Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Jan 22, 2023
- 23 min read

Sunday Worship on January 22, 2023

The Holy Eucharist

The Third Sunday after the Epiphany (Year A)

January 22, 2023 at 9:30 AM

Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda

Deacon: The Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis

Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #530: Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word

1 Spread, O spread, thou mighty word,

spread the kingdom of the Lord,

that to earth’s remotest bound

all may heed the joyful sound;

2 word of how the Father’s will

made the world, and keeps it, still;

how his only Son he gave,

earth from sin and death to save;

3 word of how the Savior’s love

earth’s sore burden doth remove;

how forever, in its need,

through his death the world is freed;

4 word of how the Spirit came

bringing peace in Jesus’ name;

how his never-failing love

guides us on to heaven above.

5 Word of life, most pure and strong,

word for which the nations long,

spread abroad, until from night

all the world awakes to light.

[Words: Jonathan Reiedrich Bahnmaier; tr. Arthur William Farlander and Charles Winfred Douglas, alt. St. 4, F. Bland Tucker. Copyright © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc. Music: Gott sei Dank, melody from Geistreiches Gesangbuch; adapt. and harm. William Henry Havergal. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #85583. All rights reserved.]

The Opening Acclamation

[BCP, p. 355]

Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

And blessed be God's kingdom, now and forever! Amen!

A Collect for Purity

[BCP, p. 355]

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hymn S-280: Glory to God

[See also BCP, p. 356]

Glory to God in the highest,

and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,

we worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God,

you take away the sin of the world:

have mercy on us;

you are seated at the right hand of the Father:

receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,

you alone are the Lord,

you alone are the Most High,

Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

The Collect of the Day

[BCP, p. 357, 163]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Isaiah 9:1-4

There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;

those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined.

You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder.

For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 27:1, 5-13

[BCP, p. 617-618]

Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear? * the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom then shall I be afraid?

5 One thing have I asked of the Lord; one thing I seek; * that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life;

6 To behold the fair beauty of the Lord * and to seek him in his temple.

7 For in the day of trouble he shall keep me safe in his shelter; * he shall hide me in the secrecy of his dwelling and set me high upon a rock.

8 Even now he lifts up my head * above my enemies round about me.

9 Therefore I will offer in his dwelling an oblation with sounds of great gladness; * I will sing and make music to the Lord.

10 Hearken to my voice, O Lord, when I call; * have mercy on me and answer me.

11 You speak in my heart and say, "Seek my face." * Your face, Lord, will I seek.

12 Hide not your face from me, * nor turn away your servant in displeasure.

13 You have been my helper; cast me not away; * do not forsake me, O God of my salvation.

A Reading from the First letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1:10-18

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn #537: Christ For The World We Sing (Verse 1-3)

1 Christ for the world we sing; the world to Christ we bring with loving zeal: the poor and them that mourn, the faint and overborne, sin-sick and sorrow worn, whom Christ doth heal.

2 Christ for the world we sing; the world to Christ we bring with fervent pray'r: the wayward and the lost, by restless passions tossed, redeemed at countless cost from dark despair.

3 Christ for the world we sing; the world to Christ we bring with one accord: with us the work to share, with us reproach to dare, with us the cross to bear, for Christ our Lord.

[Words: Samuel Wolcott. Music: Moscow, melody Felice de Giardini; harm. The New Hymnal, based on Hymns Ancient and Modern, and Lowell Mason. Copyright © 1988 Lorenz Publishing Company, a division of The Lorenz Corporation (Admin. by Music Services). Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #996290. All rights reserved.]

The People stand, as they are able, for the reading of the Gospel.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew 4:12-23

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,

and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn #537: Christ For The World We Sing (Verse 4)

4 Christ for the world we sing; the world to Christ we bring with joyful song: the newborn souls whose days, reclaimed from error's ways, inspired with hope and praise, to Christ belong.

The Sermon

"The Same Mind and the Same Purpose" by The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda

“Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose” (1 Corinthians 1:10).

Have you ever tried to get a group of people to agree on something? Even a small group like your family agreeing on where to go out to dinner? And the better you know one another, the easier it might be for people to say what they really want, to be bold about expressing their opinions. When you’re in a close knit community, sometimes we forget to treat each other well, and we don’t think about how our words and actions affect each other, how we might hurt each other if we’re not careful. This was a problem facing the church in Corinth back in the 1st century and it’s a problem facing churches, families, businesses, sports teams, political parties — you name it — to this very day. It is really hard to get a group of people to all “be in agreement” and have “no divisions among you” and “be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” It’s especially difficult when working in multicultural contexts.

Corinth was a major metropolitan city in the Roman Empire. It was a port city in what we now call Greece, so even before cars and trains, people could easily travel there from far away. It had tons of immigrants, refugees, and people from all over the Mediterranean world. The people of that city came from many places, backgrounds, and cultures, and many religions. St. Paul planted a church there and wrote a letter to the community to remind them to do the hard work of sticking together. Despite their diverse backgrounds, they were all part of the One Body of Christ.

In our Gospel passage, we read that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom” (Matt 4:23). Galilee, like Corinth, was a very ethnically, culturally, and religiously diverse region of the Roman Empire. So much so that Isaiah and Matthew call it “Galilee of the nations” or “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:15). Galilee was not filled with cities, but it had immigrants from all over the Roman Empire, from what we now call Europe and North Africa and Arabia and the rest of the Middle East.

Many of the residents of Galilee and Corinth had never heard of the Lord God of Israel. They didn’t know the stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They didn’t know how God called Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. They didn’t know about the people receiving the Law and wandering for forty years in the wilderness. They didn’t know about how the people of Israel entered Canaan and eventually built kingdoms. They didn’t know about Israel’s prophets who challenged political and religious leaders to love their neighbors and care for the poor and marginalized. They didn’t know about the conquest of Israel, their exile to Babylon, and their eventual return to their homeland, under new imperial rule.

But Jesus and his followers ministered to Jews and Gentiles in Galilee. Paul ministered to Jews and Gentiles in Corinth. They shared the Good News of God’s love for all people. They shared that God’s Kingdom was coming near and it was time to repent. It was time to work together on building communities where no one was left out or left behind. It was time to trust that God would provide abundance when we give and share until others have more. But Jesus’ followers had to learn how to navigate all the different people they encountered throughout Galilee and Corinth. They had to grow as leaders and grow in grace in order to share the good news with people from different backgrounds.

The same is true for us today. Savannah is a diverse city and the surrounding suburbs are too. Everyone here knows people in their school, workplace, or social clubs who have different cultural backgrounds. These might be differences of race, ethnicity, language, generation, or even hometown. Jerusalem, Galilee, and Corinth were all part of the same Roman Empire, but they were very culturally different. Georgia, New York, Texas, and California are all part of the same country, but they’re all pretty different too.

Just in this church, there are people who come from different places. But Jesus calls us to minister to all, not to stay in our cultural silos. We cannot be a faithful expression of God’s Church if we are all the same. But that means we need to work to achieve unity. It’s not always going to be easy. When we interact with people from different cultures (even people we have known for a long time), it’s easy to miscommunicate and misunderstand. It’s easy to offend our friends and loved ones if we’re not careful. Even with the best of intentions, we can fail to love one another if we are not culturally aware, if we’re not able to pay attention to the differences that Jesus notices and honors.

Remember that St. Paul calls us to avoid divisions in the church. The Corinthian church was split over theology and split over culture, specifically about how to eat together as a community. (Are we having Savannah red rice, Jamaican rice and peas, or Puerto Rican arroz con gandules? Why not all three?) But Paul called them to unity because they were siblings in Christ and because they had the “same purpose” (1 Cor 1:10). It’s easy to say we have the same purpose. A leader can get up and say, this is our purpose. But Paul tells us to “be united in the same mind and the same purpose."

Here at St. Matthew’s, we are not all the same. We don’t have the same backgrounds, cultures, perspectives, or opinions. So, how do we arrive at the same purpose? And, maybe more importantly, how do we share the Good News with more people across differences and still have the same mind and the same purpose? If we’re careful and gracious with one another, these differences will not be a weakness but a strength! We need to practice bridging the gaps between our differences. We need to create spaces where we can listen to each other, respect each other as we are, and not try to judge or change each other. In the rice example I gave above, we could practice sharing different recipes in community meals and listening to stories about why those dishes are meaningful to different members of our church. That can strengthen our relationships and trust and spread transforming truth through the community.

Out of these gracious spaces, we can focus on God’s call for this community and we can find a unified purpose. Over the next few months, St. Matthew’s will engage in a Strategic Planning Process guided by some experts in gracious leadership. Our consultants will help the parish form stronger relationships with one another so that we can “be united in the same mind and the same purpose.” They are going to facilitate spaces where we can listen to one another deeply and create ministry goals based on the strengths of this congregation and the opportunities in our surrounding neighborhood. And, most importantly, they are going to teach us to lead graciously too. Not just the clergy, but all the lay leaders in the church too. The goal is to help this community realize our potential by prioritizing strong, respectful relationships and giving us tools to bridge differences of opinion, culture, and more.

I’m so excited to be a part of this process and to hear the voices of the Strategic Planning Team, Vestry, and Staff. You are going to hear a more detailed report about our progress at next Sunday’s Annual Meeting. So please make an effort to be there and be a part of this year’s movement for St. Matthew’s to be truly “united in the same mind and the same purpose.” Amen.

The Nicene Creed

[BCP, p. 358]

All standing as they are able, the People pray:

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://www.rickmorley.com/archives/1355]

Let us pray to God, who is made manifest in Jesus Christ.

As the prophet Isaiah rang out, “Arise, shine; for your light has come”; empower your Church, O God, to ring out the Good News of the Light of your son Jesus, which pierces even the deepest darkness. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

As a star rose high into the sky to draw the nations to the Christ-child; send your blessing, O God, on this nation, and every nation, and draw the whole world to your peace and truth. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

As John the Baptist guided crowds of people to the edge of the wilderness and baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, we pray that you would guide our country and our leaders to the ways of justice and righteousness. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Like the Magi who traveled from afar to bring gifts and celebrate the Savior’s birth; we pray for this community, and for those who celebrate birthdays, especially Sheila Jones (1/25) and Anthony Blue (1/26) and any other thanksgivings we offer now... Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

As Jesus climbed the mountaintop, and proclaimed blessings on the people of the world; we pray for the sick and the distressed, the poor and the lame. We especially pray for the people of our Parish Prayer List: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Betty Milledge, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler. Lord, in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

As Jesus called his disciples to leave their nets and boats, and follow him; we pray for the departed whom we love and have answered your call to follow Jesus to your Heavenly Kingdom. Give them your peace. Lord, in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

The Celebrant concludes with a suitable Collect

Lord Jesus, Light of the World, hear our prayers, and make us reflections of your Light, that the places of darkness in our world would be pierced by your Light, and that all nations would be drawn to you and be overwhelmed with joy. Amen.

Confession of Sin

[BCP, p. 360]

The Deacon says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept.

Deacon and People

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.

The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says

Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.

The Peace

[BCP, p. 360]

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

Parish Announcements

Sign up for our e-Newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/StMattSavNews)

Annual Parish Meeting on 1/29/23: Join us on January 29, 2023, after Sunday morning worship to attend the Annual Parish Meeting. We will present reports from 2022 and share the operating budget for 2023. We will also hear from the new Holy Currencies Strategic Planning Team about their work so far.

NAACP Mass Meeting on 1/22: The NAACP Savannah Branch will hold its monthly mass meeting on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 PM at Second African Baptist Church, 123 Houston St, Savannah, GA 31401. This meeting will include the installation of 2023 Officers and Executive Committee Members.

Confirmation & Episcopal Refresher Class Begins 2/5: his spring, Fr. Arboleda will teach an eight-session course to prepare people for Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal of Baptismal Vows. This course is also open to anyone in the church who wants a "refresher" on fundamental Episcopal beliefs and practices. Confirmations and Renewals of Baptismal Vows will take place on Sunday, May 28, 2023, the Day of Pentecost, when Bishop Frank Logue will conduct his annual visitation to St. Matthew's. Each session of the class will take place after Sunday worship and will last about one hour.

Confirmation & Episcopal Refresher Class Schedule

February 5: Baptism and Eucharist
February 19: Church Calendar & History
March 5: Christian Beliefs and Creeds
March 19: The Bible and You
April 2: Other Sacraments (Marriage, Confession, Anointing, & Burial)
April 23: Using The Book of Common Prayer
May 7: Faith Outside the Church
May 21: Faith Inside The Episcopal Church

This is a space for learning and growth. In these classes, we will listen carefully to one another and honor each other as siblings, even if we disagree. We will not shame anyone for asking questions, not knowing something, or sharing their honest beliefs.

Epiphany Chalk House Blessings: Following an ancient tradition, we are providing a way to bless all of the homes in our parish in the new year and the Epiphany Season. Blessed chalk with instructions on “Chalking the Doors” is available at church for the next several weeks.

T/W/Th Evening Prayer: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, St. Matthew's invites you to pray Evening Prayer over Zoom. The video will continue to stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM. Please join the Zoom call by 4:55 PM. Otherwise, watch the prayer service as you have been on Facebook Live.

Wednesday Bible Study: Deacon Davis and Fr. Arboleda currently host a weekly Zoom Bible Study at 5:30 PM on Wednesdays after Evening Prayer. The group uses the same Zoom link as Evening Prayer.

The Offertory

[BCP, p. 376]

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.

"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

Pledge online at: https://tinyurl.com/StMattSav2023

Hymn #539: O Zion, Haste Thy Mission High Fulfilling

1 O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling, To tell to all the world that God is light, That He who made all nations is not willing One soul should fail to know his love and might

REFRAIN: Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace; Tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

2 Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation

that God, in whom they live and move, is Love;

tell how He stooped to save His lost creation,

and died on earth that all might live above. [Refrain]

3 Send heralds forth to bear the message glorious;

give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;

Pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious

till God shall bring his kingdom's joyful day. [Refrain]

4 He comes again! O Zion, ere thou meet Him,

make known to every heart His saving grace;

let none whom he has ransomed fail to greet Him,

through thy neglect, unfit to see His face. [Refrain]

[Words: Mary Ann Thomson, alt. Music: Tidings, James Walch. Words and Music Copyright © 1973 Lorenz Publishing Company, assigned to Lorenz Publishing Company (Admin. by Music Services). Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #992950. All rights reserved.]

AAHH #651: Doxology

[See also Hymn # 380, v. 3]

Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer D

[BCP, p. 372]

It is truly right to glorify you, Father, and to give you thanks; for you alone are God, living and true, dwelling in light inaccessible from before time and for ever. Fountain of life and source of all goodness, you made all things and fill them with your blessing; you created them to rejoice in the splendor of your radiance. Countless throngs of angels stand before you to serve you night and day; and, beholding the glory of your presence, they offer you unceasing praise. Joining with them, and giving voice to every creature under heaven, we acclaim you, and glorify your Name, as we sing,

Hymn S-125:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

Heaven and earth are full of your glory

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

The people stand or kneel.

We acclaim you, holy Lord, glorious in power. Your mighty works reveal your wisdom and love. You formed us in your own image, giving the whole world into our care, so that, in obedience to you, our Creator, we might rule and serve all your creatures. When our disobedience took us far from you, you did not abandon us to the power of death. In your mercy you came to our help, so that in seeking you we might find you. Again and again you called us into covenant with you, and through the prophets you taught us to hope for salvation.

Father, you loved the world so much that in the fullness of time you sent your only Son to be our Savior. Incarnate by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, he lived as one of us, yet without sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation; to prisoners, freedom; to the sorrowful, joy. To fulfill your purpose he gave himself up to death; and, rising from the grave, destroyed death, and made the whole creation new.

And, that we might live no longer for ourselves, but for him who died and rose for us, he sent the Holy Spirit, his own first gift for those who believe, to complete his work in the world, and to bring to fulfillment the sanctification of all.

When the hour had come for him to be glorified by you, his heavenly Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end; at supper with them he took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."

Father, we now celebrate this memorial of our redemption. Recalling Christ's death and his descent among the dead, proclaiming his resurrection and ascension to your right hand, awaiting his coming in glory; and offering to you, from the gifts you have given us, this bread and this cup, we praise you and we bless you.

Hymn S139:

We praise you, we bless you,

We give thanks to you,

And we pray to you, Lord our God

Lord, we pray that in your goodness and mercy your Holy Spirit may descend upon us, and upon these gifts, sanctifying them and showing them to be holy gifts for your holy people, the bread of life and the cup of salvation, the Body and Blood of your Son Jesus Christ.

Grant that all who share this bread and cup may become one body and one spirit, a living sacrifice in Christ, to the praise of your Name.

Remember, Lord, your one holy catholic and apostolic Church, redeemed by the blood of your Christ. Reveal its unity, guard its faith, and preserve it in peace.

And grant that we may find our inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, with Blessed Matthew and all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past. We praise you in union with them and give you glory through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through Christ, and with Christ, and in Christ, all honor and glory are yours, Almighty God and Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. AMEN.

The Lord’s Prayer

[BCP, p. 364]

And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say,

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Fraction Anthems

[BCP, p. 364, 407]

Hymn S-152:

Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!

Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!

LEV #269:

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world:

grant us peace.

Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

The Gifts of God for the people of God.

Hymn #321: My God, Thy Table Now is Spread

1 My God, thy table now is spread,

thy cup with love doth overflow;

be all thy children thither led,

and let them thy sweet mercies know.

2 O let thy table honored be,

and furnished well with joyful guests:

and may each soul salvation see,

that here its sacred pledges tastes.

3 Drawn by thy quickening grace, O Lord,

in countless numbers let them come

and gather from their Father's board

the Bread that lives beyond the tomb.

4 Nor let thy spreading Gospel rest

till through the world thy truth has run,

till with this Bread shall all be blessed

who see the light or feel the sun.

[Words: Sts. 1-3, Philip Doddridge, alt; st. 4, Issac Watts, alt. Music: Rockingham, melody from Second Supplement to Psalmody in Minature, ca; harm. Edward Miller; adapt. Samuel Webbe, Jr. Reprinted with permission. All Rights Reserved.]

The Post-Communion Prayer

[Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]

Let us pray.

For In-Person Worshippers:

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:

Faithful God, in the wonder of your wisdom and love you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels, and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life. Though we cannot consume now these gifts of bread [and wine], we thank you that we have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence, the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion. By the power of the Holy Spirit, may we embody your desire and be renewed for your service through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The Blessing of the People

[Adapted from Enriching Our Worship 1, p. 71]

Live without fear: your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. Go in peace to follow the good road and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn #304: I Come With Joy to Meet my Lord

1 I come with joy to meet my Lord, forgiven, loved and free, in awe and wonder to recall his life laid down for me,

2 I come with Christians far and near to find, as all are fed, the new community of love in Christ's communion bread,

3 As Christ breaks bread and bids us share, each proud division ends. The love that made us makes us one, and strangers now are friends,

4 And thus with joy we meet our Lord. His presence, always near, is in such friendship better known; we see and praise him here,

5 Together met, together bound, we'll go our different ways, and as his people in the world, we'll live and speak his praise,

[Words: Public Domain. Brian A. Wren, alt. Copyright © 1971 by Hope Publishing Company. Music: Land of Rest, American folk melody; adapt. and harm. Annabel Morris Buchanan. Copyright © 1938 by J. Fischer & Bro., a division of Belwin-Mills Publishing Corp. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #85912. All Rights Reserved.]

The Dismissal

[BCP, p. 366]

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

The Parish Prayer List

PRAYER LIST: Martha Avery, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Loretta Harmond, Marva Harris, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Betty Milledge, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler.

BIRTHDAYS: Sheila Jones (1/25) and Anthony Blue (1/26)

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.

Permissions and Credits: This service is reproduced from The Book of Common Prayer 1979 (BCP), Enriching Our Worship 1 (EOW1), The Hymnal 1982 (Hymn), Lift Every Voice and Sing II: An African American Hymnal (LEV), and other sources cited. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture readings are from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible.

Image Credits: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/gospel-of-matthew--368169338280353718/

Sunday Worship on January 22, 2023

The Holy Eucharist

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The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #530: Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word

The Opening Acclamation

A Collect for Purity

Hymn S-280: Glory to God

The Collect of the Day

A Reading from the Book of Isaiah 9:1-4

Psalm 27:1, 5-13

A Reading from the First letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 1:10-18

Hymn #537: Christ For The World We Sing (Verse 1-3)

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew 4:12-23

Hymn #537: Christ For The World We Sing (Verse 4)

The Sermon

The Nicene Creed

The Prayers of the People

Confession of Sin

The Peace

Parish Announcements

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The Offertory

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Hymn #539: O Zion, Haste Thy Mission High Fulfilling

AAHH #651: Doxology

Eucharistic Prayer D

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction Anthems

Hymn #321: My God, Thy Table Now is Spread

The Post-Communion Prayer

For In-Person Worshippers:

For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:

The Blessing of the People

Hymn #304: I Come With Joy to Meet my Lord

The Dismissal

The Parish Prayer List

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