"
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
[BCP, p. 746, 748]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, * and his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let all those whom the Lord has redeemed proclaim * that he redeemed them from the hand of the foe.
3 He gathered them out of the lands; * from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.
23 Some went down to the sea in ships * and plied their trade in deep waters;
24 They beheld the works of the Lord * and his wonders in the deep.
25 Then he spoke, and a stormy wind arose, * which tossed high the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and fell back to the depths; * their hearts melted because of their peril.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards * and were at their wits' end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, * and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper * and quieted the waves of the sea.
30 Then were they glad because of the calm, * and he brought them to the harbor they were bound for.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his mercy * and the wonders he does for his children.
32 Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people * and praise him in the council of the elders.
A Reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (6:1-13)
As we work together with Christ, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,
“At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see-- we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return-- I speak as to children-- open wide your hearts also.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Mark (4:35-41)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
"Silence in the Storm” by Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
Have you ever been afraid? I mean, really afraid. Like, afraid for your life? If not, take the next few seconds to count your blessings. But, if so, take a minute to dwell in that moment and imagine that you are there again. [PAUSE] Notice your heart rate, your breath, and any tension you might feel in your body. [PAUSE] How do you feel right now? What are you experiencing? What might you do with all the adrenaline coursing through your veins as you are stricken with fear? [PAUSE]
That sensation that just about all of us are re-living is what the disciples of Jesus experienced in the Gospel story we just heard. They ride with him on a boat across the Lake of Galilee at night. If you’ve ever been out on the water at night, you know that it can be disorienting. You’re already swaying back and forth with the rhythm of the waves. The ground beneath you movies with every toss and turn of the water. You are completely out of control of your surroundings. And at night, it’s dark; especially before electric lighting, it was pitch-black. You could really only see by the light of the stars.
On a night like this one, however, there were no stars. Mark tells us, “A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped” (4:37). A storm means two things: (1) there are clouds covering the night sky, so in addition to the rain, you lose the light from the stars and the moon; (2) the waves become much bigger and stronger, meaning the boat is increasingly less stable and secure. This is a very helpless situation. If you can’t quite imagine what it’s like, think about a time you have flown on a plane and experienced turbulence. It’s that… in the dark… while getting wet.
So as you might imagine, the disciples who are going through this terrifying experience are, well, terrified. They cannot keep their composure. They are under an enormous amount of stress. They fear for their lives with every crashing wave against and into the boat. In the middle of this utter chaos, when everything seems to be falling apart around them, as their lives practically flash before their eyes, they find Jesus asleep.
In their panic, the disciples shake him awake and shout at Jesus: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Sometimes the refined literary Bible translations that we read don’t quite capture the emotions of the story. It’s not a solemn Gospel reading or a stiff Shakespearean play. This is a desperate attempt to save Jesus and save themselves from imminent danger. The longer those waves beat against the side of the boat, the more water the boat takes on, the more likely it is that they sink and drown. So they demand that Jesus do something, that he shows them that he cares. They simply cannot wrap their heads around his utter peacefulness and calm, his tranquility and sleepiness. When you’re that amped up on fear, you cannot fall asleep. Jesus wasn’t feeling that, even when everyone around him was.
Then there’s the miracle. Jesus calms the storm, saying, “Quiet! Be still!” (4:39, New International Version). Then, in the words of the psalmist, “he brought them to the harbor they were bound for” (107:30). The disciples were in a chaotic situation over which they had no control. They leaned on God, their only source of security, strength, and comfort because they could do nothing to solve the problems they faced. And God’s response to this chaos was, “Be quiet.”
When we face harmful, stressful, chaotic situations, when we are caught in the storms of this life, Jesus invites us into silence and prayer. This might seem strange, but it’s actually brilliant. Modern medicine confirms to us that silence and meditation are excellent ways to calm down the central nervous system, to bring down the heart rate, to help the adrenaline and sweat stop pumping through our veins so we can think straight.
And silence and prayer are our direct lines to God and God’s direct lines to us. This is how we communicate with the Divine, whether individually or in groups. And in the midst of chaotic, scary, life-threatening situations that are outside human control, a direct line of communication with God sounds like a great thing.
Like most things that are good for us, though, silence and prayer don’t come very naturally to us, especially under stress. If the first time you try praying and quieting your mind is in the moment you fear for your life, it might be hard to find that peace that Jesus speaks about. That’s why we practice habits of prayer and develop rhythms of silence and worship together in church. That’s why we gather every Sunday, and why we offer Evening Prayer services throughout the week, to give people multiple opportunities to practice prayer and connection with God.
Over the last year or so, we have all gone through a very scary, stressful, life-threatening storm together in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has been a long-term, chronic stressor, rather than a short-term, acute one. We’re still slowly clawing our way out of it, even after vaccinations have become available. And while this was deeply disruptive and troubling for most of us, there were ways in which God’s grace shone through.
We have had to find long-term ways to deal with the stress of the pandemic, since it’s a big situation outside our control that we can’t solve on our own. So, I’m thankful that we’ve been able to continue doing Evening Prayer services online every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. These have made it easier for many people to participate in these services who had never attended them in person before the pandemic. We regularly average almost 20 participants in the service online and rarely exceeded 5 in person before moving online.
If you haven’t made time to watch these live at 5:00 PM, or later in the evening during the week, it’s not too late to prioritize quiet and silence. These moments can give us the fortitude we need to make it through the stresses and anxieties of life, whether we’re talking about the pandemic, or the latest example of racial injustice on the news, or your loved one who got sick, or anything else, you name it. Everyday we come across stressful situations that are outside of our control, storms that threaten to harm us. And everyday God is there, able to intervene to save us, but first asking us to be quiet and be still. Your storm may or may not disappear, but God’s love and presence will always help you to face it with faith, hope, and love. Amen.
Bibliography
Mayntz, Melissa. "Attract Birds by Adding Trees to Your Landscaping." The Spruce. Published 2 October 2019. Accessed 10 June 2021. https://www.thespruce.com/trees-that-attract-birds-386407.
Hymn #579: Almighty Father, Strong to Save
[Verses 1-4]
1 Almighty Father, strong to save,
whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
its own appointed limits keep:
O hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.
2 O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain
o'er which our traffic runs amain
by mountain pass or valley low;
wherever, Lord, thy people go,
protect them by thy guarding hand
from every peril on the land.
3 O Spirit, whom the Father sent
to spread abroad the firmament;
O Wind of heaven, by thy might
save all who dare the eagle's flight,
and keep them by thy watchful care
from every peril in the air
4 O Trinity of love and power,
our people shield in danger's hour;
from rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them wheresoe'er they go;
thus evermore shall rise to thee
glad praise from space, air, land and sea.
Words: Sts. 1 and 4, William Whiting, alt., Public Domain; sts. 2-3, Robert Nelson Spencer © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc.
Music: Melita, John Bacchus Dykes, Public Domain.
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 the Rev. Rick Morley, https://rmcmorley.typepad.com/a-garden-path/2010/06/a-litany-for-fathers-day.html; and http://creedalchristian.blogspot.com/2009/06/collect-for-fathers-day.html]
On this day when we remember fathers, let us offer our prayers to God, who has adopted us as sons and daughters through the waters of baptism.
O God, you formed your son Adam from the dust of the ground, and breathed your holy breath into his lungs, giving us all the gift of life; breathe again your Life into us, your children and your church, that we might be one with you.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lord of all, you formed great nations out of great families and blessed the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that they might be a blessing to all. Bless our nation and all the nations of the world with your Fatherly Presence, wisdom, and peace.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
As the children of Israel found themselves slaves, making bricks for Pharaoh before you heard their cry and brought them to freedom, we pray for all in this world who are in trouble of any kind. We pray for the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the victims of war and all who live in terror’s wake. We pray for all for whom Father's Day is more painful than joyful, and we pray for healing for broken relationships with earthly fathers.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son, Jesus, was raised by Joseph the carpenter, who saw him grow year by year in strength and wisdom. We pray for all in our family of faith, and especially Teresa Blue-Clemons (6/20), Kailey Holly (6/20), Crystal Watts (6/21), Jeanette Outing (6/21), Frieda McDew Shorter (6/24), King Ahmad Scott (6/24), Marva Harris (6/26), and Jonathan Newton (6/26) on their birthdays.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Your Son, Jesus, neither married nor raised children of his own, but he helped countless people come to fullness of life and to Life Everlasting; and so we pray for all who nurture others with love and patience as spiritual parents.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Jacob's son, Joseph, to whom he gave the radiant coat, was beaten, betrayed, and sold into a life of hardship before rising to greatness; and so we pray for all who are injured, hurt, sick, lonely, or live in fear, especially those on our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Donald Baynes, Ronald Baynes, Shirley Clinton Bonaparte, Zavier Bradley, Myrtle Brow-Hollis, Jacquelyn Bryant, Christine Brown, Genella Chamberlain, Taylor Blue, Annie Colbert, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Roland Dixon, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Karin Garcia, Colin Gentle, Yvonne Gentle, Angie Glover, Charles Gordon, Amanda Green, Jocelyn Bryant Harden, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Anne Hudson, Lucy Hugging, Dale Hundley, Jared Hundley, Tracy Hundley, Janice C. Jackson, Milinda James, Alvin Jenkins, Dana Jenkins, David Jones, Frances T. Jones, Lori Jones, Robert L. Jones, Sr., Whitney Kennedy, Leonard Law, Jr., Ralph Lovett, Ryan Lovett, Tammie Lovett, Marcus Marzen, Joan Maty, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Carmelita Maynard, Barbara McCary, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, Hollie Moultrie, Patricia Murry, Russell Nails, Dorothy Neal, Jabbaar Newton, Jameel Newton, Glenzy Payne, Robert Payne, Willie Mae Robinson, Paul Rockwell, Helen Scroggins, Dison Washington Slaughter, James Small, Gwendolyn Smith, Willie Stephens, Gon Trimble, Ed Vista, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, and Noel Wheeler.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Gracious God, as our Heavenly Father you gave us the gift of your own Son, and out of our human blindness the crowds called for him to die on a cross; we pray for the dying and the dead. Bring all your children home.
Heavenly Father, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
The Celebrant concludes with the following collect:
O Lord our God, creator of heaven and earth, through your Son Jesus Christ you have revealed yourself as a heavenly Father to all of your children. Bless, we pray, all earthly fathers and father figures. Strengthen them to nurture, protect, and guide the children entrusted to their care. Instill within them the virtues of love and patience. May they be slow to anger and quick to forgive. And through the ministrations of your Holy Spirit, may all fathers be strong and steadfast examples of faithfulness, responsibility, and loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Confession of Sin
[BCP, p. 360]
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
Minister 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 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
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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 #200: Stand By Me
[Verses 1-5]
1 When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me, stand by me;
When the storms of life are raging,
Stand by me, stand by me;
When the world is tossing me
Like a ship upon the sea;
Thou who rules wind and water,
Stand by me, stand by me.
2 In the midst of tribulations,
Stand by me, stand by me;
In the midst of tribulation,
Stand by me, stand by me;
When the hosts of hell assail,
And my strength begins to fail,
Thou who never lost a battle,
Stand by me, stand by me.
3 In the midst of faults and failures,
Stand by me, stand by me;
In the midst of faults and failures,
Stand by me, stand by me;
When I do the best I can,
And my friends misunderstand,
Thou who knowest all about me,
Stand by me, stand by me.
4 In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me, stand by me;
In the midst of persecution,
Stand by me, stand by me;
When my foes in battle array
Undertake to stop my way,
Thou who saved Paul and Silas,
Stand by me, stand by me.
5 When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me, stand by me.
When I’m growing old and feeble,
Stand by me, stand by me;
When my life becomes a burden,
And I’m nearing chilly Jordan,
O thou “Lily of the Valley,”
Stand by me, stand by me.
Words: Charles A. Tindley, Public Domain.
Music: Charles A. Tindley, harm. F. A. Clark, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95171. 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 #79: Jesus, Lover of My Soul
[Verses 1-3]
1 Jesus, lover of my soul,
Let me to they bosom fly,
While nearer waters roll,
While tempest still is high;
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life be past;
Safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last.
2 Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah! Leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me!
All my trust on thee is stayed;
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
3 Plenteous grace with thee is found,
Grace to cleanse from ev’ry sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee:
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
Words: Charles Wesley, Public Domain.
Music: Charles Wesley and Simeon B. Marsh, Public Domain.
All rights reserved.
The Post-Communion Prayer
[Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]
Let us pray.
For In-Person Worshippers:
Faithful God,
in the wonder of your wisdom and love
you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,
and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.
We thank you for feeding us with this bread.
May it strengthen us
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may embody your desire
and be renewed for your service
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
For Online Worshippers (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. In-Person Worship Open to the Public: In consultation with the Diocese of Georgia, the Vestry of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church has approved a plan for holding in-person worship services that are open to the public beginning on Sunday, June 6. Click here to read the Vestry's 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. JUST Celebration "Picnic" - 6/21 @ 6:30 PM: Join Justice Unites Savannah Together (JUST) for its annual Justice Ministry Celebration Picnic at Lake Mayer Community Park on Monday, June 21, at 6:30 PM. Bring chairs for this outdoor meeting celebrating the work we have accomplished in 2020-2021. This meeting will feature a biblical reflection, awards for participating congregations, relationship building, and a pitch to invest in JUST's future ministry. Light refreshments will be provided. Please register at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtRO_zEeHhFpuNe3jp4548W8_yBkywjrwPwiS7tP8v4Jmm2g/viewform?usp=sf_link.
C. St. Matthew's Christian Education "Book Club" Survey: Please help us plan the next Christian Education Book Study by completing a short survey. We are collecting feedback on previous studies and asking for your input on which book or topic to study together next. All survey results are requested by Sunday, July 11. We will launch the next Christian Education offering in mid-August. Take the survey here: https://forms.gle/rStGwN7GHatLSZqw5.
D. Emmaus House Paper Goods Drive: Emmaus House provides hot meals, showers, and laundry to the community five days per week in downtown Savannah. Last week, they asked the community to donate paper goods to support their work. Several church members have already answered the latest call by giving this month.
Emmaus House seeks:
Bottled water
Takeout boxes
Cutlery packets
Grocery bags
Aluminum foil
Paper towels
Laundry detergent
Dish detergent
Bleach
Latex gloves
Bring any and all donations directly to Emmaus House at 18 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401 between 7:00 AM - 1:00 PM Mondays to Fridays.
Or, bring donations to St. Matthew's and we will deliver them to Emmaus House on your behalf.
E. Father's Day Virtual Coffee Hour 6/20 at 11 AM: We will hold a virtual "Coffee Hour" (fellowship hour) over Zoom on Sunday, June 20 at 11:00 AM and celebrate Father's Day together. Check the e-Newsletter for Zoom information.
Beginning June 6, Virtual Coffee Hours will continue to be held every two weeks, but the time will change to 11:00 AM, to allow for adequate transition time after in-person worship ends.
F. T/W/Th Evening Prayer via Zoom: 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
G. “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.
The next interim drawing will be announced in late June in time for Independence Day (July 4).
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, Donald Baynes, Ronald Baynes, Shirley Clinton Bonaparte, Zavier Bradley, Myrtle Brow-Hollis, Jacquelyn Bryant, Christine Brown, Genella Chamberlain, Taylor Blue, Annie Colbert, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Roland Dixon, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Karin Garcia, Colin Gentle, Yvonne Gentle, Angie Glover, Charles Gordon, Amanda Green, Jocelyn Bryant Harden, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Anne Hudson, Lucy Hugging, Dale Hundley, Jared Hundley, Tracy Hundley, Janice C. Jackson, Milinda James, Alvin Jenkins, Dana Jenkins, David Jones, Frances T. Jones, Lori Jones, Robert L. Jones, Sr., Whitney Kennedy, Leonard Law, Jr., Ralph Lovett, Ryan Lovett, Tammie Lovett, Marcus Marzen, Joan Maty, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Carmelita Maynard, Barbara McCary, Bette Milledge, John "Butch" Mitchell, Hollie Moultrie, Patricia Murry, Russell Nails, Dorothy Neal, Jabbaar Newton, Jameel Newton, Glenzy Payne, Robert Payne, Willie Mae Robinson, Paul Rockwell, Helen Scroggins, Dison Washington Slaughter, James Small, Gwendolyn Smith, Willie Stephens, Gon Trimble, Ed Vista, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, and Noel Wheeler
Birthdays: Teresa Blue-Clemons (6/20), Kailey Holly (6/20), Crystal Watts (6/21), Jeanette Outing (6/21), Frieda McDew Shorter (6/24), King Ahmad Scott (6/24), Marva Harris (6/26), and Jonathan Newton (6/26)
Wedding Anniversaries: N/A
Recent Deaths: Raleigh Bryant (12/18/20)
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.
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