Sunday Worship for November 28, 2021
The Holy Eucharist
The First Sunday of Advent (Year C)
November 28, 2021
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday, November 28, at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
The Word of God
Hymn #58: Lo! He Comes With Clouds Descending
[Verses 1-5]
1 Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
once for our salvation slain;
thousand, thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.
2 Every eye shall now behold him,
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at nought and sold him,
pierced, and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.
3 Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshipers;
with what rapture, with what rapture,
with what rapture,
gaze we on those glorious scars!
4 Yea, amen! let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the power and glory;
claim the kingdom for thine own:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone.
Words: Charles Wesley, Public Domain.
Music: St. Thomas, melody att. John Francis Wade, harm. att. Vincent Francis Novello, Public Domain.
All rights reserved.
A Penitential Order
[BCP, p. 351]
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:8-9)
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Silence may be kept.
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.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.
LEV #236: Lord Have Mercy
[BCP, p. 356]
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy, have mercy on us.
Words: Public Domain.
Music: Leon C. Roberts, Mass of St. Augustine © 1992 G.I.A. Publications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #07254. All rights reserved.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 211]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah (33:14-16)
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 25:1-9
[BCP, p. 614]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; my God, I put my trust in you; * let me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
2 Let none who look to you be put to shame; * let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes.
3 Show me your ways, O Lord, * and teach me your paths.
4 Lead me in your truth and teach me, * for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
5 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, * for they are from everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; * remember me according to your love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright is the Lord; * therefore he teaches sinners in his way.
8 He guides the humble in doing right * and teaches his way to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness * to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
A Reading from the First Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians (3:9-13)
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you. And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
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 (21:25-36)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
“I Want To Be Ready” by Idella Jones
This morning we begin a brand-new year. Today, the first Sunday in the season of Advent, is the first day in the Christian year. In Advent we wait and prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birth on Christmas. On another level we start counting down the shopping days left until Christmas. Children anxiously search the internet and watch television choosing the presents they want. We no longer have the Sears Big Christmas catalog, but I vividly remember my sisters and I anxiously reading the catalog so much that by the big day came it was almost torn to pieces. We are bombarded with colorful pictures of happy children embracing the latest toy and gadget. Parents and grandparents, for me a new great grandparent, count our money, trying to figure out how to make our private celebrations resemble the commercial Christmas pictured in the papers and on television. We all want to be ready for the commercial Christmas morning.
Advent calls us to be ready for the gift that is greater than anything we can wrap and put under the tree. I want us to be ready receive God’s gift chronicled in Jeremiah 33: 14-16, the Old Testament reading for the First Sunday of Advent. Jeremiah has been called the reluctant prophet. He was content to live his life away from the bustle of Jerusalem in the town of Anathoth. God called Jeremiah to warn Jerusalem that they had turned away from the true God and were worshiping idols. They were committing abominable acts including sacrificing their children to foreign gods. Jeremiah warned King Manasseh that he should not go to war against Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. But like the other residents Judah he did not listen either. The Babylonian army conquered Judah, killed the king, and took everything of value back to Babylon. Jerusalem was left a desolate, empty place, where neither man nor animal lived. The king was killed in battle, the Judeans were exiled. The only surviving Judeans were those taken captive and exiled to Babylon. Only the deafening sound of silence remained. Everything of value and beauty was gone.
Imagine coming St. Matthew’s Church and finding a rubble heap; the altar stripped and broken, the stained-glass windows torn out and taken away. The candlesticks, the crucifix, torches, communion ware and everything that we have come to cherish is gone. Only the deafening sound of silence stays. The building that we know as St. Matthew’s has been destroyed, and we have been banished. That is how the Babylonians left Jerusalem.
Jeremiah, the reluctant prophet of doom and gloom, prophesied against the people and the king, but he also loved and prayed for them. In chapter 14:7 Jeremiah asks God, “Although our sins testify against us, O Lord, do something for the sake of your name, for our backsliding is great and we have sinned against your name.”
In the middle of all the news of doom, Jeremiah prophesied that something good was coming. We read in today’s lesson that God promised to “fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” (Jeremiah 33:14). A righteous branch will sprout from David’s line (33:15),” “he will do what is right, Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. He will be called The Lord, our righteousness.” (33:16). Jeremiah prophesies the coming of the Messiah. Instead of the terrible sounds of an embattled city and the deafening silence that followed, Jerusalem would once again be a city of joy and gladness, worshiping the true God.
In earlier chapters the Messiah is called by names that may be more familiar to us. He is called the fountain of living waters in chapter 2:13; the Good Shepherd in 23:4; the righteous branch in 23:5; the redeemer in 50:34.
So, what is the “Lord, our righteousness”. For that matter what is righteousness? One definition says it is the quality of being morally right or justifiable. Bakers Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology equates righteous with justice. Throughout the Bible we find the two connected. Psalm 72:1-2 reads “Give the King your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the King’s son. That he may rule your people righteously and the poor with justice.”
In other words, God gives righteousness to the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. We who believe in Jesus can become righteous through Him. It is renewed every day by the Holy Spirit working in us. We cannot earn it by simply doing good deeds. Our righteousness is a precious virtue, one we should cultivate and protect against the storms of negative influence. In the Confession of Sins in the Book of Common Prayer we acknowledge to God that “We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.” We ask for God's forgiveness.
But do we really understand what it is that we ask to be forgiven of. We have been told that being righteous means being morally right and justifiable, executing justice in all our actions. We know that we should care for the poor, for less fortunate, we are told “do justice, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). But what else should we consider if we want to be righteous. Psalm 15 lists 13 characteristics of a righteous person. Here is that list in everyday language provided by Christ for Humanity. These are very personal behaviors we should consider as we work to become a righteous person.
A righteous person lives a blameless life
Speaks the truth from their heart
Refuses to gossip or backbite
Refuses to do evil to their neighbor
Will not accept criticism or shame from others concerning their neighbor
Avoids shameless sinners
Honors those who fear the Lord
Keeps their promises or oaths at all costs
Does not take bribes
Does not lend money at an exorbitant interest rate
Protects the innocent at all times
I will make you a promise now. I will not ask you how many of these descriptions of a righteous person you have kept and will ask that you do the same for me. This is not a contest to sees who among us is the closest to reaching the goal of righteousness. Rather I see it as a way of checking ourselves; and correcting and recognizing our own actions.
What makes us righteous in God’s eye has nothing to do with our achievements or status. It is based 100% on our response and acceptance of God’s grace, our belief that through faith we know what God has told us about salvation through His Son, Jesus is true.
We pray for righteousness every time we pray Suffrages A in the Daily Office. The second petition asks, “Clothe your ministers with righteousness; Let your people sing with joy.” Here we want to remember that in the Bible and in the Episcopal theology we believe that every baptized Christian is a minister. We are not just praying for the ordained ministers but all Christians. God calls us to live as Christ. We repeat the baptismal covenant several times a year as a reminder of who and what we are and what we are committed to do.
Later in the Daily Office we pray The General Thanksgiving. We ask God to make us aware of His mercies, to show his love in our lives, in what we do for others, that we may walk before God “in holiness and righteousness all our days through Jesus Christ.”
Righteousness is not a mysterious lofty religious ideal. Yes, it is an attribute of God. However, God has given us the ability to achieve righteousness. We have accepted Jesus as our savior, our redeemer, and our good shepherd. When we make God the central part of our lives, we will be ready to sing as our ancestors did, “I want to be ready to put on my long white robe.”
Bibliography:
Entsua-Mensah, S. E. “13 Characteristics of a Righteous Person (Psalm 15).” Christ For Humanity. Blog. Published 19 February 2015. Accessed 30 October 2021. https://christ4humanity.blogspot.com/2015/02/13-characteristics-of-righteous-person.html.
LEV #7: I Want To Be Ready
[Verses 1-2]
REFRAIN:
I want to be ready,
I want to be ready.
I want to be ready
To walk in Jerusalem just like John.
1 John said that Jerusalem was four-square,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
I hope, good Lord, I’ll meet you there,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John. O [REFRAIN]
2 When Peter was preaching at Pentecost,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John.
O he was filled with the Holy Ghost,
Walk in Jerusalem just like John. O [REFRAIN]
Words: Traditional, Public Domain.
Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain; arr. R. Nathaniel Dett © 1936 Paul A. Schmitt Music Company.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #62698. All rights reserved.
The Nicene Creed
[BCP, p. 358]
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
[Adapted from http://theadventproject.org/Documents/adventpop.pdf]
Sisters and Brothers, as we joyfully await the full manifestation of God’s Reign in Christ, let us pray for the needs of the church and the world, saying, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
O Wisdom, you come forth from the mouth of the Most High and reach from beginning to end, mightily and sweetly ordering all things. Behold and bless your church, remembering especially Michael our presiding bishop, Frank our Bishop, Guillermo our priest, Toni and Margaret our wardens, our vestry and delegates, and all leaders in this parish. Be present in ordering the life of this and every congregation.
Come, Lord Jesus!
O Adonai, God of the Covenant, ruler of the house of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave your law. Forgive us when we stray from your guidance and will.
Come, Lord Jesus!
O Root of Jesse, you stand as an emblem to humankind; before you, rulers will shut their mouths, and nations bow in worship: We pray for your peace and justice in every nation and throughout the world; be present to all whose lives are ravaged by war and strife; especially we hold before you those from among us who serve their country abroad. Guide the leaders of this and every land into the paths of peace and goodwill.
Come, Lord Jesus!
O Key of David, and scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no one can shut, you shut and no one can open: Guide us in opening the doors of opportunity for the unemployed, for the homeless, for prisoners, and for all who are oppressed; and lead us in closing the doors that lead to poverty, bigotry, and injustice.
Come, Lord Jesus!
O King and Desire of the Nations, you are the cornerstone that makes us one: We lift up all who are suffering and in need, especially Guillermo G. Arboleda, Martha Avery, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Annie Bell Greer, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Genelle Joseph and her children, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Craig Maxwell, Jameel Newton, Mackenzie Orth, Helen Scroggins, and the Townsend family: Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous and help us minister to them in your love.
Come, Lord Jesus!
O Dayspring, radiance of the Light Eternal and Sun of Righteousness: Shine your light on those who have died; remember especially those we name now..., and bring comfort to all those who mourn.
Come, Lord Jesus!
O Emmanuel, God with us, Expected One and Savior, We give thanks for all the blessings of this life; for all those celebrating birthdays: Harriet McKinney (11/29), Alice Dailey (11/30), Nolan Jones (12/1), and Justin Ward (12/4); those celebrating wedding anniversaries; and for the other blessings we now name silently or aloud… Make each of us ready to receive you into our hearts, to serve you in all whom we meet, and to greet you in the fullness of your glory in the day of your appearing.
Come, Lord Jesus!
The Celebrant concludes with a suitable Collect.
Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we, your servants who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
A. Advent & Christmas 2021-2022 Worship Schedule: Please see our full worship schedule for the seasons of Advent and Christmas below. All Services are both in-person and live-streamed to our Facebook page:
11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19: Sundays in Advent - Holy Eucharist at 9:30 AM
Friday, 12/24: Christmas Eve - Holy Eucharist with Pop-up Pageant at 7:00 PM
Saturday, 12/25: Christmas Day - Rest and rejoice with your family!
Sunday, 12/26: 1st Sunday in Christmas - Lessons & Carols at 9:30 AM
Friday, 12/31: Eve of the Holy Name of Jesus / New Year's Eve / Watch Night - Holy Eucharist at 7:00 PM
Sunday, 1/2: 2nd Sunday in Christmas - Holy Eucharist at 9:30 AM
Thursday, 1/6: Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Holy Eucharist at 6:00 PM
Check out the full schedule: https://www.stmattsav.org/post/advent-christmas-season-2021-2022
B. Conversations on Relationships and Race (CORR) on 12/12: St. Matthew’s is partnering with St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, Isle of Hope UMC, and Asbury UMC to hold a monthly book club and dialogue series on race and relationships that will focus on a different book about racial injustice every month. Our hope is to continue learning more about others and ourselves, while also building deeper and meaningful relationships with our greater community across the barriers of denomination and race.
Our third gathering will be held on Sunday, December 12, 4:00-5:30 PM in person only at St. Matthew’s. Refreshments will be served outdoors (weather permitting) before gathering for discussion indoors.
Our current book is called Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho. Please read Chapters 7 through 15 (i.e., Part II and Part III) before the December meeting. You can purchase the book online or in most book stores (Amazon link).
C. EYCS Scholarship Fundraiser: Episcopal Youth and Children's Services (EYCS) is a scholarship fund managed by the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia to help Episcopal undergraduate students afford their education. EYCS is a very valuable scholarship fund that any college-bound Episcopal youth can apply for. Many St. Matthew's students have benefitted from EYCS funds over the years as they pursued their degrees. To learn more about the requirements click here.
Ordinarily, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church Women (ECW) hold the annual Silver Tea Fundraiser with the proceeds going to the EYCS, but due to COVID-19, the event is suspended. In order to continue our support to the EYCS we are asking for your financial support. Please make checks payable to "St. Matthew's ECW" and write "EYCS" on the memo line. The last date for contributions is November 30, 2021.
D. Care Packages for Needy Neighbors: As we all continue to struggle during the pandemic, and the neighborhood around St. Matthew's Church has been especially hard-hit. We want to respond to the immediate needs of our neighbors by building care packages we can distribute to anyone who asks for help, especially those experiencing homelessness. You can help support this initiative by donating individual size packages any or all of the following:
Gallon-size Zipper Bags
Bottled Water
Non-perishable snacks
Disposable Washcloths
Travel size First Aid Kit
Travel size Facial Tissue
Travel size Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Travel size Hand Sanitizer, 2 fl. oz.
Travel size Deodorant
Canned foods with pull tab
Packs of Gum
Some of these care packages will be kept on site at St. Matthew's for local distribution, but the majority will be donated to Emmaus House, our partner ministry for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Savannah. If you would like to serve our unhoused neighbors in other ways, Emmaus House is now accepting volunteers to serve breakfast on weekdays from 7:30-9:30 AM. Register today: https://www.unitedministriessavannah.org/volunteer
E. Upcoming Dates for Baptisms & Confirmations: Holy Baptism is available to anyone at any age who has not already been baptized. Confirmation or Reception is available for teens and adults who would like to make a mature commitment to The Episcopal Church. Baptisms can be performed on almost any Sunday or feast day based on your family's schedule. Confirmations, Receptions, and Renewals of Baptismal Vows must take place when a Bishop is present. The Right Rev. Frank Logue, Bishop of Georgia, will hold his next visitation to St. Matthew's on Sunday, January 16, 2022. If you are interested in taking any of these next steps in your faith journey, please contact Fr. Arboleda by cell phone or email (FrGAA@StMattSav.org).
F. T/W/Th Evening Prayer via Zoom: 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
G. 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.
2022 Giving Campaign: The 2022 Giving Campaign has just ended, but we have fallen short of our giving goals for 2022 General Operations. We need to raise at least $150,000 toward operations to have a balanced budget, and we are less than 50% of the way there. There are two main ways you can help:
If you forgot to submit your giving estimate, you can still do so using the online form below. You can also request a paper form from our office. Only about half of our regular pledgers submitted a giving estimate this year, so we would love to hear from the rest of you!
If you already submitted a giving estimate, it's not too late to adjust your estimate to reduce your gifts toward restricted funds and increase your gifts to general operations. Please contact Office@StMattSav.org to make any desired changes.
The Online 2022 Giving Estimate: https://tinyurl.com/StMattSav2022
Click here to learn more about how and why to give to St. Matthew's.
Ascribe to the Lord the honor due his Name; bring offering and come into his courts. [Psalm 96:8; see BCP, p. 376]
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
LEV #140: Lord, I Want You To Touch Me
[Verses 1-2]
REFRAIN: Lord, I want you to touch me, Touch me with Thy holy love. Lord, come down and touch me. Come down from heaven above. Lord, reach out and touch me, Reach out and touch me within, Lord, let the goodness touch me, Thy touch will cleanse me from sin.
1 Some folks want treasures of silver and gold, Some want to reign with powers untold; But in my life, all that I can say, Lord, be my guide and have thine own way. [REFRAIN]
2 Teach me to love and teach me to pray, Grant me a light to shine day by day; Just to abide where joys never cease Will be great joy, such comfort and ease. [REFRAIN]
Words: Martha E. Banks, Public Domain.
Music: Martha E. Banks, harm. James A. Jones, special harm. Clara Ward, Public Domain.
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.
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 Grace
[BCP, p. 102]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.
The Dismissal
[BCP, p. 366]
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
The Parish Prayer List
Prayer List: Guillermo G. Arboleda, Martha Avery, Christine Brown, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Annie Bell Greer, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Genelle Joseph and her children, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Craig Maxwell, Jameel Newton, Mackenzie Orth, Helen Scroggins, and the Townsend family
Birthdays: Harriet McKinney (11/29), Alice Dailey (11/30), Nolan Jones (12/1), and Justin Ward (12/4)
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), and other sources cited. The Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.
Image Credit: