The Holy Eucharist: The Liturgy of the Word
All Saints' Day (Year A) November 1, 2020
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
Sunday at 9:30 a.m. (or anytime afterward)
Preface
I am posting this worship service online because we at St. Matthew's Church in Savannah are unable to gather together in person this week. Due to the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) outbreak, public health officials recommend avoiding large gatherings of people to avoid spreading the illness to more vulnerable people. Therefore, under the guidance of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, the Vestry has decided to keep our church building closed to all in-person gatherings.
At 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, 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.
Today's service is the Liturgy of the Word (or the first part of the Holy Eucharist service we use on normal Sundays). This is 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 as printed.
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 Word of God
Hymn #287: For All the Saints
1. For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
2. Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, the one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
3. O may thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
and win, with them, the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
4. O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
5. And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
6. The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
7. But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
8. From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Words: William Walsham How; Public Domain.
Music: Sine Nomine, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #18303. All rights reserved.
Opening Sentences
[BCP, p. 355]
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
The Collect for Purity
[BCP, p. 355]
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn S 280: Glory to God in the Highest
[BCP, p. 356]
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Words: Public Domain.
Music: Robert Powell, © 1985 Church Publishing, Inc.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #77081. All rights reserved.
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 245]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
A Reading from the Revelation to St. John the Divine (7:9-17)
After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing,
"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
"For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
[BCP, p. 627]
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 I will bless the Lord at all times; *
his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
2 I will glory in the Lord; *
let the humble hear and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; *
let us exalt his Name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me *
and delivered me out of all my terror.
5 Look upon him and be radiant, *
and let not your faces be ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me *
and saved me from all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, *
and he will deliver them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; *
happy are they who trust in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, *
for those who fear him lack nothing.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger, *
but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
22 The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, * and none will be punished who trust in him.
A Reading from the First Letter of St. John (3:1-3)
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
LEV #7: I Want To Be Ready
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. [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. [Refrain]
Words: Traditional, Public Domain.
Music: Negro Spiritual, Public Domain; arr. R. Nathaniel Dett © 1936 Paul A. Schmitt Music Company, CPP/Belwin Music/Alfred.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #62698. All rights reserved.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew (5:1-12)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
The Sermon
“Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness” by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda
What does it take to be a saint? Does it mean moral perfection? Does it mean being a spiritual superhero? No.
In Matthew 5, Jesus summarizes what it means to be blessed, what it means to be saintly, what it means to be holy. I think the easiest one to wrap our heads around is this: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Becoming a saint isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about reshaping our desires. It’s about learning to hunger and thirst for righteousness, for justice, for the things of God. It’s about learning to hunger for God’s goodness the way we hunger for a hot meal after a long day of work. It’s about wanting something that’s better for all rather than just wanting what’s best for me and mine.
The thing about hunger and thirst is that they can be fierce. If you’re hungry, and I mean really hungry, you’re not gonna let anything stand between you and your next meal. We are willing to do whatever it takes to satisfy that hunger because we need food in order to survive.
That’s the kind of hunger and thirst the saints have for righteousness and justice. They are willing to do whatever it takes to see God’s purposes through.
Likewise, being meek means not being driven by selfishness all the time, but thinking of others’ needs and interests.
Being merciful is about loving people more than we love being right; caring about others’ well being over what we can take from them
Being pure means desiring what is right over our own selfishness
Being a peacemaker means pursuing loving community over revenge and violence
Holiness and saintliness is about learning to place “we” at the center, instead of just “me”. It’s about growing the circle of people who we love and care about. It’s gaining a hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness and justice enacting in the world.
Just about every saint we might be able to think of can show us this path. We’re about to pray a lengthy litany, where we call on dozens of different saints to pray for us on this All Saints’ Day. We obviously couldn’t name all the saints. So I carefully curated the list, selecting saints who are relevant to our life and ministry here at St. Matthew’s. I want to call on three of them now as examples for us: people who hunger and thirst for God’s righteousness.
St. Matthew
We’ll start with our patron: St. Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist. Matthew met Jesus while sitting in a tax booth. Like we spoke about on St. Matthew’s Day in September, he worked in a corrupt profession as a tax collector. Tax collectors were known for demanding higher tax rates than they needed to in order to steal from people and enrich themselves. That sort of lifestyle made you rich, but it couldn’t make you happy because nobody wanted to be around you. It was all about pleasing self and not caring about other people.
But when Jesus called and said, “Follow me,” Matthew listened and left his tax booth behind (Matthew 9:9). He started following Jesus and became one of the leaders of the early church. He went from hungering for more wealth, living a life of greed, to hungering for God’s righteousness. He preached Good News to the poor and proclaimed liberty to the captives, just like Jesus did (Luke 4:18-19). He became a saint because he learned to love what God loves and desire what God desires.
Anna Alexander
St. Anna Alexander is an Episcopal saint from right here in Georgia. She lived from 1865-1947 and spent most of her adult life serving the people of St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church in Darien, GA, and co-founded Church of the Good Shepherd in Pennick, GA. She lived during the Jim Crow era of Georgia’s history, when Black people (and Black women in particular) were marginalized, excluded, and oppressed in daily public life. Nevertheless, Anna Alexander earned the respect of her community (from both Blacks and Whites) by educating generations of children in those two churches.
She was ordained as a deaconess by a Diocese that did not allow Blacks to attend Convention alongside Whites. She was a church planter in a time when women’s leadership was not fully authorized by the church or society. Anna Alexander accomplished all these things because of her great love for God and her great love for humanity, especially children. She hungered and thirsted for God’s righteousness, desiring to give Black children equal opportunities and willing to fight for it no matter the cost. That’s why she is remembered as the patron saint of the Diocese of Georgia’s Chapel
Thurgood Marshall
Finally, Thurgood Marshall--yes, that Thurgood Marshall--is one of the most recent additions to The Episcopal Church’s calendar of saints. He is famous as an accomplished lawyer, federal judge, and ultimately an Associate Justice of The United States Supreme Court. He was the first Black lawyer to argue a case before the Supreme Court and the first Black Supreme Court justice. He was the founder of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. As a lawyer, judge, and justice, he passionately defended civil rights, civil liberties, and human rights. He successfully argued Brown v. Board of Education (1954) to end racial segregation in public schools, and continued fighting for the rights of all people until his death in 1993.
Marshall’s public accomplishments are impressive, but did you also know that he was an Episcopalian? He attended St. Katherine’s, Baltimore, as a child; he was a member of St. Philip’s in Harlem, NY, where he served as Senior Warden and as a Deputy to the 1964 General Convention; in Washington, DC, he was a member of St. Augustine’s Church.
Justice Marshall was a Black American Episcopal Christian just like almost every member of St. Matthew’s. In Episcopal parishes just like this one, he learned to hunger and thirst for righteousness. He used his training as a lawyer to advocate for freedom and justice for all. He did so, not only because it conformed with American legal principles, but because it conformed to God’s standards of righteousness. He hungered and thirsted for that righteousness and was willing to fight for it. So we remember his life and legacy as one of sainthood.
St. Matthew, St. Anna Alexander, and St. Thurgood Marshall all model for us what it’s like to hunger and thirst for righteousness. They show us how to desire what God desires, to long for the common good. They teach us to love one another and work for “we” not just “me.” May God help us to do the same. Amen.
Bibliography
The Episcopal Church. Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018. Pre-publication PDF edition. Church Publishing, 2019.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
[BCP, p. 292]
Do you reaffirm your renunciation of evil and renew your commitment to Jesus Christ?
I do.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?
I will with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will with God’s help.
May Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins, keep us in eternal life by his grace, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
A Litany for All Saints’ Day
[Adapted from Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book (2014), pp. 430-434]
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
O God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, have mercy on us.
O God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
O God, the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, have mercy on us.
Holy Michael and Gabriel, Archangels, pray for us.
All holy angels and archangels, pray for us.
All holy orders of blessed spirits, pray for us.
Holy Abraham Isaac, and Jacob, pray for us.
Holy Sarah, Hagar, Keturah, Rebekah, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah, and Zilpah, pray for us.
Holy Moses, Miriam, and Aaron, pray for us.
Holy Ruth and Naomi, pray for us.
Holy David, Samuel, and Elijah, pray for us.
Holy John the Baptist, Forerunner to our Savior, pray for us.
Holy Mary, the Bearer of God, pray for us.
Holy Joseph, stepfather of our Savior, pray for us.
All holy patriarchs, matriarchs, and prophets, pray for us.
Holy Peter and Paul, pray for us.
Holy Andrew, James, and John, pray for us.
Holy Matthew: Apostle, Evangelist, and our parish's patron, pray for us.
Holy Mark and Luke, pray for us.
Holy Mary Magdalene and Junia, pray for us.
All apostles, disciples, and evangelists, pray for us.
Holy Stephen, first martyr and our patron, pray for us.
Holy Ignatius and Polycarp, pray for us.
Holy Perpetua and Felicity, pray for us.
Holy Constance and the Martyrs of Memphis, pray for us.
Holy Jonathan Daniels and Martin Luther King, Jr., pray for us.
Holy Janani Luwum and Óscar Romero, pray for us.
All holy martyrs of our God, pray for us.
Holy Gregory, Basil, and Chrysostom, pray for us.
Holy Augustine of Hippo, our patron, pray for us.
Holy Columba, Patrick, and Brigid, pray for us.
Holy Anthony, Benedict, Francis, and Dominic, pray for us.
Holy Hildegard, Clare, and Julian, pray for us.
All holy teachers, confessors, and doctors, pray for us.
Holy Augustine and Anselm of Canterbury, pray for us.
Holy Samuel Seabury, first American bishop, pray for us.
Holy Enmegabowh and James Theodore Holly, pray for us.
Holy Frances Perkins, Harriet Bedell, and Thurgood Marshall, pray for us.
Holy Anna Alexander, patron saint of the Diocese of Georgia, pray for us.
All holy leaders of Anglicanism and The Episcopal Church, pray for us.
All holy bishops, priests, and deacons, pray for us. All holy lay people, the hands and feet of the Body of Christ, pray for us. All holy missionaries, evangelists, and preachers, pray for us. All holy monks and hermits, pray for us. All holy advocates for love, justice, and mercy, pray for us. All holy women and holy men, saints of God, pray for us.
Let us pray: We give thanks to you, Most Holy God, for all your servants and witnesses of time past, for all the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and saints in every age and in every land. In your mercy, O God, give us, as you gave to them, the hope of salvation and the promise of eternal life; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, the first-born of many from the dead. Amen.
The Prayers of the People
[Adapted from Form III, BCP, p. 387]
Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church; That we all may be one.
Grant that every member of the Church may truly and humbly serve you; That your Name may be glorified by all people.
We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons; That they may be faithful ministers of your Word and Sacraments.
We pray for all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world; That there may be justice and peace on the earth.
Give us grace to do your will in all that we undertake; That our works may find favor in your sight.
Have compassion on those who suffer from any grief or trouble especially for our Day Care’s staff, students, and families, and for those on our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Zavier Bradley, Raleigh Bryant, Christine Brown, Mark Case, Genella Chamberlain, Annie Colbert, Lazola Cope, Alice Dailey, Beryl Dandy, Mark Dashiell, Brittany Dawson, Imani Ferguson, Ruby Fernandez, Harry Frazier, Gary Gordon, Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Enoch Henderson, Charles E. Hines, Kenneth Howard, Terri Howard, Dale Hundley, Jared Hundley, Tracy Hundley, Milinda James, Alvin Jenkins, Dana Jenkins, Frances T. Jones, Lori Jones, Robert L. Jones, Sr., Ronald Jones, Tonya Jones, Whitney Kennedy, Leonard Law, Jr., Ralph Lovett, Ryan Lovett, Tammie Lovett, Marcus Marzen, Joan Maty, Craig Maxwell, Sada Maxwell, Altheria Maynard, Carmelita Maynard, Bette Milledge, Hollie Moultrie, Patricia Murry, Russell Nails, Dorothy Neal, Glenzy Payne, Robert Payne, Dison Washington Slaughter, James Small, Gwendolyn Smith, Willie Stephens, Lori Ward, Gertrude Washington, Anthony Watts, and Noel Wheeler; That they may be delivered from their distress.
As All Souls' Day draws near, let us pray for all our loved ones who have died...
Give to the departed eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them.
We praise you for all your saints who have entered into joy, especially Blessed Matthew, Blessed Stephen, and Blessed Augustine, our patrons; May we also come to share in your heavenly kingdom.
Let us pray for our own needs and those of others, especially for Misha Taylor (11/2) on her birthday.
Silence. The People may add their own petitions.
The Celebrant adds a concluding Collect.
Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles, "Peace I give to you; my own peace I leave with you:" Regard not our sins, but the faith of your Church, and give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly City, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, now and forever. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Announcements
A. 2021 Pledge Campaign: Saturday, October 24 was the launch of our 2021 Pledge Campaign with the Appreciation and Stewardship Kickoff Dinner To-Go! If you have not received a Stewardship Goodie Bag, please contact Fr. Arboleda at FrGAA@StMattSav.org or by cell to arrange for a pickup or delivery time.
This campaign is the Vestry’s opportunity to check in with different members and your opportunity to reconsider your commitments to St. Matthew’s in the coming year. Pledges are now available online (see below). Physical copies were distributed at the A.S.K. Dinner To-Go and will be mailed to other members. All pledges are due by November 22, when we will bless the pledges and give thanks for God’s many blessings!
Many thanks to the Vestry (and especially our Senior Warden, Toni Blue) for organizing our A.S.K. Dinner To-Go. The Vestry also thanks Anthony Blue for the St. Matthew's grocery bags, Rachael Blue-Jones and Teresa Blue-Clemons for the bookmarks and DVD's, Paul Berksteiner and Jonathan Newton for grilling the chicken, and Evalena Hoskins and Evadne Roberts baking the cakes.
B. Fr. Arboleda Called As Missioner of Racial Reconciliation & Healing: The Bishop of Georgia and St. Matthew's Vestry have called Fr. Arboleda to serve the Diocese in a one-quarter time capacity. Fr. Arboleda will continue to serve as Rector of St. Matthew's with three-quarters of his work time. The focus of this new call will be on public policy research and advocacy across Georgia and developing antiracism training for clergy and laity of the Diocese.
Check out the editorial section of the Savannah Morning News on Monday, November 2, for an Open Letter by Fr. Arboleda that was co-signed by many local clergy. We want the Georgia Secretary of State and Chatham County Board of Elections to commit to counting every vote in this year's election, no matter how long it takes to count and certify these results. The letter will also be published in The Savannah Tribune this week: https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/count-every-vote-an-open-letter-to-the-chatham-county-board-of-elections/.
C. Empty Bowl Fundraiser 11/1: Emmaus House is holding its 10th Annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Sunday, November 1 from 12:00-2:00. The 2020 Empty Bowl is a hybrid online and in-person event to accommodate the pandemic.
Emmaus House provides nutritious meals, showers, and laundry services to people experiencing homelessness and/or poverty in downtown Savannah. St. Matthew's is a sponsor of this annual fundraising event to support Emmaus House's ministry.
The in-person aspect of the 2020 Empty Bowl will take place entirely outdoors with social distancing in Reynolds Square from 12:00-2:00 PM today. Click below to buy a ticket, make a donation, or place a bid in the pottery auction. All proceeds go to Emmaus House.
D. National Service for Healing and Wholeness 11/1 @ 4:00 PM: Join Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the National Cathedral for a live-streamed prayer service called “Holding on to Hope: A National Service for Healing and Wholeness,” on All Saints Sunday, November 1, at 4:00-5:30 p.m. EST. In the midst of a pandemic, racial reckoning, and a historic election, the live-streamed service will gather Americans for prayer, song, lament, hope, and a call to love God and neighbor. The event will be simulcast in English and Spanish. https://episcopalchurch.org/holding-hope
E. Wednesday Evening Prayer via Zoom: On Wednesdays in November, Fr. Arboleda will invite parishioners to pray Evening Prayer with him over Zoom. The video will still stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM, but we'll see more faces and hear more voices. To join the Zoom call, click the link below at 4:45 PM on Wednesday. Otherwise, watch the prayer service like you have been on Facebook Live. If this goes well, we will expand to Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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: Wednesday Evening Prayer
Time: Nov 4, 2020 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Every week on Wed, 3 occurrence(s)
Nov 4, 2020 05:00 PM
Nov 11, 2020 05:00 PM
Nov 18, 2020 05:00 PM
Meeting ID: 937 2001 5885
Passcode: SEE e-NEWSLETTER
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,93720015885#,,,,,,0#,,684049# US (Germantown)
Dial by your location: +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
Meeting ID: 937 2001 5885
Passcode: SEE e-NEWSLETTER
G. New Bookkeeper Job Description: St. Matthew's Episcopal Church is seeking a dedicated and self-motivated person to fill our open Bookkeeper position. The purpose of this role is to support the parish’s financial administration through reporting on the state of its finances faithfully, accurately, and regularly. This job is part-time for approximately 5-10 hours of work per week. Relevant accounting experience is preferred. The salary is negotiable based on experience.
If you are interested in the position, please email a cover letter and resume to Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda at FrGAA@StMattSav.org.
G. “Trip Around the World” Quilt Raffle: The Quilter's Guild, through St. Matthew's ECW, is raffling a "Trip Around the World" Quilt to benefit St. Matthew's Building Renovation Fund. This fund supports major extra-budgetary building improvement projects, such as painting, replacing the sound system, replacing the oven in Toomer-Walker Hall, etc.
This beautiful, jewel-toned quilt measures 103"x90" and will fit a queen-sized bed. This machine-stitched quilt in tones of deep violet amethyst, blue sapphire, green emerald, blue topaz, and green peridot will enhance any bedroom.
The winner will be announced on September 30, 2021. Winners do not need to be present to win. In addition to the grand prize of the "Trip Around the World '' quilt, there will be interim raffles of seasonal quilt-type projects for no additional ticket purchase. Interim winners will still be eligible for the grand prize. The first interim drawing will be December 15, 2020.
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.
H. “Women in Genesis” Sundays at 11:00: This Christian Education course for teens and adults will be held virtually on Sunday mornings from 11:00 AM - 12:00 noon for 6 weeks from October 18 - November 22. (Note that this course runs parallel to the Diocesan Godly Play for children, listed below.)
This course will survey the women of Genesis, the first book in the Old Testament / Hebrew Bible. While the Bible is predominantly written by men and through patriarchal, male biases, women are featured more often than is commonly known. The Rev. Dr. Wilda Gafney’s seminal work Womanist Midrash offers ancient and modern commentary on the women of Israel’s scriptures, highlighting their oft-neglected experiences, perspectives, and lessons for today.
Learn more and register at https://tinyurl.com/WomeninGenesis.
I. Children’s Godly Play @ 11 AM: This Sunday the Diocese will continue a series of virtual Godly Play offerings. Godly Play is a Montessori-based curriculum that focuses on telling stories using physical materials and allowing participants to play and work with the stories at their own level.
Learn more by visiting the Diocese of Georgia Facebook page (see below) and subscribing to From the Field (https://gaepiscopal.org/from-the-field/). Please contact Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org for the Zoom link and with your questions.
Diocese of Georgia Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/georgiaepiscopal/
J. EYCS Scholarship Fundraiser: EYCS (Episcopal Youth and Children's Services) is a Diocese of Georgia scholarship fund that any college-bound Episcopal youth can apply for. We presently have two students who are benefitting from the fund, and we hope to have more in the future!
Due to COVID-19 the ECW is unable the hold its annual Silver Tea, a fundraiser with the proceeds going towards EYCS. In order to continue our support to the EYCS fund, we are asking for your support.
Please mail checks or money orders to St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, make them payable to "St. Matthew's ECW," and write "EYCS" on the memo line. If you prefer to give online, you may donate directly to the Diocese of Georgia via http://eycs.georgiaepiscopal.org (Click the “Donate” button at the bottom of the page).
The last date for contributions is November 30. Please contact Mrs. Georgette Kelley or Mrs. Evalena Hoskins for more information. If you give online, please inform Mrs. Kelley and Mrs. Hoskins so they know that St. Matthew’s members have contributed.
K. Free Trolley Rides for Voting on 11/3: The Savannah Tribune and The League of Women's Voters Coastal Georgia have organized free trolley rides to the polls every day throughout the early voting period and on Election Day (November 3). The full schedule and list of pick up locations is found here:https://www.lwvcga.org/take-a-trolley-to-vote/
L. Virtual Coffee Hour 11/8 with SAIJM Q&A: We will hold a virtual "Coffee Hour" over Zoom next Sunday (November 8), and again on every other Sunday at 10:30 AM. (Thank you to Mrs. Rachael Blue-Jones who is donating a professional Zoom login to the church for our use.)
On November 8, St. Matthew's Justice Ministry Team Leaders will hold a Q&A about Savannah Area Interfaith Justice Ministry and the stories we have collected in our Sacred Conversations. Come with open ears and hearts to learn about this new initiative to bring positive change to our city!
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: Nov 8, 2020 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
M. Giving to St. Matthew's: Many people are feeling the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, including the church. We still need your support to pay our staff, pay our bills, and provide for these online live streams. If you pledged a donation in 2020 and are able, please continue making those contributions. If you have not pledged, please consider donating to St. Matthew’s now and in the future. 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.
The Offertory
[BCP, p. 377]
“Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:2)
Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now
LEV #12: We're Marching to Zion
1 Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.
REFRAIN
We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
2 Let those refuse to sing
Who never knew our God;
But children of the heav’nly King,
But children of the heav’nly King,
May speak their joys abroad,
May speak their joys abroad.
3 The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Before we reach the heav’nly fields,
Or walk the golden streets,
Or walk the golden streets.
4 Then let our songs abound,
And ev’ry tear be dry;
We’re marching through Immanuel’s ground,
We’re marching thro’ Immanuel’s ground,
To fairer worlds on high,
To fairer worlds on high.
Words: Isaac Watts, Public Domain.
Music: Robert S. Lowry, Public Domain.
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #95131. 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 & Dismissal
[Enriching Our Worship 1, p. 71; BCP, p 366]
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 may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord!
Thanks be to God!
Permissions: 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. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture readings and quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible