Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- Jul 16, 2023
- 18 min read

Sunday Worship on July 16, 2023

The Liturgy of the Word

with Communion from the Reserved Sacrament

7th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 10A)

July 16, 2023 at 9:30 AM

Presider: The Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis, Deacon

Preacher: M. Idella Jones, Licensed Lay Preacher

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

Hymn #48 – O Day of Radiant Gladness

1 O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light! O balm of care and sadness, Most beautiful, most bright! this day the high and lowly, Through ages joined in tune, Sing Holy! Holy! Holy! To the great God Triune. 2 This day at the creation, The light first had its birth; This day for our salvation, Christ rose from depths of earth, This day our Lord, victorious, The Spirit sent from heaven; And thus this day most glorious, A triple light was given. 3 This day, God’s people meeting,

His Holy Scripture hear;

His living presence greeting,

Through Bread and Wine made near.

We journey on believing,

Renewed with heavenly might,

From grace more grace receiving

On this bless day of light.

4 That light our hope sustaining,

We walking the pilgrim way,

At length our rest attaining,

our endless Sabbath day.

We sing to Thee our praises,

O Father, Spirit, Son;

The Church her voices upraises to Thee,

Blest Three in One.

[Words: Sts. 1-2, Christopher Wordsworth, alt./ st. 3 Copyright © 1982, Charles P Price; st. 4 Hymnal 1982 Copyright © 1985 Church Publishing Inc.. Music: Esflog ein kleins Waldvigelein, German folk song; harm. George Ratcliffe Woodward. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #05177. 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.

Confession of Sin

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14, 16)

The Deacon says

Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.

Silence may be kept. All pray together, kneeling, as they are able,

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.

A Deacon or Lay Celebrant says:

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

Hymn S280: 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, 231]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Genesis 25:19-34

These are the descendants of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, sister of Laban the Aramean. Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived. The children struggled together within her; and she said, “If it is to be this way, why do I live?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples born of you shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other, the elder shall serve the younger.”

When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, living in tents. Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Once when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was famished. Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stuff, for I am famished!” (Therefore he was called Edom.) Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 119:105-112

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

105 Your word is a lantern to my feet * and a light upon my path.

106 I have sworn and am determined * to keep your righteous judgments.

107 I am deeply troubled; * preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.

108 Accept, O Lord, the willing tribute of my lips, * and teach me your judgments.

109 My life is always in my hand, * yet I do not forget your law.

110 The wicked have set a trap for me, * but I have not strayed from your commandments.

111 Your decrees are my inheritance for ever; * truly, they are the joy of my heart.

112 I have applied my heart to fulfill your statutes * for ever and to the end.

A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 8:1-11

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law-- indeed it cannot, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn #512 – Come Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove (Verses 1-3)

1 Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove, with light and comfort from above; be thou our guardian, thou our guide o'er every thought and step preside. 2 The light of truth to us display, and make us know and choose thy way; plant holy fear in every heart, that we from thee may ne'er depart. 3 Lead us to Christ, the living way, nor let us from his precepts stray; lead us to holiness, the road that we must take to dwell with God.

[Words: Simon Browne, alt. Music: Mendon, melody from Methodist Harmonist; adapt. and harm., Lowell Mason. Words and Music Copyright © 2003 Lorenz Publishing Company. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #1038398. 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 13:1-9, 18-23

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn #512 – Come Gracious Spirit, Heavenly Dove (Verse 4)

4 Lead us to heaven, that we may share fullness of joy for ever there; lead us to God, our final rest, to be with him for ever blest.

The Sermon

by M. Idella Jones, Licensed Lay Preacher

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, Form VI

[Adapted from BCP, p. 392]

In peace, we pray to you, Lord God.

Silence

For all people in their daily life and work;

For our families, friends, and neighbors, and for those who are alone.

For Joseph, our president; Brian, our governor; Van, our mayor; Chester, the chair of our County Commission; and all other civic officials; For this community, the nation, and the world;

For all who work for justice, freedom, and peace.

For the just and proper use of your creation;

For the victims of hunger, fear, injustice, and oppression.

For all who are in danger, sorrow, or any kind of trouble;

For those who minister to the sick, the friendless, and the needy.

For all the churches in Savannah, that we may be one as you are one with the Son, and the Holy Spirit; For the peace and unity of the Church of God;

For all who proclaim the Gospel, and all who seek the Truth.

For Michael our Presiding Bishop, Frank our Bishop, Guillermo our Priest, Ella our Deacon; and for all bishops and other ministers;

For all who serve God in his Church.

For the special needs and concerns of this congregation, especially for our Day Care’s staff, students, and families, and for those on our Parish Prayer List: Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Delois Groover, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler; and those we remember now… [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]

Hear us, Lord;

For your mercy is great.

We thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of this life, especially for all visitors to this parish, all those celebrating birthdays especially: Margaret Anne Pearson (7/17), Grace Luten (7/17), Jada Newton (7/17), Fr. DeWayne Cope (7/18), Jewel Wheeler (7/18), Marva Johnson (7/19), and Evalena Hoskins (7/20); for all anniversaries this week, and for those thanksgivings we offer now… [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]

We will exalt you, O God our King;

And praise your Name for ever and ever.

We pray for all who have died, that they may have a place in your eternal kingdom, especially Alice Dailey (7/6), Joseph Brown (7/9), and Delois Grover (7/11) and those we remember now... [Silence. The People may add their own petitions.]

Lord, let your loving-kindness be upon them;

Who put their trust in you.

The Celebrant concludes with the following or some other suitable Collect:

Almighty and eternal God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully accept the prayers of your people, and strengthen us to do your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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

Emmaus House was recently gifted two boxes of beautiful wine glasses: they don’t use. They are 16oz glasses and free to whoever would like them. Please contact Ariana Berksteiner directly at emmaushousesavannah@gmail.com to see if they are still available, or stop by Emmaus House at 18 Abercorn Street any weekday between 7 am and 1 pm to pick them up.

Couple in need of assistance

There is a couple that is unhoused and expecting; the baby is due in August. Diapers and clothing have been collected, but they will need assistance getting housing, specific baby items, a baby bed, and some type of carrier, possibly a wrap carrier because she walks often. Please get in touch with Deacon Davis if you can help.Join RJGA for July book discussion: On Thursday evenings in July, Racial Justice Georgia will be hosting a Zoom-based discussion series of Melissa Fay Greene's Praying for Sheetrock--a gripping account of the struggle for civil rights in McIntosh County, Georgia.

The book can be ordered through Amazon, Indiebound, and Barnes & Noble. Reading schedule and Zoom link will be in future editions in News From The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia, From the Field.

Vacation Bible School 7/17-7/21: Vacation Bible School for children and adults will be held Monday - Friday, July 17 - 21, 2023, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. More details coming soon.

NAACP Meeting

The NAACP will meet at St. Matthew’s church on July 23rd from 4 – 6 pm.

Iconography workshop to be offered at St. Augustine of Canterbury: St. Augustine of Canterbury in Augusta is offering an iconography workshop August 17-19 with renowned iconographer Peter Pearson.

St. Matthew's Anniversary Dinner Cruise

Celebrate St. Matthew's anniversary aboard the Savannah Riverboat Cruise on Friday, September 22, 2023. This evening dinner cruise will be set to sail at 6:00 pm from River Street in Downtown Savannah. Attire is casual. Contact Paulette Sanders or Evadne Roberts at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church to purchase tickets. The cost per ticket is $120.

St. Anna Alexander Pilgrimage September 22-24

Racial Justice Georgia, the diocesan racial justice and healing ministry, invites you to attend this year’s St. Anna Alexander pilgrimage on the weekend of September 22-24. The lone Black deaconess in the Episcopal Church, the only person from the diocese recognized as a saint, St. Anna selflessly pursued a ministry of teaching, preaching, and community work for decades in the early 20th century, despite the confinements of Jim Crow. Centered in the Brunswick area, the pilgrimage immerses you in her world and concludes with a special service at Good Shepherd, Pennick, the church she established and faithfully served. This year we’re excited to have St. Timothy’s choristers from the Diocese of Atlanta, performing music they have created for the pilgrimage. The pilgrimage begins Friday evening and concludes Sunday afternoon.

To register or for more information please contact RacialJusticeGA@gaepiscopal.org

Registration open for Cursillo #127

Registration for both team and participants for Cursillo #127 is now open!

Cursillo (pronounced ‘kur-see-yo’) is a Spanish word meaning ‘little’ or ‘short course’. This is the name given to the Short Course in Christianity which first developed after World War II with Roman Catholic men. The short course has now been given to men and women around the world and in the process has assisted generations of Christians to more faithfully follow Jesus in their daily lives. There is no real secret here, just the basics of the faith with an emphasis on how would you like to live it out in your life.

Cursillo begins on a Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday evening. During those three days the participants engage in listening to talks given by priests and lay people, and small table discussions, while worshiping and playing together.

T/W/Th Evening Prayer on Zoom Only: During Fr. Guillermo's sabbatical, weekday Evening Prayer services will be available on Zoom only (no Facebook live-stream) and entirely lay-led. You can access the Zoom call using the same link we normally use in the e-Newsletter.

The Offertory

[BCP, p. 376]

Giving to St. Matthew's:

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 to 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. (refrain) 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. (refrain) 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. (refrain)

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Circling through earth so all may grow

Vanquishing fear so all may give

Widening grace so all may live

Amen.

What is Communion from the Reserved Sacrament?

In the absence of a priest to preside at the Eucharist, with the permission of the Diocesan Bishop, a Deacon or Lay Minister may serve Bread and Wine that has been previously consecrated as the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ to the congregation. This practice is known as “Communion from the Reserved Sacrament” or “Communion by Extension.” This rite is adapted from The Scottish Episcopal Church’s “Communion from the Reserved Sacrament (administered by a Deacon or Lay person) 1997,“ and has been approved by the Bishop of Georgia.

A Thanksgiving for Communion from the Reserve Sacrament

After preparing the pre-consecrated Bread and Wine, the Deacon stands in front of the Altar:

In fellowship with the whole Church of God, with all who have been brought together by the Holy Spirit to worship on this day, and who have celebrated the Eucharist, let us rejoice that we are called to be part of the body of Christ.

Though we are many, we are one body, because we all share in one Bread.

The General Thanksgiving

[BCP, p. 101]

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. 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 Distribution of Holy Communion

The Deacon stands behind the Altar and elevates the pre-consecrated Bread and Wine:

The gifts of God for the people of God.

The ushers will direct people to leave their pews to receive Communion at the altar rails. You may receive Communion kneeling or standing. Please extend your hands forward to receive the Body of Christ (bread). If you would like to receive the Blood of Christ (wine), the minister will take the bread from your hand and dip (intinct) it in the wine for you, then place it in your mouth. If you would only like to receive the bread, you may consume it and return to your seat. If you need gluten-free bread for Communion, please ask the minister when you are at the altar rail.

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion in this church, regardless of age or denominational background. If you would not like to receive Communion for any reason, please cross your arms over your chest, and the minister will pray for God’s blessing over you.

Hymn #325: Let Us Break Bread Together

1 Let us break bread together on our knees; let us break bread together on our knees; Refrain: when I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me. 2 Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees; [Refrain] 3 Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees; [Refrain]

Hymn #341: For the Bread Which You Have Broken

1 For the bread, which you have broken, for the wine which you have poured, for the words which you have spoken, now we give you thanks, O Lord. 2 By this pledge, Lord, that you love us, by your gift of peace restored, by your call to heaven above us, hallow all our lives, O Lord. 3 As our blessed ones adore you, seated at our Father's board, may the Church still waiting for you keep love's tie unbroken, Lord. 4 In your service, Lord, defend us; in our hearts keep watch and ward, in the world to which you send us let your kingdom come, O Lord.

[Words: Copyright 1999 © Lorenz Publishing and by Louis F. Benson, alt. Music: Omni die, melody from Gross Catolisch Gesangbuch; harm. William Smith Rockstro. Robert F. Jeffery. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #80309. All rights reserved.]

The Post-Communion Prayer

Let us pray.

Almighty and everliving God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious Body and Blood of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the Body of your Son, and heirs of your eternal kingdom. And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

The Grace

[BCP, p. 102]

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.

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 Saviour's love Earth's sore burden doth remove; How for ever, in its need, Through His death the world is freed; 4 Word of how the Sp;irit came

Bringing peace in Jesus’ name

How his never failing love

Gudes us n 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 Friedrich Bahmaier; tr. Arthur Willaim Farlander and Charles Winfred Douglas, alt. St. 4, F. Bland Tucker. Copyright 1985, CPI. 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 Dismissal

[BCP, p. 366]

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!

Thanks be to God!

The Parish Prayer List

PRAYER LIST: Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Delois Groover, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler

BIRTHDAYS: Margaret Anne Pearson (7/17), Grace Luten (7/17), Jada Newton (7/17), Fr. DeWayne Cope (7/18), Jewel Wheeler (7/18), Marva Johnson (7/19), and Evalena Hoskins (7/20)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: N/A

RECENT DEATHS: Alice Dailey (7/6), Joseph Brown (7/9), and Delois Groover (7/11)

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.shatinchurch.org.hk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/matthew-13_8.png