Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Jan 8, 2023
- 21 min read

Sunday Worship on January 8, 2023

The Holy Eucharist

The First Sunday after the Epiphany (Year A)

January 8, 2023 at 9:30 AM

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

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #294: Baptized in Water

1 Baptized in water,

Sealed by the Spirit,

Cleansed by the blood of Christ our King:

Heirs of salvation,

Trusting his promise,

Faithfully now God's praise we sing.

2 Baptized in water,

Sealed by the Spirit,

Dead in the tomb with Christ our King:

One with his rising,

Freed and forgiven,

Thankfully now God's praise we sing.

3 Baptized in water,

Sealed by the Spirit,

Marked with the sign of Christ our King:

Born of one Father,

We are his children,

Joyfully now God's praise we sing.

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, 214]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;

a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols.

See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 29

[BCP, p. 620-621]

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

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, * ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; * worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; * the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; * the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; * the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, * and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; * the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe * and strips the forests bare.

9 And in the temple of the Lord * all are crying, "Glory!"

10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; * the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; * the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

A Reading from Acts 10:34-43

Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn #116: I Come, The Great Redeemer Cries (Verses 1-4)

1. "I come," the great Redeemer cries,

"To do thy will, O Lord!"

At Jordan's stream, behold!

He seals the sure prophetic word.

2. "Thus it becomes to fulfill

all righteousness," he said.

Then, faithful to the Lord's commands,

through Jordan's flood was led.

3. Hark, a glad voice! The Father speaks

from heaven's exalted height:

"This is my Son, my well-beloved

in whom I take delight."

4. The Savior Jesus, well-beloved!

His Name we will profess,

like him desirous to fulfill

God's will in righteousness.

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

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew 3:13-17

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn #116: I Come, The Great Redeemer Cries (Verse 5)

5. No more we'll count ourselves our own

but his in bonds of love.

Oh, may such bonds for ever draw

our souls to things above!

The Sermon

"New Year's Resolutions" by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector

We are exactly one week into the New Year of 2023. How is everybody doing on your resolutions? I don’t know about you, but I have never been into New Year’s Resolutions. It’s probably because I’ve never been very good at them. I think I remember trying a few times as a teenager or college student. I tried things like getting into a running routine (too tiring — it’s my least favorite form of exercise), or reading a book a month for leisure (too boring — I fell asleep) or being more patient with my siblings, roommates, or family (too difficult — I’m too easily annoyed). Like most resolutions, they usually fell off by February, if they even made it that far. And because I don’t like failing at things, I basically stopped trying. Maybe my experience is unique, but I think it’s pretty common to flop at resolutions.

Today we are also celebrating the Baptism of Jesus Christ. This is how Jesus introduced baptism into the Christian tradition. It’s where we get a lot of our beliefs and practices for baptism. This is why baptism is considered an entry point into Christianity and the Church. And this is why we talk about baptism as a way to receive the Holy Spirit, just like She appeared over Jesus in the Jordan River. And I think New Year’s Resolutions are a helpful metaphor for baptism.

In the Episcopal Baptism service, we start off by “interviewing” the candidate for baptism. We ask them if they want to turn away from evil, hatred, and sin. Before the baptism, we renounce Satan and spiritual evils, evil powers in the world, and sinful desires in ourselves. Then we promise to accept Jesus as our Savior, trust in his grace and love, and follow him as our Lord (BCP, pp. 302-303). If you got baptized as an infant or child, like I did, somebody else answered these questions for you. That’s why when a teenager or adult chooses to get confirmed, we ask them similar questions. They get to speak for themselves and make these baptismal vows.

Then, we say the Baptismal Covenant, together with the whole congregation. We declare our faith in the Apostles Creed (“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, … in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, … [and] in the Holy Spirit”). These are the central beliefs of our faith that basically anyone who calls themselves “Christian” agrees with. The rest of the Covenant asks questions about how we will live our lives after baptism. We follow the Church’s teaching, worship together, and pray; we resist evil and turn back to God for forgiveness when we fail; we share the Good News with our words and example; we serve Christ in all people and love our neighbors as ourselves; and we work for justice and peace for all human beings (BCP, p. 304-305). We promise all things with one of my favorite lines in the whole Prayer Book: “I will, with God’s help.”

Raise your hand if from the moment you were baptized, you followed through on all of those promises, all of those vows, all of those resolutions? My hand is way down. That’s just it. No matter how hard we try, nobody is a perfect Christian. Nobody resists evil all the time and chooses good all the time. Nobody loves God and neighbor and works for justice perfectly. And God knows that. Our imperfection is built right into the Baptismal Covenant: “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?” (BCP, p. 304). There will always be a need to confess our sins, ask God for forgiveness, and try our best to turn back to following Jesus.

Living as a Christian is hard. Just like our New Year’s Resolutions, we fall off the horse pretty quickly — more than once a day, if you’re anything like me. But here’s the Good News: God is more faithful to us than we can ever be ourselves. The promises of Baptism are not just about us trying our hardest. Being a Christian is not supposed to be feeling guilty all the time. Being a Christian is about trusting God to be perfectly good, gracious, and merciful. God is good even when we are not.

We are going to be unfaithful to our Baptismal Covenant. It’s a given. That is why every few months, on major holidays, we renew those baptismal vows together in church. And we renew them every time someone else is baptized or confirmed. We need those constant reminders to be faithful. But God is never unfaithful. God’s faithfulness is the most important part of being a Christian, because God is trustworthy. God’s promises are true even when ours are not. God is faithful to us even when we fail. That kindness from God is a relief to us. It’s a weight off our shoulders. Jesus carries the burdens for us. His load is easy and his burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

So let us rejoice together that Jesus gave us the gift of baptism. Let us celebrate that God is more faithful and kind than we can ask for or imagine. And let us commit ourselves to relying on God’s mercy. By God’s grace, we can walk together in love as Christ first loved us. Amen.

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

[BCP, p. 292]

All stand, as they are able:

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 power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

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 the 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.

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 and anniversaries, especially Janice Hunter-Malafonte (1/9), Charles McMillan (1/10), and Willie Mae Tennerson (1/11). 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, 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)

Epiphany 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. At church, we will provide blessed chalk for you to bring home and mark the front door to your home. Traditionally, the chalking is done above the lintel and takes this form:

20+C+M+B+23

The letters are the abbreviation for the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" - "Christ bless this house" (A second meaning and mnemonic device is Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar traditional names for the Magi). The + signs represent the cross, and 20-23 is the year. Blessed chalk will be available at church for the next several weeks.

Thank you from Altar Guild: The Altar Guild would like to thank you for your donations to the Christmas Poinsettias. It was our pleasure to prepare the church for our Christmas celebration.

We are forever thankful that we can assist in expressing appreciation for our loved ones.

St. Matthew's Altar Guild

Daughters of the King Meeting on 1/8: The Order of the Daughters of the King® is an order for women who are communicants of The Episcopal Church and other similar churches. Our membership currently includes women in the Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran (ELCA) and Roman Catholic churches.

In accordance with our Anglican Tradition, Daughters:

Recognize episcopal (bishop's) oversight.
Believe that Holy Scripture contains all things necessary for salvation.
Acknowledge the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, the real presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, and worship according to The Book of Common Prayer
Reaffirming the promises made at Baptism and Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-long program of prayer, service and evangelism. She receives support in this commitment from a worldwide community of like-minded women.

Under the leadership of Deacon Davis and Ms. Paulette Sibert, St. Matthew's is reactivating its Daughters of the King chapter. The next meeting for interested women and girls (with a parent or guardian) will be held at St. Matthew's on January 8th at 11:00 AM.

Strategic Planning Team Begins Process on 1/14/23: The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry appointed the following people to plan and organize our strategic planning process in collaboration with the Kaleidoscope Institute (KI). Their first meeting with the KI consultants will be on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 10:00-2:30 in Toomer-Walker Hall. This meeting is open to any interested member of the parish, but please RSVP by Sunday, January 8, so we can order enough food for lunch. (There is some required reading, so if you're interested in attending, let one of us know so we can give you the assignment).

MLK Day Parade 1/16/23: The Savannah Martin Luther King Jr Observance Day Parade is scheduled to make its triumphant return on Monday, January 16, 2023, after two years off due to the pandemic. St. Matthew’s has once again organized a walking and riding group in the parade for all the Savannah Episcopal parishes. We plan to hold a worship service and reception after the parade.

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 Strategic Planning Committee about upcoming events.

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 Service of Preparation for Membership in the Order of the Daughters of the King

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 #119: As With Gladness Men of Old

1. As with gladness men of old

did the guiding star behold;

as with joy they hailed its light,

leading onward, beaming bright;

so, most gracious Lord, may we

evermore be led to thee.

2. As with joyful steps they sped

to that lowly manger-bed;

there to bend the knee before

him whom heaven and earth adore;

so may we with willing feet

ever seek the mercy-seat.

3. As they offered gifts most rare

at that manger rude and bare;

so may we with holy joy,

pure and free from sin's alloy,

all our costliest treasures bring,

Christ! to thee, our heavenly King.

4. Holy Jesus! every day

keep us in the narrow way;

and, when earthly things are past,

bring our ransomed souls at last

where they need no star to guide,

where no clouds thy glory hide.

5. In the heavenly country bright,

need they no created light;

thou its light, its joy, its crown,

thou its sun which goes not down;

there for ever may we sing

alleluias to our King.

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.

LEV #134: Take Me to the Water

1 Take me to the water,

take me to the water,

take me to the water

to be baptized.

2 None but the righteous,

none but the righteous,

none but the righteous

shall see God.

3 I love Jesus,

I love Jesus,

oh yes, I do.

4 He’s my Savior,

He's my Savior,

oh yes, He is.

[Words: Traditional. Music: Negro Spiritual; arr. Horace Clarence Boyer. Arr. Copyright © 1992 Horace Clarence Boyer. Owen Burdick. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #52272. All Rights Reserved.]

The Post-Communion Prayer

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

Let us pray.

For In-Person Worshippers:

Faithful God,

in the wonder of your wisdom and love

you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,

and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.

We thank you for feeding us with this bread.

May it strengthen us

that by the power of the Holy Spirit

we may embody your desire

and be renewed for your service

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

For Online Worshippers and Those Receiving Spiritual Communion:

Faithful God,

in the wonder of your wisdom and love

you fed your people in the wilderness with the bread of angels,

and you sent Jesus to be the bread of life.

Though we cannot consume now these gifts of bread [and wine],

we thank you that we have received the sacrament of Christ’s presence,

the forgiveness of sins, and all other benefits of Christ’s passion.

By the power of the Holy Spirit,

may we embody your desire

and be renewed for your service

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

The 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.

LEV #141: Shall We Gather at the River

1 Shall we gather at the river,

Where bright angel feet have trod;

With its crystal tide forever

Flowing by the throne of God?

REFRAIN:

Yes, we’ll gather at the river,

The beautiful, the beautiful river;

Gather with the saints at the river

That flows by the throne of God.

2 On the margin of the river,

Washing up its silver spray,

We will walk and worship ever,

All the happy golden day. [Refrain]

3 Ere we reach the shining river,

Lay we ev’ry burden down;

Grace our spirits will deliver,

And provide a robe and crown. [Refrain]

4 Soon we’ll reach the shining river,

Soon our pilgrimage will cease,

Soon our happy hearts will quiver

With the melody of peace. [Refrain]

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, and Jewel Wheeler

BIRTHDAYS: Janice Hunter-Malafonte (1/9), Charles McMillan (1/10), and Willie Mae Tennerson (1/11)

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:

Sunday Worship on January 8, 2023

The Holy Eucharist

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The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #294: Baptized in Water

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 42:1-9

Psalm 29

A Reading from Acts 10:34-43

Hymn #116: I Come, The Great Redeemer Cries (Verses 1-4)

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to Matthew 3:13-17

Hymn #116: I Come, The Great Redeemer Cries (Verse 5)

The Sermon

The Renewal of Baptismal Vows

The Prayers of the People

Confession of Sin

The Peace

Parish Announcements

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The Service of Preparation for Membership in the Order of the Daughters of the King

The Offertory

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Hymn #119: As With Gladness Men of Old

AAHH #651: Doxology

Eucharistic Prayer D

The Lord’s Prayer

The Fraction Anthems

LEV #134: Take Me to the Water

The Post-Communion Prayer

The Blessing of the People

LEV #141: Shall We Gather at the River

The Dismissal

The Parish Prayer List

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