Fr. Guillermo A. Arboleda
- May 7, 2023
- 23 min read

Sunday Worship on May 7, 2023

The Holy Eucharist

The 5th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

May 7, 2023 at 9:30 AM

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

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

The Holy Eucharist: Rite II

Hymn #47 - On This Day, The First Of Days

1 On this day, the first of days, God the Father's Name we praise, who, creation's Lord and spring, did the world from darkness bring. 2 On this day the eternal Son over death his triumph won; on this day the Spirit came with his gifts of living flame. 3 Maker, who didst fashion me image of thyself to be, fill me with thy love divine, let my every thought be thine. 4 Holy Jesus, may I be dead and buried here with thee; and, by love inflamed, arise unto thee a sacrifice. 5 Thou, who dost all gifts impart, shine, blest Spirit, in my heart; best of gifts, thyself bestow; make me burn thy love to know. 6 God, the blessed Three in One, dwell within my heart alone; thou dost give thyself to me: may I give myself to thee.

[Words: Latin: tr. Henry Williams Baker, alt. Music: Gott sei Dank, melody from Geistreiches Gesangbuch; adapt. And harm. William Henry Havergal, alt. Reprinted with permission under One License # 84481. All rights reserved.]

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:

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 7:55-60

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

[BCP, p. 622-623]

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

1 In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; * deliver me in your righteousness.

2 Incline your ear to me; * make haste to deliver me.

3 Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe, for you are my crag and my stronghold; * for the sake of your Name, lead me and guide me.

4 Take me out of the net that they have secretly set for me, * for you are my tower of strength.

5 Into your hands I commend my spirit, * for you have redeemed me, O Lord, O God of truth.

15 My times are in your hand; * rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.

16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, * and in your loving-kindness save me."

A Reading from the First Letter of St. Peter 2:2-10

Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in scripture:

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious;

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner”,

and

“A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people;

once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn # 241 – Harken To The Anthem Glorious (Verses 1-3)

1. Hearken to the anthem glorious

of the martyrs robed in white; they, like Christ, in death victorious dwell for ever in the light.

2. Living, they proclaimed salvation, heaven endowed with grace and power; and they died in imitation of their Savior's final hour.

3. Christ, for cruel traitors pleading, triumphed in his parting breath o'er all miracles preceding his inestimable death.

4. Take from him what ye will give him, of his fullness grace for grace; strive to think him, speak him, live him, till you find him face to face.

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

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to John 14:1-14

Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Christ.

Hymn # 241 – Harken To The Anthem Glorious (Verse 4)

4. Take from him what ye will give him, of his fullness grace for grace; strive to think him, speak him, live him, till you find him face to face.

The Sermon

“Getting Lost and Finding the Way” by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector

For the last few months, many people in our church have been working on a new strategic plan for St. Matthew’s. Like we discussed at the meeting on April 29, one of the most consistent themes that has emerged from our listening process was about our children and youth. We all want to minister to, mentor, and train our children. We want to pass down to them the faith that we received from our ancestors. So we need to make a greater effort to include children and youth in more parts of our church’s life and worship.

Tomorrow evening at 6, I’ll be hosting a Zoom meeting with anyone interested in helping to lead a revived Sunday School for our children. The info is in the email newsletter but talk to me if you need it. One of the things we would like to do is create space for children to learn the Bible and other lessons about Christian faith in an age appropriate manner. We want to do this during Sunday worship between the sermon and receiving communion. To facilitate this, I am going to work on creating simplified children’s sermons to give the kids an introduction to their Sunday School time before they go back to Toomer-Walker Hall. It’s going to be different for me and for all of us, so bear with us as we try something new.

Today, I’m going to offer a hybrid children/adult message as an experiment. In the future the children’s sermon will be an even shorter prelude to the rest of the sermon. But today, since we don’t have Sunday School ready yet, I’m going to do something for everyone. I’d like to invite all the children to come forward and gather here in the chancel so we can talk a little bit about this Bible story.

“Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life’” (John 14:5-6a).

Children’s Sermon:

Have you ever gotten lost or confused about where to go? Where were you trying to go? Who were you going with? How did you feel when you were lost? How did you feel when you found your way back to safety?

When I was a child, about 5 years old, my family went to a water park. Have you ever been to a water park on a hot day in the summer? At some point, while we were walking between different rides, my younger brother, who was 2 years old, got lost. My parents couldn’t find him. My parents were scared. My brother was scared. He didn’t know where we were. We didn’t know where he was. None of us knew where we were going so we didn’t know the way. He was missing for only a few minutes, but it felt like forever because we were afraid that he would be gone forever. But then, we found him, he was safe, we all hugged, and everything was okay.

This Bible story from the Gospel of John is about Jesus’ friends and disciples feeling afraid because they feel lost. Jesus keeps telling them that he is about to go away and be crucified and they don’t want to believe it. They don’t know where he is going so they don’t know the way to find him. They are afraid of losing him. They don’t want him to be gone forever.

But remember the story of Easter? Jesus does not stay dead and gone. He rises again. So Jesus reminds his friends that he is not going to leave them forever. He is going to “prepare a place for” them and take them there himself.

Because when you are lost, Jesus is the Way. He says, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life.” If you are lost and afraid, turn to Jesus in prayer. He will show you how to find safety and love. He will lead you home and hug you and welcome you back. Remember that warm feeling when you got found? Remember being loved? That’s how God wants to make you feel. That’s what it’s like when you find Jesus’ Way and you follow him.

Let’s pray together:

Blessed Jesus, we thank you for being our Way, Truth, and Life. We thank you for showing us where we are going and finding us when we are lost. We thank you for leading us to Love and protecting us from harm. Help us to stay close to you and follow your Way today and always, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Nicene Creed

[BCP, p. 358]

All standing as they are able, the People pray:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen.

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 Craig J. Gordon (5/7), Wanda Grandbury (5/7), Antonio Blake (5/8), and Idella Jones (5/10) on their birthdays; 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 adds a concluding Collect.

O God, who for our redemption gave your only-begotten Son to the death of the cross, and by his glorious resurrection delivered us from the power of our enemy: Grant us so to die daily to sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 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

Martha Avery Funeral on 5/13: St. Matthew's mourns the loss of our oldest parishioner, Martha Rebecca Martin Avery, 101, who died peacefully on May 1, 2023. Her funeral service will be held at St. Matthew's on Saturday, May 13, at 10:00 AM, with the interment to follow and repast in Toomer-Walker Hall afterward. May her soul and the souls of all the departed by the mercies of God rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.

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. These classes are also open to anyone in the church who wants a "refresher" on fundamental Episcopal beliefs and practices. Each session will take place after Sunday worship from about 11:15-12:15.

May 7: Faith Outside the Church
May 21: Faith Inside The Episcopal Church

Children's Sunday School Planning Meeting on 5/8: Thanks to the Strategic Planning Team's efforts, St. Matthew's will try to re-launch children's Sunday School in the coming weeks. We invite anyone interested in leading children's ministries to attend a planning meeting on Zoom on Monday, May 8, at 6:00 PM. For Zoom information or more questions, contact Fr. Arboleda, Margaret Anne Pearson, or Jayda Newton.

Ministry Groups & Guilds Leaders Meeting on 5/9: The Strategic Planning Team will hold a meeting of all the leaders of Ministry Groups and Guilds on Tuesday, May 9, from 5:30-6:30 PM. This will be an information-gathering meeting, where we will listen to and learn from each ministry group, not tell one another what to do. The meeting will be hybrid: in person at Toomer-Walker Hall or on Zoom via the Evening Prayer link. If the chair of a group is unable to attend, we request that a delegate from that group be sent instead. Thank you!

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

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

AAHM #560 – I’ll Be Somewhere Listening For My Name

1 When He call me I will answer, When He calls me I will answer, When He calls me I will answer; I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. Oh, I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. 2 With a glad heart I will answer, With a glad heart I will answer, With a glad heart i will answer; I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. Oh, I'll be somwhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning, I'll be somewhere list'ning for my name. 3 When He calls you, will you answer? When He calls you, will you answer? When He calls you, will you answer? Somewhere list'ning, list'ning for your name. You'll be somewhere list'ning, You'll be somewhere list'ning, You'll be somewhere list'ning for your name. You'll be somewhere list'ning, You'll be somewhere list'ning, You'll be somewhere list'ning for your name.

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.

Hymn #366 – Holy God We Praise Thy Name (only verses 1-4)

1 Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless thy chosen pilgrim flock with manna in the wilderness, with water from the rock. 2 We would not live by bread alone, but by thy word of grace, in strength of which we travel on to our abiding-place. 3 Be known to us in breaking bread, and do not then depart; Saviour, abide with us, and spread thy table in our heart. 4 Lord, sup with us in love divine, thy Body and thy Blood, that living bread, that heavenly wine, be our immortal food.

[Words: James Montgomery, alt. Music: St. Agnes, melody John Bacchus Dykes; harm. Richard Prouix, after John Bacchus Dykes. Copyright © 1985, G.I.A. Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under One License # 84164. All rights reserved.]

Hymn # 484 – Praise The Lord Through Every Nation

1 Praise the Lord through every nation; his holy arm hath wrought salvation; exalt him on his Father's throne. Praise your King, ye Christian legions, who now prepares in heavenly regions unfailing mansions for his own: with voice and minstrelsy extol his majesty: Alleluia! His praise shall sound all nature round, and hymns on every tongue abound.

2 Jesus, Lord, our Captain glorious, o'er sin, and death, and hell victorious, wisdom and might to thee belong: we confess, proclaim, adore thee; we bow the knee, we fall before thee; thy love henceforth shall be our song. The cross meanwhile we bear, the crown ere-long to wear: Alleluia! Thy reign extend world without end; let praise from all to thee ascend.

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 #518 – Christ Is Made The Sure Foundation

1 Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and cornerstone, chosen of the Lord, and precious, binding all the Church in one; holy Zion's help for ever, and her confidence alone. 2 All that dedicated city, dearly loved of God on high, in exultant jubilation pours perpetual melody; God the One in Three adoring in glad hymns eternally. 3 To this temple, where we call thee, come, O Lord of Hosts, today; with thy wonted lovingkindness hear thy servants as they pray, and thy fullest benediction shed within its walls alway. 4 Here vouchsafe to all thy servants what they ask of thee to gain; what they gain from thee, for ever with the blessèd to retain, and hereafter in thy glory evermore with thee to reign.

[Words: Latin, ca. 7th cent.; tr. Hymns Ancient and Modern, after John Mason Neale, alt. Music: Westminster Abby. Henry Purcell, adapt.; desc. James Gillespie. Descant by permission of Church Society, London. Copyright © 1982 The Jubilate Group. Reprinted with permission under One License # 3016. 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: Craig J. Gordon (5/7), Wanda Grandbury (5/7), Antonio Blake (5/8), and Idella Jones (5/10)

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: N/A

RECENT DEATHS: Martha Avery (5/1/2023)

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://live.staticflickr.com/6155/6224095892_b237b79f12_z.jpg