The Holy Eucharist
The 3rd Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 8C)
June 26, 2022
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, June 26, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #518: Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
[Verses 1-4]
1 Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord, and precious,
binding all the Church in one;
holy Zion's help for ever,
and her confidence alone.
2 All that dedicated city,
dearly loved of God on high,
in exultant jubilation
pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
in glad hymns eternally.
3 To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
with thy wonted loving-kindness
hear thy servants as they pray,
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.
4 Here vouchsafe to all thy servants
what they ask of thee to gain;
what they gain from thee, for ever
with the blessèd to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory
evermore with thee to reign.
Words: Latin, ca. 7th century; tr. Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861), after John Mason Neale, alt., Public Domain. Music: Westminster Abbey, Henry Purcell, adapt.; desc. James Gillespie, by permission of Church Society London. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84081. All rights reserved.
The Opening Acclamation
[BCP, p. 355]
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!
And blessed be God's kingdom, now and forever! Amen!
A Collect for Purity
[BCP, p. 355]
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn S-280: Glory to God
[See also BCP, p. 356]
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Words: Public Domain. Music: Robert Powell © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #28331. All rights reserved.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 230]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; 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 (19:15-16, 19-21)
The Lord said to Elijah, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place."
So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back again; for what have I done to you?" He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 16
[BCP, p. 599]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you; *
I have said to the Lord, "You are my Lord,
my good above all other."
2 All my delight is upon the godly that are in the land, *
upon those who are noble among the people.
3 But those who run after other gods *
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4 Their libations of blood I will not offer, *
nor take the names of their gods upon my lips.
5 O Lord, you are my portion and my cup; *
it is you who uphold my lot.
6 My boundaries enclose a pleasant land; *
indeed, I have a goodly heritage.
7 I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel; *
my heart teaches me, night after night.
8 I have set the Lord always before me; *
because he is at my right hand I shall not fall.
9 My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices; *
my body also shall rest in hope.
10 For you will not abandon me to the grave, *
nor let your holy one see the Pit.
11 You will show me the path of life; * in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians (5:1, 13-25)
For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The People stand, as they are able, for the reading of the Gospel.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Luke (9:51-62)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
"Fruit of the Spirit" by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda
Like we said last week, St. Paul writes to the Church in Galatia when they are conflicted. They are experiencing tensions in the church because they are trying to figure out which group is right and which group is wrong. They are fighting over social status and ethnicities and things like that. But they’re also fighting over theological disagreements. What do we believe Jesus wants us to do? How are we supposed to act? Each side thinks they have the right answer and that they are better than the other side for it. You can see how this might cause problems.
When Christians read this passage, we often focus on the contrast between the “works of the flesh” and the “fruit of the Spirit,” and that makes perfect sense (Gal 5:19, 22). But we often focus on the wrong parts of those lists. The “works of the flesh” are often reduced to things like “fornication” and “drunkenness,” but the more important ones for us to pay attention to are “enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, [and] envy” (Gal 5:19-21). Those are marks of a sick community of Christians, a dysfunctional church. We’ve all been there to greater and lesser degrees. And when it gets bad, there are few things more painful than in-fighting in church. It feels like a great betrayal of trust.
But “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). These show a healthy, life-giving community. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit aren’t just individual virtues for each of us to grow in a corner by ourselves. They are for fruit for us to grow and share together. We need to work together to become people of love, joy, peace, and patience. They are signs that the Church is the Church. They are a way of demonstrating that Jesus Christ makes a difference in our lives. And when we fail to live into the fruit of the Spirit, our witness suffers, our ministry suffers.
All of that is about the Church. But we also live in a society where strife, jealousy, anger, and factions reign supreme. It’s hard not to think about those “works of the flesh” when you’re watching the news or listening to political ads.Part of what Paul is trying to teach us here is that at the root of the “works of the flesh” is selfishness. But more than that, the problem is a lack of empathy. In America, we don’t know how to see things from other people’s perspective. We don’t know how to listen to people who disagree with us. We don’t know how to work together for the common good. It happens sometimes, but more often than not, we get into our political silos and close ourselves off from people who may challenge us to think about things differently.
But the fruit of the Spirit, love, is different than that. Love is peaceful, trying to resolve disputes with mutual understanding. Love is kind and generous to others, granting them the benefit of the doubt and trying to learn from them. Love is patient with people’s differences, willing to take time to listen and really understand where they are coming from and find common ground. Love is willing to be with people even if the answers to our questions are ambiguous, even if we cannot agree on who or what is right or wrong.
This level of engagement and nuance is what’s missing from huge conversations between Christians and between Americans about things like abortion and reproductive rights. It’s also missing from conversations about race. It’s missing from conversations about how to protect people from gun violence.
I probably spend too much time on social media, but I notice that on Instagram and Twitter, almost all the content is catered to show me people I agree with. But then on Facebook, I see more from people I know who disagree with me deeply. And in all those spaces, the rhetoric grows and grows with every click, like, and retweet. People’s arguments and jokes get sharper and meaner and more dismissive of anyone who would dare offer a different opinion. And half the time I’m entertained at the thought of dunking on my opponents, but then sometimes it just gets overwhelming.
We’re so far apart from each other. Americans can’t agree on basic things like protecting people who have already been born from poverty, hunger, violence, and incarceration. So of course we struggle with complex philosophical debates about when and how life begins. I pretty clearly fall on one side of these issues, but if we come in with an attitude that says, I’m right and everyone who disagrees with me is wrong and evil, then we’re never going to get anywhere. To be clear, in all of these issues, we also have structural barriers to political compromise (a topic for a different forum). But at least in Church, we have to change the narrative, the way we talk about things and how we treat each other.
Jesus taught a similar lesson to James and John when they wanted revenge on the Samaritan people who did not welcome them. They felt disrespected by the lack of hospitality and wanted God to rain down fire to destroy them. That really escalated quickly! And it’s because Jews like Jesus, James, John, and the other apostles generally didn’t like Samaritans. They were already on opposite sides of ethnic, cultural, religious, and political divides. They looked down on each other. So when James and John felt slighted, they responded angrily. They wanted to hurt the people who hurt them without even a second thought.
But Jesus rebuked them for this. He is not an agent of strife, anger, or violence. Those are works of the flesh. Jesus comes lovingly. He comes patiently. He teaches us to be patient with each other because God is so very patient with us. When we humbly recognize our own faults, we’re more likely to listen and learn humbly from others. And it doesn’t mean we are doormats and just do whatever anyone else wants. But it means we’re not vindictive or mean. We’re open to being persuaded. We treat each other with the dignity owed to every human being. And we practice generosity as a way to walk in love, just like Christ loved us. Amen.
Hymn #706: In Your Mercy, Lord
[Verses 1-3]
1 In your mercy, Lord, you call me,
taught my sin-filled heart and mind,
else this world had still enthralled me,
and to glory kept me blind.
2 Lord, I did not freely choose you
till be grace you set me free;
for my heart would still refuse you
had your love not chosen me.
3 Now my heart sets none above you,
for your grace alone I thirst,
knowing well, that if I love you,
you, O Lord, have loved me first.
Words: Josiah Conder; alt. Charles P. Price © 1985 Church Publishing, Inc. Music: Halton Holgate, William Boyce, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #90622. 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 & Confession of Sin
[Adapted from Form VI, BCP, p. 92]
In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.
[Silence]
For all people in their daily life and work;
For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.
For Joseph, our president; Brian, our governor; Van, our mayor; Chester, the chair of our County Commission; and all other civic officials; For this community, the nation, and the world;
For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.
For the just and proper use of your creation;
For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.
For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;
For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.
For all the churches in Savannah, that we may be one as you are one with the Son, and the Holy Spirit; For the peace and unity of the Church of God;
For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.
For Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury; Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Frank, our Bishop; Guillermo our Priest; and for all bishops and other ministers;
For all who serve God in his Church.
For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially for our Day Care’s staff, students, and families, and for those on our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Tiffany Smith Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angie Glover, Annie Bell Greer, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Bette Milledge, and Chad Stephens; and those we remember now…
Hear us, Lord;
For your mercy is great.
We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially for all visitors to worship, all those celebrating birthdays: Marva Harris (6/26), Jonathan Newton (6/26), Theon Groover (6/27), Willie Robinson (6/27), Gwendolyn Smith (6/27), Jessie Stevenson (6/28), and Shirley Bonaparte (6/29); and any other thanksgivings we offer 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 Aniyah Hayes, Helen Scroggins, and 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 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. Helen Scroggins' Funeral on 6/29 at 10 AM: We regret to inform you that Helen Zenobia Fletch Scroggins, age 74, passed away peacefully at Savannah Hospice on June 23, 2022.
Adams Funeral Services, Inc., will host a public viewing on Tuesday, June 28, from 4:00-6:00 PM in their chapel.
St. Matthew's will host Mrs. Scroggins' funeral and celebration of life on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at 10:00 AM. This service will be live-streamed. She will be buried at Beaufort National Cemetery at 1:00 PM. A repast at St. Matthew's will follow the burial and committal at approximately 2:30 PM.
Get up to date information and her full obituary by clicking the blue button below or copying and pasting this URL into your browser: https://www.adamsfuneralservicesinc.com/obituary/MrsHelen-Scroggins
Father of all, we pray to you for Helen, who we love, but see no longer: Grant her your peace; let light perpetual shine upon her; and in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in her the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 504).
B. St. Peter's and St. Matthew's Go Bananas on 6/30!: On Thursday, June 30, St. Peter's Episcopal Church has invited St. Matthew's to share a block of tickets available for the Savannah Bananas baseball game. Tickets are now sold out. More details about where to meet on June 30 will follow soon.
Many questions about tickets, parking, food, what to bring, etc. are answered here on the Bananas' website: https://thesavannahbananas.com/bananasfaq/
Some of St. Peter's and St. Matthew's group will meet outside the stadium at 5:30 to secure seats and direct parishioners to that section. Look for signs for "St. Peter's" to find us!
C. Choir Rehearsals on Thursdays at 6:30 PM: Ms. Dandy and I invite you to join the choir at their new weekly rehearsal time: Thursdays at 6:30 PM. Please help contribute to our music ministry, regardless of your musical skill levels!
D. Coffee Hour Sign Up & New COVID Guidelines: St. Matthew’s Vestry agreed to update its In-Person COVID-19 Safety Guidelines on March 31, 2022. To summarize, when the CDC indicates that Chatham County has a Low or Medium “COVID-19 Community Level,” the Vestry will allow light refreshments to be served at public indoor events, provided that people continue to wear masks whenever they are not eating or drinking. When Chatham County has a High COVID-19 level, food and drink will not be allowed. Chatham County currently has a Medium COVID-19 level. You can read the guidance in all its detail here: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/new-covid-19-safety-guidelines-spring-2022.
The Vestry invites individuals and families to serve light refreshments after worship on Sundays in-person. Please sign up for upcoming dates using the poster near the kitchen in Toomer-Walker Hall.
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
The Offertory
[BCP, p. 377]
Giving to St. Matthew's: We know that many people are feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The church is feeling it too. We still need your support to pay our staff, pay our bills, and provide for these online live streams. There are several ways to give, but the simplest are these:
Mail us a check or money order at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 1401 Martin Luther King, Jr., Blvd, Savannah, GA 31415; OR
Make a secure online gift to St. Matthew’s and/or automate future gifts at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now; OR
Text “stmattsav” to 73256 to make a secure online donation through your phone.
NOTE: Donations made online (#2 or #3) through Realm incur a processing fee of about 2.5%. Please consider adding an additional 2.5% to your online gift to cover these costs.
“Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and make good your vows to the Most High." [Psalm 50:14]
OR
"Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God." [Ephesians 5:2]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
LEV #61: The Right Hand of God
[Verses 1-5]
1 The right hand of God is writing in our land, writing with power and with love, our conflicts and our fears, our triumphs and our tears are recorded by the right hand of God.
2 The right hand of God is pointing in our land, pointing the way we must go, so clouded is the way, so easily we stray, but we're guided by the right hand of God.
3 The right hand of God is striking in our land, striking out at envy, hate, and greed. Our selfishness and lust, our pride and deeds unjust, are destroyed by the right hand of God.
4 The right hand of God is healing in our land, healing broken bodies, minds, and souls, so wondrous is its touch with love that means so much, when we're healed by the right hand of God.
5 The right hand of God is planting in our land, planting seeds of freedom, hope, and love. In these Caribbean lands, let people all join hands, and be one by the right hand of God.
Words: Patrick Prescod © 1981, 1998, Antilles Episcopal Conference. Music: Noel Dexter © 1981, 1998, Antilles Episcopal Conference. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95177. All rights reserved.
AAHH #651: Doxology
[See also Hymn # 380, v. 3]
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
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]
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. …
The Celebrant sings a Proper Preface
Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:
Hymn S-130:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
[Word: Public Domain. Music: From Deutsche Messe, Franz Peter Schubert, Public Domain; arr. Richard Proulx © 1985 G.I.A. Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #93653. All rights reserved.]
The people stand or kneel.
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."
After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."
Therefore, according to his command, O Father,
LEV #260:
We remember his death. We proclaim his resurrection. We await his coming in glory.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Hezekiah Brinson © 1990 Hezekiah Brinson, Jr. All rights reserved.]
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Blessed Matthew, Blessed Stephen, Blessed Augustine, and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.
The Lord’s Prayer
[BCP, p. 364]
And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Fraction Anthems
[BCP, p. 364, 407]
Hymn S-152:
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!
Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Ambrosian chant; adapt. Mason Martens © 1971 Mason Martens.]
LEV #269:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:
grant us peace.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Lena McLin, Eucharist of the Soul © 1972 General Words and Music Co. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #57436. All rights reserved.]
Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
Hymn #655: O Jesus, I Have Promised
[Verses 1-3]
1 O Jesus, I have promised
to serve thee to the end:
be thou for ever near me,
my Master and my friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if thou wilt be my guide.
2 O let me hear thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
O speak, and make me listen,
thou guardian of my soul.
3 O Jesus, thou hast promised
to all who follow thee,
that where thou art in glory
there shall thy servant be;
and, Jesus I have promised
to serve thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my friend.
Words: John Ernest Bode, alt., Public Domain. Music: Nyland, Finnish folk melody, Public Domain; adapt. David Evans, reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #97959, #26774. All rights reserved.
The Post-Communion Prayer
[Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]
Let us pray.
For In-Person Worshippers:
Faithful God,
in the wonder of your wisdom and love
you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,
and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.
We thank you for feeding us with this bread.
May it strengthen us
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may embody your desire
and be renewed for your service
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:
Faithful God,
in the wonder of your wisdom and love
you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,
and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.
Though we cannot consume now these gifts of bread [and wine],
we thank you that we have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence,
the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion.
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
may we embody your desire
and be renewed for your service
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
The Blessing of the People
[Adapted from Enriching Our Worship 1, p. 71]
Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Let us go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit!
Thanks be to God!
The Parish Prayer List
PRAYER LIST: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Tiffany Smith Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien Jr., Angie Glover, Annie Bell Greer, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Bette Milledge, and Chad Stephens
BIRTHDAYS: Marva Harris (6/26), Jonathan Newton (6/26), Theon Groover (6/27), Willie Robinson (6/27), Gwendolyn Smith (6/27), Jessie Stevenson (6/28), and Shirley Bonaparte (6/29)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: N/A
RECENT DEATHS: Aniyah Hayes (6/16/2022); Helen Scroggins (6/23/2022)
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.
Image Credits: https://fowmedia.com/5-keys-online-debate-disagree/