Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- May 14, 2023
- 24 min read

Sunday Worship on May 14, 2023

The Holy Eucharist

The 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

May 14, 2023 at 9:30 AM

Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector

Deacon: The Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis

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

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #409 – The Spacious Firmament on High

1 The spacious firmament on high, with all the blue ethereal sky, and spangled heavens, a shining frame, their great Original proclaim. The unwearied sun from day to day does his Creator's power display; and publishes to every land the work of an almighty hand. 2 Soon as the evening shades prevail, the moon takes up the wondrous tale, and nightly to the listening earth repeats the story of her birth: whilst all the stars that round her burn, and all the planets in their turn, confirm the tidings, as they roll and spread the truth from pole to pole. 3 What though in solemn silence all move round the dark terrestrial ball? What though no real voice nor sound amid their radiant orbs be found? In reason's ear they all rejoice, and utter forth a glorious voice; for ever singing as they shine, "The hand that made us is divine."

The Opening Sentences

[BCP, p. 355]

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Collect for Purity

[BCP, p. 355]

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

Hymn 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, 225]

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 17:22-31

Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said,

‘For we too are his offspring.’

Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 66:7-18

[BCP, p. 622-623]

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

7 Bless our God, you peoples; * make the voice of his praise to be heard;

8 Who holds our souls in life, * and will not allow our feet to slip.

9 For you, O God, have proved us; * you have tried us just as silver is tried.

10 You brought us into the snare; * you laid heavy burdens upon our backs.

11 You let enemies ride over our heads; we went through fire and water; * but you brought us out into a place of refreshment.

12 I will enter your house with burnt-offerings and will pay you my vows, * which I promised with my lips and spoke with my mouth when I was in trouble.

13 I will offer you sacrifices of fat beasts with the smoke of rams; * I will give you oxen and goats.

14 Come and listen, all you who fear God, * and I will tell you what he has done for me.

15 I called out to him with my mouth, * and his praise was on my tongue.

16 If I had found evil in my heart, * the Lord would not have heard me;

17 But in truth God has heard me; * he has attended to the voice of my prayer.

18 Blessed be God, who has not rejected my prayer, * nor withheld his love from me.

A Reading from the First Letter of St. Peter 3:13-22

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

AAHH #410 – Faith Of Our Mothers (Verses 1-3)

1 Faith of our mothers, living yet In cradle song and bedtime prayer, In nurs'ry love and fireside love, Thy presence still pervades the air: Faith of our mothers, living faith, We will be true to thee till death. 2 Faith of our mothers, lavish faith, The fount of childhood's trust and grace, O may thy consecration prove The well-spring of a nobler race: Faith of our mothers, lavish faith, We will be true to thee till death. 3 Faith of our mothers, guiding faith, For youthful longing– youthful doubt, How blurred our vision, blind our way, Thy providential care without: Faith of our mothers, guiding faith, We will be true to thee till death. [Words: A.B. Patten. Music: St. Vaherine; Henri Frederick Hemy. 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 John 14:15-21

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

AAHH #410 – Faith Of Our Mothers (Verse 4)

4 Faith of our mothers, Christian faith, In truth beyond our man-made creeds, Still serve the home and save the church, And breathe thy spirit through our deeds: Faith of our mothers, Christian faith, We will be true to thee till death.

The Sermon

“Episcopal Evangelism” by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector

What do you think of when you hear the word “evangelism”? We talked about this last week in the confirmation class, and most of the response was kind of negative. People had experienced other Christians as pushy, argumentative, or arrogant. We Christians have a reputation for acting like know-it-alls when it comes to sharing our faith. It can come across like we think we have all the answers, like we know everything there is to know about God, like everyone else with a different opinion or a different experience must be wrong. This is how Christians taught one another to think for many centuries, and it contributed to colonialism, cultural genocide, and actual genocide. In our present culture, that sort of evangelism has been devastating to the LGBT+ community. At best, that kind of evangelism can just make us look like jerks.

Well, Episcopalians believe in evangelism, just not that kind. Today we are going to talk about two keys to Episcopal Evangelism. (To be clear, this could apply to Christians of many denominations. We just happen to be Episcopalians.)

In the Baptism and Confirmation service (coming in two weeks!), we agree out loud to The Baptismal Covenant (BCP, pp. 304-305). One of the key questions is, “Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?” That is the simplest, clearest definition of evangelism: Sharing Good News about how God loves us by word (talking about it) and example (acting like it).

Let’s start with sharing by word. Episcopal Evangelism is not about steamrolling other people, or pretending to know everything about the universe. It’s about sharing what God’s Good News looks like in your life. In the words of the psalmist, ““Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he has done for me” (Ps 66:14). I’m not trying to explain why they are wrong and I am right. I’m just sharing the good things God has done for me. Evangelism is simply the practice of honestly and humbly sharing what difference you believe God has made in your life.

So the first key to evangelism is knowing your testimony. What good things has God done in your life? How are you prepared to give God thanks and praise? How do you want to express that to others in a way that is gentle and compassionate?

The second key to Episcopal Evangelism is about sharing the Good News by example. Let’s look at Jesus’ words in John 14. This one is a little bit trickier to find, but we’ll get there. “[Jesus said,] ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you” (John 14:15-17). This passage has been misused to justify the arrogant version of evangelism. Some would say that “the world” doesn’t have the Spirit of truth, only Christians do, so we are right and they are wrong. But that attitude missed the point. Truth is not a simple either-or binary. Truth is complex, multifaceted, both-and.

The Spirit of truth is a spirit of wisdom through humility. Humility is the second key to Episcopal Evangelism. The wise seeker of truth knows that no one person can know the whole truth by themselves. The Rev. Dr. Eric Law is an Episcopal priest from Hong Kong who founded the Kaleidoscope Institute and developed our strategic planning process. He explains that the Chinese character for “truth” is a combination of the characters for table, eyes, and ten. In other words, you need many people conversing around a table to arrive at the whole truth (Holy Currencies, p. 44). That means that evangelism is not a one-way street. It’s not just me telling you what to think. Evangelism is about real relationships and discovering deeper truths together. It involves listening to others and asking questions about their spirituality too. It involves building relationships based on trust and loving your neighbor as they are, not trying to change your neighbor.

The Spirit of Truth is our Advocate, Helper, and Comforter. The Holy Spirit is not here to help us win or dominate others. The Spirit is here to help unify people, bring people together across divisions, and discover deeper truths. The Holy Spirit is about pointing us to God, who is love. And all faithful evangelism (Episcopal or otherwise) is rooted in the Holy Spirit, not in us.

In order to be effective evangelists, we must remember our two keys: know your testimony and be humble. Reflect on the good things God has done in your life. Know the difference that Jesus makes for you, and be willing to share your perspective on that truth. But do so humbly, not arrogantly, knowing that we can always learn something new from others. That’s what it means to proclaim the Good News of God in Christ by word and example. Amen.

Bibliography

Law, Eric H. F. Holy Currencies: 6 Blessings for Sustainable Missional Ministries. Saint Louis, MO: Chalice Press, 2013.

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.

Hymn S106: The Prayers of the People, Form I

[See also BCP, p. 383]

With all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord, saying "Lord, have mercy."

For the peace from above, for the loving-kindness of God, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the world, for the welfare of the Holy Church of God, and for the unity of all peoples, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For our Frank our Bishop, and for all the clergy and people, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For Joseph our President, for the leaders of the nations, and for all in authority, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the City of Savannah, for every city and community, and for those who live in them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the good earth which God has given us, and for the wisdom and will to conserve it, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For those who travel on land, on water, in the air, or through outer space, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For our Parish Prayer List: Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Delois Groover, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Pat Lanchester, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For Ahmad Taylor (5/14), Ronnie Taylor (5/15), Zariyah Cope, (5/17), Farah Taylor (5/17), Marilyn Jones (5/20), and Altheria Maynard (5/20) on their birthdays; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For Donald & Marilyn Jones (5/20) and Timothy & Cheryl Rhett (5/20) on their wedding anniversaries; let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the oppressed, for the unemployed and the destitute, for prisoners and captives, and for all who remember and care for them, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, especially Martha Avery (5/1), let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

For deliverance from all danger, violence, oppression, and degradation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

That we may end our lives in faith and hope, without suffering and without reproach, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.

Defend us, deliver us, and in your compassion protect us, O Lord, by your grace. Lord, have mercy.

In the communion of Blessed Matthew and of all the saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to Christ our God. To you, O Lord our God.

The Celebrant invites all mothers to stand and/or come forward for a blessing, written by the Rev. Stephanie M. Johnson:

Loving God, look gently upon mothers of newborn and young children, give them energy, patience, gentleness and happiness in these fleeting days of sleep deprivation, sticky hands, and messy houses. Bless mothers who are raising school aged children and teenagers, give them peace and joy in parenting in moments that seem both hard and wonderful all at the same time. Bless mothers who from afar watch and wonder about their adult children, give them perspective and wisdom as their children make choices and live their own lives.

Healing God, comfort all people who mourn the absence of their mother today from death or illness or because of broken and challenging relationships. Comfort those who had hoped to be mothers but have been unable to do so and those who continue to hope to become mothers. Ever present God, embrace and comfort those mothers who mourn over the loss of their own children.

Gracious God, help us to recognize all the women who have guided us and loved us like mothers, shining forth as an example of the deepness of the love you offer each of your beloved children. Bless us and keep us today in that love and always. In Jesus’ Name we pray. 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

Mother's Day Brunch Celebration: The St. Matthew's Men's Club will offer a brunch after worship on Sunday, May 14 in honor of all mothers and motherly figures. Come celebrate with us that Sunday!

“Mayday” Supper Club on 5/20: St. Matthew's newest renter is A.M. Diverse Cooking L.L.C. Their "Diverse Supper Club" provides excellent service, delicious made-from-scratch vegan/plant-based food, and an ambiance that'll have every guest leave with a smile. The next supper, called "Mayday," will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 6:00 PM at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church's Toomer-Walker Hall. Tickets cost $55 per person or $80 per couple and must be purchased in advance at: https://amdiversecooking.com/events

New Diaconal Intern Dr. Bertice Berry: From May 21 - September 24, 2023, Dr. Bertice Berry, a candidate for ordination to the diaconate in the Diocese of Georgia, will serve St. Matthew's as a Diaconal Intern. Deacon Davis will supervise her training in liturgy, preaching, pastoral care, and service to the wider community. Dr. Berry is an accomplished author, lecturer, facilitator, comedian, entertainer, and more. She has a PhD in Sociology from Kent State University and is a member of Christ Church Savannah.

Confirmation & Episcopal Refresher Class: This spring, Fr. Arboleda is teaching a course to prepare people for Confirmation, Reception, or Renewal of Baptismal Vows, which 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. The final session will take place after Sunday worship on May 21 from about 11:15-12:15.

TEDxSavannah 2023 on 5/25: Fr. Guillermo has been selected as a speaker at this year's TEDxSavannah event on Thursday, May 25, 2023, from 12:30-5:30 PM at the Fine Arts Auditorium at Georgia Southern University, Armstrong Campus. Fr. Guillermo cannot share publicly about the topic of his talk before the event, but this year's theme is "Connection." Tickets are available now at https://tedxsavannah.com for $50, but St. Matthew's can purchase them for a discounted rate of $36. Please sign up on the bulletin board in Toomer-Walker Hall by Sunday, May 14, to get that rate!

EYCS Scholarship Applications: Episcopal Youth and Children's Services (EYCS) provides scholarships to undergraduate students who are active members of Episcopal parishes in the Diocese of Georgia. If you are interested in applying for a scholarship for the Fall 2023 semester, you must complete the application and request a recommendation from your rector. The application deadline is May 31, but Fr. Arboleda's deadline is May 21. Look over the application and talk to him soon: http://eycs.georgiaepiscopal.org/?page_id=11

Bette Milledge's Memorial Service 5/27: St. Matthew's will have the opportunity to remember the life of Ms. Bette Conner Milledge (1931-2023) on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 11:00 AM, with interment at Laurel Grove South and a repast to follow.

Fr. Guillermo to take Sabbatical from May 29 - August 26: After seven years of ministry with St. Matthew’s, Fr. Guillermo will take a 12-week sabbatical this summer after the Day of Pentecost. Sabbaticals are increasingly common in the Episcopal Church and are now part of standard letters of agreement in the Diocese of Georgia. The vestry, deacon, and church staff have all begun planning for an active summer at St. Matthew’s in the absence of the rector. Sunday worship will continue with a few guest priests and some deacon-led services in June, July, and August. Please feel free to talk to Fr. Guillermo, Deacon Davis, or any Vestry member with questions. Fr. Guillermo plans to come back in late August refreshed and ready for several more years of ministry with St. Matthew’s!

T/W/Th Evening Prayer: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, St. Matthew's invites you to pray Evening Prayer over Zoom and Facebook. If you want to be in the Zoom call, please join by 4:55 PM using the link in the e-Newsletter. The video will continue to stream to Facebook Live at 5:00 PM.

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.

“On this day the Lord has acted; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” [Psalm 118:24]

Give online at: https://onrealm.org/StMattSav/-/give/now

Hymn #400 – All Creatures of Our God And King

1 All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voices, let us sing: Alleluia, alleluia! Bright burning sun with golden beams, pale silver moon that gently gleams, Refrain: O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 2 Great rushing winds and breezes soft, you clouds that ride the heavens aloft, O praise him, Alleluia! Fair rising morn, with praise rejoice, stars nightly shining, find a voice: [Refrain] 3 Swift flowing water, pure and clear, make music for your Lord to hear, Alleluia, alleluia! Fire, so intense and fiercely bright, you give to us both warmth and light, [Refrain] 4 Dear mother earth, you day by day unfold your blessings on our way, O praise him, Alleluia! All flowers and fruits that in you grow, let them his glory also show: [Refrain] 5 All you with mercy in your heart, forgiving others, take your part, O sing now: Alleluia! All you that pain and sorrow bear, praise God, and cast on him your care: [Refrain] 6 And even you, most gentle death, waiting to hush our final breath, O praise him, Alleluia! You lead back home the child of God, for Christ our Lord that way has trod: [Refrain] 7 Let all things their creator bless, and worship him in humbleness, O praise him, Alleluia! Praise God the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One: [Refrain]

[Words: Francis of Assisi; tr. William H. Draper, alt. Music: Lass tuns erfreuen, melody from Auerlesene Catholische Geistiche Kirchengeseng, adapt. Ralph Vaughn Williams. By permission of Ocford University Press. Reprinted with permission under One License # 81791. All rights reserved.]

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.

Eucharistic Prayer A

[BCP, p. 361]

It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

But chiefly are we bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us, and has taken away the sin of the world. By his death he has destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he has won for us everlasting life.

Therefore we praise you, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who for ever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of your Name:

LEV #255:

Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts

Heaven and earth are filled with your glory

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest.

The people stand or kneel.

Holy and gracious Father: In your infinite love you made us for yourself, and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all. He stretched out his arms upon the cross, and offered himself, in obedience to your will, a perfect sacrifice for the whole world.

On the night he was handed over to suffering and death, our Lord Jesus Christ 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."

Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith:

LEV #258:

Christ has died.

Christ is risen.

Christ will come again.

We celebrate the memorial of our redemption, O Father, in this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. Recalling his death, resurrection, and ascension, we offer you these gifts.

Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be for your people the Body and Blood of your Son, the holy food and drink of new and unending life in him. Sanctify us also that we may faithfully receive this holy Sacrament, and serve you in unity, constancy, and peace; and at the last day bring us with all your saints into the joy of your eternal kingdom.

All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ: By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. AMEN.

LEV #264: The Lord’s Prayer

[BCP, p. 364]

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

Our Father, which 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

The Breaking of the Bread

Silence may be kept.

The Fraction Anthems

[BCP, p. 364]

Hymn S154:

This Far By Faith #36:

O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy and grant us peace,

we pray, O Lamb of God.

Thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

The Gifts of God for the people of God.

The Distribution of Holy Communion

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 Priest 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 Priest will say a blessing over you.

If you are worshipping online, you may pray to receive spiritual communion using the following prayer:

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.

LEV #39 – There Is A Fountain

1 There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains: Lose all their guilty stains, Lose all their guilty stains; And sinners, plunged beneath that flood, Lose all their guilty stains. 2 The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away: Wash all my sins away, Wash all my sins away; And there may I, though vile as he, Wash all my sins away 3 Thou dying Lamb, Thy precious blood Shall never lose its pow’r; Till all the ransomed Church of God Are saved, to sin no more: Are saved, to sin no more, Are saved to sin no more; Till all the ransomed Church of God Are saved, to sin no more. 4 E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply; Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die: And shall be till I die, And shall be till I die, Redeeming love has been my theme, And shall be till I die. 5 Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I’ll sing Thy pow’r to save; When this poor, lisping stamm’ring tongue Lies silent in the grave: Lies silent in the grave, Lies silent in the grave; When this poor lisping, stamm’ring tongue Lies silent in the grave.

The Post-Communion Prayer

[BCP, p. 365; 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

[The Book of Occasional Services 2022, pp. 15]

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do God's will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in God's sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn #344 – Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing

1 Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing; fill our hearts with joy and peace; let us each, thy love possessing, triumph in redeeming grace: O refresh us, O refresh us, traveling through this wilderness. 2 Thanks we give and adoration for thy Gospel's joyful sound: may the fruits of thy salvation in our hearts and lives abound: ever faithful, ever faithful to thy truth may we be found; 3 so that when thy love shall call us, Savior, from the world away, fear of death shall not appall us, glad thy summons to obey. May we ever, may we ever reign with thee in endless day.

[Words: Att. John Fawcett. Music: Sicilian Mariners, Sicilian melody; first published The European Magazine and London Review, alt. Public Domain. Reprinted with permission under One License # 98002. All rights reserved.]

The Dismissal

[BCP, p. 366]

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Alleluia!

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, Pat Lanchester, Sada Maxwell, Jeannette Outing, and Jewel Wheeler.

BIRTHDAYS: Ahmad Taylor (5/14), Ronnie Taylor (5/15), Zariyah Cope, (5/17), Farah Taylor (5/17), Marilyn Jones (5/20), and Altheria Maynard (5/20)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: Donald & Marilyn Jones (5/20) and Timothy & Cheryl Rhett (5/20)

RECENT DEATHS: Martha Avery (5/1/)

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://pixabay.com/zh/photos/cross-heart-jesus-christ-symbol-4471977/