The Holy Eucharist
The First Sunday in Lent (Year C)
March 6, 2022
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, March 6, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #142: Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days
[Verses 1-5]
1. Lord, who throughout these forty days
for us didst fast and pray,
teach us with thee to mourn our sins
and close by thee to stay.
2. As thou with Satan didst contend
and didst the victory win,
O give us strength in thee to fight,
in thee to conquer sin.
3. As thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
so teach us, gracious Lord,
to die to self, and chiefly live
by thy most holy Word.
4. And through these days of penitence,
and through thy Passiontide,
yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesus! with us abide.
5. Abide with us, that so, this life
of suffering overpast,
an Easter of unending joy
we may attain at last!
Words: Claudia Frances Hernaman, Public Domain. Music: St. Flavian, melody from Day's Psalter (1562); adapt. and harm. Richard Redhead, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84254. All rights reserved.
The Penitential Order
[BCP, p. 351]
Bless the Lord who forgives all our sins.
God's mercy endures forever.
"Jesus said, 'The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these'" (Mark 12:29-31).
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.
Hymn S-67: The Great Litany
[BCP, p. 148; Cantor: Paulette Sibert]
O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, Have mercy upon us. O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy upon us. O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, Have mercy upon us. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God, Have mercy upon us.
Remember not, Lord Christ, our offenses, nor the offenses of our forefathers; neither reward us according to our sins. Spare us, good Lord, spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and by thy mercy preserve us, for ever. Spare us, good Lord.
From all evil and wickedness; from sin; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; and from everlasting damnation, Good Lord, deliver us.
From all blindness of heart; from pride, vainglory, and hypocrisy; from envy, hatred, and malice; and from all want of charity, Good Lord, deliver us.
From all inordinate and sinful affections; and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the devil, Good Lord, deliver us.
From all false doctrine, heresy, and schism; from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and commandment, Good Lord, deliver us.
From lightning and tempest; from earthquake, fire, and flood; from plague, pestilence, and famine, Good Lord, deliver us.
From all oppression, conspiracy, and rebellion; from violence, battle, and murder; and from dying suddenly and unprepared, Good Lord, deliver us.
By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation; by thy holy Nativity and submission to the Law; by thy Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation, Good Lord, deliver us.
By thine Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and Passion; by thy precious Death and Burial; by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the Coming of the Holy Ghost, Good Lord, deliver us.
In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, Good Lord, deliver us.
We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, O Lord God; and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church Universal in the right way, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to illumine all bishops, priests, and deacons, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word; and that both by their preaching and living, they may set it forth, and show it accordingly, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to send forth laborers into thy harvest, and to draw all humankind into thy kingdom, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give to all people increase of grace to hear and receive thy Word, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and are deceived, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us a heart to love and fear thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee so to rule the hearts of thy servants, the President of the United States, and all others in authority, that they may do justice, and love mercy, and walk in the ways of truth, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to make wars to cease in all the world; to give to all nations unity, peace, and concord; and to bestow freedom upon all peoples, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to show thy pity upon all prisoners and captives, the homeless and the hungry, and all who are desolate and oppressed, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the bountiful fruits of the earth, so that in due time all may enjoy them, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to inspire us, in our several callings, to do the work which thou givest us to do with singleness of heart as thy servants, and for the common good, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to preserve all who are in danger by reason of their labor or their travel, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to preserve, and provide for, all women in childbirth, young children and orphans, the widowed, and all whose homes are broken or torn by strife, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to visit the lonely; to strengthen all who suffer in mind, body, and spirit; and to comfort with thy presence those who are failing and infirm, especially those on our Parish Prayer List, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to support, help, and comfort all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to have mercy upon all humankind, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to give us true repentance; to forgive us all our sins, negligences, and ignorances; and to endue us with the grace of thy Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to thy holy Word, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and to turn their hearts, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand; to comfort and help the weak-hearted; to raise up those who fall; and finally to beat down Satan under our feet, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to grant to all the faithful departed eternal life and peace, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
That it may please thee to grant that, in the fellowship of Blessed Mary, Blessed Matthew, Blessed Stephen, Blessed Augustine, and all the saints, we may attain to thy heavenly kingdom, We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.
Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy upon us.
O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, Grant us thy peace.
O Christ, hear us. O Christ, hear us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Christ, have mercy upon us.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Words: Public Domain. Music: John Merbecke © 1927, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #18866. All rights reserved.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 218]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, whose blessed Son was led by the Spirit to be tempted by Satan: Come quickly to help us who are assaulted by many temptations; and, as you know the weaknesses of each of us, let each one find you mighty to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (26:1-11)
When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time, and say to him, "Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us." When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me." You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
[BCP, p. 719]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, * abides under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 He shall say to the Lord, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, * my God in whom I put my trust."
9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, * and the Most High your habitation,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, * neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, * to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, * lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; * you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet.
14 Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; * I will protect him, because he knows my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; * I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, * and show him my salvation.
A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (10:8b-13)
"The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart"
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
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 (4:1-13)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written,
'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,
'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'
and
'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
"Spirit-Led" by The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda
Right after Jesus’ baptism, a Holy Spirit leads him into the wilderness to fast and pray for forty days. But then the devil led him to places of temptation. Did the Holy Spirit leave him when the devil led him? Or was the Holy Spirit still there throughout his temptation?
The Holy Spirit sometimes leads us toward trials, toward uncertainties, and toward challenges because those are opportunities to love (Williams). Those are opportunities to grow stronger. Those are the places where God stays with us, even when we doubt. A major point of this story is that even in these hard times, God stays with us and leads us still. No devil or other force of evil can drive God away from us. And that leads us to talking about the actual temptations.
Luke calls this mysterious figure “the devil,” which simply means “the Accuser.” Its job is to accuse, blame, shame, and tempt. It tries to manipulate our emotions and thoughts to trick us into doing the wrong thing. Like in this story, the devil usually tries to accuse and tempt people into doing something evil while making them believe it’s good. There is a storytelling adage that says the best villains are the heroes of their own stories. From a perspective that has been tempered and manipulated we can believe we are right even when we’re plain wrong. And that’s the devil’s strategy for tempting Jesus.
The three temptations are to make bread from stones, to rule all kingdoms, and to fly off of the roof of the Temple. But at their core, all three temptations are about power and control. Making food is about controlling safety and pleasure, avoiding discomfort and pain. Ruling kingdoms is about controlling other people through politics and government (by bowing to the devil). And flying over Jerusalem controls nature and strikes fear in people that can be used to control people through religion.
These are all twisted versions of things Jesus will eventually have. Jesus feeds us with Holy Bread, he is King of kings, and every knee shall bow in worship at the Name of Jesus. But he refuses to shortcut his way there. He knows the Holy Spirit is still with him even when the devil tempts him. He does not use his God-given power to serve himself. He uses it to serve others and to love others. Jesus would later say, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NIV).
First, the Accuser tries to manipulate Jesus because he is hungry. He has the ability to turn stone to bread, just as God created the world by speaking it into existence. But Jesus knows that being Son of God and Son of Man does not mean behaving like other earthly rulers. It doesn’t mean taking whatever you want whenever you want it. Turning stones to bread would satisfy his hunger, it would make him feel safe and secure. But it would be a power play. He would be manipulating the world around him for his own needs. But human beings don’t live on bread alone, we are more than our cravings, and Jesus would rather trust that God will provide bread than use magic to make his own. The Holy Presence of God was there in addition to evil and temptations. And God is stronger than evil.
Remember that God fed Israel in the wilderness when they were wandering for forty years on the way to the Land of Promise. They didn’t take control themselves, but they trusted God and asked for help, so God provided manna from heaven. In their hunger and desperation, God showed up. Later on, Jesus would use his godly power to make bread, but did so for other hungry people, not for himself (see Luke 9:10-17).
Next, the Accuser offers Jesus authority over all the kingdoms of the world. The Tempter says that they are his to give and he will give them to Jesus if he bows down and worships this devil. But Jesus knows that the devil is exaggerating its power. Evil forces may influence the power and politics of the world, and the rulers of every kingdom, but God is still in charge. Jesus is the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, and doesn’t need the Tempter to give him that authority. This temptation is a trick because the devil equates all leadership with corrupt, evil leadership. The only way to lead is to control everything with an iron fist, to be tyrannical and oppressive. But Jesus knows better. Jesus knows that godly, loving, just, merciful leadership is possible. Jesus can offer it in the Reign of God that he is building. The Holy Spirit is there to help him resist the devil’s tricks.
Finally, the devil tempts Jesus with praise, worship and adoration, again something he actually deserves, just accomplished the wrong way. If he flies off the temple, people will be certain that he is the Son of God. There won’t be any doubt that he is the Messiah. And then he can skip over the messiness and pain of crucifixion and death. He can avoid all of it through an awesome display of superpowers. And because the devil is tricky, it tries to manipulate Jesus into doing the wrong thing with the Bible. (Ever seen that trick before?) The Tempter quotes Psalm 91 to Jesus, saying that angels should save him if he jumps off the Temple’s roof. And more importantly, after he flies over Jerusalem, he’ll feed his ego and get all kinds of love and adoration from the people. He’ll never have to go through being unpopular and scorned.
But Jesus knows that isn’t the Way. These temptations would lead Jesus down an easier path than the one he eventually walked. But it would make him compromise. It would lead him into the exact kind of egomaniacal leadership that he spent his ministry criticizing.
We resist temptation because the Holy Spirit is with us even through the most difficult trials of our lives, just like the Spirit stayed with Jesus in the wilderness. So when we resist self-centeredness in our personal lives, or in our political and social lives, we’re following the difficult path of Jesus. We’re walking with him through these temptations. Because if you take the shortcut, the easy way, that absolute power will corrupt mere mortals like us absolutely.
Jesus again reveals to us that God’s Spirit always points toward love and away from self-centeredness. It doesn’t mean we hate ourselves or don’t love ourselves. (Jesus did eventually eat bread and we all should rest from our fasting and Lenten disciplines too.) It just means we know that we’re not the center of the universe. Everything doesn’t revolve around us. Spiritually, Jesus really is the center of the universe, but he didn’t act like it. He points us to a way of uncertainty and challenges (real life), but one that ultimately leads to life together, to real fellowship with each other and with God. That’s the way of Lent and that’s the way of Jesus that we follow, regardless of what season it is. Amen.
Bibliography
Davis, D. Mark. "Twice Led, Not Fed, Well Read." Left Behind and Loving It. Blog. Accessed 3 March 2022. https://leftbehindandlovingit.blogspot.com/2013/02/twice-led-not-fed-well-read.html
Williams, Jeremy L. “Commentary on Luke 4:1-13.” Working Preacher. Accessed 3 March 2022. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/first-sunday-in-lent-3/commentary-on-luke-41-13-5
Choir Selection: Yield Not To Temptation / He Will Carry You Through
1 Yield not to temptation,
For yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you,
Some other to win;
Fight manfully* onward,
Dark passions subdue;
REFRAIN:
Look ever to Jesus,
He will carry you through.
Ask the savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.
2 Shun evil companions,
Bad language disdain;
God’s name hold in rev’rence,
Nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest,
Kind-hearted and true; [Refrain]
3 To him that o’ercometh,
God giveth a crown;
Through faith we will conquer,
Though often cast down;
He who is our savior,
Our strength will renew; [Refrain]
* Manfully: an outdated term meaning strong or powerful
Words: Horatio R. Palmer, Public Domain. Music: Horatio R. Palmer, Public Domain; arr. A. Roberta Martin © 1944 Roberta Martin, Martin's Studio of Music. 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 Peace
[EOW1, p. 56]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
A. Lenten Book Study: This Band of Sisterhood: This Lent, we will gather together to read and discuss a new book called This Band of Sisterhood: Black Women Bishops on Race, Faith, and the Church, edited by Dr. Westina Matthews. These meetings will take place at 6:00 PM over Zoom using the following schedule:
Wednesday, March 9: Introduction and Chapter 1
Wednesday, March 16: Chapter 2
Tuesday, March 22: Chapters 3 & 4
Wednesday, March 30: Chapter 5
Wednesday, April 6: Chapter 6
Wednesday, April 13: Q&A with the author, Dr. Westina Matthews
You can order this book for $14.95 via Church Publishing or Amazon. The Zoom link is available in the e-Newsletter. Sign up for the e-Newsletter at the bottom of our homepage, or reach out to the Office to get the info. If you're interested in learning more about the book, watch this webinar with the author/editor and the five bishops: https://youtu.be/BBJMAxTXp6k.
B. Youth to Sponsor Ronald McDonald House Donation Drive in Lent: Become involved in supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), which provides housing and support for children and their families as they receive medical treatment at nearby hospitals. Our youth will be collecting donations to help cover these costs. Donations will be collected during Lent. They can be dropped off at the church on Wednesday between 10:00 am – 5:00 pm or Sunday before or after service. The RMHC of the Coastal Empire, based in Savannah, requests the following items for donation this spring:
Bleach
Disinfectant Wipes
Trash Bags (4, 13, and 33+ gallons)
C. JUST Rethinking Justice Workshop 3/12: Justice Unites Savannah Together invites you to join a Bible Study-themed workshop called "Rethinking Justice." The purpose of the workshop is to build relationships between diverse faith communities, reclaim the biblical mandate to “do justice,” and review a proven model for that mandate. This is a great opportunity to get involved in St. Matthew's Justice Ministry Team if you have been interested!
The Rethinking Justice Workshop will take place on Saturday, March 12, from 1:30-4:00 PM at Connexion United Methodist Church, 5411 Skidaway Rd, Savannah, GA 31409, where the Rev. Michael Culbreath is Senior Pastor.
D. CORR on 4/3 at St. Matthew's: 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. This spring, 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, April 3, 2022, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. at St. Matthew's. Please read Chapters 6-11 of Kendi’s book before the meeting.
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.
“I appeal to you, sisters and brothers, by the mercies of God, to present yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” [Romans 12:1]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
AAHH #478: What A Mighty God We Serve
[Repeat as desired]
What a mighty God we serve.
What a mighty God we serve.
Angels bow before Him.
Heaven and earth adore Him.
What a mighty God we serve.
What a mighty God we serve.
What a mighty God we serve.
Angels bow before Him.
Heaven and earth adore Him.
What a mighty God we serve.
I command you, Satan,
in the name of the Lord
to take up your weapons and flee,
for the Lord has given me authority
to walk all over thee.
What a mighty God we serve.
What a mighty God we serve.
Angels bow before Him.
Heaven and earth adore Him.
What a mighty God we serve.
Words: Traditional, Public Domain. Music: Traditional, Public Domain; arr. Stephen Key © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95095. 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 1
[EOW1, p. 57]
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 our thanks and praise.
It is truly right, and good and joyful, to give you thanks, all-holy God, source of life and fountain of mercy …
Preface of Lent (1) [BCP, p. 379]:
Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who was tempted in every way as we are, yet did not sin. By his grace we are able to triumph over every evil, and to live no longer for ourselves alone, but for him who died for us and rose again.
Therefore, joining with Angels and Archangels and with the faithful of every generation, we lift our voices with all creation as we sing:
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.
Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of the universe and giver of life. You formed us in your own image and called us to dwell in your infinite love. You gave the world into our care that we might be your faithful stewards and show forth your bountiful grace.
But we failed to honor your image in one another and in ourselves; we would not see your goodness in the world around us; and so we violated your creation, abused one another, and rejected your love. Yet you never ceased to care for us, and prepared the way of salvation for all people.
Through Abraham and Sarah you called us into covenant with you. You delivered us from slavery, sustained us in the wilderness, and raised up prophets to renew your promise of salvation. Then, in the fullness of time, you sent your eternal Word, made mortal flesh in Jesus. Born into the human family, and dwelling among us, he revealed your glory. Giving himself freely to death on the cross, he triumphed over evil, opening the way of freedom and life.
On the night before he died for us, Our Savior Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his friends, and said: “Take, eat: This is my Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.”
As supper was ending, Jesus 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 poured out for you and for all for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me.” Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:
LEV #258:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Marjorie Gabriel-Burrow © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.]
Remembering his death and resurrection, we now present to you from your creation this bread and this wine. By your Holy Spirit may they be for us the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Grant that we who share these gifts may be filled with the Holy Spirit and live as Christ’s Body in the world. Bring us into the everlasting heritage of your daughters and sons, that with Blessed Mary, Blessed Matthew, and all your saints, past, present, and yet to come, we may praise your Name for ever.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, to you be honor, glory, and praise, for ever and 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]
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;
Therefore let us keep the feast.
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.]
This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
WLP #763: As We Gather At Your Table
[Verses 1-3]
1 As we gather at your table,
As we listen to your word,
Help us know, O God, your presence;
Let our hearts and minds be stirred.
Nourish us with sacred story
Till we claim it as our own;
Teach us through this holy banquet
How to make Love’s victory known.
2 Turn our worship into witness
In the sacrament of life;
Send us forth to love and serve you,
Bringing peace where there is strife.
Give us, Christ, your great compassion
To forgive as you forgave;
May we still behold your image
In the world you died to save.
3 Gracious Spirit, help us summon Other guests to share that feast Where triumphant Love will welcome Those who had been last and least. There no more will envy blind us Nor will pride our peace destroy, As we join with saints and angels To repeat the sounding joy.
Words: Carl P. Daw, Jr. © 1989 Hope Publishing Co. Music: Raquel, Skinner Chávez-Melo © 1989 Estate of Skinner Chávez-Melo. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #97274, #RS739. 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 Solemn Prayer for the People
[Adapted from The Book of Occasional Services 2018, p. 10-11]
Let us bow down before the Lord.
Grant, Almighty God, that your people may recognize their weakness and put their whole trust in your strength, so that they may rejoice for ever in the protection of your loving providence; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Let us bless 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, and Helen Scroggins
Birthdays: Jaiden Jones (3/9), Sophia Maiorano (3/10), Jonas McAllister (3/11), and Reginald Robinson (3/12)
Wedding Anniversaries: N/A
Recent Deaths: N/A
May the souls of all the departed rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
Note: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), African American Heritage Hymnal (AAHH), 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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