The Holy Eucharist: Liturgy of the Word
6th Sunday of Easter (Year B) May 9, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, May 9, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
Preface
We at St. Matthew's Church in Savannah are unable to gather together in person due to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic. Under the guidance of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, the Vestry has decided to keep our church building closed for all in-person gatherings.
At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, I will broadcast the following worship service using Facebook Live at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav. After the service concludes, you can re-watch it at any time.
This worship service is designed for for use at home while watching the live stream or reading the prayers when you cannot physically attend worship. Lay people may read the entirety of this service.
In 2021, we have made some technological and liturgical changes to our live stream, in accordance with the latest COVID-19 Safety Guidelines from the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. All these changes are intended to simplify the production process of these worship videos and comply with those guidelines.
This liturgy will be performed live on Sunday morning as you watch from home, rather than pre-filmed and edited together. In other words, you are looking at a live feed of what we are doing in the church. This means there will be fewer flourishes on the video, but it will look like actually attending church again.
Due to the "live" nature of this video, there will be 10 or fewer people in the church on Sunday morning (Ms. Dandy, 1-2 lay readers, and myself). In compliance with the Diocese of Georgia's COVID-19 indoor worship guidelines, we will engage in social distancing, wear masks at all times, and aim to keep the liturgy under 60 minutes.
Therefore, most hymns will be shortened (typically to 3 or fewer verses) and some portions of the liturgy that may be sung will be spoken.
May God protect you from this virus and protect the most vulnerable among us. May we be God’s hands and feet of compassion and service to all in need during this time. Amen.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
LEV #64: I Love To Tell The Story
[Verses 1-2]
1 I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
Because I know it’s true;
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else would do.
REFRAIN:
I love to tell the story;
Twill be my theme in glory.
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love.
2 I love to tell the story,
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it, like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story
That I have loved so long. (REFRAIN)
Words: A. Katherine Hankey, Public Domain.
Music: William G. Fischer, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95010. All rights reserved.
Opening Sentences
[BCP, p. 355]
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
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.
Christ Our Passover (Pascha Nostrum)
[BCP, p. 83; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8; Romans 6:9-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-22]
Alleluia. Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; * therefore let us keep the feast, Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, * but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.
Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; * death no longer has dominion over him. The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; * but the life he lives, he lives to God. So also consider yourselves dead to sin, * and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.
Christ has been raised from the dead, * the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by a man came death, * by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, * so in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 225]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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 Acts (10:44-48)
While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles, for they heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God
Psalm 98
[BCP, p. 727]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.
2 With his right hand and his holy arm *
has he won for himself the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his victory; *
his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, *
and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
5 Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; *
lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
6 Sing to the Lord with the harp, *
with the harp and the voice of song.
7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn *
shout with joy before the King, the Lord.
8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, *
the lands and those who dwell therein.
9 Let the rivers clap their hands, *
and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,
when he comes to judge the earth.
10 In righteousness shall he judge the world * and the peoples with equity.
A Reading from the First Letter of St. John (5:1-6)
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
This is the one who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one that testifies, for the Spirit is the truth.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. John (15:9-17)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
“The Victory of Love” by Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
1 Sing to the Lord a new song, *
for he has done marvelous things.
2 With his right hand and his holy arm *
has he won for himself the victory.
3 The Lord has made known his victory; *
his righteousness has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.
4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness to the house of Israel, *
and all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Psalm 98 is an invitation to celebrate God’s victory. God has done great and “marvelous things” (Psalm 98:1). And the psalm invites us continually to “sing to the Lord a new song” (98:1). There are always new things to praise God for, because God’s victory isn’t just in the past, but in the here and now too. We’re gathered together to celebrate, to praise the name of God, and to tell the world about God’s victory, until “all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God” (98:4).
For Christians, Easter is the story of God’s greatest victory. On Easter morning, God defeated and destroyed the powers of sin, death, and evil. Jesus rose from the dead and shows us that death does not have the final word. God is greater than death, stronger than our sins, and has won the final victory over all forces of evil. The love of God would not back down. Love brought Jesus back from the dead and love defeated sin and death. Love is the key to God’s victory. Love is how God’s victory is made known to the world.
First John says that we share in God’s victory through faith in God and obeying the commandments: “For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Of course, Jesus gave us many commands and teachings. But John is talking about the biggest and most important of all. Because the commandments all boil down to love. Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
What does love have to do with victory again? While the world often thinks of victory in terms of winners and losers, God doesn’t make any of us lose. God doesn’t beat down or destroy us as enemies. The greatest enemy is death and sin itself. Other people are ultimately not our enemies, they are our siblings in Christ. So the path to victory is love. We win not by beating others down, but by lifting them up. We win and share in God’s victory by loving our neighbors like we love ourselves. We win when we honor the dignity of every human being and treat everyone as an equal.
This fights against the cultural pressure to judge and categorize people. We often have this impulse to judge inside our heads, created by the external pressure to judge. It’s easy to make a snap judgment and start to treat a person like a thing. Instead of engaging with somebody like they are equal, we might subtly think or act like they’re beneath us. We think of others as less-than, as somehow not beloved creatures made in the image of God. Maybe it’s the way they’re dressed, the style of their hair, the way they talk, the kinds of people they love or hang out with, or even the way they smell. But something about another person can trigger this instant reaction and we forget in those moments that this is God’s child. This person is loved by the Creator of the Universe.
Now here’s the thing. We all do this. We’re all guilty of these judgments that can lead to hateful attitudes and hateful actions. When we become aware of this, our first instinct might be to feel guilty and to beat ourselves up. But that isn’t living victoriously. Getting down on ourselves doesn’t share God’s victory with the world. Feeling bad doesn’t fix much unless it motivates us to change (which it rarely does all by itself).
Instead, we need to find ways to acknowledge our mistake both internally and externally. We can ask God for forgiveness, and God will grant it. God is love, after all. But we also need to seek forgiveness from the neighbor whom we hurt. If our attitudes and actions put somebody else down, beating ourselves up in private doesn’t do much good. But if you have a chance, apologizing does. Even better, you can learn from that mistake and become quicker at snapping out of those mean judgments. We are not able to eliminate sin. But we can repent and turn toward love faster, maybe even in the moment, during the conversation. We can improve by God’s grace so that the victory of Christ’s resurrection transforms the way we actually live. We can start to actually love one another, even those who we used to look down on (or those who look down on us).
God’s victory doesn’t make us perfect. We’re still human. But we are capable of more than we can ask for or imagine. We are capable of loving one another fully and truly. We’re capable of recognizing when we’re wrong and having those difficult conversations where we admit our faults to one another and strive to do better. That’s all God really expects of us. Give it your best shot and keep getting up and trying when you fail. Stay on the path of love. For love is the way to victory. Amen.
Bibliography
Curry, Michael B., and Sara Grace. Love is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times. New York; Avery / Penguin Random House, 2020.
Hymn #455: O Love of God, How Strong and True
[Verses 1-4]
1 O love of God, how strong and true,
eternal and yet ever new;
uncomprehended and unbought,
beyond all knowledge and all thought.
2 O wide-embracing, wondrous Love,
we read thee in the sky above;
we read thee in the earth below,
in seas that swell and streams that flow.
3 We read thee best in him who came
to bear for us the cross of shame,
sent by the Father from on high,
our life to live, our death to die.
4 We read thy power to bless and save
e'en in the darkness of the grave;
still more in resurrection light
we read the fullness of thy might.
Words: Horatius Bonar, Public Domain.
Music: Dunedin, Vernon Griffiths, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #40081. 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 for Mother's Day
[Adapted from Rick Morley, “A Litany for Mother’s Day,” Blog, published 29 April 2011, accessed 11 May 2017, http://www.rickmorley.com/archives/149.]
On this day when we honor our mothers, let us offer our prayers to Jesus, the son of Mary, saying, “Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.”
Because on this earth we are all sons and daughters of Eve, let us pray for the whole world and the church universal, that we might behold each other as brothers and sisters. Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
As Rebecca gave birth to Jacob, and in so doing she gave birth to a whole nation, let us pray for our own nation, and for all in authority. Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
As Rachel’s son Joseph was mistreated, beaten, and wrongly jailed, 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. Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
As Hannah, the mother of Samuel, went to the House of the Lord to pray with earnest integrity, we earnestly pray for those in this community, and especially for Idella Jones (5/10), Ahmad Taylor (5/14), and Ronnie Taylor (5/15) on their birthdays and those celebrating wedding anniversaries this week. Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
As Naomi took Ruth into her home, we pray for those who act as surrogate, spiritual mothers. We pray with gratitude for all those who give the gift of love and nurturing.
Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
As Sarah rejected her stepchild Ishmael, we pray for all who have been deeply wounded by mothers or mother figures. May they all find love and healing by and through the power of your Holy Spirit.
Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
As Elizabeth gave birth in old age, and as she saw her son John the Baptist carried off to persecution, we pray for all those who are sick, those who are suffering, and those with any need, especially Martha Avery, Donald Baynes, Ronald Baynes, Zavier Bradley, Myrtle Brow-Hollis, Jacquelyn Bryant, Christine Brown, Genella Chamberlain, Taylor Blue Clemons, Annie Colbert, Ana Columna, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Roland Dixon, Eduardo Espinosa, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Colin Gentle, Yvonne Gentle, Charles Gordon, Amanda Green, Jocelyn Bryant Harden, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Ann Hudson, 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, 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, Courtney Watts Vista, Ed Vista, Willie Stephens, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, and Noel Wheeler. Lord in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.
And, as the Blessed Virgin Mary stood by the cross and watched her son die, we pray for the dead and the dying, especially. . . Lord in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.
Then, the Celebrant adds this concluding collect.
Lord Jesus, who wishes to gather your people as a mother hen gathers together her brood, we offer our prayers to you. Accept our gratitude for all who mother, bless all who mother, and give all mothers your comfort and strength. And help all of us, brothers and sisters, to be your family on earth, as we shall be in Heaven. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
A. Vestry Approves In-Person Worship Beginning 6/6: 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. The Vestry's detailed plan passed unopposed this week and we intended to release all the Safety Guidelines immediately. However, the Diocese just announced that it will further loosen COVID-19 safety restrictions later in May, and the Vestry wants to consider these new guidelines before announcing the details of our re-gathering plan for June 6. We intend to announce the final Safety Guidelines by next Sunday, May 16.
In the meantime Fr. Arboleda and the Vestry will reach out to all those who volunteered to serve as ushers in the Lent COVID-19 Re-Gathering Survey and hold a training session on Saturday, May 22 at 10:00 AM. If you are interested in serving as an usher but cannot attend that meeting, please contact Fr. Arboleda to schedule a more convenient time. Over the next few Sundays, we will begin "practicing" the safety guidelines with a slightly larger group of people during our Sunday live-streams.
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 Nehemiah Action Report: Justice Unites Savannah Together (JUST) has been hard at work since December doing research into the organization's first two problem areas: Affordable Housing and Poverty. On May 3, we held a community-wide "Nehemiah Action." Just as Nehemiah called the whole city together in front of Jerusalem's public officials to solve an economic crisis (Nehemiah 5:1-13), we gathered to demand action from public officials.
We asked Mayor Van Johnson and the Savannah City to invest $10 million from its American Rescue Plan Act grants into the Affordable Housing Fund over the next 2 years. Then, we asked District Attorney Shalena Cook Jones to end cash bail in Chatham County. So far, we have not received commitments from either official, but JUST representatives will continue to meet with them over the next few weeks and report back on their progress.
Stay up to date and learn more by liking JUST's Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thejustorganization.
C. Bishop Curry Book Study on Wednesdays 4/14 - 5/19: In Easter Season, St. Matthew's will join with churches across the Diocese of Georgia to read Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times (co-authored by Sara Grace). Buy the book now at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Love-Way-Holding-Troubling-Times/dp/0525543031) or Penguin Random House (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/605848/love-is-the-way-by-bishop-michael-curry-with-sara-grace/). The book discussion guide for the Diocese of Georgia's 1Book1Diocese read of Love is the Way is now online here: Discussion Guide PDF.
The discussion group will meet over Zoom on Wednesdays after Evening Prayer, from about 5:30 - 6:30 PM from April 14 to May 19, 2021. Check the e-Newsletter for Zoom information. Please read Chapters 8-9 by May 12.
Bishop Logue will moderate a Zoom session on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:00pm where we will discuss the Presiding Bishop's book Love Is the Way: Holding on to Hope in Troubling Times. We will also have time for questions live from those in attendance and will put a video of the event online after for those who can not attend.
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. Members like Sandra Mitchell have already answered the latest call by giving this month (photos here).
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. EYCS Scholarship Deadline 5/31: Attention college-bound students! If you are ages 17-22 and headed for college in the fall, you are encouraged to apply for a needs-based EYCS scholarship for the 2021-2022 school year.
Visit eycs.georgiaepiscopal.org and click on 'Education Scholarships.' Applications are due by May 31, 2021.
F. Thank You to All Who Cleaned Up Memory Garden: St. Matthew's extends its heartfelt thanks to all who helped clean up St. Matthew's Memory Garden on Saturday, May 1, including General Cope, Avis Glover, Idella Jones, Dr. Esther McAlpine, Sandra Mitchell, Evadne Roberts, and Kathy Robinson's landscaping business.
Now that everything is weeded and clear, we are ready to hold a Memory Garden Planting Day on Saturday, May 22 (rain date: June 5) at 7:00 a.m. to beautify the garden for the summer and beyond. Click here for photos of the garden and work crew.
G. Virtual Mother's Day Coffee Hour 5/9: We will hold a virtual "Coffee Hour" over Zoom on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9 at 10:30 AM. This fellowship time will feature a Mother's Day-themed game for us to play together virtually.
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: St. Matthew's Coffee Hour
Time: May 9, 2021 10:30 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 825 7251 1175
Passcode: SEE e-NEWSLETTER
Dial by your location: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 825 7251 1175
Passcode: SEE e-NEWSLETTER
H. 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.
During Easter, we will continue to use the Evening Prayer liturgy from Enriching Our Worship 1, an Episcopal worship resource that includes new prayers from more parts of the Bible, an emphasis on non-gendered language for God, and featuring more feminine perspectives both ancient and modern.
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
I. “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 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.
“O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power; because you have created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”
[Revelation 4:11; see BCP, p. 377]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
AAHH #410: Faith of Our Mothers
[Verses 1-4]
1 Faith of our mothers, living yet
In cradle song and bedtime prayer,
In nurs'ry love and fireside love,
Thy presence still pervades the air:
Faith of our mothers, living faith,
We will be true to thee till death.
2 Faith of our mothers, lavish faith,
The fount of childhood's trust and grace,
O may thy consecration prove
The well-spring of a nobler race:
Faith of our mothers, lavish faith,
We will be true to thee till death.
3 Faith of our mothers, guiding faith,
For youthful longing– youthful doubt,
How blurred our vision, blind our way,
Thy providential care without:
Faith of our mothers, guiding faith,
We will be true to thee till death.
4 Faith of our mothers, Christian faith,
In truth beyond our man-made creeds,
Still serve the home and save the church,
And breathe thy spirit through our deeds:
Faith of our mothers, Christian faith,
We will be true to thee till death.
Words: A. B. Patten, Public Domain.
Music: St. Catherine, Henri Frederick Hemy, Public Domain.
All rights reserved.
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 Blessing
[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 with you now and always. Amen.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!
The Parish Prayer List
Prayer List: Martha Avery, Donald Baynes, Ronald Baynes, Zavier Bradley, Myrtle Brow-Hollis, Jacquelyn Bryant, Christine Brown, Genella Chamberlain, Taylor Blue Clemons, Annie Colbert, Ana Columna, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Roland Dixon, Eduardo Espinosa, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Colin Gentle, Yvonne Gentle, Charles Gordon, Amanda Green, Jocelyn Bryant Harden, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, MJ Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Ann Hudson, 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, 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, Courtney Watts Vista, Ed Vista, Willie Stephens, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, and Noel Wheeler
Birthdays: Idella Jones (5/10), Ahmad Taylor (5/14), and Ronnie Taylor (5/15)
Wedding Anniversaries: N/A
Recent Deaths: Raleigh Bryant (12/18), Mary Carolyn Singleton Curly (sister to Dr. Janice Vaughn)
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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