The Holy Eucharist
21st Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 24A)
October 22, 2023 at 9:30 AM
Celebrant & Preacher: The Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector
Deacon: The Rev. Ella Roundtree-Davis, Deacon
Watch the Livestream at www.Facebook.com/StMattSav/Live/
The Holy Eucharist: Rite II
Requiem Eucharist for Carmelita S. Maynard: At the request of Carmelita’s dear friend Frances Calvert, today’s service of Holy Eucharist is offered in memory of Carmelita Suzanne Maynard, whose earthly birthday was October 25. May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercies of God, rest in peace; and may light perpetual shine upon them. Amen.
Hymn #372: Praise to the Living God
1 Praise to the living God! All praised be his Name
who was, and is, and is to be, for ay the same.
The one eternal God ere aught that now appears:
the first, the last, beyond all thought his timeless years!
2 Formless, all lovely forms declare his loveliness;
holy, no holiness of earth can his express.
Lo, he is Lord of all. Creation speaks his praise,
and everywhere above, below, his will obeys.
3 His Spirit floweth free, high surging where it will:
in prophet's word he spoke of old: he speaketh still.
Established is his law, and changeless it shall stand,
deep writ upon the human heart, on sea, on land.
4 Eternal life hath he implanted in the soul;
his love shall be our strength and stay while ages roll.
Praise to the living God! All praised be his Name
who was, and is, and is to be, for ay the same.
[Words: Medieval Jewish liturgy; tr Max Landsburg and Newton M. Mann, Public Domain. Music: Leoni, Hebrew melody; harm. Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1875]
The Opening Acclamation
[BCP, p. 355]
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be God’s kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
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.
[Words: Public Domain. Music: Robert Powell, Copyright © 1985, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #28331. All rights reserved.]
The Collect of the Day
[BCP, p. 357, 234]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, in Christ you have revealed your glory among the nations: Preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church throughout the world may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; 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 Book of Exodus (33:12-23)
Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.”
The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 99
Read responsively by half-verse (at the asterisk).
1 The Lord is King; let the people tremble; * he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake.
2 The Lord is great in Zion; * he is high above all peoples.
3 Let them confess his Name, which is great and awesome; * he is the Holy One.
4 "O mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; * you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."
5 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; * he is the Holy One.
6 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, * they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; * they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; * you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.
9 Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; * for the Lord our God is the Holy One.
A Reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn #594: God of Grace and God of Glory (verses 1-3)
1 God of grace and God of glory,
on thy people pour thy power;
crown thine ancient Church’s story;
bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the facing of this hour.
for the facing of this hour.
2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us
scorn thy Christ, assail his ways!
From the fears that long have bound us
free our hearts to faith and praise:
grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
for the living of these days.
for the living of these days.
3 Cure thy children’s warring madness,
bend our pride to thy control;
shame our wanton, selfish gladness,
rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
[Words: Harry Emerson Fosdick, public domain. Music: Cwm Rhondda, John Hughes Church Publishing Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #97297. 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 St. Matthew (22:15-22)
Glory to you, Lord Christ.
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Hymn #594: God of Grace and God of Glory (verse 4)
4 Save us from weak resignation
to the evils we deplore;
let the gift of thy salvation
be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore.
serving thee whom we adore.
[Words: Harry Emerson Fosdick, public domain. Music: Cwm Rhondda, John Hughes Church Publishing Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #97297. All rights Reserved.]
The Sermon
“Giving Back the Image of God” by the Rev. Guillermo A. Arboleda, Rector
I know that it isn’t even January yet, but today, we are going to get some tax advice from Jesus of Nazareth, CPA. In all seriousness, Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel passage are about money, which is a very common theme throughout the Bible. God is a lot more concerned with how we use our money (and therefore treat one another) than a lot of other juicy or scandalous topics that some preachers like to focus on. We are in the second week of our 2024 Pledge Campaign, so it is a good opportunity for us to reflect together on a godly approach to managing money, wealth, taxes, and more.
This Gospel passage tells us that the Pharisees and Herodians were trying to entrap Jesus. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” (Matt 22:17, NRSV). With this question, they tried to force Jesus to choose between loyalty to his people and loyalty to his government. Paying taxes meant supporting the oppressive Roman regime, with its military-police who bully and abuse residents; incarcerate, torture and execute dissidents; and wage wars of colonial expansion. That was a betrayal to the colonized people of Judea (the lands we now call Palestine and Israel). Encouraging people not to pay taxes was a surefire way to provoke Roman wrath and be labeled a criminal who deserves to be incarcerated, tortured, and executed — as Jesus would soon experience. (Remember that this text is set during Jesus’ final week, between his triumphal entry into Jerusalem and his Last Supper, arrest, and crucifixion.)
Jesus very deftly skirted the trap. He called them hypocrites who were trying to tempt him (the Greek word translated “test” also means “tempt”). Then he asks his interrogators to show him a denarius coin. First of all, they have one. A denarius was a standard wage for a full day of work for most laborers. I don’t know exactly what the equivalent would be in US dollars, but I bet it would be over $100.
Jesus asks them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” (Matt 21:20, NRSV), or in a different translation, “Whose image and inscription is this?” (CEB). It was the face of the Roman emperor, Caesar Tiberius, on the coin. What they don’t say is what archaeologists and historians have discovered about denarius coins from that era. They bore the inscription, “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of divine Augustus” (Art Institute Chicago). Augustus was the first Roman Emperor, and Tiberius was his heir and successor. Tiberius established the tradition of calling emperors “divine”, essentially calling himself the son of a god. Tiberius didn’t want anyone to question his right to rule and collect tribute tax from across the vast Roman Empire. Many Jews would have seen such a claim as blasphemy (or disrespecting God). Tiberius, a mere man, was calling himself a god. Remember that when Jesus forgave sins and performed other divine miracles, some religious leaders accused Jesus—the real Son of God—of blasphemy (Matthew 9:1-8).
After looking at this blasphemous coin, Jesus famously told them, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matt 22:21, CEB). The key word, which the Common English Bible translation makes plain for us, is “image” in verse 20 (Gk. eikōn, literally “icon”). There have been many interpretations of this verse over the centuries, but one of the most poignant and powerful comes from a 3rd century north African theologian named Tertullian of Carthage. Tertullian wrote that we should give “the image of Caesar, which is on the coin, to Caesar, and the image of God, which is on [humans], to God; so as to render to Caesar indeed money, to God yourself” (Tertullian, On Idolatry, chp. 15). In other words, the emperor makes a claim on the money that his government prints, and that’s fine. But God makes a claim on our very lives because God made all of us human beings in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27).
What does this mean for us today? Well, it means that money is not everything. Money is not all-important. Money is not a god that should rule our lives. Money is a tool for getting what we need, and a tool that we can use for what we want. Finding that line and that balance is always the challenge. When our “wants” cross their boundaries into the “needs” category, things get out of whack.
There were real ethical concerns about paying taxes to the Roman Empire. Rome used that money for violence Like I said earlier, Rome used that money for war, conquest, and subjugating conquered people. Rome used that money to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. But the Pharisees and Herodians were not exactly radical revolutionaries. They were not trying to overthrow the system by force and end the Roman occupation of Judea once and for all. They wanted to make Jesus look bad. And they might have even wanted to keep that tax money for themselves to grow their own wealth. Religious leaders were an upper-middle class in an ancient society that didn’t have a lot of wiggle room between rich and poor. They had a relatively large amount of wealth and privilege, and it was easy for them to abuse it, to believe that what they wanted was a need because they served God.
So, Jesus set their priorities straight. Your life is more valuable than all the money in the world. The emperor didn’t give you your life. The Temple didn’t give you your life. The White House didn’t give you your life. Only God did that. God made us and we owe God everything. When/if we have more than we need, we must consider how the rest can be used as an offering to God. How can what we have be used to love God with all our heart and love our neighbors as ourselves? How can what we have be used to grow and glow in grace?
I am not preaching about this because I have it all figured out. Far from it. I’m preaching this message because I need to hear it as much as anyone else. If you saw my bank statements, you’d see a bunch of wants piling high (usually higher than the needs). I give to Caesar what is Caesar’s in tax season; but all year round, I also give to Amazon what is Amazon’s, and to Apple what is Apple’s, and to Nintendo what is Nintendo’s, to restaurants what belongs to restaurants. Sometimes that gets in the way of me giving to God what is God’s, that is, myself, my life, my family’s life.
The solutions or changes aren’t easy. My wife and I are spending time this fall trying to re-evaluate our personal budget and set our priorities so that we are able to be more generous and loving with our money, time, and talents. I encourage you and your loved ones to do the same. That is one of the gifts of the annual stewardship and pledge campaign. It’s an invitation to reflect and learn and try to do better, or at least different. As you do that self-assessment, try to keep our church’s new mission statement at the forefront: “The Mission of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church is to grow and glow in grace as we work to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” How can we grow and glow in grace in everything we do?
Let us pray:
Gracious God, you are always near to us and you never leave us without your peace, which passes all understanding: We give you thanks for inspiring us to seek your will for St. Matthew’s Church through Strategic Planning and Pledging. Send your life-giving Holy Spirit among us and help us to grow and glow in your grace as we prepare for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead of us; through Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd and Savior. Amen.
Bibliography
Several paragraphs are adapted from Arboleda, Guillermo A. “Abolition Lectionary: Proper 24 (Year A).” Christians for the Abolition of Prisons. Blog. Published 19 October 2023. https://christiansforabolition.org/2023/10/19/abolitionlectionary-proper-24-3/.
Art Institute Chicago. “Aureus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Tiberius.” Accessed 22 October 2023. https://www.artic.edu/artworks/5602/aureus-coin-portraying-emperor-tiberius#.
Tertullian, On Idolatry, Translated by S. Thelwall. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3, edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1885). Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. Accessed 19 October 2023. https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0302.htm.
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 the people of Israel and the Palestinian territories, and 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, Bertice our Diaconal Intern; 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: Presslyne Abraham, Toya Berry, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Enrique Davis, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Charles Gordon, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Renee Nails, Russell Nails, Jeannette Outing, 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 Charles Dixon (10/25); for those celebrating anniversaries especially Reginald & Rose Robinson (10/24); and for all other 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 Mary Bell Williams (aunt of Lazola Cope) 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.
Confession of Sin
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.
The Bishop, when present, or the Priest, stands and says:
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The Peace
[BCP, p. 360]
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.
Parish Announcements
2024 Pledge Campaign Oct. 15 - Nov. 19: This campaign is essential for developing an accurate operating budget for the year 2024. St. Matthew's Vestry and Leadership expect the 2024 budget to be especially tight so we appreciate any increase in giving you can offer. We will have church members speaking each Sunday about the importance of giving to support the mission and ministry of our church. On November 19, we will offer thanks to God and bless all the pledges. Paper copies of the Pledge letters, forms, and 3rd quarter giving statements (January - September 2023) were mailed to all members of the church. You may offer your pledges on paper or online at www.tinyurl.com/StMattSav2024!
JUST Annual Assembly & Candidates Forum on Oct. 30: JUST (Justice Unites Savannah Together) will host its Annual Assembly with a Mayoral and City Council Candidates Forum on Monday, October 30, 2023, from 7:00-9:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave, Savannah, GA 31401. All are welcome to attend. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about our interfaith justice ministry and the candidates in the upcoming local elections (Tuesday, November 7, 2023).
“Why We Are Apart” Symposium on Oct. 28: Sociologist Dr. Bertice Berry is organizing an educational symposium at St. Matthew’s called “Why We Are Apart: The Slave Bible and the Church in Black and White.” This event will take place on October 28 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and feature presentations by St. Matthew’s Rector, Deacon, and Music Director, Dr. Berry, and local historian Hermina Glass-Hill. This event is free and open to the public, both in-person and online. To participate online via Zoom please register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jiSaCp3GSLulkWcd5o2Fhg
ECW Silver Tea on Nov. 4: The St. Matthew’s ECW Silver Tea will be held on Saturday, November 4, from 4 – 6 pm. All women of the church are members of the ECW and can host a table and invite their friends to join them. Women may host a half table and invite 3 friends or a whole table and invite 7 friends to attend. All proceeds from the tea support Episcopal Youth and Children's Services (EYCS), which provides college scholarships for youth in the Diocese of Georgia. The next planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 24, at 5:30 in Toomer Walker Hall.
Emmaus House Empty Bowl on Nov. 5: Emmaus House provides meals, showers, and laundry services to people in need in downtown Savannah. Come support their Annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Sunday, November 5, from 12:00 noon - 2:00 PM at Reynolds Square (in front of 18 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401). St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church is a sponsor of the fundraiser. Tickets may be purchased for $20 at the door or online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/13th-annual-empty-bowl-fundraiser-tickets-676679395287?aff=oddtdtcreator.
Thanksgiving Food Basket Donations: St. Augustine’s Guild is sponsoring Thanksgiving Baskets and are seeking donations from St. Matthew’s members. Donations of goods and money will help meet the goal of at least 4 food baskets. Each basket will contain the makings of a traditional southern Thanksgiving meal: cornbread mix, or stuffing mix, bag of rice, sweet potatoes, or prepared candied yams, chicken broth, onion, celery, chicken broth, bag of greens, and a turkey.
If you want to donate money please make checks payable to St. Matthew’s Church or, if giving cash, please use the envelopes and indicate Thanksgiving Food Drive. Baskets will be delivered on Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
Diocesan Youth Events
New Beginnings on Oct. 20-22: New Beginnings, an event for youth in grades 7-9, will take place October 20-22. This event, which helps middle schoolers and young high schoolers center themselves in who they are as God’s beloved children, even in the middle of all the calls on their time, energy, and attention.
Happening 108 on Nov. 17-19: Happening is a Christian experience presented by teenagers, for teenagers in grades 10-12 with the help of clergy and lay adult leadership. The Happening Weekend begins Friday evening, November 17 and continues through Sunday afternoon, November 19.
T/W/Th Evening Prayer on Zoom and Facebook: On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, St. Matthew's invites you to pray Evening Prayer with us over Zoom at 5:00 PM. If you want to be in the Zoom call, please join by 4:55 PM using the link 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 #73: Is There Anybody Here Who Loves My Jesus?
Refrain:
Is there anybody here who loves my Jesus?
Anybody here who loves my Lord?
I want to know if you love my Jesus;
I want to know if you love my Lord.
1 This world’s a wilderness of woe,
So let us all to glory go. [Refrain]
2 Religion is a blooming rose,
And none but them who feel it know. [Refrain]
3 When I was blind and could not see.
King Jesus brought the light to me. [Refrain]
4 When ev’ry star refuses to shine,
I know King Jesus will be mine. [Refrain]
[Words and Music: Traditional, Negro Spiritual, Public Domain; © 2001 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #AF20230430. 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.
[Words: Eric H. F. Law, Copyright © 2015 Eric H. F. Law. Music: Old 100th, attributed to Louis Bourgeois, Public Domain. Reprinted with permission from Kaleidoscope Institute. All rights reserved.]
Eucharistic Prayer B
[BCP, p. 367]
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. ...
The Celebrant prays a Proper Preface
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.
[Music: Grayson Warren Brown, A Mass for Soulful People, Copyright © 1979 North American Liturgy Resources, Published by OCP. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #83420. All rights reserved.]
The people stand or kneel.
We give thanks to you, O God, for the goodness and love which you have made known to us in creation; in the calling of Israel to be your people; in your Word spoken through the prophets; and above all in the Word made flesh, Jesus, your Son. For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world. In him, you have delivered us from evil, and made us worthy to stand before you. In him, you have brought us out of error into truth, out of sin into righteousness, out of death into life.
On the night before he died for us, 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, according to his command, O Father,
LEV #260:
We remember his death, We proclaim his resurrection, We await his coming in glory;
[Music: Hezekiah Brinson, Jr., Copyright © 1990 Hezekiah Brinson, Jr. All Rights Reserved.]
And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to you, O Lord of all; presenting to you, from your creation, this bread and this wine.
We pray you, gracious God, to send your Holy Spirit upon these gifts that they may be the Sacrament of the Body of Christ and his Blood of the new Covenant. Unite us to your Son in his sacrifice, that we may be acceptable through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that heavenly country where, with Blessed Matthew and all your saints, we may enter the everlasting heritage of your sons and daughters; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation.
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
[Compare 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.
[Music: Albert Hay Malotte; arr. Fred Bock, Copyright © 1934 (renewed) G. Schirmer, Inc. All Rights Reserved.]
The Breaking of the Bread
Silence may be kept.
The Fraction Anthems
[BCP, p. 364]
Hymn S-152
Alleluia! Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us!
Therefore let us keep the feast! Alleluia!
[Music: Ambrosian chant; adapt. Mason Martens, Copyright © 1971, Church Publishing, Inc. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #52588. All rights reserved.]
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.
[Music: Grayson Warren Brown; arr. Larry Adams, Copyright © 1979 Grayson Warren Brown. All rights reserved.]
The Gifts of God for the people of God.
The Distribution of Holy Communion
All baptized Christians of any denomination are invited to come forward to participate fully in Communion. Baptized children may receive at the discretion of their parents.
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 raise your hand when you are at the altar rail.
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 #683: O for a Closer walk with God
1 O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heavenly frame,
a light to shine upon the road
that leads me to the Lamb!
2 Where is the blessedness I knew
when first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
of Jesus and his word?
3 Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
and drove thee from my breast.
4 The dearest idol I have known,
whate'er that idol be,
help me to tear it from thy throne,
and worship only thee.
5 So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.
[Words: William Cowper, Public Domain. Music: Beatitudo, John Bacchus Dykes Public Domain.]
Hymn #538: God of Mercy, God of Grace
1 God of mercy, God of grace,
show the brightness of thy face.
Shine upon us, Savior, shine,
fill thy Church with light divine,
and thy saving health extend
unto earth's remotest end.
2 Let thy people praise thee, Lord;
be by all that live adored.
Let the nations shout and sing
glory to their Savior King;
let all be, below, above,
one in joy, and light, and love.
[Words: Henry Francis Lyte, Public Domain. Music: Lucerna Laudoniae, David Evans; © 1973,1982 Oxford University Press. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #24929. All rights reserved.]
The Post-Communion Prayer
[BCP, p. 366; Enriching our Worship 2 [2000], pp. 56-57]
Let us pray.
For In-Person Worshippers:
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.
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
Hymn #408: Sing praise to God who reigns above
1 Sing praise to God who reigns above,
the God of all creation,
the God of power, the God of love,
the God of our salvation;
with healing balm my soul he fills,
and every faithless murmur stills:
to God all praise and glory.
2 What God's almighty power hath made,
his gracious mercy keepeth;
by morning glow or evening shade
his watchful eye ne'er sleepeth.
Within the kingdom of his might,
lo! all is just and all is right:
to God all praise and glory.
3 Let all who name Christ's holy Name
give God all praise and glory;
let all who know his power proclaim
aloud the wondrous story!
Cast each false idol from its throne,
the Lord is God, and he alone:
to God all praise and glory.
[Words: Johann Jacob Schutz; Frances Elizbeth Cox. Public Domain; Music: Mit Freuden zart, melody from "Une pastourelle gentille,"; adapt Pseaumes cinquante de David, and Kirchengeseng darinnen die Heubrartickel des Christlichen Glaubens gefasset. Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #84587. 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: Presslyne Abraham, Mary Bonaparte, Jacqueline Bryant, Lazola Cope, Enrique Davis, Aaron Duplechien, Jr., Charles Gordon, Marva Harris, David Jones, Beverly Kemp, Whitney Kennedy, Sada Maxwell, Renee Nails, Russell Nails, Jeannette Outing, Jewel Wheeler
BIRTHDAYS: Charles Dixon (10/25)
WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: Reginald & Rose Robinson (10/24)
RECENT DEATHS: The Rev. Dr. Clarence "Teddy" Williams (9/28/2023), Mary Bell Williams (aunt of Lazola Cope)
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.
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